[hider=Justine] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGgLSTOpTI4]Background Music[/url] A golden goblet swayed in the dim light. It was filled to the brim with viscous blood that slowly dripped from it's sides. When a droplet would fall from it's teetered side, it would be caught in the lips of the [url=http://i.imgur.com/5PhIWRW.jpg]girl[/url] holding it. The girl swayed the goblet some more as she sat on her throne; a baroque construct adorned with statues of horned women praying to a being of claws and spikes, tendrils and many eyes. There was not a sight more pure. [color=662d91][i]Yes, such a display deserves nothing more than the purest of offerings,[/i][/color] Justine pondered as she took another sip, letting the delicious crimson substance fall to her tongue. She savored every tasting, knowing it would honor her father, who was the purest of them all. He would appreciate it. [color=92278f]"Justine...It's...Dark..."[/color] The red-eyed heard the whimper of a young girl in the shadowed corner. However, she she simply smiled in responses. The anguished voices were like music to her. [color=662d91]"Yes...It is. Let it embrace you. Soak in it's splendor. Become [b]pure[/b]...my dear sister."[/color] [color=92278f]"...Justine...I understand..."[/color] The door to the chamber released light as it opened, and shadowy figures could be seen bowing before her. "My Lady, they have gathered as Helga foretold; all of the magical girls of Penrose, and even some from out of town." Justine smirked. [color=662d91]"Excellent. The Puchuu did just as I wanted the rodent to do. Now then, is she ready?"[/color] Another girl bowed deeply. "Yes, my Lady. She will not fail." Justine giggled. [color=662d91]"Wonderful. And Sonia is still searching for the Reflective Witch?"[/color] The third girl bowed, launching back into standing straight. "Yep, she says she's hiding in a pocket or something, and that we'll soon be ready, tee hee~" The red-eyed girl simply smiled. [color=662d91]"Very well then. Depart immediately once you are."[/color] The first girl spoke up: "But what of the Grail? Surely you won't send any of the low-ranking girls against someone of her power?" Justine laughed. [color=662d91]"Oh, [b]She[/b] can take care of that."[/color] The other girls gasped. "You don't mean...?" Justine nodded. [color=662d91]"It is fine. After all, if she were to become...agitated, it won't affect our plans at all."[/color] All of the girls before Justine shivered, even the third one who has shown only joy. "Ohhh...Let's hope it doesn't come to that...She leaves a huge mess when she gets angry..." [/hider] [hider=Victoria] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPR_te_ODPQ]Background Music[/url] Victoria was uneasy. She was a simple girl, with a simple goal of uniting the magical girls under a single cause. Ever since she heard from her Puchuu that dangerous forces were afoot she decided she had to do something. Even if it was a hopeless cause, she had to try. Isn't that what being a Magical Girl was all about? So she had her Puchuu send a message to anyone who could hear it, asking them to listen to her request. And...she got what she expected; the Beacon girls and monsters talking back to each other. She was about to speak up herself when she saw that Furor and Janet actually shook hands. "Yes, we did it!" She took her Puchuu in for a hug. "We managed to make a truce! I'm so hap-" She was then interrupted by a loud voice, and she fell from her ice pillar due to being startled. "Oof!" She hit the grass, her head still spinning. She then stood back up, and held her head. "Geez, what have I gotten myself into..." She walked closer to the Beacon girls. "Anyway, I'm glad we managed to form a truce. Let's work together, ok?" [/hider] [hider=Mariette] [@PlatinumSkink] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=la_b5AUmJMs]Background Music[/url] Once Mariette finished sending her message to Victoria, she felt a disturbance. Soon, the disturbance spread to around her, until it seemed as if the apartment she was staying in was shaking. Then, the oval mirror began glowing in the colors of the rainbow. In a blinding flash, a group of people appeared before the mirror, seemingly bickering among themselves. The [url=http://i.imgur.com/L5NDun1.jpg]black-haired girl[/url] who was speaking had her arms at her sides, balled up into fists. "Damn it Sonia, how hard could it be to find her? Don't you know how to-Oh." She had a surprised expression, and then turned towards Mariette and the twin monsters. She was talking to a [url=http://i.imgur.com/b27XnsK.png]hooded girl[/url] wielding a large, intricate staff. The girl called Sonia then scoffed. "See, Minnie? Even if it was difficult, I told you I could do it." The [url=http://i.imgur.com/PnV5WxH.jpg]third girl[/url] with them stared at Mariette the entire