[right][color=1462ba][i][h2]Mariette[/h2][/i][/color][color=57a345][h3][i]and Eli[/i][/h3][/color][/right]

When Eli arrived in the room with all the girls, disabled from their interactions with Caroline, she stopped to inspect them for potential danger. They appeared neutralized, yet she felt required to run back to report this finding to her mistress. Upon being told, Mariette simply nodded and wandered on, intending to inspect the supposedly inactive girls… only to find that they rose like zombies facing towards her, recognizing her and desiring her destruction.

[color=57a345]‘Ah,’[/color] Eli made a noise of realization from beside Mariette, looking upon the girls from a distance from the candles of the cells, out of major damage potential. Mariette, still holding the mirror, frowned looking upon the rows of girls that they themselves had kidnapped. Well, this was partly terrible.

First instinct was she would start recollecting them in their weakened state, taking back what she kidnapped for herself, but unfortunately she was completely out of power. Second instinct was to send Eli to dispatch them all, however depending on their remaining power that could pose an unacceptable risk to Eli’s continued safety. Third instinct was to use the mirror and flee out of here, but that’d mean that upon potential victory Alicia and Beacon would liberate a large group of Magical Girls that no doubt would be hell bent on Mariette’s destruction, which was less than desirable.

Mariette closed her eyes, carefully considering her options, standing before the girls slowly homing in on her…

[color=57a345]‘M-mistress…!?’[/color] Eli asked, quickly deforming her arms into a rifle aimed at the crowd, warning them to stay their distance, but not firing since Mariette seemed to be considering something. Then… suddenly, Eli had Asengav’s Mirror thrust upon her, Mariette having passed it over to the considerably confused slime harpy, the Reflective Witch holding a resolved expression.

[color=57a345]‘… Mistress?’[/color] Eli asked, surprised.

[color=1462ba]‘Stand back, Eli. Leave this to me, and watch my back,’[/color] Mariette, said, raising her chin and looking over the crowd like a spiteful goddess watching her nonbelievers. She wandered forth to meet them, her graceful steps like she was accepting her fate to them, Eli’s eyes widening as confusion took her over.

Mariette finally stopped before the crowd.

Then she raised her right arm high.

[color=1462ba]‘Wait! Hold off your attack! I ask you now, please hear me out!’[/color] Mariette announced, her other hand placed upon her chest, her voice having risen a couple of notes in brightness to sound more innocent. [color=1462ba]‘I am not the primary cause of your misery! As we have learned, Justine von Visceral is a user of mind-manipulation tricks and brainwashing, and she uses this to recruit followers to fight for her, no matter their true hearts! I, too, I regret to say, was used, manipulated for her evil deeds. I am not blameless…’[/color] Mariette put both hands before her heart and lowered her chin in a slight bow, her tone and posture as if she was really regretting it. Then, she raised her head again and stepped forward to call out to the girls.

[color=1462ba]‘But SHE is the one who gave you to her little sister! SHE was the one who had me collect you for your blood and to complete her wicked plans! She now plans to purge your world of all you hold dear and to claim it for her own!’[/color] Here, Mariette made a dramatic gesture upon her own damages from explosions and being thrown around and the dreadful state of her dress. 

[color=1462ba]‘LOOK UPON ME! I have been damaged in extensive combat with Justine and her lackies, fighting to stop her from continuing her vile deeds! I ask you now! Turn aside your desire for vengeance and see your true enemy!’[/color] Mariette here pointed forth, towards where she had heard the sound of the train. 

[color=1462ba]‘My allies, composed of Magical, Beacon and Monster Girls alike, should be fighting her beyond these corridors, seeking to end Justine’s tyranny! They seek to save Janet Howell, to save Lily Hanson, and to save you all! I have exhausted myself fighting Caroline, the little sister whom has been defeated, but Justine remains! If you have any to give, I ask of you! Lend us your might! Let us defeat Justine von Visceral, and vanquish this threat to our world! Let’s go!’[/color]

And then, should there be any reaction from the crowd that implied that they had actual emotions and might actually have been swayed by her speech, Mariette is going to break into a mock run in the direction of the corridor leading towards their destination, hoping that the rest would perhaps hesitate due to doubt of her intention or potentially join her and hopefully overtake her because they have way better stamina than Mariette could ever hope for.

Obviously, this was all an act, because Mariette doesn’t feel the slightest remorse for them all and wasn’t in the slightest brainwashed when she did all that, but those are details better left for later.

[color=57a345]‘…’[/color] Eli stood with mouth kind of hanging open, staring at Mariette as she held that speech to them. Huh. Didn’t know mistress could act. Eli also noted how she [i]technically[/i] never lied during that speech, in case of any light-users. “Purge the world and claim it for her own” was a guess, though. Still, just in case they don’t buy it… Eli made ready to leave the mirror, jump forth and grab Mariette to attempt carrying her off to safety just in case the crowd of Magical Girls in fact didn’t care the slightest about anything else than vengeance upon the Reflective Witch. Just in case.