Inside the school, a wave of students surged out the door, their cheers and excited shouts echoed throughout the school.

  "Fuck yeah, man!" one teen yelled, pumping a fist in the air.

  "Let's get the fuck outta here!" another shouted, pushing his way through the crowd.

  Natalie, her black hoodie pulled low over her face, slipped out the door, melting into the shadows. Her eyes were fixed on Harmony heading away. "Alright, pinky has been acting really weird. Let's see what that goodie-two-shoes is up to..." she muttered, her voice a low growl.

  Meanwhile, Courtney was pissed, her phone screen flashing a low battery warning. "FUCKING SHIT!" she shrieked, her voice echoing down the empty hallway. "Oooh, that fucking pig made me forget to turn it off!" she steamed, her face flushed with anger.

  As she stepped out of the school, she spotted Natalie's silhouette stalking through the shadows. She didn't recognize her, but she saw her following Harmony. "Oh shit, pinkie pie's about to get jumped!" she grinned viciously. She checked her phone, noting the dwindling battery life.

  "Ten percent? Hmm, fuck it, that's enough to film that bubbly little bitch getting the shit kicked out of her! It'll go viral for weeks!" she squealed happily.

  The battle raged on, the transformed Beetle's brute strength overwhelming Joan's defenses. Each kick from its jagged insect legs sent her hurtling through the thick forest behind the school, knocking down trees like bowling pins.

  The creature hissed, a disgusting gurgling roar emanating from its saliva-filled maw. Joan struggled to rise, weakened by the relentless assaults. Pinned beneath a pile of fallen lumber and logs, she closed her eyes and began to pray.

  "Oh, my Lady Celestia, hear my call! I need your strength tonight to continue this fight. Without you, I am but a sailor lost in a sea of troubles."

  As she prayed, Harmony burst into the forest, Natalie close behind. With a powerful leap, she soared into the night sky And touched the pink crystal in the center of her bracelet.

  "By the powers vested in me, I shall become a... CUTIE PRINCESS!" A blinding flash of pink light erupted, a spectacle of neon hues reminiscent of the 80s.

  Harmony emerged, adorned with a small yellow crown-like tiara, a gorgeous pink dress and skirt, long ribbons trailing down her legs into shimmering leggings, and hearts emblazoned on her gloves. Her pink hair flowed in the wind as a heart tipped staff materialized before her, spiraling into her outstretched hand. With a wink and a playful kiss, she sent a small heart fluttering towards the night sky.

  She delivered a mighty kick to the creature, sending it reeling with a pained roar. Landing gracefully, she struck a pose. "In the name of love! Starlight Princess, ready for battle!" she declared.

  "WHAT THE FUCK?!" Natalie screamed, her voice echoing through the forest.

  "WHAT THE FUCK?!" Courtney echoed from behind Natalie, her phone still recording. All three girls turned, their eyes meeting in a moment of stunned silence.

  "NOOOO! THIS WASN'T SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN!" Harmony shrieked, her voice laced with panic.

  With Harmony distracted, the grotesque Beetle seized its opportunity. A guttural snarl ripped through the night as it lunged towards her.

  "HOLY FUCK!" Natalie shrieked, her voice cracking with terror as she scrambled to retreat.

  "Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit!" Courtney echoed, her voice a panicked squeak as she frantically recorded the unfolding chaos from a safe distance.

  Harmony turned around, but it was too late. The Beetle's massive head slammed into her, sending her flying like a ragdoll. She collided with Natalie, who was in mid-retreat, launching her towards Courtney. Courtney, caught off guard, was sent hurtling backward, slamming into the school's monument, a bronze patriot from colonial times. The statue toppled over, crashing to the ground with a explosive thud, sending a cloud of dust billowing into the night air.

  As the dust settled, the three girls lay amidst a rubble of shattered concrete and twisted bronze.

  "Ugh... Fuck, this is worse than my hangover..." Natalie groaned, slowly pushing herself up.

  "I'm alive? Oh fuck yes, I'm alive! Kiss my ass, you grim reaper motherfucker!" Courtney shrieked, her voice filled with manic glee.

  "Unnnn... H-help me..." Harmony managed to whisper, her voice barely audible.

  Courtney glanced down and let out a horrified shriek. "NOOOO!" She dropped to her knees beside Harmony and frantically picked up her shattered phone. "FUCK MY GODDAMN PHONE! I JUST GOT THIS SHIT!"