time, smiling with her shark-like teeth bared. "Hey, who cares about that? Now we found Miss Hideyhole~" The girl took a step forward, her clawed arms extended in front of her, grinning with disturbing glee. "And she even has minions of her own! Yep, she's perfect!" There was a bit of a realization going through Mariette as the disturbance spread, and she naturally turned to look in the direction of the mirror as it was being channeled. The mirror was her tool, a gift from Asengav, so that someone else was using it was mildly insulting. That before the problem that they were infiltrating her inter-dimensional home. That in itself was a criminal offense, if common law had applied to magical housings. Deni and Eli were considerably less calm about this, the two mostly black amorphous harpies with white faces spinning about in alarm before they located the intruders that had just come out of the mirror. Five eyes looked, a neutral eye from Mariette, a curious and surprised pair from Deni and a frowning alarmed pair from Eli, all gazed at the three intruders. They allowed them to finish their little routine, before the more talkative of them raised their own voices. [color=ff00d0]‘Hey, we got uninvited guests.’[/color] Deni stated, curious in her voice, leaning lazily and relaxed back onto her gelatious wings gazing at the three. [color=57a345]‘That's really too bad, we only had a picnic packed for three, there isn't enough so that we can share.’[/color] Eli said, her voice more irked than the contents of her words might suggest, her harpy body obviously on edge and ready unlike her twin. [color=ff00d0]‘You really should warn us ahead of time, then we could have had tea for you too!’[/color] Deni grinned at them, not seemingly taking this as seriously as she maybe should be. [color=57a345]‘Now, I guess I have to add you to the list of people who can find us.’[/color] Eli said, reaching for the pen and paper which had a list of people before she started writing. [color=57a345]‘Sonia, Minnie and... what's your name?’[/color] Eli turned her head and asked the third girl while her wing was writing their physical descriptions onto the paper. [color=1462ba]‘...’[/color] Mariette, meanwhile, simply kept a steady gaze locked onto the three of them where she was still seated, one arm locked around her stuffed bunny, momentarily letting her minions talk. If she needed to, she'd raise her voice, but currently she was simply awaiting the reason why they had appeared in here. Minnie squeed. "Oh, they're so adorable! Do they squish squish if I hug them?" The third girl laughed. "Ha haa, I wonder what they taste like~" She got an angry look from the two other girls as a reaction, and she promptly closed her teethy mouth. "Oh damn, we could have gotten sandwiches if we sent a message first! Sonia, why didn't you do that!" Minnie pouted at Sonia, and the hodded girl simply shook her head. "Oh, quit playing around. We are on an important mission from our Lady, we must stay focused." The third girl pointed a claw to herself when Eli spoke to her. "Oh, me? I'm Helga!" She answered with a cheer, clapping her claws together. "But you can call me Helgz." Again, she got an angry look. Sonia sighed. "Anyway, we have important matters to discuss with you, Reflective Witch. We have recently learned of the powers you possess, and have gained the attention of our Lady. She wants to offer you a chance to co-operate with her." "She has big plans, but they're ruined if all the magical girls start meddling," Minnie added. "So if you can give us a hand with them, then the Lady will reward you." Sonia nodded. "We know of the Horror you serve, and our Lady thinks that our objectives match. I think we can mutually benefit from this alliance." Helga came closer, and extended a single claw at Deni, attempting to poke her, until she also spoke. "You got a neat apartment, by the way! Must be hell to pay the rent though!" Deni smirked at Minnie's reaction to them, while Eli looked a slight bit uncomfortable, finishing up writing their descriptions after having noted Helga's name. [color=ff00d0]‘We're kinda fluid, so yeah, we'd shape a bit if you squeeze us~’[/color] Deni kept her smile looking at Minnie. Meanwhile, Eli was busy flinching a bit at Helga's reference to eating them. [color=57a345]‘Eh, I'm pretty sure we're not particularly tasty... Also, we could destroy your stomach from within.’[/color] Eli cautioned, frowning with an unconvinced look that was somewhat on edge, but not necessarily hostile. [color=ff00d0]‘I'd wager we taste like water and corruption~!’[/color] Deni grinned, before turning to her twin. [color=ff00d0]‘Hey, Eli, let me taste.’