first chapter of 2015, whoop, thanks to zerowing21 for beta reading
The cold white walls of the hospital waiting room surrounded Fear. This environment used to make her feel uncomfortable, but now she was used to it. Anyone would get used to this after visiting so many times. Every few days, Fear would head to the hospital to visit her good friend Amp. Amp, a dashing boy with a crazy personality and abnormally blue hair, had gotten into a bit of a little brawl that had ended with four bullet holes in his chest.
He was expected to make a full recovery, since the bullets missed all major organs, but the recovery would probably take a few years. His reaction rate was slowed and he wasn't looking too good at the time. But Fear still visited him, because she cared. She wanted him to get better more than anyone else.
"Do you like it?" Fear had asked Amp after she was allowed entry into his room. She handed him the hat she had bought for him at the mall the other day. "Fionna said you would like it."
"Yeah," Amp said after staring at the object for a minute, "It's really cool...Thanks Fear." The boy smiled at her. Fear blushed and scooted closer to him.
"I'm glad you like it," she said softly, "I like it too..."
"Thank you," Amp muttered, "For visiting me. It means a lot."
"It's no problem." Fear smiled. "I want to see you and make sure you're doing ok."
In reality, Fear was telling the truth. She really did care for him. She wanted him to get out as soon as possible, and she also wanted to be his girlfriend. It started out as a kiddie crush, but it slowly evolved into more. She had told Alice and Fionna, both of which thought it was adorable. Then the accident happened, rendering Amp helpless. Fear wanted to be the one he would turn to in his time of need, so she vowed to do anything to help him get better.
"I need to cut this visit short, Amp." Fear hesitated. "I'm going to see sights with Alice and Roxie today."
"O-Oh." Amp said after a few seconds. "Have fun. Don't worry about me. Same time tomorrow?"
"Yeah, of course!" Fear cheered. She leaned over to hug her friend, hesitating to pull away.
Roxie, Alice, and Kyubey met Fear outside the hospital. They were going hunting again. Alice held Fear's bat and smiled as she handed it to her. With Roxie's Soul Gem, the group began to walk around the city, searching for Fusions. They eventually found one and were sucked into its lair, where the group began to fight off the minions. Well, it was more or less of just Roxie fighting them while Fear attempted to help as Alice and Kyubey watched from the sidelines. They all made it to the end where Fusion Numbuh Four awaited them. He transformed into a giant scorpion like Fusion, which Roxie finished off with her Trio Finale. She floated to the ground next to Fear and Alice after defeating it, and she transformed back into her normal clothes as the lair disappeared.
"It didn't drop a Grief Seed." Alice pointed out.
"It was a dud." Roxie scoffed.
"That was a Fusion Spawn!" Kyubey exclaimed. "They have the same powers as the Fusions we're looking for, but they aren't as powerful. Spawns turn into Fusions once they kill enough people."
"Whatever," Roxie sighed, "Another dud means it's time to head home."
"It is getting late," Alice muttered, "Home would be a good choice."
"So," Roxie said to the girls as they walked home, "Have you decided what you want to wish for yet?"
"Not at all." Fear said. Alice shrugged in response.
"I guess it is kind of hard to make a decision this big." Roxie laughed.
"What did you wish for, Roxie?" Alice asked her cousin, making her stop in her tracks.
"I..." the girl muttered.
"You don't have to answer me if you don't want to!" Alice cried.
"I didn't really have the chance to choose what I wanted." Roxie replied, images of her high school falling on top of her and her friends from the Fusion Invasion flooding into her head. "Dying back there would have been worse than this, but it's not like I regret it. But if I was in the position you two are, I'd think long and hard about what I'm willing to risk my life for."
"Do we have to wish for ourselves?" Fear asked Roxie. Kyubey piped in.
"There is no requirement that the wish affects the contractee herself," The creature said, "I know somebody who already did it."
"It might not be the best idea, though," Roxie replied, "If you wish to help someone else, you have to be especially sure about what you're wishing for. You want to wish for them to have a better life, not for them to be grateful to you."
"... I guess it was a stupid question..." Fear muttered.
"I know it's hard, Felicia," Roxie assured, "Don't rush into it."
"But, personally, the sooner the better." Kyubey snickered.
"Kyubey, nobody likes a boy who pressures a girl to do something." Roxie barked before continuing to walk down the street, the others in tow.
