Alex could only blink in surprise. Shower water dripped off him. He didn't have any clothes on. Being in possibly the most girly place in existence didn't do much for his confidence as a man. He was glad to find that Fufi seemed to be able to handle this situation without issue. He considered using the flamingo to cover his parts, but knowing that she was sentient made that seem like an even worse idea than just standing in the buff.
The flamingo walked over and sat down beside him on the floor and waited patiently for Luna to speak.
Luna spoke in an official sounding tone, "Please state your name for the record." She held a pink feathered quill and an iridescent crystal clipboard.
Alex croaked out, "My name is Alex Parker but . . . " he stopped, feeling a sudden pressure ,he glanced down at Fufi who had her wings spread out on the floor in front of him. He thought, ‘Is this part of the ceremony? Am I supposed to be bowing or something? Oh no! I don't know how to act in front of royalty let alone divinity!’
Fufi gave him a little push with her beak which was enough to break through his internal monologue so that he was able to answer properly.
"Alex Parker. My name is Alex Parker." The lumberjack croaked out.
Luna’s tone sounded ponderous, "I have been given information that your previous life was spent mostly in the wilderness. Maybe some kind of nature magic would be a good theme for your new magical girl persona."
Alex blinked in surprise , "I'm sorry I don't know what that means but I promise I'm not a magic girl. I'm just a guy who works at a logging company."
Luna looked over at Alex with a confused expression, "Oh, I see. Well we can fix that. Don’t worry. What kind of cute things do you like? Roses? Bunnies? Hummingbirds? Frilly skirts? Hair ribbons?"
Alex wasn't sure how any of this was relevant or what he should be saying.
Fufi nudged him with her head again.
Alex jumped and blurted out, "I..I um... am not sure about this. Could I at least get something to wear? Attending a ceremony naked in front of a beautiful woman…er…goddess… is a bit awkward."
Luna smirked, "Creating cute clothing is easy for me as I am the goddess of cuteness, all things cute are within my domain." She then waved her hand and a pair of pink panties with a cutesy bear head on the back appeared from thin air and floated down into his hands. Next she waved with her other hand a pink skirt with hearts sewn into the trim appeared and floated down on his shoulder. Lastly, a pink and white low cut blouse appeared and landed on the top of his head.
Alex could only open and close his mouth attempting to comment on her choice of clothing for him to wear but failing miserably.
Fufi just nodded her head up and down encouragingly at him. Her wings glowed softly in response and she seemed satisfied with the results.
The man still wasn't exactly sure what was going on, the strange bird seemed to have confidence in him. It was just too bad that confidence was related to wearing girly clothing.
Luna regarded Alex, "I think you will find this outfit to be more than suitable for your needs." The goddess of cuteness continued "Please put it on and stand before me for our ceremony of bonding."
Finally clearing the cobwebs in his mind enough to form a coherent response. "Your godliness, thank you for the . . .um. . . gifts. They are very beautiful. However, I am a man who prefers to wear practical men's wear."
Luna looked disappointed, "Only cute things are in my domain. Any gifts from me must be cute to some extent. You can grow into that later, perhaps something fitting for just finishing a bath." Luna magically conjured a pink fleece bathrobe and matching pink pants. The outfit looked like something a girl would wear after getting out of the shower or staying home and watching netflix all day.
Alex took a deep breath and mentally told himself. "It is not pink, it is salmon. There is nothing girly about wearing the color salmon, right?" Internally chanting the mantra ‘salmon’, the lumberjack doned robe and pants. The fleece felt warm and comfortable against his skin.
The goddess of cuteness said, "Fufi you found quite a tsundere. . . I guess it does have that certain appeal."
Alex felt relieved to find he hadn't been left naked or made to dance around like a little girl wearing nothing but a bow on his head.
Luna clapped once. "Now let us begin the ceremony!"
Fufi sang out in a soprano , "Alex Parker, you have been chosen!"
Luna waved her hand and a huge bouquet of pink flowers appeared beside her throne. She then reached over to take a single flower in her hand, tucked it into his robe collar, and spoke, "Do you wish to accept this flower as a gift for your familiar?"
Alex blinked his eyes. "Um. . . I don't understand. Why are you asking me? I don't have any familiarity."