[/color] Deni then promptly attempted to take a bite out of her sister's wing, but Eli retaliated by entirely deforming her fluid wing out of the way and back into her body, giving Deni a disapproving glare. Deni was a little unprepared to be poked at, but just smirked as her outside fluids were poked. It was sticky magical fluid keeping her together. [color=ff00d0]‘If we call serving Asengav the "rent", since this apartment is a byproduct of the powers he provides, then yeah, it's pretty fierce~!’[/color] Deni naturally responded. Meanwhile, it was up to Mariette to actually respond to the offer. [color=1462ba]‘...’[/color] Though, actually, Mariette had been distracted, momentarily looking out through the portal. ... Though, even with all that, there was a situation in here that she had to deal with, too. Mariette turned her face to Sonia, gazing at her with the eye not under an eye-patch, still squeezing her stuffed bunny. [color=1462ba]‘An alliance would be acceptable. However, it now seems that you know a lot more about us than we know about you. Could you introduce yourselves, as well as the cause you serve?’[/color] Mariette spoke to them calmly, keeping her attention focused, just in case. This was hardly an ideal place for a battle should someone attempt to preemptively attack. Minnie stared at the twin harpies, her eyes sparkling. "Ohh, can I take them home with me, Sonia? Pretty please?" Sonia slapped the gothic lolita girl. "No. This is no time for fun. This is serious business." "It's always serious business with you around, sheesh," Helga said as she picked a tooth with her claw. Sonia continued speaking. "I am glad to hear that we have an understanding. The only thing you need to learn about us is that we serve a grand purpose, and that you should be thankful to us for letting you partake in it's fruition." Minnie pouted. "Uhh, Sonia, that's a bit harsh, don't you think? We could say, like, that we're remaking the world." "Hmph, you do the talking then," Sonia scoffed, crossing her arms, seemingly offended. "Point is," Helga intervened, "Our Lady will soon put her plans to motion. All you gotta do is be ready to fight when it's time." "Now then, I believe it is time we were on our way. As to how we will contact you in the future..." Sonia opened her palm, revealing a small black crystal, with a dim light inside. "This magical item will let us send messages between us. It should be easy to keep in your person at all times." "And it can also be used as an earring decoration!" Minnie intervened. "Yeah, if you wanna be a fashion disaster, tee hee!" Helga gigled. "Alright, enough. Now then, goodbye, Reflective Witch." With that, the three girls disappeared as quickly as they arrived. [color=ff00d0]‘Sorry~ Can't go with you, we already belong to our mistress over there~’[/color] Deni grinned at Minnie's little outburst and gestured towards Mariette. Then, they simply listened to the rest. Eli was taking notes of what they were saying, writing it down on the backside of the paper, keeping her eyes focused. Mariette sat still, gazing at them with her one visible eye. When the small black crystal was shown, Mariette absent-mindedly opened a little portal that swallowed it and it reappeared dripping down into Eli's wing, the harpy a little surprised to have been entrusted with it. Otherwise, Mariette acknowledged what they had said, and then they vanished. There was a bit of silence after they had vanished. [color=ff00d0]‘Sooooooooo.’[/color] Deni broke the silence. [color=ff00d0]‘What do we make of this?’[/color] [color=57a345]‘Someone wants to use us as their pawns.’[/color] Eli stated, inspecting the crystal with her Third Eye for anything suspicious. [color=ff00d0]‘Huh. Weren't WE the ones that were gonna use people as pawns?’[/color] Deni asked, a little bewildered. [color=57a345]‘Yes. But, apparently, there's someone else that is running the show.’[/color] Eli said, her eyes now also trailing to the portal, and the scenes that were taking place outside... [color=ff00d0]‘Huh. Uh. So, are we going to let ourselves be used?’[/color] Deni asked, looking to Eli. Eli in turn looked to Mariette, causing Deni also to look at their mistress. Mariette honestly was quite comfortable with just letting the two of them discuss things, but, okay. It appeared they were looking to her, now. [color=1462ba]‘We have no reason to believe their objective has anything to do with ours.’[/color] Mariette started. [color=1462ba]‘We have no obligation to follow their directions. But, we do need allies. We should not waste an opportunity to get closer to our goals. We will continue with our mission as normal, and when we're contacted we'll reevaluate our position depending on the situation. We can have demands of our own. We'll continue as normal for now. Eli, I want you to examine the means they used to infiltrate our home with your Third Eye. Deni will continue scouting the city under the cover of Darkness magic. We're going to need all the intelligence we can get. But, for now, we will continue inspecting the meeting, see it to its conclusion.’