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The past week had not been a pleasant one for Connie. Even though her mission with Emily had been a success, and even resulted in them making a new friend, the very next day, she had watched in horror as two of her [i]other[/i] friends died before her eyes, all because of her own weakness and ineptitude. While it was true that she had actually managed to [i]kill[/i] the monster responsible for their deaths and then ensured that said monster’s remains were imprisoned within Amanda’s inescapable pocket dimension, that fact did little to mend Connie’s shattered heart. Even the revelation that Lotus had apparently escaped her [i]own[/i] seemingly certain death, and would now be taking Faith to a place of safety was but a minor comfort. Her friends had died, because [i]she[/i] had failed to protect them. 

As if that wasn’t enough, she was told by a similarly, and quite uncharacteristically, despondent Ronin that Sakura had fallen in battle against a behemoth. Even as she had tearfully embraced the smaller girl and offered her condolences, she couldn’t help but feel that they were simply empty, meaningless words. After all, nothing anyone had said had been able to heal her [i]own[/i] grief, so how could anything [i]she[/i] say possibly help Ronin? She didn’t really know Sakura all that well, but she knew that Ronin and Emily were both quite close to the pink-haired serpent girl, and she only wished she could do something to ease their suffering. But she couldn’t. She couldn’t do [i]anything.[/i] What was the point of having magical powers if she couldn’t even use them to save the people she cared about? Even now, on family game night, Connie’s despondency was thoroughly preventing her from enjoying herself, something that wasn’t hard for the others at the table to notice.

[b]“Connie?”[/b] [url=https://i.imgur.com/aZ31v1r.jpeg]Kayli[/url] inquired gently. [b]“It’s your turn.”[/b]

[color=Plum]“A-Are you okay?”[/color] [url=https://i.imgur.com/ri6yzTv.png]Rose[/url] asked, her voice tinged with concern as she placed a hand on her friend’s shoulder. [color=Plum]“You’ve barely touched your pizza…”[/color]

[color=RoyalBlue]“I hope it’s not because I took that locomotive earlier,”[/color] [url=https://i.imgur.com/s7tc1dk.png]Iris[/url] whispered to Mia with a worried frown.

The insecure and emotionally fragile Connie enjoyed Ticket to Ride because of the railroad game’s simple rules, colorful playing pieces, and lack of any major confrontational elements, yet the game was still one of competition, and Rose’s bespectacled twin sister was well-aware of just how sensitive Connie’s feelings could be… 

[color=SpringGreen]“I don’t think that’s it,”[/color] Mia replied, before turning her attention to her best friend. [color=SpringGreen]“What happened in New York’s still bothering you, isn’t it?”[/color] the tomboy asked, while gently massaging Connie’s shoulder. They’d turned their dubious reward over to Kayli for study and safe keeping, and Mia only wished she could also get rid of her dear friend’s trauma in so simple a manner. [color=SpringGreen]“I told you before, [i]none[/i] of that was your fault, little sis…”[/color]

[color=DarkOrchid]“Y-You keep saying that,”[/color] Connie said, her voice filled with bitterness. [color=DarkOrchid]“B-But if we n-never went to New York, i-if [i]I[/i] w-wasn’t there to ruin everything, i-if I wasn’t so [i]u-useless[/i], t-then S-Sammy and N-Nuncio would still be alive!”[/color]

[color=SpringGreen]“That’s bullshit!”[/color] Mia shot back. [color=SpringGreen]“Connie, if we hadn’t been there, [i]all[/i] our friends could have died, and that piece of shit coin broker would still be out there, hurting even [i]more[/i] people!”[/color] the tomboy continued. [color=SpringGreen]“Faith, Lotus, and I are all safe thanks to you! Hell, you killed a [i]coin broker![/i] You’re not useless, you’re a total badass!”[/color]

[color=DarkOrchid]“I-I guess…”[/color] Connie conceded glumly, frowning as she continued to stare down at where her cards lay on the table in front of her. [color=DarkOrchid]“B-But I don’t f-feel like one…”[/color]

Before the discussion could continue further, everyone’s phone beeped upon receiving a notification.

[color=RoyalBlue]“It’s from Lily,”[/color] Iris noted.

[b]“She’s calling a meeting…”[/b] Kayli murmured.

[color=DarkOrchid]“W-What now…?”[/color] Connie groaned.

[color=SpringGreen]“It’s just an attempt to get the city’s magical community to work together against Wonderland,”[/color] Mia explained.

[color=Plum]“Y-Yeah, nothing to worry about!”[/color] Rose added.

But it [i]was[/i], Connie couldn’t help but think. Looming over everything, was the fact that an extradimensional kingdom was planning to invade Penrose. It had already conquered one innocent town, and there, too, she had been unable to make any real difference. The townsfolk may have been saved, but their home was gone, and now Connie’s [i]own[/i] home was next…

Would she be of any help at all?