Alice was back at home, lying in her bed. Courage was asleep on the floor, and Kyubey sat on the edge of her bed. Alice was writing in a notebook and in deep thought. The time on her alarm clock read 1:23 AM. She stopped writing and dropped her pencil before turning to Kyubey.
"Why is this so hard...?" she asked.
"I can't answer," Kyubey replied, "I would help, but suggesting wishes is against the rules. I follow a strict code of honor."
"Would just wishing to become a magical girl work?" Alice joked.
"What do you want, Alice?" the creature chuckled. "Power? Talent? Brains?"
"I'm not sure..." the girl sighed, "Look at Roxie. She's so cool and powerful. She's so pretty and tough. I want to be like her."
"If you become a magical girl, you'd be much more powerful than Roxie," Kyubey grinned, "Then again, that all really depends on the wish you make. I can't even imagine what your Soul Gem would be like. I've never met a girl with as much potential as you, Alice."
"Don't tease me." Alice laughed.
"Why would I ever do that?" Kyubey giggled. "Go to sleep, Alice. Maybe another peaceful sleep will help you finalize your thoughts."
Alice nodded in response, and closed her notebook. She leaned over and sat it on her bedside table, then turned off a lamp. She curled up into bed and began to drift away.
"It's dangerous to walk the streets this late, kid." a man barked at Roxie, who was walking down Townsville at nearly three in the morning. She turned the man and his gang, who were all gross looking with green skin.
"Kiss my ass." she growled before continuing on her way. She reached the bay, overlooking the ocean, and she sat on a park bench. Her Soul Gem was glowing in her hands as she looked around. Vashti walked up behind her.
"You understand what you're doing, don't you?" the black haired girl asked. "You're leading innocent girls into grave danger."
"They were chosen by Kyubey," Roxie replied, not bothering to stand or look behind her, "They aren't innocent little bystanders anymore."
"You're trying to make them think that they want to be magical girls." Vashti growled.
"Do you not like that idea?"
"It's a problem," Vashti looked over towards a street light, "Especially in the case of Alice Spacebyte." Roxie blushed and finally stood.
"You noticed it as well?" the blond asked. "You've noticed the potential she has? My little cousin... I'm so proud."
"She is not allowed to make a contract," Vashti barked, "I won't allow it."
"What? Are you afraid that a magical girl who's stronger than you might get in your way?" The girl giggled and turned to the other. "Get over yourself."
"Roxie Leeblossom..." Vashti sighed, "I do not wish to fight you."
"Then make sure our paths never cross again, or else you're dead." Roxie barked before walking towards the girl. She passed her and continued walking forward, causing Vashti to turn and look at her. "Stay away from Alice." the blond barked again.
Alice sat with Kyubey outside of the hospital in Offworld Plaza. Fear just walked outside, and she looked over to her friend. She hung her head in sadness as she walked over to her, her arms crossed and her stride weak.
"How did it go?" Alice asked, holding Kyubey in her arms.
"I couldn't see him," Fear replied, referring to Amp, "They're running tests or something..." The girl began to walk on, and Alice followed. "I wasted my time to come out here, and I come at this time every day! The nerve those damn nurses have..."
"His health is more important, Fear." Alice said. She stopped in her tracks at they reached the street.
"Is everything alright?" Fear asked, looking to her friend. Alice pointed to a lamppost, which had a Grief Seed sticking out of it.
"A Grief Seed!" Kyubey cried. "A Fusion! A Fusion! It's about to hatch!"
"Here of all places?" Fear cried. "Right now!?"
"A Fusion Lair is going to open up!" Kyubey cheered.
"I have Roxie's number." Alice cried out, frantically grabbing her NanoCom.
"There's no guarantee that she'd get here in time to save you," Kyubey chuckled, "The Fusion hasn't emerged yet, but once the Lair opens, you'll be stuck inside with no escape."
"We'll lose the Fusion if we run!" Fear cried, "I can't let that happen!" Kyubey jumped from Alice's arms to Fear's shoulder.
"Alice, go bring Roxie here," the creature said, "She'll be able to track my location telepathically. Go, Alice!"
Alice began to run off, holding her Nanocom to her ear. As she ran away, a flash of light emerged from the Grief Seed, and Fear and Kyubey were gone. Alice made it halfway through the city when Roxie met up with her. Alice lead her to the spot, where only a crack in the lamppost remained. Roxie held up her Soul Gem, revealing the Fusion Portal.