[/color] Deni smirked as Mariette took control and Eli nodded to her commands, and so it was. They were all a bit more on edge, as their home was no longer safe, but regardless... They had a mission to fulfill. [/hider] [hider=Fiona] [@Landaus Five-One] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDLUUZgy9Dk]Background Music[/url] Fiona suddenly heard a loud knock on the front door of her mansion. It sounded like it came with enough force to splinter the wood of the door's frame. It was followed by another, cracking it audibly, until the third knock caused it's seams to break, resulting in it falling down on the floor. When Fiona came to see what the source of the ruckus was, she saw her: the [url=http://i.imgur.com/pGS8Uye.jpg]red-haired woman[/url] seemed to glow with a faint light as she entered the darkened foyer, stepping over the ruined door. She looked up at Fiona, and her intense eyes conveyed pure arrogance. "You're Fiona Grail, right? You sure got a nice house. Would be a shame if something happened to it, heh heh..." Fiona looked startled when she heard her name called by the red-haired woman who approarched her. [color=lightpink]"Who are you? And I am Fiona,"[/color] Fiona replied back. Her faint purplish blue aura fluctuates in its own way. She had no idea why this woman approached her in the Grail Estates. [color=lightpink]"Nina can you come here?"[/color] Fiona asked. Nina heard her name called by Fiona and walked towards her and noticed the red-haired woman and the faint glow surrounding her. [color=teal]"Fiona, what have you gotten yourself into this time?"[/color] Nina asked. Her voice had annoyed tone to it but after the incident with the Infinite Dragon anything is possible. She stopped right by Fiona's legs and purred. [color=teal]"Why are you here?"[/color] Nina asked towards the woman. Fiona looked down at Nina and calmed down a bit. [color=lightpink]"I don't know. I never met this woman before,"[/color] Fiona replied to Nina. She looked back up to the woman. She was scared but felt a calming presence around her. Her mark was glowing a faint color of greenish platnium. [color=lightpink][i]"Zargoth...,"[/i][/color] Fiona thought to herself. She cupped her hands in front of her but kept her eyes on the woman. The woman smirked, and then pointed her finger at Fiona. "I'm only going to say this once, so listen up. My boss wants to work with you. She has heard of how strong you are, and of the magic you possess. She wants you to work for her. And she said she would reward you, whatever that means." The woman scoffed. "Of course, you could decline." She stepped closer to Nina. "But if you do, it means you're useless to us. And I promise you...you don't want that. So what's it gonna be? Should be an easy answer, huh?" Fiona heard what the woman said and took it to heart. She smiled gleefully at what she said at the end. [color=lightpink]"I needed to get out of the house anyway. It gets boring all I do is watch cartoons anyway. Therefore, I will help you out. The answer is yes,"[/color] Fiona said. She uncupped her hands and looked at the woman with happiness. Her aura stopped fluctuating but it had an odd sense of depth to it. [color=lightpink]"Can I get your name now? I gave you the correct answer,"[/color] Fiona said. She was extremely curious in who this woman's name was. Nina stepped back slowly and looked up at Fiona and was worried. She was hardly the voice of reason for Fiona. [color=teal]"Fiona, you should have told me you were bored,"[/color] Nina said, annoyed. Fiona looked down at Nina and smiled. [color=lightpink]"I know, but that meeting was quite not something I would have went to. I have enough meetings with my corporation's council members,"[/color] Fiona said. She was speaking the truth there. Her body language had an air of boredom to it. The bold woman gave a small laugh. "You made the right choice. Here, take it." She threw a black crystal at Fiona. "We'll use it to contact you, so keep it on you." She turned around and took a few steps, before turning her head back at her, whisking her long hair. "Name's Curie. You better remember it, cause if you ever cross us...I'm coming for you." And then, she walked away, leaving behind the broken door. Fiona caught the black crystal and heard the woman's name and smiled slightly. [color=lightpink]"I will remember your name,"[/color] Fiona said. She had a smile across her face and enjoyed the chance to meet someone else. She sighed at the broken door but remembered the staff will clean it up anyway. [color=lightpink][i]"Black Crystals are very pretty,"[/i][/color] Fiona thought to herself. [/hider] [hider=Natasha] [@canaryrose] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzhRn1mQf0I]Background Music[/url] In the midst of the conversation the Beaconites had with Chloe and Furor among