  Natalie scoffed, rolling her eyes. "You can easily buy another."

  "Fuck you, my dad gets it for me! HE'S GONNA FREAK!" Courtney panicked, her voice rising in hysteria.

  "Yeah, whatever," Natalie muttered, turning to walk away.

  The monstrous roar of the approaching creature echoed through the air, sending a fresh wave of terror through Courtney.

  "OH SHIT!" she screamed, her eyes wide with panic. She turned back to Harmony, desperately trying to lift her. "Come on, you strawberry shortcake slut, get up! You gotta fight that fucking thing!"

  Harmony groaned in pain. "Owww, stop, please stop! It hurts!"

  Courtney, watching the creature draw closer, began to cry, tears of fear streaming down her face. "Oh my fucking God! Quick, what can I do? Don't you have any lasers or something? Please!"

  Harmony was mumbling something, her eyes fluttering, as she began to lose consciousness.

  In a desperate attempt to wake her, Courtney grabbed Harmony's bent arm and squeezed, wringing out a sharp cry of agony.

  "AHHHHH! OH MY GOD, WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?!" Harmony shrieked, her voice filled with pain and outrage.

  "JUST TELL ME WHAT TO DO!"

  Courtney screamed, her voice cracking with fear and desperation. The sharp pain pulsing through Harmony's arm kept her conscious just long enough to weakly hold out two shimmering bracelets.

  "You gotta use these... you'll turn into a Cutie Princess... and you can help defeat the creature..." she mumbled, her voice fading.

  "Hey, don't sleep on me! Come on, bitch, wake up!" Courtney yelled, slapping Harmony's face with increasing force. She then began shaking her violently, jolting Harmony's eyes open.

  "How do they work?! Come on, hurry the fuck up!" Courtney shrieked, her voice laced with panic.

  "You gotta link the bracelet with your bestie... the power of friendship and..." Harmony began, her voice trailing off.

  Courtney cut her off with a drawn-out, exasperated groan. "Ugggh, spare me the cutesy shit and hold my fucking hand!"

  Courtney shoved the bracelets onto her own wrist and then onto Harmony's. She then grabbed Harmony's limp hand, but nothing happened.

  "COME ON, WORK YOU PIECE OF SHIT!" Courtney screamed, shaking Harmony's hand frantically.

  "I'm already linked to my bestie... you'll have to find yours..." Harmony mumbled, her eyes fluttering closed as she finally succumbed to her injuries and passed out.

  "Wait! No, no, wait, wake the fuck up!" Courtney yelled, squeezing Harmony's already bruised and grape-colored arm, but it was no use. Harmony had lost consciousness.

  The creature, now only a few feet away, shook the ground with each heavy step. Courtney turned around, her eyes widening in terror, and let out a hysterical shriek.

  Courtney scrambled to her feet, clutching the bracelets, and sprinted across the open grass, the creature's thunderous footsteps echoing behind her.

  As she ran, she crashed into a dark figure, sending them both rolling to the ground. It was Natalie, her black hoodie making her almost invisible in the night. Courtney was on top of her, a frantic surge of relief mixed with recognition hitting her.

  "HEY, IT'S YOU!" Courtney said in a panic.

  "GET OFF ME, YOU FUCKING PERVERT!" Natalie shrieked, her voice filled with rage, as she struggled beneath Courtney.

  "Bitch, help me! Put this shit on!" Courtney panicked, desperately trying to shove the bracelet onto Natalie's wrist

  Natalie jerked her arm away and swung her elbow into Courtney's nose.

  "AHHHH, FUCK YOU, WHYYYY!?" Courtney screamed, clutching her injured nose.

  "Told ya that you'll need a nose job!" Natalie hissed, kicking Courtney away and sending her on her back onto the grass.

  When Natalie looked up, she saw the grotesque monstrosity lumbering towards her.

  "WHAT THE FUCK! YOU STUPID WHORE, YOU LED IT RIGHT TO ME!" Natalie roared, her voice a mix of fury and terror, as she sprinted towards the town.

  "WAIT, COME BACK!" Courtney screamed, scrambling to her feet and chasing after Natalie.

  The monster followed the girls, its heavy footsteps causing tremors that shook the ground.

  "JUST PUT IT ON!" Courtney shrieked, her voice cracking with desperation.