[color=DarkOrchid]“Y-You can go,”[/color] she told the others softly. [color=DarkOrchid]“I-I’m g-going to s-stay h-here…”[/color]

[color=SpringGreen]“Connie…”[/color] Mia sighed.

[color=RoyalBlue]“Well, if that’s what you want to do…”[/color] Iris began.

[b]“Why?”[/b] Kayli inquired.

[color=DarkOrchid]“B-Because t-there isn’t r-really any p-point, i-is there?”[/color] Connie replied with a doubtful frown. [color=DarkOrchid]“I-I mean, I c-couldn’t do a-anything to s-save that t-town, a-and I d-don’t have a-any good ideas, a-and…”[/color]

[b]“That’s not true at all,”[/b] Kayli said in a soothing voice as she got up to wipe Connie’s watery eyes. [b]“Your plan to save the Christmas Party was a [i]very[/i] good idea, and while you may not have saved Bolorton itself, you still helped to save the people who lived there, so they can return once the Wonderlanders have finally been defeated.”[/b]

[color=DarkOrchid]“B-But, they’re s-so strong…”[/color] Connie protested. [color=DarkOrchid]“A-And I’m s-so…”[/color]

[color=SpringGreen]“[i]You’re[/i] strong, too, little sis,”[/color] Mia told her with a reassuring smile. [color=SpringGreen]“[i]Way[/i] stronger than you realize, especially when you fight for something you care about. Connie, a year ago, I never would have imagined you’d willingly choose to go into a dangerous battle, let alone stand in front of a hostile crowd and give a speech, but you’ve done [i]both[/i] those things. Sure, you’ve made some mistakes, but so has everyone else! The fact that you keep going, despite all your doubts and fears, [i]that’s[/i] what counts,”[/color] she continued. [color=SpringGreen]“[i]That’s[/i] what I admire the most about you, Connie. That’s why I find you so inspiring.”[/color]

[color=DarkOrchid]“M-Mia…”[/color] Connie whimpered as she embraced her friend. [color=DarkOrchid]“M-Mayra said s-she a-admires me t-too,”[/color] she continued with a sniffle. [color=DarkOrchid]“B-But I d-don’t u-understand w-why…”[/color]

[color=SpringGreen]“Then don’t [i]try[/i] to understand it,”[/color] Mia whispered as she stroked her friend’s hair. [color=SpringGreen]“Just [i]believe[/i] it. Believe that your friends think you’re amazing. Believe that you give us all so much hope, because if [i]you[/i] can do the impossible and overcome your fears, then [i]we[/i] can take on whatever Wonderland throws at us and kick its ass!”[/color]

[color=Plum]“Yeah!”[/color] Rose cheered.

[color=RoyalBlue]“Well said,”[/color] Iris added with a nod.

[b]“Indeed,”[/b] Kayli agreed with a smile as she and the twins joined Mia in giving Connie a big hug.

[color=DarkOrchid]“T-Thanks, e-everyone,”[/color] Connie sniffled, smiling as she tried to fight back her tears. [color=DarkOrchid]“I-I’m s-so l-lucky to have s-such a w-wonderful f-family.”[/color]

The group remained huddled for several seconds more, before Connie broke the silence.

[color=DarkOrchid]“U-Um, s-shouldn’t we get g-going now?”[/color]

[b]“We?”[/b] Kayli echoed as she and the others parted to give Connie some space.

[color=DarkOrchid]“Y-Yes,”[/color] Connie confirmed. [color=DarkOrchid]“I-I may not have m-much c-confidence in m-myself, b-but my f-friends do, a-and if they need my h-help, I-I’m g-going to do my b-best to not l-let them down!”[/color]

[color=SpringGreen]“That’s my little sister!”[/color] Mia declared as she affectionately tousled her friend’s hair. [color=SpringGreen]“Come on,”[/color] she added with a grin as she helped Connie up. [color=SpringGreen]“Let’s get goin’!”[/color]
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The week following the attack on Bolorton had been fairly uneventful for Violet, something the young heiress was very grateful for. After enduring the chaotic emotional roller coaster of that particular evening, the relative mundanity of the past few days had been a welcome reprieve. Finding the time for a romantic evening with her girlfriend certainly helped in that regard, as did the lack of any further interaction with Chloe Irving, whose desired meeting with the heiress had thankfully yet to take place. Although the threat of Wonderland couldn’t be entirely discounted, Violet was confident that, with all of Penrose working together, the Queen of Hearts’ impending assault would most certainly be repelled. And while Fan Fan had assured her that Beacon would find suitable homes for the Bolorton refugees, the idealistic heiress had made it a personal vow to reclaim the town from Wonderland’s grasp one way or another. 

