The Fool's First Blood

The Fool Arc

It… wasn’t supposed to be this easy.

But it felt so good that it was.

I’d grabbed the man’s head in both hands, each on either side. And now he was watching me, unable to move.
“Please… what did I… do…?” He chokes out around blood, pouring out of his nose, his mouth. His eyes are frantic and wild. Mine are probably no better.

I’ve gone mad. That’s the only explanation. Magic doesn’t exist, it can’t. But I was able to… no, I needed to. That’s it. If you just think about need, that’s how it all works.

I squeeze my hands together, there’s a bit of a soft wheezing sound, like crushing two cans together, then a folding crumple, a splatter.

The blood was impressive. I didn’t expect that much. It exploded across the alleyway like a water balloon with crunch.

I laugh again. It’s low, hoarse in my throat.

How did I become like this?

How.

This power is intoxicating. The strength. The brutal cruelty and clarity. Is this what it feels like to be insane?

*            *            *

Pathetic. 

KYS. 

Go Die.

I slam the words again and again, a mantra as those ignorant fools swarm me. I point out my far superior, far more violent, shows. I call these morons and their pathetic little beliefs trash and stupid. But still, the hounding continues, they call for banning.

I curse and swear in response, getting more and more heated. My hand knocks over a soda can as I type, and I growl with growing anger as I lash out at each and every one of them.

These fools are too… too… too pathetic! They can’t see my genius. But I can. I look over at the shelf of DVDs by my bedside. My beloved pile. Stories where people with powers take what they want. Stories that are far more real than dumb magical girls. That’s what you’d do if you were powerful. That’s what anyone would do. The world is separated into powerful and weak. I had always been weak, looking up at the powerful.

And then… it came to me. Into my life with the flickering of a screen;
Truly, do you hate this world?
I was going to delete it. It must have been a virus, some scam. I'd been staring at an adult website when it showed up. Simple white words on a black screen.
My hand hovered over the off button when the words flashed and changed.
Goro. Kuroiwa Goro. Won't you stay and talk, for me?
And it all stopped making sense in the most wonderful way.

*            *            *

I release what’s left of the body and let it fall to the ground, twitching. There’s a steady glug-glug as the blood pours from the neck, like water. Just like water. Hah. The stench of blood is stronger than anything the alley could provide.

XV. XV was my saviour. My beloved. XV was everything. The one who understood my desires, and fed them. Made me stronger. XV gave me everything I wanted in life, and I would do whatever she asked. And all she asked was that I be true to myself.

I hear footsteps running up, getting closer. Someone's approaching. Some remnant of fear from my days as a normal human causes me to look for a place to hide, to get away from the crime scene. I leap backwards and am astonished at how high my legs carry me in that single bound.

“Magical Girl Rinrin is here, beware evildoers!” A voice shouts, and leaping into the scene with impossible speed is a girl, dressed in a white and pink outfit. Some stupid cosplayer, right? I grin to myself. She’s pretty, though. Sorta girl who’d sneer at me with contempt. Dark thoughts swirl as I stare at her, twisting my face into a sick grin. It’d shut them up if some magi-girl cosplayer was found decorating a dark alley, torn in half. There’s no way the police could stop me. Not now. Not with my strength.

Then something happened. There was a shine, a brief light. My eyes widened as the world I knew exploded around me into possibilities.

Magical Girls are real.