  "FUCK OFF!" Natalie yelled back, her voice filled with defiance.

  "PLEASE, I NEED YOU! WE CAN KILL THIS FUCKING THING TOGETHER!" Courtney pleaded, her voice laced with fear.

  "NOT GONNA HAPPEN!" Natalie retorted, her voice filled with annoyance.

  The creature's rampage left a trail of destruction in its wake, flipping cars, knocking down trees, and destroying buildings. Chaos reigned as people screamed and fled for their lives.

  Ms. Anker stepped out of her crappy beat-up car, having just arrived home after ditching the At-Risk Youth Group.

  "Goddamn traffic, I might as well have stayed at that stupid youth group!" Ms. Anker grumbled.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  She looked around and saw people sprinting past her, all screaming and panicking.

  "Hey! Watch where you're going!" Ms. Anker hissed as a panicked pedestrian bumped into her.

  "PLEASE! PUT IT ON!" Courtney's voice echoed through the dark neighborhood.

  "I SAID NO! NOW FUCK OFF!" Natalie screamed back.

  Ms. Anker turned and saw the two girls sprinting past her.

  "HEY YOU TROUBLE-MAKING BRATS! WHAT ARE YOU UP TO THIS TIME?!" Ms. Anker shouted. But before she could even hear a response, the ground quaked, and Ms. Anker looked up. She saw the horrendous oversized beetle hissing at her.

  "AHHHHHHH!" Ms. Anker shrieked. But it was too late. The beetle stomped on her and continued to pursue Natalie and Courtney.

  As the town erupted in flames, cars collided in fiery explosions, sending fireballs spiraling into the night sky. People trampled each other in a desperate scramble for safety, while cars swerved off-road, running down pedestrians, crushing their bodies below. Courtney, her voice getting tired from shouting, chased Natalie through the chaos.

  A car sped by and almost hit Natalie, only for it to drive off-road and crash into an apartment building with a magnificent explosion.

  BOOOOM!

  A motorist, spotting Courtney, slammed on the brakes, sending him flying across the road and under a passing bus, crushing him. The bus driver, realizing what he'd done, panicked, spinning the large wheel violently and flipping the bus onto its side, trapping the screaming passengers inside as it caught fire, dooming them all.

  First responders were dispatched, but became hopelessly lost in the labyrinth of traffic collisions and explosions.

  A news helicopter, along with several news crews, followed the creature, its powerful spotlights illuminating the scene of destruction.

  "This is Drew Becker, live on the scene using Channel 1's action chopper. As you can see, it's mass hysteria down here. It's just pure chaos. This creature, a disgusting slimy beetle, seems to be headed north through the town without any signs of stopping. Bodies are piled and charred! Oh God, it's horrible!"

  The spotlight then focused on Courtney and Natalie.

  "And what's this?! Oh my God, there are two kids down there! They seem to be running from the creature! Those poor girls, God bless them, I hope they'll be alright. It's beautiful, really, watching two best friends trying to stay alive, if only we could hear what they're thinking."

  "GO FUCK YOURSELF!" Natalie hissed.

  "PLEASE! I'LL BUY YOU WHATEVER YOU WANT?! YOU LIKE THOSE SHITTY DOC MONTYS? I'LL GET YOU A WHOLE FUCKING CLOSET FULL OF THEM!"

  Courtney pleaded, her voice cracking with desperation, as the two girls entered a reeking alley that dead-ends at a building. "FUCK!" Natalie shouted, with frustration.

  Courtney, panting and gasping for air, held out the bracelet. "Now... would you please put this fucking shit on?!"

  "For the last time. NO!" Natalie screamed.

  Courtney, desperate, shoved the bracelet towards Natalie, who recoiled with a snarl. "Put it on, or we're both fucked!"

  "I'd rather die than put this stupid shit on!" Natalie spat back, shoving Courtney's hand away.

  "You're making this difficult!" Courtney screamed, lunging for Natalie's wrist.

  Natalie anticipated the move, grabbing Courtney's arm and twisting it behind her back. "I said, don't fucking touch me!"

  Courtney retaliated, kicking Natalie's shin. "You're the one who's gonna get us killed!"

  Natalie released Courtney's arm and shoved her against the brick wall. Courtney stumbled, but quickly recovered, throwing a wild punch at Natalie's face. Natalie ducked, grabbed Courtney by the hair, and slammed her face against the wall, sending Courtney crashing to the ground.