As she prepared to embark on another nightly patrol of the city, Violet was reminded that she was not the only one dedicated to the defense of her beloved Penrose, her sticker and glitter-covered magical girl phone beeping as a notification came in.

[color=BlueViolet]“Melisa,”[/color] she called to her secretary, who was just wrapping up her final tasks for the day. [color=BlueViolet]“It seems Lily is calling a meeting of Penrose’s magical community,”[/color] the heiress explained as she scrolled through the message. [color=BlueViolet]“Would you care to accompany me?”[/color]

[color=Pink]“I’d love to!”[/color] Melisa’s cheery voice replied. 

A few moments later, a hidden panel slid back from the far wall of Violet’s study, from which emerged [url=https://i.imgur.com/D6JkqhL.png]a small, pink-haired fairy.[/url]

[color=Pink]“Okay! I’m all set!”[/color] Melisa chirped.

[color=BlueViolet]“Then let’s be off,”[/color] Violet declared, smiling warmly at her small friend, before intoning her incantation in an increasingly cute and high-pitched voice.

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The next instant, the refined young woman was once again the bubbly and innocent Magical Dream Princess. Not wasting a moment, the transformed heiress promptly conjured a colorful rainicorn pegasus and, soon enough, both she and Melisa were flying towards Penrose Park, a stream of glitter and giggles trailing behind them.
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[color=DeepSkyBlue]“I can’t believe this crap…”[/color] Angela grumbled. [color=DeepSkyBlue]“All this time, and I [i]still[/i] haven’t found anything that might help that stupid collection of losers! No wish-granting djinn girl, no obviously bullshit ‘Keeper of the Keys’, who can cure people’s problems just by [i]standing near them[/i], no Crimson Cradle and their supposed ‘whole new you’ red coins, and when I asked Beacon about getting some purification potions for a worthy cause, those self-righteous fucks said they only give them to ‘trusted mahou’!”[/color]

“Perhaps if you did more to [i]gain[/i] said trust, they would be more accommodating,” Chiichuu noted in his usual infuriatingly patronizing manner. “Besides, you’ve only been in Penrose for two weeks,” the Puchuu added.

[color=DeepSkyBlue]“Feels like more than a year…”[/color] Angela muttered. 

“Building up a satisfactory level of rapport with the local magical community will take time,” Chiichuu went on. “And speaking of, another opportunity for you to do just that appears to have arrived.”

[color=DeepSkyBlue]“What is it [i]this[/i] time?”[/color]

“A charismatic magical girl known as Lily Lightning has called for a meeting of the Penrose magical community,” Chiichuu replied. “It should serve as an excellent place to form new connections, and perhaps acquire the information you seek.”

[color=DeepSkyBlue]“[i]Fine…[/i]”[/color] Angela huffed. [color=DeepSkyBlue]“Let’s see what kind of clusterfuck [i]this[/i] devolves into…”[/color]
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While Lily waited for everyone to show up, she would notice a crackling orb of yellowy-green ball lightning appear beside her, only to burst apart a moment later to reveal [url=https://i.imgur.com/ybuwo0I.png]a green haired young woman in an ultratech bodysuit and holding an oversized shield.[/url]

[color=Lime]“Salutations,”[/color] the young woman greeted her with a small nod. [color=Lime]“My designation is Pentius-04, and I am here on behalf of my creator, the most esteemed and renowned Doctor Nikki Yolanda Kannis, Queen of the Mad Scientists, to serve as your bodyguard for the duration of this meeting,”[/color] she explained, before holding out her free hand to reveal a small holoprojector built into the palm of her gauntlet. [color=Lime]“Doctor Kannis has also prepared a short message for you as well,”[/color] she added as miniature, semi-transparent image of the deranged doctor appeared above her open palm.

[color=DarkMagenta]“Nyahahaha! Greetings, Lily!”[/color] Nykannis began. [color=DarkMagenta]“I noticed your message about the little confab you’re planning, and considering what happened to the [i]last[/i] person who tried to organize something like that, well, let’s just say I enjoy watching the pathetic flailings you call being a magical girl far too much to see you get bumped off just yet! [i]Therefore,[/i] I’ve sent Pentius-04 to keep you in roughly one piece! She’s the best bodyguard I could create within the rules framework of this reality plenum,”[/color] the mad scientist continued. [color=DarkMagenta]“So unless the Grand Magistrate [i]really[/i] wants you dead, you should have absolutely [i]nothing[/i] to worry about. Plus, 04 here’s really been wanting to atone for how badly she fucked up back in Bolorton, so, yeah, ‘eye of the tiger’ and all that shit. ANYWAYS, that’s all from me. Hopefully the Penrose Pack will actually decide to be supportive this time and not laugh hysterically while someone chucks a bomb at your fucking face! Nyahahahaha!”[/color]

With that, the small image winked out.