The Visceral Castle's stone walls shook with a great rumble as Penny made the first few punches. And soon enough, its halls and corridors echoed with the panicked screams of various girls. Penny saw through the holes she had made that a horde of maid girls rushed through the foyer, their arms flailing and eyes full of tears, hoping to escape the impending destruction that she would bring forth. When the horde reached outside, they were met with Beacon's forces, who didn't stop them; in fact, Sylvia sighed in relief. "I'm glad Penny made a warning first." She petyted Kimble's head as the group observed the castle from a distance. "But what about the prisoners? What if somebody was left behind?" Sally asked, cocking her head to the side and accidentally bothering Alicia with her rabbit-eared headdress. Sylvia gave a reassuring look as she grasped at air in front of her. "Don't worry, I'm sure Strawberry and Blueberry did their job securing the dungeons. Speaking of...Beckoner, do you have status on those two?" The Beckoner appeared, and shook its small head. "I'm sorry, but...Strawberry and Blueberry...were killed in the bombing." Sally gasped, and Sylvia's eyebrows furrowed. "WHAT! So those two were impostors! I didn't give them an identity check because we were in a hurry...Damn!" She kicked the ground. "But they didn't attack us...What were they after?" Sally then spoke up. "Actually, that's the thing...Back in the library, I saw two corpses disappear...It's like...They passed through the floor." The Beacon was left silent, and looked on as the castle began crumbling, collapsing into itself as it's foundation was unable to support it. They saw Penny in the distance, dashing away with her spider limbs lashing at any loose debris around her. With a mighty leap, she escaped the falling central tower that plummeted from the sky, and with a great earth-shaking crashed down to the ground. The castle was now but mere ruins. The Beacon cheered, as they had successfully destroyed yet another enemy's lair, and brought glory to Beacon unlike ever before. A glimmering sparkle of hope, that would guide them forward. [hr] Lily looked back at Alex, and giggled at his antics. She walked over to him, and lifted her foot. [color=fff200]"You're blaming me? Aren't you silly, Alex~"[/color] She then placed his boot on her stomach while wearing a wide grin; she was so light he could barely feel it. [color=fff200]"You lazy bum, don't drop immediately when the fight's over. But, you did come and rescue me, so I guess you deserve a rest."[/color] Helga turned to see the motorboat approach them, and bared her fangs. "Don't tell me..." She mumbled, but then sighed out of relief when the new arrival revealed she was here to pick up the Ebon girls. "I'd like a ride too, if possible." She nodded at Sue with sad eyes, and a half-hearted smile. "Amby's here, actually." She pointed to the altar at the center of the platform; sure enough, her body was still there, in nearly pristine condition. "I made sure Amby wasn't too affected by the battle; I want to give Amby a proper funeral." She picked the dead girl up, and with tears in her eyes went to take a seat at the back of the motorboat. When Veronica gestured for Lily and Alex, the green-haired girl shook her head. [color=fff200]"Me and Alex won't need a ride. We got our own!"[/color] She then posed, with her hands in the air. [color=fff200]"Let my spirit gallop across the field of clouds, and strike my foes down with thunderous applause!"[/color] And with that incantation, she transformed back to her magical girl form. She summoned her staff, and twirled it; soon enough, a thunderous horse spirit galloped across the ocean, and with a crackle transformed into a motorcycle before her. She turned her head back at Alex, and winked. [color=fff200]"Get on, Alex! We need roads where we're going!"[/color] Lily waved to the rest, feeling sad that they now had to part ways. But that but a normal part of her life as a magical girl, meeting and departing with the strangest people...And she wouldn't have it any other way. [color=fff200]"Bye, everyone! I hope to see you gals again!"