Day 76

[from StarLight]

"So," asked Sanae suddenly, "how do I actually fight this thing?"

"The Emblem acts merely as a source of power," said Kousen. "How you harness that power in battle is up to you."

"You mean I have to come up with my own attacks?" asked Sanae.

"Yes," said Kousen. "It's as simple as picturing them in your head and giving them a name. When you point the wand, and shout the name out loud, the attack will be launched."

"So I have to call my attacks? That doesn't sound very sensible," Sanae remarked.

"What do you mean?" asked Kousen. "It's a mindless beast, it's not going to know what your attack names mean, much less how to dodge them."

"Good point," Sanae conceded. She could see the monster clearly now, rising up from the silvery surface of the river. Every so often it would let out a deafening roar, screaming to the heavens. The banks of the river were crowded with people come to witness the extraordinary event, and in a few moments' time, they would witness another.

"Alright," said Sanae, "I think I have a couple of attacks now. Let's do this."

"I've done all I can for you now," said Kousen. "From here, I can do no more than believe in you, and encourage you and do your best. The rest is all up to you. Good luck, Sanae Hikari… or rather, White Star."

Sanae, or rather, White Star, nodded. "Thank you, Kousen," she said. "I'll do my best!"

As White Star advanced on the monster, the crowd below began to notice her. One by one, their faces and cameras swivelled upwards, watching in disbelief as the floating figure approached. "What is that?" asked one onlooker. "Is it a bird?"

"Is it a plane?" asked one.

"It's the lizard men, come to steal our first-born sons!" screamed Kazuo with genuine terror.

Hitomi Murasakime, looking up at the sky with her mismatched eyes sparkling, knew exactly what the strange figure was. "It's a magical girl!" she squealed excitedly. "It's a magical girl, come to stop the monster!"

White Star came to a halt above the river, hovering level with the monster's fanged head. "That's right!" she proclaimed, as though in response to Hitomi. "I'm a genuine magical girl! Using the otherworldly power I've inherited, I'm going to blast this monster into oblivion and save the city! Fear not, citizens of Mitsuzawa: your destiny lies with me, White Star!"

"We can't hear what you're saying!" called out Hitomi. "You're too far away!"

"What?" called out White Star in response.

"Oh, for heaven's sake, just fight the damn monster already!" called out Kousen. "You're wasting screen time!"

"Sorry!" White Star called out to her.

"Who are you talking to?" called out Hitomi.

"I thought you said you couldn't hear me?" called out White Star.

"What?" called out Hitomi.

A sudden loud roar from the monster interrupted this exchange, and reminded White Star that she did, after all, still have a monster to fight. "I'll let my fighting do the talking, then!" she proclaimed. "Alright, here goes!" She pointed her wand directly at the monster, which wasn't exactly presenting the smallest of targets, and shouted the name of her first attack: "Star Shower!"

The White Star Emblem glowed brightly, and a barrage of star-shaped rays of light shot out of the wand, striking the monster directly. It reeled back, then roared once more, its sights now set on the one who had hurt it. It rushed through the water, heading straight towards her.

"And again… Star Sh- OOF." Before she could complete the incantation, the monster swung its long neck and headbutted her hard, sending her flying back a number of feet. The crowd below gasped, but after getting over her initial shock, White Star realized to her astonishment that she was completely unharmed. "Wow… that didn't even hurt at all!" she exclaimed. "I can't tell if that's cool or just weird, but it'll sure come in handy."

Sanae was now close enough to the riverbank to hear the words of encouragement drifting down from below. "You can do it!" cried one onlooker. "Defeat that monster!" cried another. "Can I put this on FooTube?" asked a third, holding up his phone.

Her spirit redoubled by the crowd's cheers, White Star gripped the wand tightly in her hands. "Alright then!" She pointed the wand once more, as the creature lined up for another charge. "Lightning Strike!"

A thunder cloud suddenly rumbled overhead, and a moment later an immense bolt of lightning tore through the sky, blasting the monster with a powerful jolt of electricity. It roared and thrashed about, steam rising from its singed body.

"Alright, this next attack will end it!" declared White Star. "White Star Pulse!"

A star-shaped ball of light blossomed from the tip of the White Star Wand and then struck the monster with incredible force. With another loud roar, it was sent crashing back into the ocean from which it had emerged, sending a huge pillar of spray gushing forth into the air. Sanae smiled and breathed a small sigh of relief, soaking in the cheers of the crowd below. "Well, that's that dealt with-"

She had spoken too soon. At once the monster, not quite defeated, burst out of the water with a deafening scream, looming tall and menacing over the startled magical girl. White Star watched in shock, strangely frozen to the spot as its jaws opened wide, sharp fangs ready to devour her. Then the monster darted forward, and with a single deafening snap of its jaws, White Star disappeared from sight.