"Kyubey, how is it?" Roxie asked Kyubey telepathically.
"We're ok!" he answered. "The Fusion hasn't hatched yet."
"Are you ok, Fear?" Alice asked telepathically through Kyubey.
"I'm fine!" She replied in the same manner that everyone else was communicating by. "It's so boring in here! I just want to take a nap."
"Roxie, avoid using large amounts of magic," Kyubey told the girl, "We don't want to disturb the egg and make it hatch faster. There's no rush, so come to us as quietly as you can."
"Got it," she replied and then took Alice's hand in hers, "Ready?" Alice nodded in response and the two entered the portal.
"I'm so glad we made it in time." Alice said as the two were sent to a hallway full of child's toys and Fusion Matter.
"It was a good call on Fear's part, but still." Roxie complained. She turned around to look at Alice while she spoke but was cut off by who she saw behind her. "I thought I told you I never wanted to see you again?" Vashti stepped into view.
"I will hunt this prey," Vashti said, "You two should leave."
"Yeah right!" Roxie laughed. "I've got Kyubey waitin' with a girl in here and I'm going to make sure they're safe. And besides, I don't trust you." Roxie lifted her hand and several ribbons shot out, tying themselves around Vashti, who struggled as she fell to the floor.
"Y-You idiot!" Vashti cried.
"I want to hurt you, but I'm not going to," Roxie scoffed, "But, if you struggle, the ribbons will only tighten."
"This isn't the time!" Vashti barked. "This Fusion isn't like the others!"
"Oh, shut up," Roxie growled, "I'll let you out after I take care of business here. Alice, let's go."
"O-Okay." Alice muttered as she began to follow Roxie deeper into the Lair.
"W-Wai-" Vashti screamed, only cut off by the tightening ribbons.
"Roxie!" Kyubey's voice cried in her and Alice's minds. "The Grief Seed is hatching! Hurry!"
"Follow close, Alice!" Roxie yelled, flipping into the air and changing into her magical girl attire. She spawned guns from her skirt and sleeves and used them to kill anything in her way. She busted down a door and grabbed Alice's hand once again, leading her to a gigantic dog house, Fear and Kyubey standing next to it.
"Roxie!" Fear and Kyubey cried in unison.
"Sorry about the wait." the blonde replied.
"Careful, its coming." Kyubey warned. Just then, a tiny Fusion Courage waddled out of the dog house and pounced around.
"C-Courage!" Alice cried. Roxie jumped towards it and spawned a gun.
"Sorry, bud, but this is the end for you!" Roxie giggled as she swung her gun at the Fusion like she was playing a game of baseball. The Fusion flew across the room. He trotted back and jumped at Roxie, who shot the creature in its face.
"You did it!" Fear cried as the Fusion flew back into the dog house. Roxie spawned her gigantic gun and grinned.
"Trio Finale!" the magical girl cried before the gun, demolished the dog house.
"Yes, you go, Roxie!" Alice cheered from the sidelines. The blonde turned and smiled to her cousin.
However, the rubble from the dog house began shaking, and Fusion Courage flew out from underneath. He opened his mouth, letting a huge Fusion Fuzzy Lumpkins emerge. She hovered over Roxie, and opened his mouth. Alice and Fear grabbed each other, looking on in horror as the Fusion Fuzzy cleanly bit Roxie's head right off her body. Her clothes returned to normal as the rest of her body fell to the ground, and the ribbons that tied up Vashti disappeared. The Fusion pounced downwards, finishing the rest of Roxie's body.
"Roxie!" Alice cried, tears streaming down her face.
"Alice, Fear, you need to make a contract with me right now!" Kyubey yelled. The Fusion Fuzzy looked up and began heading towards the girls. "Hurry!"
"That won't be necessary." Vashti voice cried out. She jumped behind them and towards the Fusion, who had his mouth open, ready to feast. She jumped right into his mouth and spawned her own guns. She continued to shoot the Fusion dead from the inside out. The monster exploded and Vashti walked away from the mess. "One more minute and you all would have been dead." The Lair they were in reverted back to the normal city street, and a Grief Seed fell into Vashti's hands.
"Give it back." Fear growled. "That's... That's Roxie's!"
"Burn this sight into your minds," Vashti replied, "This is what it's like to be a magical girl."