  "You wanna play rough, bitch?!" Natalie taunted.

  Courtney snarled, and in a blink of an eye, she was up, grabbing a handful of Natalie's hoodie and yanking her forward. Natalie responded by swinging her arms wildly, and Courtney countered by hurling her against the wall, this time knocking her to the ground.

  "Now, I'm not gonna ask again, PUT IT ON!" Courtney screamed, her arm extended towards Natalie on the ground.

  Natalie took deep breaths and nodded. As her hand reached for Courtney's wrist, she pulled her down to the ground. They grappled, rolling on the ground, kicking, punching, and wrestling like a couple of alley cats.

  Natalie then bit down on Courtney's hand, causing her to shriek in pain.

  "AHHHH, BITCH!" Courtney screamed.

  "That was for this morning slut!" Natalie retorted.

  Courtney flipped them over and pinned Natalie's wrists to the ground as she began using her knee, hitting Natalie between the legs harder and harder each time.

  "NO FUCKING KIDS FOR YOU, BITCH!" she shrieked as Natalie pulled Courtney's hair, slamming her down to the ground and rolling on top of her, clasping her neck with her bloodied hands.

  "I should have done this a long time ago!" Natalie shrieked.

  The creature's roars echoed through the streets, but the girls were too consumed by their fight to notice.

  Just before Courtney could pass out from the lack of oxygen, she took advantage of the strangulation and slapped the bracelet on Natalie's wrist.

  "Gotcha!" Courtney managed to cough out and smirk. Suddenly, a blinding light flashed from the yellow and black crystals in the center of their bracelets. The creature roared, rubbing its sensitive eyes. The news chopper turned away, avoiding the bright light.

  "WHOAAAAAAA!" Natalie and Courtney screamed as they spun around in a beautiful pink and star-filled void. The sounds of J-pop playing in the background. Their clothes glowing bright as Natalie covered her body with her arms. "WHAT THE FUCK?! IS THIS THING STRIPPING ME?!" She screamed in horror, covering herself with her arms and knees.

  Courtney was also covering herself as her body also glowed in shimmering rainbow patterns. "OH MY GOD I'M TRIPPING BALLS! WHAT THE FUCK!" Courtney shrieked, thinking it's a drug-induced high.

  Natalie's hoodie began morphing into her body. Courtney's expensively torn clothes were slowly turning into a skirt. Both girls were swearing like drunken sailors, screaming obscenities after obscenities. The J-pop music began to distort into a metal riff, and the pink milky way void began to turn a dark blood red.

  As the blinding light faded, the news chopper turned around and frantically looked for the girls. "This is Drew Becker for Action 1 News, and I don't see the girls! What happened to the girls?!" He panicked.

  The creature below, regaining its vision, also looked around for the girls. Then, two figures emerged from the shadows, both sprinting at a blinding speed, flanking the bug from both sides. The two figures jumped from the cracked and broken pavement and into the night, their silhouettes floating against the moon, ready to strike... Only to begin fighting with each other...

  "YOU SKANK, LOOK WHAT YOU DID TO ME!" shouted Courtney, who now had a cute feline dress. Her thigh-high socks were covered with spots like a Cheetah, her long gloves also spotted but featured tipped razor-sharp claws. Her fluffy short-sleeved bodice was slender, adorned with a spotted skirt and a beautiful dress with a bow around her waist, and a pair of triangle-pointed kitty ears rested on either side of her head, protruding through her hair. A long, spotted tail swayed behind her.

  "Hah, you did that to yourself, you furry fuck!" smirked Natalie, her arms and legs covered in chainmail with fingerless gloves. Her hoodie was now transformed into a Shinobi Shozoku, a ninja's garb, her black hair flowed freely blending with the hood and the fukomen that covers her mouth. Her Doc Montys had morphed into a Jikatabi design while retaining their familiar style. She had a flowing red scarf that wrapped around her neck and a large shuriken as a buckle placed in front of her mini skirt, and her black hoodie rested on the back of her head with pointed, black bangs framing her forehead

  Courtney growled animalistically and began swiping at Natalie with her metallic, razor-tipped claws. Natalie quickly pulled out the Ninjatō slung on her back.

  The air rang with the metallic shriek of claws against the Ninjatō, each clash sending sparks flying like miniature stars.