others, Natasha spotted that one of the girls in their group stayed silent the entire time. The pink-haired girl looked like an elementary schooler, and dressed in a frilly pink dress with hearts decorating it. She also wore a little red backpack. One would have easily assumed her to be lively and social based on her appearance. Instead, she stared at the grass the entire time, her arms at her sides. She hasn't looked up once, even when the booming voice of Laat'AlOfan roared in the sky, to which she only shivered in response to. Natasha swiveled around to face the girl, smiling brightly and perhaps a little bit fakely. "Hey, I'm Natasha! Call me Nat or Tasha, whatever works. What's your name?" she chirped, her seemingly inherent cheer still reflected on her young face. The girl didn't seem to hear Natasha, until she heard her whisper: "I'm...chosen." She continued looking at the grass, as if her life depended on it. Nat's smile faltered for a moment, leading to a fairly befuddled face. However, only moments later, her smile returned. "A-are you deaf? Or just shy? I know [i]lots[/i] of shy people, I had this one friend before this whole magical girl business and she was the shiest girl like, ever..." Tasha said, making an effort to fill the silence with a soliloquy about one of her high school friends. "And that's why you never bungee jump at a country fair!" Nat finished, grinning from ear to ear. The girl slowly raised her head up, but not to look at Natasha as the Beacon girl expected. Instead, she looked at Victoria, who came closer. For a fleeting moment she could see how a smile played on her lips, her eyes devoid of emotion, as she ran up to Victoria. Before anyone could react to what happened, the girl stabbed Victoria in the stomach with a magical knife. [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6WSD59nYAU]Background Music[/url] "Ungh!" Victoria reeled in pain, her eyes widening at the horrible sight before her; the pink girl's eyes seemed to go wild as she pushed the knife deeper. "HERETIC!" She screamed, and enveloped her weapon with magical light, causing Victoria to shake as a burst of magic pierced her. "PRAISE BEACON!" Victoria then fell, and her life ended before Natasha's very eyes. Natasha, who looked shocked for a moment, jumped into action, and shot forward, grabbing the girl's wrists and pinning her to the tree. "Why," she breathed, looking incensed, "Did you do that?" The girl only gave the smallest resistance when she was pulled, smiling in glee the entire time, her eyes still dull. She giggled, and once again screamed: "PRAISE BEACON!" Then, a strange sound came from her; it was like a clock ticking in her backpack... Natasha removed her hands for just a moment, raising them up and then calling a sort of metal to her hands, only to wind it around the girl's wrists and ankles and to atach her to the tree. "If I were you, I wouldn't try to get free. Victoria was innocent- what you did was wrong. Now, I can't kill you- but I certainly would if I could." "HERETIC!" The girl screamed back at her, and continued giggling. The ticking sound seemed to accelerate and turn louder, and as it did she began laughing mad. "HAHAHAHA! DIE, HERETICS!" Natasha, still looking incensed, ran to the backpack, zipping it open. She rifled around for a moment, before picking up a bomb. "Shit..." she whispered. "My engineering expertise is finally useful, it seems." Taking a glance at the anonymous crazy, she took a closer look at it, and seeing the nuclear symbol, she screeched. "FUCK! FUCK, SHIT, FUCK!" Nat screeched. She quickly began to take it apart, using both her hands and powers to disable it. She tore it apart, ignoring curious stares from the others. When done, she dropped it onto the ground and furiously jumped on it. The glowing core resembling a jewel shimmered for a moment as it was thrown out of the contraption, before it's light dimmed down as the girl stomped it. [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlnxMZwxIlI]Background Music[/url] The giggling girl bound to the tree then suddenly turned quiet, lowering her head. She was still smiling. "Hee...Hee...HERETICS!" Then, she was surrounded by a bright light, and her body was suddenly skewered by multiple spears made of magical light. "PR....AI..SE...BEA....C-c...on..." She managed to gurgle out before she slumped, ending with the same fate as Victoria. Natasha, seemingly not caring, dusted off her hands, her face streaked with grease as the result of hurriedly taking apart a bomb. "Whelp. That's my good deed for the day, I guess. Hey, Janet, Alicia, I just disabled a bomb and pretty much saved the whole city! Wanna head home with me? This whole alliance thing is probably not going to happen now." Natasha shouted. "Better not let Mrs. Hawthorn and Mr. Hawthorn- or, I mean, Mom and Dad, see this grease. Bleh." [/hider]