Star Monarch hummed as she walked down the halls of Kaleidoscope Uy's hi-tech Magical Knight Danger ter, holding a piic basket. Her long blonde hair trailed behind her in a ponytail. Her heels clicked on the linoleum fl, eg through the empty hall. It was the end of the day and the sun had set. The hallways were illuminated by fluorest lights overhead.

  Her long, golden skirt billowed behind her as she made her way down the hall. Her matg long-sleeve blouse, white with gold ats, fit her figure well. Her white heels were also and more like high boots that were opehe look was pleted with a pair of gold-framed gsses. Her long, golden hair trailed down her ba a ponytail that reached the small of her back.

  She reached the Danger ter's door, where she typed in a key code. It beeped ohen twice, and the doors opened with a hiss.

  "Heartfelt Echo: Shooting Star!" a girl with pink twintails screamed, swinging her wand.

  The room was bathed in pink light. The pink, star-shaped energy barrage flew from her wand, but Foxtrot's body flickered as she suddenly sped up and dodged it, running up and around the wall before diving at the pink girl in a fsh of green, smming into the ground where she had been standing. She was fast, moving so quickly she was almost impossible to see. She had snow-white hair that she liked to keep short these days, with an emerald green uniform.

  Star Bunbun traced a heart-shaped sigil in the air. A pink force field surrounded her as Foxtrot exploded forward and her foot impacted the barrier with a loud bang.

  The impact shook the room and the forcefield shimmered as it struggled to stay active uhe weight of Foxtrot's kick. Frinned, summoning a spear of swirling wind energy in her hand.

  Foxtrot spun around, swinging her spear in an arc that cut through the air and smmed it against the barrier, shattering it.

  Star Bunbun gasped, raising her arm in front of her fa shock, then dove away from the shattered barrier.

  Their team had been doing their daily training in the Danger ter's simuted bat arena for weeks. The raid on Professor Lunatrix's hideout had been rough, and Nightingale had almost died in the final push to front a one of the Four Warlords. It had made them realize how badly they o take their training seriously, despite the raw talent their team had. Monarch felt a pang in her chest whehought of the moment she'd been too slow to stop Lunatrix's attack. Their team had won that fight, but the scars ran deep. And Lunatrix was still unated for after Bunbun's finishing attack. The ehing had been a mess, but at least the others were all safe, even if Nightingale had to be on medical leave.

  She had almost died because Monarch had failed her.

  Foxtrot and Star Bunbun cshed again. Foxtrot was the stronger, mgressive fighter. Bunbun's heart-shaped barrier was gone and she had switched from a defeo an offeyle, wielding a bo staff of pure, pink light energy.

  Monarch felt a twinge in her heart, remembering the sight of the woman in the dark armor she'd found kneeling htihe mysterious woman owerful mage, but Monarch hadn't sensed her at all before she'd been dispatched, and Nightingale had taken a blow that would have been fatal. The team had moved to quickly to try and save their friend.

  But, she was also grateful they'd all made it out. She could still remember that day clearly, even if she tried not to think of it often. It had been the most painful experience of her life.

  Bunbun and Foxtrot cshed, their powers colliding with each other as the two magical girls fought furiously in the middle of the simuted battle arena. Foxtrot was generally their best one-on-one fighter, but Monarch was surprised to find that Bunbun was... edging out her best friend. In fact, she'd sistently edged out Foxtrot for the past four or five months.

  It had started slowly, with the girl getting a bit faster and a little bit better than the rest of them, and it was all in her favor. Her Signature Talent worked well with increased motivation, and she'd been the most important member of the team in group settings because of her versatility. Foxtrot was always the best to send in to fnk ht someone face to face, tough.

  But thearted beating Foxtrot. Not all the time, but the number of wins was steadily increasing, and Monarch was starting to get nervous about it.

  It wasn't jealousy or envy, though. She was genuinely ed for Bunbun's safety, especially after the Lunatrix i. Her heart was too big and pure for her own good, and she o be more careful. It had already gotten her in trouble before, and Monarch didn't want it happening again.

  Bunbun's eyes fshed as she swung her bo staff at Foxtrot, who barely had enough time to block before her oppo spun the on around, hitting Foxtrot's back with a loud crack. The two tio exge blows, their powers and ons fshing brightly. Monarch was impressed at how fast the two of them could move.

  Star Monarch stood in front of the training chamber, watg her teammates as they trained.