Luna calmly repeated, "You have been chosen by Fufi. Fufi has been chosen by you." She pointed at the cell phone in Alex’s hand.
He glanced at the screen with the yes/no option and the option ‘yes’ flashed repeatedly.
Alex gulped, "I didn’t even know she could talk until today."
Luna continued unphased, "This flower is given as a sign of love by Fufi. You and Fufi's love for one another shall be your bond and your power."
Alex nodded, "Um… thank you but…" He was trying to be polite but he really didn't understand what he was getting into at all.
"Good! Now stand here where I can see you both," Luna pointed to a spot on the floor in front of her throne. "Are you ready?"
After being cut off Alex could only respond with, "Um. . . yes?"
"Very well!" Luna spoke with finality and gestured with her hand for the pair to begin their bonding ceremony. "Alex Parker and Fufi the Flamingo are now one!"
Alex felt something warm run down his cheek. A single tear fell.
Fufi sang in her sweet little girl's voice. "Alex Parker is my mistress and Lady!"
He had enough time to think ‘didn’t you get the gender wrong there Fufi’ when a strange thing happened.
A soft, glowing light enveloped Alex and Fufi, fading to reveal the room bathed in rainbow colors. A warm feeling flowed through Alex, a realization of his new bond with Fufi.
A burst of energy coursed through the room, prompting the stuffed animals and dolls to cheer. They joyfully showered the pair with glitter while Fufi took Alex's hand, basking in the celebration.
Luna stood up from her throne, "Thank you all for being here for this ceremony and congratulations on your new bond!"
Luna took the pair out through some ornate double doors where a carriage decorated in hearts, stars, and bubbles sits waiting for them. Two white Pegasus in front with harnesses pull it. The back window of the carriage says 'Just Bonded' on it.
As the carriage began to move, Fufi and Luna settled onto the bench seat beside him. The Pegasus swiftly gained speed, ascending into the sky. The cityscape receded, giving way to a landscape of meadows, farmlands, and flamingos tending the fields.
Fufi nuzzled Alex’s chest. "I am so proud of you Alex! You are now one with me.
They passed by farm after farm of flamingos.
‘Why are flamingos farming?’ he wondered.
The carriage ascended, pulled by the winged horses, soaring higher into the sky and leaving the farmland far below. Alex's jaw dropped in awe.
Luna proclaimed, "Now before we send you two down to the mortal realm to defeat the demon queen there is one last matter."
Alex couldn't compose himself. "Um What?"
Luna smiled. "You are both newly bonded and have not had time to adjust to this new status. However, Alex, you need to be a cute girl to fully realize this power. So you need to be transformed."
Alex was so confused that he could barely think straight, "Transformed into what?"
"Into a cute girl! You need to have some more clothes made for yourself as well. A magical girl needs to look the part." The goddess cheerful state.
Alex gulped at this sudden revelation.
Fufi spoke up. "Oh yes! When I saw you in the woods Alex it reminded me of a magical girl named Emerald Dryad. She could sing and a whole field would blossom into flowers. Would you like to be like her Alex?"
Alex wasn't sure how making flowers bloom could even be used to fight the demon queen. However, he was a man. He worked hard to get his muscled bulk. He was proud of his thick black beard. His calloused hands showed that he worked hard for a living. He wasn't going to give it up without a fight! He thought for a moment, and said, "Fufi I'm not giving up being me. You can't just tell someone to be a different person."
Luna looked at him for a moment. "I don't think that is a good idea. You see, the demon queen used to be a magical girl as well. Some unpleasant things happened and now she is the succubus matron for her demonic empire. She can charm any man you see. She can charm some women too that are susceptible."
"What can I do? There has to be another way" Alex asked in desperation.
Luna responded, "If you are not willing to give up being a man I can not help you. If you will allow me to transform you then I can help you. I think given enough time you’ll see who you really are."
Alex considered his options. "Even if men are at a disadvantage, don't count us out." He then looked over at Fufi, "What do you think?"
Fufi puffed her feathers. "You are my master and my friend and I would never ask you to be anything less. We are bonded now and as long as you serve love and justice I will help you in any way I can."
