"Tell me again why we're here," Miranda asked. Nat and the others now turned turned towards Miranda, before motioning towards the Magic Shop.
"Ms. McKinnon blackmailed us into helping put together the haunted house," Spark grumbled. "So here we are, trying to find decorations."
"I don't know why she blackmailed you guys," Miranda shrugged. "Personally I'm really excited about this. I remember having alot fun going to the High School haunted house when I was a kid." The others simply shrugged, making their way into the Magic Shop. Already they could see the store had begun decorating, pumpkins, and ghost toys hanging from the dimly lit ceiling. "Wow they really embraced the spirit of the holiday," Nat said excitedly.
"Or the place is just always like this," Amara grumbled.
Miranda simply shook her head, leaving the group as she began to explore the store on her own. Halloween had always been one of her favorite holidays, she and her twin often choosing matching costumes when they were younger. The teen remembering how their father would take them all over the neighborhood, staying out far later than a young child should have.
The saddest part for Miranda was when she had grown too old to go trick or treating, a fact made worse when Miles lost interest in Halloween. That hadn't stopped Miranda though, she and her father began decorating their home, dressing up in costume, and passing out candy for Halloween. She savored those nights, her and her father bonding over apple cider, hot cocoa, and a bonfire as they complimented the trick or treaters that came by.
This year though, things would be a bit different. When Miranda had heard about the return of the schools haunted house, she immediately signed up. The fact that one of her favorite teachers, Ms. McKinnon, was the teaching advisor, was simply icing on the cake.
The only downside it appeared was her friends. The issues involving Amara and the others was dampening everyone's mood. The nightmare demon appeared to be trying to reform, yet she and Spark were still at eachothers throats. Miranda wasn't going to let this spoil her good time. Quickly stepping away from the others, Miranda now made her way down a side aisle glancing at numerous shelves for decorations.
The Magic Shop obviously had a wide array of decorations, as well as other things. Miranda now paused over various items, wondering about their authenticity. "Ghost gun, shrink ray, spirit board, is this real," she mumbled. She was well aware of the stores reputation, Nat and Rei telling her this was the same place they had purchased the Ring of Change. Still, it all couldn't be real, could it?
"Theres got to be something good for the haunted house," she mused. Miranda now perused the various decorations and other items on the shelves. Everything was interesting, yet she hadn't found exactly what she was looking for.
Miranda now paused, noticing a gold package towards the back of the shelf. Reaching in, she now withdrew the package, raising an eyebrow at the gold foil and Japanese language.
"Tarot cards," she asked. It struck the teen as odd, the gold foil had red writing with a single black Japanese character. Unfortunately, Miranda didn't know any Japanese, the teen wondering what it exactly said. What was even more curious for Miranda was the overwhelming urge to tear open the package.
Before Miranda knew what she was doing, she found herself peeling the package open. Inside she now saw a single card emblazoned with the Sun. "What the hell," she whispered. "Why is there only a single card in here?"
Curiously Miranda now gazed at the card. It was nothing spectacular, appearing to be a tarot picture of the sun on a brand new card. It struck the teen as odd that this single card would be hidden on a shelf in a dusty old Magic Shop.
Miranda now gasped as the card began to glow, a brilliant white light illuminating the aisle as well as Miranda. Miranda now dropped the card, shielding her eyes from the brilliant light. Glancing over herself, Miranda shrieked in embarrassment as she took stock of herself.
Miranda's clothes had vanished, her body now nude inside the store. While initially embarrassed by that fact, she realized that her body was glowing a brilliant white, obscuring everything but the contour of her body. "Why the hell am I naked," she shrieked.
Slowly Miranda watched as clothing now began to form. First was a top, a form fitting outfit that resembled an odd combination of school girl and swordsman. Next she noticed a pair of knee high boots, a small heel causing Miranda to stand slightly taller. As she was now trying to balance herself on her new heels, she watched as a pair of gloves now formed on her hands.
Unnoticed by Miranda was the tiara that now formed on her brow, a brilliant golden jewel embedded in its center. As the light faded, Miranda now found herself short of breath, unsure of what had happened to her. Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on how you looked at it, the Magic Shop had a mirror towards the end of the aisle. Miranda's jaw dropping as she beheld the magical girl outfit adorned in.
"What the fuck," she exclaimed, wondering what in the world had just happened.