  She was an acrobat and a master at ranged fighting. She was fast and nimble, able to leap and flip in mid-air with grace. But she still wasn't as agile as Foxtrot. And she wasn't as versatile or powerful as Bunbun, or even as good from a distance as Nightingale. She also wasn't as good at healing as Foxtrot.

  Star Bunbun had a strange power that Monarch had never been able to quite pin down, and that made it dangerous, too. Her signature's sedary effect was something Monarch called a 'Motivation Boost.' But, she'd never seen it work quite like it was right now.

  The pink magical girl grinned, spinniaff with one hand while the other summoned another heart-shaped shield. She blocked Foxtrot's attad pushed her back.

  The white-haired girl growled and stepped back, summoning her emerald-green wind energy. Lightning crackled and arced betweehe energy rippling across their bodies and their uniforms.

  Monarch could see Bunbun anting hard. Soured down her brow and her breathing was heavy.

  She cleared her throat and walked over to them, stepping onto the training ptform and putting herself in their way.

  "That's enough for now," she said.

  Star Foxtrot scoffed and stepped back from her. She wiped her forehead with the back of her hand, then flicked it out, sending a shower of sweat onto the floor of the training room. Her emerald eyes stared at Bunbun, and the two exged looks.

  Then, she made a farting h her mouth.

  "Fart," she said.

  Bunbun stared at her.

  Frinned, wiggling her fox ears. "You smell like farts," she teased, stig her to. Bunbun just rolled her eyes, and Foxtrot ughed.

  "Ugh. Foxy, you're such a dude," Star Monarch sighed, rubbiemples and adjusting her gsses. She walked over to the bend pced the basket down, then sat on the edge and began unpag it.

  "Aw, , don't be such a wet b. We're just having some fun, right?" she said, looking at Star Bunbun.

  "Y-yeah," she replied, giggling. "I mean, we're friends and everything. We joke around and be a bit silly. I think it's cute."

  The pink magical girl looked at Foxtrot, a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

  "Although, I wouldn't miing to know you a bit better," she said, batting her eyes. Foxtrot snorted.

  "Yeah, yeah, you dream, princess," she said.

  "Foxy, do you want your snack or not? It's not every day I make fried tofu and okonomiyaki for you. And they'll be cold soon," Monarch said.

  "Ah, yes!" she cried, running to Monard sittio her, her fox tail wagging furiously. She snatched a piece of fried tofu from the basket and stuffed it into her mouth, eating with gusto.

  "Yum!" she mumbled through a mouthful of food.

  Star Monarch watched Foxtrot swallowing with her usual gusto and smiled.

  Bunbun slowly tiptoed behind Foxtrot, her eyes twinkling.

  "Foxy..." Bunbun whispered.

  "Hmm?" Foxtrot turned her head and then screamed, dropping the basket as Star Bunbun pounced, grabbing the fox-tailed magical girl's tail and waist from behind.

  "S-stop!" she cried, struggling to escape the embrace. Her face flushed, her ears ft, aail filing. Bunbun dragged her to the ground.

  "But you're so soft!" she said, giggling. "So soft!"

  Monarch shook her head and sighed.

  "L-look! You know I'm a maer, you... gah! Grabby lesbo!" Foxtrot yelled, her face bright red as Bunbun squeezed her chest. Foxtrot rolled around, trying to break free, and finally, after a moment, mao get away. But not before Bunbun had mao grab a handful of her butt and squeezed. She scooted back away from the girl and her eyes widened.

  Bunbun ughed.

  "Hey! No! Stop! Don't!" Foxtrot yelled, c herself as Bunbun advanced and skipped with her arms outstretched, ready for an exaggerated hug. The green magical girl got to her feet, her cheeks flushed.

  "e any closer, and I'm going to use the... The... you know what!"

  Star Monarch rolled her eyes.

  "Foxy, stop ag so shy and embarrassed! We're both girls here, and we've known each other for what, five years? Six? We're close enough!" Bunbun said.

  "O-okay! Okay! I'm sorry! But stop, please! You know how ticklish I am!"

  "No!" she said, giggling.

  Foxtrot screamed and tried to get away but tripped and on her back.

  Bunbun ughed harder, crawling towards her.

  Monarch stepped forward aly put her hand on Bunbun's shoulder.

  "Bun, please. Let her go, a something," Monarch said softly. "I made you hot custard buns and siu mai."