Alex looked out the window. All he could see were clouds. "I want to try. If the demons are like trees I’ll try an ax first. If that doesn’t work I’ll try a saw. If that doesn’t work then I’ll try a chainsaw."
Luna's eyes sparkled with anticipation. "This is going to be fun! You can’t leave empty handed on your big day." The goddess waved her hand and the carriage flew higher into the sky. "Which first? How about some jewelry?"
Alex looked puzzled, "Jewelry? I don't see how that could help."
Luna smiled. "My domain is cuteness. Anything cute enough can channel my blessings. A magical girl’s strength is tied to her cuteness. Oh look outside you’ll like this part."
She gestured towards the carriage window, and they ascended to a height where the planet's curvature became visible. Perhaps "planet" wasn't the most accurate term; it appeared they were on a small moon, with the mortal realm, their destination, being the main planet. They hovered about a mile above it, surrounded by vast landmasses and other celestial bodies.
Luna then drew attention to a ring surrounding the moon. Alex squinted, scrutinizing the moon they had just departed. Its rings were striking: one, a yellowish-brown, and the other, a pinkish-white, seemingly studded with diamonds and sapphires. The rings adorned the moon almost like a necklace, leaving Alex pondering whether they were purely ornamental or served some specialized purpose.
"Even moons look cuter with jewelry." Luna said.
Alex nodded his head in reflex.
Luna pointed at the spectacle. "You must choose your favorite gemstones."
Alex thought for a moment and said, "I don't know anything about gems or stones. I've never seen a diamond before except on pictures from the internet."
"Not a very decisive one are you? Though diamonds are a girl’s best friend." Luna chanted some arcane words and a pair of diamond studded earrings appeared in her palm. They were clear and sparkled brilliantly.
Alex gulped. "Those are certainly quite noticeable. I don't know if I can use them without pierced ears though."
Luna pointed at the earrings and they glowed faintly. The sparkling diamonds pulsed with light in a slow steady rhythm until they transformed into two heart shapes in her hand. "Piercing ears is quick and easy. Fufi, will you help me out?"
Fufi nodded her head and said, "Of course, my goddess!"
Fufi, with surprising gentleness for a large-beaked bird, nudged Alex's head back with her beak. She then carefully brought her beak to his ear, using its sharp tip to create a tiny, pinprick-sized hole. Alex had anticipated a bloody mess, but there was none.
Luna then inserted the earring into the newly made hole and secured it with the attachment on the other side of Alex's ear. Alex remained perfectly still, afraid to make any movement.
Luna spoke again, "These are cute, they should help you get started."
Alex could feel a gentle tingling sensation in his ears where he could hear a faint ringing in his ears like wearing a set of earphones. He looked at Luna and asked, "I’m not sure what to do with these. How does earrings help?"
Luna explained, "See the moon ring? It is cute isn’t it? I’m using it to make this trip possible. We can even travel through the astral with the power of cuteness."
Gazing out the window, Alex watched the carriage hurtle towards the vast planet ahead. The sparkling, ringed moon receded into the distance as the planet swelled into view. A growing unease settled over him; the carriage didn't appear airtight, and they were ascending countless miles. Would the vacuum of space pose a threat?
Luna, meanwhile, simply smiled, her eyes alight with mischief.
Luna stated matter-of-factly, "Don't worry. The power of cuteness and love will keep you safe."
Alex merely nodded his head. Fear seeped in. Just what did he get himself into? He weakly spoke, "Thanks, I was not considering one of my tasks for today to be interstellar travel. We don't even have a spaceship." Alex paused and reconsidered. “I guess this carriage could count as a spaceship? It doesn’t have thrusters or rockets…how can wings work with no air? Um, nevermind thinking about it too much will give me a headache.”
Luna beamed, "Don't worry this will work. I've taken lots of magical girls to the starter villages back before the demon queen razed them." She waved her hand again and the carriage sped up sharply.
The two Pegasus broke into a gallop running on nothing and flapping their wings wildly. The carriage moved so fast they were pushed back into their seats. The big planet took up more of the view.
Alex asked, "Wait you said the demon queen razed the villages? What does that mean for Fufi and I?"
Luna shook her head. "Well you shouldn't go to one of the higher leveled areas yet. Considering you are a woodsman though you should be able to manage in a ruin of a hamlet until you get your bearings. Just think of it like camping. Baby steps right?"
