The police closed in on Earth Bastion, having blocked off all roads of escape with their cars. They were about to attempt boarding the ship when they were met with a terrifying sight: a black tendril burst from the ground and flew through the air, followed by a flash of iridescent colors as the portal was formed. The law enforcement was so taken aback by the unnatural phenomena that they retreated wherever there was cover, in alleyways and behind civilian cars. "What the hell is that!" One could be heard shouting, while another simply stared, frozen from fear. "Open fire!" A voice rang out, and the police began shooting at the Earth Bastion, incurring no damage to it's magically enhanced ironsides. With a mighty roar, the rolling ship charged through the portal, followed by a group of mysterious strangers that slipped through unnoticed, and finally closed.

First, there was the feeling of weightlessness and sight-obscuring light, as the ship plunged through the magical gateway, thrown to another plane of existence. It was followed by the sound of sparkling and wooshing, a sound of something hitting dirt hard and finally, silence. The blinding light gave way to a most unusual sight: the Earth Bastion now stood in the middle of a field dominated by an endless checkerboard pattern, and a sky with countless shooting stars, as if it was raining starlight. In the distance, one could see a forest, with clumps of trees growing from the chromatically arranged squares, as well as mountains with unnatural shapes, such as curls and flat-tops. 

[hider=Landscape][img]https://i.imgur.com/JxIGfdR.jpg[/img][/hider]

The landscape was dotted by the occasional ruin of a civilization from another time and place. The air felt lighter and more pure, lacking any kind of manmade pollution. However, it was also a dangerous place, as one could hear the guttural howl of something alien to their home dimension, and a dragon-like being could be seen flying high above. It was truly a world of magic, where greater beings took refuge in the beauty, but one where monsters also roamed as they pleased.

[hider=Alone In Silence][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUVyMeuSNkk[/youtube][/hider]

Mariette had placed the portal some distance away from where she last arrived there, but the general scenery was familiar enough for the Dark Magical Girl to recognize. However, she could see that the world had changed from her last visit: while there were still stars in the sky, she could no longer see galaxies. There was also a haze of darkness that covered the land, and black mist could be seen parting against a rock; even if it was the middle of the day, it resembled night. Most notably, there was a crescent moon in the horizon, in a color all too familiar to everyone on this perilous journey: blood red.

[hider=Blood Moon][img]https://i.imgur.com/TKBxLuU.jpg[/img][/hider]

"Uaaaah!" Libby Bibby exclaimed in awe, and bounced off the Earth Bastion's deck to peer around at her surroundings. "Salaca doo la menthicka boo la bibbidi-bobbidi-boo!" She sang, spinning around in utter joy with her arms stretched to her sides, her red eyes staring brightly at the sky. Helga did not react as strongly, though she did raise an eyebrow at Libby. However, her attention was soon drawn by seeing the crescent blood moon. "Crap, Justine's already begun the ritual." As the crew adjusted to their new surroundings, Mariette noticed the blood moon to be in Justine's direction, while in the exact opposite direction was the place for which the entire plane derived it's name from: the Overcity itself. It is a massive, grand metropolis, with towers reaching the clouds and giant palaces peeking out form beyond a crystal wall surrounding it. It is a location every Patron knows, for it is a nexus for these magical beings to cross the multiverse, inhabited by magical girls and other beings of arcane inclination. "Justine said she had attempted to enter the city before in the past, but failed. Now I can see why," Helga commented, while Libby Bibby played hopscotch with the checkerboard ground, occasionally flashing a strange smile. As all this was going on, only Alexander would notice a distant lamp post of gothic design, upon which shone not a regular lamp, but a purple crystal the size of a volleyball.

[hr]
[hider=Septette For The Dead Princess][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XYaDOA6MB8[/youtube][/hider]

Justine stood at a balcony, her hand resting on the railing. She intently stared at the moon, her lips curled into a smile.
[color=662d91]"So beautiful...Yet, I can't help but feel sorrow, and pain. I wonder if it is the same for you, my sweet sister."[/color]
She created a magic circle on her palm, and peered through it. [color=662d91]"Ever since you were broken by love, your heart consumed by madness, I never knew how you truly felt. All I wanted was to make you happy. Yet, my embrace only grieved you further, and my affection pushed you away. Only in suffering could you smile. But it is not the smile I remember, but one warped by cruelty and sin of man."[/color] She closed the circle by clutching her hand into a fist, and flapped her black wings. [color=662d91]"But Father gave us a way, a chance to redeem this terrible existence. Father will set us free, Caroline. From your pain, and mine, and everyone."[/color]

The vampiric girl turned back, and entered through the open door back to the throne room. There, Sonia waited for him, as well as a woman with long red hair, crouched before the throne. 
[color=662d91]"Meddling children have arrived,"[/color] Justine spoke coldly, and took the goblet of blood from Sonia's tray. 
[color=0054a6]"Do you understand what this means?"[/color] Sonia asked, and the woman nodded.
[color=9e0b0f]"I understand. The Curie Corps will repel the intruders."[/color]
[color=662d91]"Also...Once you see the mark, you are allowed to use it."[/color] Sonia gasped. 
[color=0054a6]"My Lady, you can't mean...."[/color]
[color=662d91]"Yes...The Final Solution."[/color] Justine's fangs showed as she said it in a grin.
[color=9e0b0f]"Really? Oh, thank you so much, Lady Justine!"[/color] And with that, the woman walked away, followed by Sonia, and Justine sat on her throne, with a little smile as she sipped on her goblet.

[color=662d91]"I will let you play around with them for a bit. After all, I do love spoiling my sweet sister with a bit of pudding, hm hm~"[/color]