  The magical girl iion stopped iracks. Her eyes lit up as she looked up at Monard then at the basket, which was still full of food.

  "Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!" Bunbun cried. She jumped to her feet, grabbed Monarch, and pulled her into a bear hug.

  Monarch winced and sighed.

  " you please stop?" Mroaned.

  "Ah! Sorry, sorry," Bunbun said, releasing the older woman and stepping away, scratg the back of her head sheepishly.

  "Foxtrot, are you alright?"

  "Yeah..." Frunted, pig herself up off the floor. "Just a little bruised, is all. Nothing I haven't dealt with before."

  Bunbun reached for the basket and grabbed a bun. She took a bite, sav the sweet taste of the custard inside, and sighed tently.

  "Fu' delicious!" Foxtrot said as she bit into aofu. "Thanks, Momma Monarch."

  "I'm only a year older! Don't call me that. You know it annoys me," Monarch sighed.

  "Aw, but you make such delieals," Bunbun said.

  Monarch beamed. "Thank you."

  Bunbun took a seat and tinued mung on the shrimp dumplings. "I'm going to have to ask for some more cooking lessons from you sometime," she said, wiping her mouth with a napkin. "These are really good."

  "Any time," Monarch said. "I'd be happy to teach you."

  Bunbun grinned. "Thanks!"

  "Hey, Buns," Foxtrot said.

  "Yeah?"

  "What're we going to do about the team's name?"

  Bunbun blinked. "Huh?"

  "I mean, 'Sensational Sparkling Shimmering Stars' worked when we were in the junior league, but now? Now it sounds kinda me. Especially if we're goneam of adult magical knights," Foxtrot expined. "I think it o be something cool and badass."

  "I don't think that's what our team represents, though," Bunbun replied. "Besides, 'Sensational Sparkling Shimmering Stars' has a ring to it, doesn't it? Although I've been thinking of rebranding and ging my own o 'Celestia' or 'Celeste.' I've always liked that name."

  Foxtrot yawned, spreading her legs. "Yeah, I get what you mean. Maybe we should think about it a little more before making a decision, then."

  Monarodded. "Re... Regardless of what you think, I believe Nightingale should be part of the versation," Monarch said with a soft smile. "She's a big part of the team and I'm sure she has some good ideas. After she recovers."

  "Ah. Yeah," Bunbun sighed. "She's a good friend. She'd be a good help with this."

  "Definitely," Foxtrot added. "But until then, I think we should e up with something cool. Like 'Savage Sensational Shining Stars' or 'Supernova Starlight Streakers' or something."

  Bunbun and Foxtrot ughed together.

  "Seriously? Starlight Streakers?! Why would you call ourselves streakers? We're magical girls, not some weird exhibitionist club. That sounds terrible! We're already ae team, we don't o be associated with anything weird like that!" Bunbun said, shaking her head.

  "Hey! I'm not saying it's the best idea ever, just something that popped into my head!" Foxtrot protested, shrugging and turning to Monarch. "What do you think, ol' Lady Butterfly? Got any suggestions?"

  Monarch looked down, quietly eating a rice ball. "Well... I don't..."

  "Don't what? omma Monarch! Don't tell me ya don't have anything!" Foxtrot teased. She threw an arm around the irl. "We all know how creative ya be!"

  "I don't know..."

  "Ah! You're such a killjoy. Fine, whatever. Let's just finish our food a outta here. I'm beat!" Foxtrot sighed, leaning against her.

  Monarch felt unfortable.

  Her face flushed slightly and her gsses were starting to slip off her nose, and she pushed them up, feeling embarrassed. The two were silent, and Monarch could hear Bunbun chewing. Her owbeat seemed too loud, too.

  "Are you okay?" Foxtrot whispered to her.

  "Huh?"

  "Your aura's ag weird."

  "It is?"

  "Yeah." Foxtrot nodded. "I don't know how to describe it. But it feels strange, like something is b you."

  "Oh, no. It's nothing. Just... just thinking," she said. But Foxtrot was a good friend, and Monarew better. "I've been thinking about my life tely and... Well, you know, there are so many things that I still o aplish, and I haven't had enough time yet."

  "Ah, I getcha."

  "You do?" Monarch asked, looking at Foxtrot, who was ing a piece of shrimp. She looked at Monarch with a thoughtful expression, then grinned and patted Monar the back.

