letztes: The Land of Stars and Crystals IV

But the structure is complex.

We would be totally lost if Sapphire weren't here.

And they've stopped pursuing us. Helena...

I-I should probably go back!

Right now, let's carry out our own mission.

Helena is strong, so she'll be fine. The same goes for Nursery and Medea...

You're right, Mash. After all, Miyu is waiting!

？！

True. But the structure is complex.

We would be totally lost if Sapphire weren't here.

And they've stopped pursuing us. Helena...

I-I should probably go back!

Right now, let's carry out our own mission.

Helena is strong, so she'll be fine. The same goes for Nursery and Medea...

You're right, Mash. After all, Miyu is waiting!

？！

Finally. I'll finally be able to see Miyu!

We just have to go through the final corridor!

Someone's sitting on the throne!

That's the First Lady... Ah!

What's this?

Huh...? You're...

Chloe!?

Shoot, you made it, huh? You really don't know when to give up.

Chloe!?

C-Chloe, what are you doing here!?

That's Chloe? You did mention she was like a twin, but she really is the spitting image of you!

Is she a magical girl, too!?

Yes. But why didn't I sense Chloe's presence?

(Sigh) You've caused me so much trouble. I wish you would be a little more considerate, knowing that we share pain.

Oh, sorry. Wait a minute! Where's Miyu!?

I get it, you came here to rescue her, didn't you, Chloe? Where are Rin and Luvia?

No, they're not here. It's just me and Miyu.

We've been here a long, long time. But I've been here since the beginning.

Huh? What are you talking about, Chloe? You've been here for a long, long time?

Where is Miyu?

Over there! But be careful!

Miyu!

...

？！

Roger that. What's this!?

？！

It's a defensive reaction of the Voile de Deuil.

It's an Anti-Magical Girl Mystic Code. Even you wouldn't escape unscathed, Mash.

What, an Anti-Magical Girl Mystic Code!? That's impossible! It's way too niche!

You're one to talk, Ruby, you cheerful-type something-something spirit... But never mind that now!

What's going on, Chloe? If it's a joke, it's gone too far! Release Miyu right now!

Oh, what should I do? I mean, I went to all the trouble of making her mine.

It used to be so annoying how you would always monopolize her, Illya.

Heh... This feels nostalgic. Yes. Maybe this is closer to my true self.

Ulp... She could be. But she seems to be acting pretty naturally to me...

Chloe always did love pranks like this...

I'm not picking up any strange magical energy. This is the normal Chloe.

Ah! That's right! If she was controlling those familiars, it would've taken a lot of...

Um, Illya... Miyu's magical energy... Could it be being harvested?

Huh? Ah, yes... It's possible. That's why Miyu is tied up like that!

I'm a little jeal... No! I mean, that's terrible harassment!

My apologies for butting in. I don't think that's what Fujimaru meant...

You don't find it questionable that Chloe isn't draining magical energy from us magical sticks?

My mind immediately went there? Aughhh!

I-I'm sorry, Master! I went off the rails!

？！

Whew... You people certainly are noisy...

I don't want you getting the wrong idea, so let me dispel your doubts.

Illya, when you and Miyu went to the Mirror World...

I was actually with you.

You two were in a hurry to get something there, so it seems you didn't notice my presence.

Flustered, I did a little tuning and jumped into the Reality Marble. In retrospect, that probably wasn't a good idea.

The next thing I knew, I was in this world. And all alone.

You were here... before us? In this world?

That's right. Ever since, I've been alone here. Like a time warp from the unstable jump?

When I looked out over this world, I saw magical girls at war with each other, and I didn't know which were allies.

Even just concealing my presence consumed more and more of my magical energy.

It got to the point where I almost disappeared. And I was very... lonely.

But then I met Her.

You mean the First Lady...?

Her familiar, to be precise.

Wha...!?

You were that reckless!? Chloe, you dummy!

Huh? How about you two? The ones who set off for the Mirror World without even telling me!

But we had an errand to do for Rin and we were in a hurry.

Stop. There's no need for introductions.

You're Fujimaru and Mash.

I've gathered what's going on, more or less, through Illya's senses. So I know your circumstances as well.

Then why didn't you join us, Chloe?

That was because...

？！

Because I was hoping that Rin or Luvia would come and save us.

But since they didn't notice I was gone in the first place, of course they didn't come to save me.

But...that wasn't it. My appearance in this world was inevitable.

The First Lady told me something. She was brutally honest. It was like a knife sliding through my ribs.

"Is the meaning of your life to be an accessory to Illya? You're like a wildcat that's been declawed." That's what she said.

That's not...!

Yes, yes, I know. You deny it. Of course. You're Illya.

More importantly, I don't see it that way, either. That being said...

I did realize that some part of me thinks of you as "number one."

After all, I would even be friendly with Miyu for your sake. It's for my sake, too, so it's only natural.

Chloe...

Master... Chloe's mood is shifting...

Eeeek! MG Power just shot up! How many transformations does she have left!?

But we still don't have an opening. We need to somehow get to Miyu.

I know that! I know the essence of the world is how unfair it is!

And I know that you're an extremely decent person, so much that being sarcastic to you makes me feel like a fool!

Wha... Huh!?

T-That's right! Beautiful tanned... That's not the point!

Chloe, I'm the one who idolizes you! You're strong and have your act together infinitely more than me!

That's not what I'm talking about. I don't think you'll ever be able to understand it, Illya.

？！

But even I have a wish that I want to come true.

For my sake alone. My own wish that would reach the world.

Chloe is... projecting a weapon!

Oh my. This is definitely battle mode, isn't it?

Oh, Chloe, how could you!?

Fujimaru, Mash, and Sapphire too, please!

Please give me just a little time!

If that's your wish, Illya.

A full throttle magic combat with the sisters' supremacy on the line... I'm kind of captiva... N-No!

If it becomes dangerous, I'm going to stop you both!

？！

Thank you. Ruby!

Yes☆ Can I punch the mischievous Chloe once?

Come on, there's not a moment to lose. Let's just use my brainwashing device...

No! I'm going to turn off the switch that made her weird!

Yeah, yeah☆ Beat her with your conviction, right? I know full well what you're going to do!

But I also think you should apologize to her later for neglecting her.

Ulp... Any way, get away from Miyu, Chloe!

Forget it! Miyu is mine now!