  "STOP BLOCKING YOU BITCH!" Courtney hissed, her eyes narrowed, as she lunged towards Natalie.

  "SKILL ISSUE, kitty-cat!" Natalie shouted.

  Her Ninjatō flashed in the moonlight, arcing forward towards Courtney.

  Courtney yelped as she avoided the blade by the skin of her teeth, with a twirl she delivered a high kick, hitting Natalie's jaw. She flipped upside down, quickly regained her balance, and launched herself at Courtney, holding her sword directly at Courtney's neck. But Courtney spun at the last second, the tip of the blade scraping across her cheek.

  The sharp sting of the blade sent a jolt of pure rage through Courtney.

  "AHHHH YOU BITCH!" she shrieked in pain as she sank her claws into Natalie's hoodie and brought her head down to her knee.

  The force of the blow sent Natalie's head snapping back, a sickening crack echoing through the night.

  "How do you like that shit, you wannabe ninja slut!" Courtney's growl deepened, a guttural sound of pure animalistic fury.

  As Natalie spiraled out of control head-first towards the ground, a ton of blood gushed from her nose. She opened her eyes and saw the grotesque beetle monstrosity waiting for her, its jagged maw opening wide for its prize.

  "AHHH OH MY GOD WE'RE GONNA DIE!" Shrieked Courtney, realizing that they're both falling towards the beetle.

  Natalie shook her head and immediately snapped out of her unconscious state as Courtney began blubbering like a wuss. She moved in close and gripped Courtney, who in return gripped Natalie.

  "I just wanna let you know... I fucking hate your guts!" Courtney cried, her eyes widening in horror, her voice a strangled squeak.

  "Likewise, bitch!" Natalie shouted, her face bruised and purple.

  As they got closer to the bug's disgusting maw, Natalie had an idea, it's a shot, but it's an idea. She elbowed Courtney's face, a sickening crunch echoing through the air, yanked her by the hair and said, "TRUST ME!"

  "WHAT THE FUCK?!" Courtney shrieked.

  Natalie hurled Courtney downwards and kicked her back for good measure.

  "AHHHHHH!" Courtney's voice hollowed as she went directly straight down the creature's open mouth.

  "Say Ahh, motherfucker!" Natalie sneered, as she entered the mouth, pulling out her sword. The creature began to choke and groan in agony. The News chopper continued hovering, broadcasting.

  "I can't believe it! Those girls shoved themselves into that creature's mouth!" announced Drew Becker.

  The creature kept crying out in severe agony; it tried hacking out Natalie and Courtney like a cat. "ACK! ACK! AAAAAACK!" Its wet, disgusting mouth dripping drool.

  Then, suddenly, BOOOOM! The monster exploded into an ocean of green blood, its gooey remains scattered all over the place.

  The helicopter's windshield was covered in thick, phlegmy-colored green gore. It spiraled out of control and crashed onto the pavement, flames roaring around the crash site.

  The shimmering green pulp painted the city in the moonlight. In the center of the epic aftermath of guts and gore were Natalie and Courtney lying on their backs next to each other. The slick, green goo coated their skin, a chilling reminder of their close call.

  "Fuck you, bitch... bleh!" Courtney muttered, spitting out some goo from her mouth.

  "Likewise," Natalie struggled to say, still out of breath, as she leaned over and regurgitated all the disgusting innards that she accidentally swallowed on the way out of the creature.The creature's rotten, disgusting corpse steamed in the cool evening, its putrid mix of decay and bile filling the air.

  A bright light blinded the girls as a news van pulled up in front of them. A woman in a red suit and heels stepped out. "CAMERAS! LET'S GO!" she ordered as she quickly made her way to Natalie and Courtney.

  "Ladies, this is Megan Santiago, Channel 4. Can you explain what happened?! Who are you and what is that smell?!" She gagged, her nose wrinkling in disgust.

  Before either girl could answer, Harmony and Joan entered the scene. "Miss Santiago? Hi! Starlight Princess here. Thank you everyone for participating in our training exercise!"

  Harmony announced, her voice bright and cheerful, despite the carnage surrounding them.

  Megan Santiago just raised an eyebrow, her expression filled with confusion. "Training exercise?"

  "Yes, a training exercise! But fear not, citizens, I promise everything will be good as new. I'm gonna need you all to evacuate the area, please!" Harmony continued, her smile unwavering.