Alex nodded, a hint of uncertainty in the gesture. The carriage, meanwhile, hurtled towards the planet.
Through the window, Alex observed the emerging landscape: amber-colored land, seemingly composed of rock, dotted with distant islands. Below, a diverse terrain unfolded, encompassing trees, rocky wastes, and sparce grasslands, all bordered by an ocean to the south and west.
"The land is called 'Terre' by the people. This world used to be filled with life." Luna pointed at the planet they are heading for, "We're heading for a starting settlement of Terre. There should still be some other stuff. Just because the demon queen burned everything down doesn't mean the land is completely dead. If you want to pray and ask for my help I can still transform you later. Just call and ask. You’ll be so cute. I promise."
“Maybe I can find or make an Ax or something.” Alex murmured.
Luna interrupted his musings,"If you wanted to be a magical girl that was a warrior type that could be arranged as well. There once was a magical girl named La Pucelle. She has a dragon's tale and black horns. She wore heeled armored boots and armored bracers. La Pucelle wielded a really big sword."
"Below us lies a ruined village. Its name, not being particularly charming, is irrelevant. You and Fufi will be deployed there." Luna gestured towards a ruin on the approaching terrain. The landscape below was dotted with tiny specks of color. As they decelerated for landing, the specks resolved into houses, revealing a large open area encircled by crumbled stone walls. From a distance, they had appeared to be buildings. The town's structures were exclusively stone, as any wooden constructions had long since disappeared from this ruined settlement.
Luna stated, "Here this is the starting point for your quest." The carriage landed with a thump by the main fountain in the center of town, which looked more like a crumpled pile of stones.
Alex and Fufi hopped out followed by Luna. Fufi used her beak to get the door for Luna.
Luna gracefully stepped out of the carriage, "Unless you want to change your mind about the transformation there is one last thing we need to do. We have to initialize the system. This world is different from yours. People have levels stats like in those RPGs from your world. People can level up their stats and skills by practice or other means. Are you ready?"
Alex nodded, "As ready as I'll ever be."
Luna bent forward and touched Alex's nose. "Boop"
A soft buzzing emanated from the pocket of his flowing robe, drawing his attention. He retrieved his cell phone, its screen bathed in an ethereal pink glow, yet everything else appeared unchanged. At least this familiar object offered a tangible link to his past world.
Luna put her hand over his, "You can call me anytime you like. Just don't expect me to answer it though. Well, unless you have ideas about what kind of magical girl you'd like to be transformed into."
Alex laughed nervously, "Well, I think I'm going to go with my original plan and just be a woodcutter until I can get a handle on this new system." The cell phone had a new icon that wasn't there before. It says 'Character Sheet.' Clicking the sheet brings up a screen with his data on it.
Name: Alex Parker
Class: Magical Girl
Level 1
Sex: Male
Strength: 15
Constitution: 15
Dexterity: 12
Intelligence: 7
Cuteness: 1 (naturally 0, +1 from equipped items)
There was also a quests tab on the app. He had one quest assigned to him.
[Defeat the Demon Queen] Difficulty S
The demon queen has overthrown all of humanity and her minions are destroying the world. This must be stopped.
He also had three milestones to achieve:
-1st level- defeat 5 monsters
-2nd level- defeat 50 monsters
-3rd level- defeat 100 monsters
"So I need to level up by killing monsters?" Alex considered the phone screen.
"That's one way." Luna let out an enchanting giggle, "You don't actually have to kill to defeat someone. Take the demon queen for example. None of her enemies died, well at least by her own hand. They just fell for her completely." Luna shook her head sadly, "She is so charming and lovely and everything a man could wish for." She winked, "You better avoid her and her succubi for now. You have no defense against their charm. Try to fix that okay?"
Alex nodded but his mind was thinking about what he will need to do in order to get some levels up. With a class like 'Magical Girl' something told him acting like a murder hobo wouldn't advance his class much. Looking at Luna he asked, "How do I get my cuteness stat higher?"
Luna gave a cute grin, "There are lots of ways but for now ask Fufi questions like that. She will be your guide for now on. Hmm, let me check something." Luna closed her eyes, "Yes this town does have a rift stone. It looks like when the kingdom fell they stopped recharging it though. I charged it for you just now. It will generate a dungeon that is appropriate for you. Take some time to get settled here first and when you are ready for a challenge it is in the ruins of the adventurer's guild."
