Ribbons and bows. I twirled in front of the mirror. The costume looked like something Amy, my wimpy alter ego, would wear. It was right up her alley. It could have been up mine if the road signs had been blown down in that last storm we had but I haven't been down that way to check out the damage yet… and that's just confusing. I must admit though, I make a damn fine Magical Girl. It still wasn't fair though. I'll bet Mr. Bad Man was getting to parade around in all kinds of spiffy clothing. He didn't have to traipse around in the wilderness either. That guy has all the luck...

"Who ever heard of a Magical Girl that worked together with a group made up of non-Magical Girls?" I asked.

Miata shrugged. "I just follow orders." He replied.

We left the cottage at daybreak and hit the dusty trail. This time Alero was with us. Not only was he the dressmaker, but he doubled as part of the group… even if I'd yet to figure out which part, exactly. It was nice to know that whoever was tinkering with my life was being slightly considerate.

Naturally, that consideration didn't last long.

"Stop right there!!"

I glanced around but kept walking. What kind of fruit stops in the middle of trail just because some whiny brat demands it? Not this fruit, that's for certain. Hello, can we say ambush!

"I said, stop right there!!"

I rolled my eyes. "Forget it! Who the hell are you anyway?"

Suddenly a hand, or rather a pair of hands, were around my beautiful neck. I paused. This is the part where I get to act all shrieky and girly and my hunky companions get to come to my rescue! Hmm… I wish I had my camera with me…

"Uh, Zero?" Camry called. "There's a, uh, um... there's a villain on your neck."

I couldn't speak so I rolled my eyes instead. Camry and Alero were sitting idly on the side of the road, Miata resting on Camry's knee. I kneed whoever was attacking and turned on my comrades. "What the hell?! Are you guys going to help me or not??"

They shrugged. I lunged. The villain stood nearby looking confused. Camry and Alero soon had me pinned to the ground… Camry seemed to be enjoying it a little too much. "Get off me!" I cried and managed to push them both away.

"What gives?"

"This is the first time you transform." Miata explained. "No Magical Girl has ever fought her first battle with help from her companions, save her kawaii guide."

"Oh, this is just perfect. What do I need to do?"

"You just concentrate on transforming and shout a magical phrase and the rest will happen by itself."

"And you're gonna tell me that Villain Girl is just going to stand there while I do this?"

Miata pointed at the villain. She and Alero were discussing nail polish. Good grief.

"Well, what sort of magical phrase am I supposed to shout?"

"It doesn't matter what you say." Miata smirked. "Not many people know that either."

Fine... here goes nothin'… "FUZZY FISHBOWLS!" A blinding flash of light and suddenly I was weightless… and naked. And being stared at. I had more important things to worry about though. Pink ribbons were attacking me at an alarming speed. It was all I could do to stay out of the way. They wound around me again and again and before I knew it I was being encased like a happy-go-lucky mummy, if there is such a thing.

After a bit the ribbons stopped moving. Phew. They managed to settle themselves in exactly the same places where my new Magical Girl uniform was about to appear. I waited impatiently. With one last tug that cut off my air supply and nearly cut me in half, the ribbons disappeared and the disgustingly girly uniform replaced it. "Am I done yet?" I shouted. I should have waited. My body was lowered to the ground and began contorting in ways a body should not contort in. My left leg turned strangely, my torso twisted and I stuck one arm out in the air. "What the?!"

That's precisely the moment I became aware of clapping. Camry looked as satisfied as I'd ever seen him, the little pervert. A small tear of joy and pride crept from the corner of Alero's eye. Miata and Villain girl just looked impressed. Damn that trademark Magical Girl pose. I'm a self-respecting secret agent, not a fashion doll!!