[quote=@Ariamis]
Maria smiled, and nodded in response to Eponine's gesture. She was glad to know Eponine was behind her cause, since she was one of her most important agents. However, there was something she wanted confirmed while she was making preparations.

"Good. Now, your first task is heading to the industrial sector and assisting Violetta with her investigation on a magi lab, and bringing the culprits to justice. It's been a while since she has responded back to me, and I'm worried something has happened there. I'm not going to have the risk of the city blown up in some crazy experiment ignored and ruining our plans."
[/quote]

"Understood, Lady Maria," Eponine said.  Though her emotionless expression had returned, conviction could be seen in her eyes.  She saluted Maria and left the hall.

Fantine, meanwhile had struggled at trying to stand at attention, while watching Eponine lose her temper and composure.  Fantine had wanted to run over and comfort her sister, but she didn't know if anything she could have done would have helped.  Since Eponine became a magical girl, she had grown extremely distant.  Fantine knew Eponine still cared for her, but Eponine bore all the burden, while Fantine felt powerless.  Fantine couldn't care less whether Eponine served Aurora or Maria, Fantine merely wished to support her sister whatever her choice was, but she found no way to support her except smiling and pretending everything was fine, pretend she didn't see what being a magical girl had done to Eponine.  Fantine steeled herself and made sure she wasn't crying, but took a few quick glances at Maria, wondering if their lady actually cared about them as she professed or if she was just playing her game of thrones.

[hr]
A while later, Eponine arrived at the industrial sector where Violetta was supposed to be.  As she neared, she sensed the presence of a witch's barrier.  She took out her soul gem and followed its directions leading her past an abandoned lab with a giant boulder and fresh scorch marks; signs of Violetta's presence.  As she wandered around, the space around her began to warp, meaning that she was either getting closer, the barrier was expanding, or both.  Soon she was struck by what could only be described a snow-blindness as she entered the barrier.  While her eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness, she didn't blink, which would have been the normal reflex action to have were it not for the fact that Eponine's sense of pain was severely dulled.  Eponine figured Violetta was probably in the barrier as well, which would explain her lack of updates.  Eponine transformed, and pulled out a hammer.  Eponine wondered how she was going to find Violetta in this muffled, snowy mess.