  "But who are these girls, Miss Princess, and why weren't you with them?" Megan pressed for an answer.

  Joan stepped forward, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. "Her majesty, the Starlight Princess requests you all disperse immediately, or there will be dire consequences!" Joan declared, her voice echoing with knightly authority.

  Harmony gently brushed Joan aside, her smile still plastered on her face. "Excuse Lunar Knight. You see, we're starting a new trainee program, and these two ladies are...umm...Cosmic Comet and Nebula Sparkles." Harmony stammered.

  "Hey, fuck you, Sailor ho!" Natalie shouted.

  "Yeah, I'm not gonna fucking call myself that!" Courtney hissed, her arms crossed with her nose in the air.

  Everyone's faces were shocked, their jaws dropped at the language coming from these two "magical girls."

  "Then...what would you like to be called?" Megan asked, her voice laced with cautious curiosity.

  The two girls looked at each other, then back at the cameras.

  "Cosmic Cheetah!" Courtney declared proudly.

  "Nebula Ninja," added Natalie, her voice cool and collected.

  "Aw, that is such a cool name! Fuck you, I want Nebula Ninja!" Courtney shrieked, her voice filled with envy.

  "Um, who's the sword? Who's wearing all black? I am, you dumb bitch! Plus, everyone knows I'm much cooler than you," Natalie retorted, a smirk playing on her lips.

  "YOU WON'T LOOK SO COOL WITH YOUR FRONT TEETH MISSING!" Courtney roared, pouncing on Natalie.

  "BRING IT, WHORE!" Natalie yelled back.

  The two girls began rolling in the monster's filth, green guts and all. It was a disgusting green mud wrestling contest, with intestines and stomach acid flying everywhere. Channel 4 News had a field day with this, cameras flashing and microphones recording every insult.

  "Well, there you have it, folks, our newest heroes joining the ever elusive Sailing Star Cutie Princess! This Megan Santiago Channel 4 News!" Megan announced to the cameras.

  "AND CUT!" shouted the camera crew.

  "Ladies, thank you so much for making my career!" Megan smiled politely as she shook Harmony's hand and then Joan's. Both girls looked extremely embarrassed and disgusted with Natalie and Courtney, who were still rolling around in filth.

  "I hope we get an exclusive interview someday, I really do! But right now I got some footage to edit." Megan hopped in the news van, slamming the door. "You ladies have a good evening now!" Megan waved farewell as the van took off heading down the road.

  The next day, as Natalie entered the school, hood up and hands in her hoodie pockets, she heard whispers and chatter down the halls.

  "I think Cosmic Cheetah is fierce as fuck!" said a girl, her voice filled with admiration.

  "Nah, Nebula Ninja slays like a fucking queen!" added another, her grin wide with excitement.

  For the first time in a long time, Natalie smiled, a genuine, small smile, as she took the stairway up to the roof. Just like yesterday, she heard crying, but it wasn't coming from Courtney.

  "We're fucking ending this shit on MY TERMS, NOT YOURS!" Courtney screeched at P'boi, her shitty ex-boyfriend, holding him by the neck. Then, with a grunt, she tossed him down the steps. Natalie moved out of the way as that pathetic little shit hit every step on the way down, ending with a sickening slam as the teens walking by gasped. He groaned in agony, his body a crumpled heap at the bottom of the stairs.

  When Natalie reached the top, there was Courtney. Smug, powerful, reawakened. She looked happier than a lifetime prescription for Adderall.

  "Hey," Natalie said reluctantly, her voice flat.

  Courtney turned, her sense of empowerment still plastered on her face. "Sup bitch, the fuck do you want?" she said, her voice laced with newfound strength.

  Natalie sighed, her eyes rolling. "I just wanna get to the roof... Don't make this harder than it needs to be."

  Courtney laughed, a sharp, mocking sound. "Alright, whatever. I'm not gonna stop you if you're gonna throw yourself off. By all fucking means, go for it!"

  Before Natalie could retort, the door to the roof swung open, hitting Courtney's head with a sickening thud.

  "OWWWW FUCK FUCK FUCK!" she shrieked, clutching her throbbing forehead.

  "SURPRISE! Welcome new recruits!" Harmony grinned, her eyes sparkling with oblivious enthusiasm.