"Thanks for all your help." Alex bowed to the goddess.
Fufi bowed as well.
Luna nodded appreciatively. "Now go get settled and make sure you get some good rest tonight. Your quest is very difficult so don’t rush."
"We will. Fufi and I should be able to restore one of these ruined buildings and we can use that as our new home." The lumberjack considered how to start.
Luna's carriage, pulled by winged horses, ascended into the sky.
After the initial rush, Alex found a moment of quiet to reflect on recent events. His adventures with his flamingo companion had not been numerous, but the practicalities of this new system still puzzled him. The strange spatial journey was over, and now his thoughts turned to his next steps.
Walking through the town, Alex observed that many buildings had bits of walls intact. The town appeared decayed and deserted, as if all vitality had simply drained away.
Alex wanted to rebuild, but he didn't know where to begin. He spotted the entrance to an old, ruined building, its doorway blocked by collapsed rubble.
After clearing a path, Alex stepped inside, finding a collection of old metal crates stacked high, interspersed with dusty, cobweb-covered stone tables. Unlit candles sat in sconces along the walls, and in a corner, an old hearth held a pile of ash. He walked over to it, sighing. "Please don't tell me this is a world where they haven't invented the chimney yet."
"This town, with its abundance of stone buildings, presents an opportunity," Alex mused, surveying his surroundings. "I could try rebuilding one. If I can find some wood and tools, I could fashion a roof and a door, providing us with shelter. Water and food would be immediate priorities. I wonder if the town fountain can be restored."
He sighed. "I'm not sure I have enough tools or materials to accomplish anything, though."
Alex approached a stack of crates. "Hmm, looks like there are some metal tools in here." He extracted a rusty screwdriver, an axe head, and a hammer, along with a handful of rusty nails. Not ideal, but usable in a pinch.
Stepping outside, Alex continued his search for additional crates. He discovered one that appeared to have been abandoned years ago. Inside, he found two large glass bottles filled with putrid water, so foul even Alex could tell it was undrinkable. A small wooden box contained rusted iron nails.
Returning to the building, Alex set down the crates and placed the tools on top of one. He surveyed the area, deciding the crates and tables would serve as makeshift beds. He positioned a crate beside a standing table. Lacking bedding or footwear, he considered using the girly clothes Luna had given him as a makeshift blanket.
Alex looked to Fufi and asked, "Can you fly around and see if there is anything we can use for food and water in the surrounding area? I want to see if there is anything else we can scavenge."
Fufi said, "Ok" and flew off into the distance.
Emerging from the open doorway, Alex embarked on an exploration of the town. His journey led him to a dilapidated guard tower a square platform topped with an observation deck, accessible by stairs. Ascending the steps, Alex surveyed his surroundings. The landscape was predominantly rocky, dotted with a few twisted trees. He pondered the possibility of local wildlife, but the absence of tracks or other indicators suggested he was alone. Several rusted barrels lay scattered about, prompting Alex to speculate if they once held beverages. Dispersed among them were a number of rusted shovel heads.
Descending from the tower, Alex resumed his stroll through the town. As he neared a crumbling fence adorned with headstones, he remarked, "This place looks like a graveyard." A handful of the inscriptions remained decipherable.
Here lies a dead adventurer who went out bravely into battle.
And lost their life for their village and family.
May they rest in peace forever.
A loving son and husband.
Alex read another gravestone. The headstone is carved from marble and has a carving of a cat on it with an arrow through its head. The picture of the cat has a smiley face over it. Alex looked at it and said, "Okay that's just weird."
The next legible gravestone:
A good man who never forgot his family.
Alex looked up at the sky, "I feel like I should be doing something but what?"
Another crumbled gravestone:
A noble warrior who gave her life for her village.
Alex considered how many people died in this town from the demon queen's invasion. He stopped and said aloud, "Didn't Luna say the demon queen didn't kill her victims? I wonder what happened to the people she defeated in the war. It's just so sad."Alex eventually reached a ruined gate situated near the town's center. Inside the gatehouse, the only item present was a solitary, dust-covered rug placed before the doorway.