  "Sure. You've been w hard for so long. You've always wao be a magical girl. And now we've made it to the big leagues," Foxtrot said. "So what's the problem?"

  "Well..." Monarch started. She took another bite of her rice ball and chewed it, trying to think. "I don't know if I want this forever. Being a magical girl is amazing. It's everything I ever dreamed it would be, but there are other things that I'd like to do, too."

  Foxtrot's eyebrows went up. "What?"

  "Like having a family aling down," Monarch said. "I want to have children one day, maybe a few of them, and live a normal life, not just fighting would-be querors and vilins."

  "Wait, seriously? Like, a family?" Bunbun asked.

  "Uh-huh," Monarch said. She blushed slightly.

  "That's awesome," Bunbun said, her eyes shining brightly. "I thought about it too, you know? After we're doaking dow two of the Four, I'd marry Nightingale and we'd adopt a baby girl. Name her Celeste. Or a boy and name him Sirius."

  "Uh, what?" Foxtrot said. "Bunbun, that's, uh..."

  Bunbun giggled. "Yeah, well, that's what I nning. I dunno how I'm going to ask Nightie to marry me, but it's something I'm really excited about."

  "Pfft. I'd say she's about as gay as I am. You're outta luck," Foxtrot teased, giving her a friendly shove. Bunbun rolled her eyes, shoving back.

  "Well, maybe I'll snatch Elio from her instead. But I'm going to be a good mom. A good wife. I've been training to be Maria's wifey for years," she said with a ugh. "But that's after the five of us bee the best magical girl team ever."

  Foxtrot smiled. "That sounds nice," she said. She leaned bad stretched, popping a few of the bones in her back.

  The two girls fell silent, the only sounds the ks and scrapes of chopsticks on ptes as they tinued mung away.

  "I'm going to miss these days, but I'm excited for the future," Bunbun finally said, standing up. "You two, Nightie, Elio, me... We'll be unstoppable. We're already the top team at Kaleidoscope Uy, and soon we'll be the best team of magical knights in the world. And we'll be able to protect everyone."

  Monarch looked away.

  Bunbun looked down, fiddling with a strand of her pink hair. She bit her lip and sighed, shaking her head.

  Monarch looked up at Bunbun. "Buns?"

  "I... It's nothing," Bunbun said. She shrugged, grinning widely. "Let's finish eating. We have to meet up with Maria ter tonight!"

  "Yeah," Monarch agreed, pig up another piece of tofu.

  She looked up again, f herself to meet Bunbun's gaze, her eyes twinkling.

  She looked so happy, so hopeful. So full of love, so excited for the future.

  But she could feel something was wrong. Something was off, and Monarew it.

  That night, when Foxy left to spend time with Maria and the others, Bunbun and Monarch were the st to leave the Danger ter.

  The two stood in front of the elevator in silence for several minutes, Bunbun tapping her foot, waiting impatiently.

  "So," she said.

  "So," Monarch replied, staring down at the floor.

  Bunbun looked over her shoulder.

  "You sure you're okay?"

  Monarch looked up. She saw Bunbun looking at her, and she knew she wasn't okay, and she knew Bunbun knew.

  Monarch sighed, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath.

  "I've been having doubts tely. I don't know what it is, but... But something's wrong, Buns."

  "What? Why?" Bunbun said. She walked up to Monard pced a hand on her shoulder, looking ed.

  "Maybe it's because I'm the oldest. I've had these powers lohan any of you and I know what I'm talking about. I sehings, and something feels wrong. There's something missing from all this, and I 't put my finger on it. I don't know if I want to do this anymore."

  Bunbun blinked, looking down.

  "I uand."

  "Do you?"

  "I do," she said, nodding. She looked Monar the eyes, and Monarch saw that same spark of hope in Bunbun's eyes. It made her heart skip a beat, even though she was so scared of losing that spark from her life.

  Monarch looked back down at her feet. She was terrified. But she had to keep going.

  She was a leader. A mentor. She was a Magical Knight. A magical girl.

  "I've been having dreams tely. Weird, fusing dreams. They feel real. I 't make heads or tails of them, and I've been having trouble sleeping, Buns. It's not that I'm not enjoying myself anymore, I just feel like I should be doing something else. And, I'm tired of all the fighting."

  "Is it because of what happened with Lunatrix? You've been so worried ever sihe i."