  "Fuck no..." Natalie turned to leave, but her hand was grabbed by Harmony, who yanked her into the rooftop. Joan, with an unwavering smile, pulled Courtney in as well, much to Courtney's disdain.

  "Okay ladies, so I just wanted to tell you both how happy and proud I am of you two for stopping that monster and saving the day!" Harmony squealed, her voice brimming with unbridled joy.

  "Is this going anywhere?" Natalie asked, her voice deadpan.

  "Yeah, are we getting paid for this shit?!" Courtney sneered, rubbing her bruised forehead.

  "Nooooo!" Harmony said playfully as she pulled out a pink book, her cheeks rosy with an adorable smile.

  "So, I'm going to let you in on a few rules! Rule 1: You must always conceal your identity. Nobody should ever know who you are."

  "You already broke that rule," Natalie interrupted, her voice flat and emotionless.

  "Rule number one, and you already broke it."

  "Rule 2! You must never abuse your power for any reason!" Harmony beamed, her eyes wide with earnestness.

  "The only abuse I'm gonna be doing is getting fucked up on drugs!" Courtney grinned, her mind already picturing taking some pills to stop the throbbing pain on her forehead.

  "I fucking hope you OD...," Natalie rolled her eyes.

  "And finally, rule number 3! This is the big one, okay girls? Always cherish your bestie! The longer you connect with them, the stronger you'll become!" Harmony walked over to Joan and hugged her; both girls sank into a hug in a display of cute, innocent affection.

  "Yeah, fuck that shit. I'd rather drown in my own fucking vomit after a kickass party than ever be friends with that ho!" Courtney hissed.

  "And I'd rather pull your fucking tongue out of your mouth and strangle you with it than hear you talk ever again!" Natalie growled, her fists clenching, the air crackling with unspoken threats as she glared at Courtney.

  Harmony, oblivious to the rising tension, ran up to Courtney and hugged her tightly. "Well, you'll always be my bestie too!"

  "Ew, get away from me, you freak!" Courtney pushed Harmony with such force that Harmony flew into Natalie. "Don't fucking touch me!" Natalie shoved Harmony with equal force, sending her stumbling towards the ground.

  Joan, her eyes now holding a chilling intensity, caught Harmony before she hit the ground, her gaze fixed on Courtney and Natalie.

  Harmony, giggling, looked up at them. "I just know we're gonna be besties forever!"

  Meanwhile, in the coldest, darkest part of Space, a Beetle-shaped ship drifted silently. Inside, the hum of unseen machinery vibrated through the hull, and the air, thin and metallic, carried the faint scent of space dust.

  A large, caped creature stomped towards the gleaming, obsidian throne at the ship's command center. Its boots thudded with every step, echoing in the vast chamber. The room itself was an array of monitors displaying constellations and shifting star maps, their flashing LED lights casting an eerie, pulsating glow on the faces of countless small, weevil minions.

  These creatures, no larger than toddlers, all rose from their stations in unison, their bodies clicking, and saluted as the caped figure finally settled onto the throne, its claws resting heavily on the ornate armrests.

  "Weevils, status report?" the creature rumbled, its voice deep and guttural.

  A particularly small weevil wobbled over, its antennae flickering nervously in the dim light. It gulped, a tiny, audible sound in the sudden quiet. "My Lord... The Beetle dispatched to capture the Starlight Princess has been slain..."

  "WHAT?!" The large creature screamed, its teeth sharp and jagged in the harsh glow of the monitors.

  "And... The Cutie Princesses have recruited two new members. Cosmic Cheetah and Nebula Ninja..." The little weevil trembled, shrinking under the Emperor's gaze.

  "Damn you Cutie Princess... Oh well, tomorrow's another day... They won't be so lucky next time, for I, Emperor Sylak, Conquerer of worlds! Ruler of the Beetle Empire! Shall make Starlight Princess MY QUEEN!" His voice boomed, rattling the very structure of the ship.

  "But sire... Isn't she like 17...?" The little weevil whimpered, barely audible.

  "I HAVE NO GENITALS!" Emperor Sylak proudly declared, puffing out his chest.

  "Say no more, sire!" The weevil saluted, a relieved buzz escaping its mandibles.

  "I shall have my beautiful bride up on the command center where she'll gaze upon me while I destroy her entire planet! MUAHAHAHAHAHA!" Sylak's monstrous laughter filled the command center.

  つづく

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