"This rug might be useful for something if I can clean it up. I'm surprised it hasn't just disintegrated like so many things left behind in this town." He brought the rug back to the house, along with the crates he had discovered earlier. He set the rug down by the door and sat on a crate. Cleaning the rug could wait; he would continue scavenging while the sun was still out.
"I know I said I would try to build something but I don't think I could do that now." Alex pondered his options for a moment. "Maybe I can gather some wood with that rusted ax head if I can get a branch or something to attach to it."Alex headed towards a cluster of dead trees, spotting a suitable branch to fashion an axe handle. Using a loose brick, he meticulously scraped away rust and ground down the axe head's edge, rendering it sharp enough to fell a tree.
Alex attached the ax head to the end of the branch, securing it with his pink robe belt. He then found a small tree, and with considerable effort, chopped it down and dragged it back. In the hearth, he meticulously arranged smaller branches to form a teepee of sticks.
Next, Alex headed to the open area in the center of town. There, he discovered rusted hinges amidst the decayed remains of a door, along with nails. These, he realized, could form the basis of a crude door. He positioned the hinges on one side of the door frame, then laid bricks in front of them, attempting to force them into place with the hammer and nails.
After numerous frustrating attempts, Alex muttered to himself, "Why does all the metal have to be one hammer blow from breaking apart?" He stepped back, inspecting the door frame. "This could work," he mused, before resuming his hammering with renewed determination. "It better work this time."
After considerable effort, and sacrificing many nails and hinges, he managed to construct a flimsy door within the stone frame of the building. While it offered minimal protection against intruders, it at least shielded them from the wind and rain.
Alex sighed with relief and turned his attention to the felled tree. A large, rusty metal plate lay nearby. He dragged the logs to the stone ruin and used the remaining parts of the tree to create a makeshift roof. He secured the metal plate to the logs, which served as crossbeams, using a few rusty nails. Next, he retrieved bricks from a nearby house to construct a chimney on the roof, hoping to allow smoke to escape, assuming he could even start a fire, which he wasn't sure about.
Once finished, he returned to his makeshift door and tested it. The creaking grated on his nerves, and he doubted the town offered any oil or lubricant to ease the hinges. For now, he was content that the door was at least secured to the frame. Even if the hinges failed, he had installed brackets to bar the door from the inside, ensuring it would still hold. In a worst-case scenario where replacement hinges were unavailable, he could always remove the door from the doorway and lean it against a wall, a hassle, but better than nothing.
Fufi soared through the sky, the sun setting behind her, a fish clutched in her break, and an assortment of strange fruits held in her talons. She landed gracefully before Alex, depositing her bounty of food onto the ground.
Alex asked, "What did you find?"
"A fish, a fruit, and some berries." She added in her girly voice, "There is a stream to the north. I will fly out again and try to find more food."
Alex gathered up the food and set it on the table. He didn't have anything to create fire with so when Fufi brought back fish he was both surprised and discouraged. Alex said forlornly, "I wasn't able to find anything to start a fire with easily. So I'm not sure how to cook the fish you caught."
Fufi replied, "That is okay. There are much more important things to take care of. Besides, even in your world raw fish is a delicacy in some cultures. I’m a bit concerned about how you have been spending your time"
Alex tilted his head and asked, "How so?"
Fufi said sternly, "Like your priorities. It looks like you spent most of your day chopping, hammering, and hauling. If you were trying to get those skills you were wasting your time."
Being even more confused Alex said, "I don't know what you mean. Skills?"
Fufi nodded her beaked head, "Yes, you can only get skills related to your class. And since your class is Magical Girl. The skills have to be skills related to being a magical girl."
Alex said, "Which skills would those be?"
Fufi explained, "Cute things, magical things, girly things."
Alex grumbled, "Is there any way I can change my class? I think lumberjack would be more fitting don't you think?"
"Gods bestow classes upon mortals," Fufi declared, her voice laced with exasperation and coldness. "To reject a deity's gift invites divine punishment. Typically, individuals in this world must visit a temple and pray to receive their class. Greedily requesting an unworthy class results in outright denial. The entire pantheon then imposes a year-long wait for reflection before they can return to seek a class again."