  "I... Maybe. Maybe I'm scared of failing, scared of letting people down," Monarch admitted. "I've worked so hard to be where I am, but I'm still so far away from my dream. I want to make everyone proud, and I'm afraid I'll disappoint them. And, maybe it's the guilt, or the pressure. I don't know. It's just..."

  Monarch looked down, tears threatening to fall from her eyes. She was a magical girl. She shouldn't cry, shouldn't show weakness.

  She felt a hand touch her bad she looked up to see Bunbun smiling softly at her. She reached forward, wiping a tear away from her eye.

  "Hey, I get it, you know," she said. "We've been through so much, and we've been fighting together for a long time. I know what it feels like. We're both so close to graduating. We're at the top. I don't think anyone's going to bme you if you take a break, and if anything happens, you always e back."

  Bunbun looked at Monarch with such kindness, and Monarch wao believe her, to trust her. To believe in her. She was the leader, but Bunbun had been there for her so much, so often. And she wao be able to return that.

  She reached up and wiped aear away, sniffing. "You think so?"

  Bunbun smiled and nodded. "Absolutely. I've always believed in you, and I always will. You do anything if you put your mind to it. I know you'll make the right decision. And I'll support you no matter what."

  "Thank you," Monarch said, her voice crag slightly.

  "And hey, we made retirement pns together, remember? I'll just be a few years behind you."

  "Yeah, I know," Monarch replied, smiling weakly. "It'll be nice. A bunny cafe, kids. Normalcy."

  "I 't wait to have kids of my own, and maybe a few more bunnies. And maybe some cats. And a hamster. And a dog. And a tuna."

  "A... a tuna?"

  "Hey! Don't judge. Fish are great. And if I'm gonna be a mom, I'm gonna need all the pets I handle," she ughed. She looked up at Monarch, and the light in her eyes had returned. She was still so full of love and hope. "Besides, yoing to make an awesome mother. You've got the motherly thing down, after all."

  Monarch felt the weight on her chest lighten. She took a deep breath a out a sigh. "Thank you. That means a lot to me, you know. Thank you. For everything."

  "You're wele," she replied. "Hey, how about this? I know it might be too te for you, but you help me with my wedding when I get married, right? You be the maid of honor."

  Monarch stared at her.

  She was serious. Monarch looked at Bunbun and saw that same sparkle in her eye, and she khat this wasn't some fluke or a passing whim.

  "You and Maria will be sisters too," she tinued. "And you're my closest and oldest friend in a manner of speaking, after all. Yes? No?"

  Miggled, wiping the tears from her eyes. "Y-yes! Yes! I'd love to!"

  "Great!" Bunbun squealed. "It'll be amazing, I promise!"

  Monarch smiled. "You know, I really do want to settle down and have kids one day."

  "I know," Bunbun replied.

  "I want to find love. Someone who make me happy. Someone who will make me feel like I'm home."

  "I want that too," Bunbun said.

  They walked out of the building, into the night, and looked up at the sky. The stars were bright and clear and the air smelled of spring flowers and fresh rain. They both took a deep breath, letting the breeze wash away all their worries.

  "We should probably get going. Maria's probably waiting for you, and I have a test tomorrow," Bunbun said, taking Monarch's hand. "We talk about this some more ime."

  Monarodded. "I'm gd I still t on you, Buns."

  Bunbun squeezed her hand and smiled. "Still, a name like Celeste probably won't do me any good in a few years, and it'll sound too young for me. Especially if I want to use it for a daughter some day. A... A lot is gonna ge without you and Nightie, and I think the others are gonna need a rock to hold the group together. Someone who'll fight for what they believe in. I'll have to think hard about that name."

  "I know," Monarch said. She felt the tears in her eyes welling up again and she wiped them away, trying not to cry.

  Bunbun looked down. "And... I know that you're scared, and I'm sorry that I 't be there to support you. But, I promise I'll always cherish you, and I'll always be there for you."

  Monarodded and smiled at her. "I'm gd," she said.

  "Just wait for me. Wait for Elio, Maria, and Fuwari to catch up," Bunbun said. She let go of Monarch's hand and turned around, walking away from her.

  She turned around, and Monarch could see that she was smiling.

  "I'll be there. Just you wait."

  She waved and walked off into the darkness, disappearing into the night, leaving Monarch behind.

  Monarch stood alone for a long time, staring up at the starry sky.

  The wind blew gently through her hair, carrying with it the smell of blooming flowers.

  And she turo walk away.