[/color] Helga waved back with a blush on her cheeks, and saw the two off as they rode across the ocean, on a glittering track of Reinforcement magic. As the wind wooshed past her, and caused her hair to fly up, she took a look at the memento Justine left her with. She then put the hat on, and giggled some more, riding back to Penrose. She did not know what crazy adventure she might fall into next, but she knew she could count on her friends to take on any ordeal. [hr] Numerous girls shrieked and cried in fright as they felt the castle quake from powerful blows. They looked desperate as they looked upon their savior Mariette, who fortunately had a way out. "You got it, Mariette! Come on girls!" Nancy shouted, and was the first to follow the dark magical girl through the portal, followed by a long line of girls that charged through the magical gateway. Mariette found herself standing on the abyss; it felt like standing on polished glass, with an endless darkness just waiting under the surface. When girls popped out behind her, most of them slipped and fell on their butts. Nancy however was graceful as she skated towards the mansion's front door. "We made it!" Nancy cheered. "Thank you so much for saving us!" She went over to the front doors, and like a humble servant, opened the door for Mariette to enter. "You deserve to go first," she spoke with a smile. Eli then appeared behind them, and now held Asengav's mirror, fully restored with a black frame. The interior of the mansion was similar in some ways to the Justine castle, at least when it came to first appearances; there was furniture that seemed both foreboding yet oddly soothing, evoking Victorian design in it's gothic nature. The walls were decorated with portraits of other chosen of Asengav, but upon closer inspection they were actually mirrors reflecting paintings back at the viewer. There were no candles or chandeliers lighting the inside. Instead, a luminescent glow that emanated from the floor and ceiling enabled the residents to see. Mariette could tell that Asengav was pleased with Mariette's deeds from the uncharacteristic warmth that the mansion was bathed in. [color=c1eb9b]‘The time is coming.’[/color] The [url=https://i.imgur.com/N53ToUw.png]green sprite that talked had an elfin appearance and butterflies that fluttered around her[/url]. She sat on the railing of a staircase at the entrance hall of the mansion. She did not blink as she continued speaking. [color=c1eb9b]‘Can you feel Him, Mariette? Our lord was furious from his pride being sullied, and by having been denied the offering you failed to give. But you brought vengeance on his nemesis, that miserable blood-soaked Patron, and stalled his plans for another millenium. You've also restored our lord's mirror, and amassed resources at an astounding rate. He has deemed you ready, and so he has sent me, Lea Keufer, as His messenger.’[/color] Lea hopped off from the railing, and levitated right before Mariette. [color=c1eb9b]‘The world you’ve been assigned to will play a major part in the operation to come.’[/color] She suppressed a smirk. [color=c1eb9b]‘This is what our lord has been building up to, for a long, long time,’[/color] Lea informed trying to read Mariette’s expression with every word. She continued. [color=c1eb9b]‘While he has especially prepared this so that in case of failure he can just try it all over again and start from scratch, he would be very disappointed to see this fail. Let’s just say that succeeding would be [i]rather beneficial to your continued well-being[/i]…’[/color] She let the last statement hang in the air, the implications all too obvious. [hr] Far away in the distance, atop a hill covered in flowers, two phantoms peered down at the great cloud of dust that the wrecked castle had brought up; one of them held a couple of tomes in her hands, looking as ethereal as she was. [color=Aqua]"I can't believe we did it. We sneaked right under the noses of the lantern-heads and got Justine's spellbooks."[/color] One of them had a boastful tone, and turned to face the other with a confident smile. [color=Aqua]"And it's all thanks to our demented friend's little trinket. Isn't that right, Julia?"[/color] [color=MediumVioletRed]You're correct, Jillian. We are lucky Caroline decided to give us her Disguise Artifacts.The Panopticon will be pleased with the arcane knowledge we can offer."[/color] The other girl floated still in the air, a faint smile on her lips as she now saw the castle as a ruined heap. [Color=MediumVioletRed]"But the bunny girl noticed us. We need to leave before the Beacon catches on to us."[/color] Julia began floating backwards. But as she turned- [color=00a651]"Ah, how lovely. You brought my books for me. That saved me from a lot of work, heh heh~"[/color] The ghostly monster girls were alarmed as they realized a magical girl stood behind them, her face hidden by an umbrella. The ghost girls held their hands out, ready for combat, with Jillian at the front, protecting her Twin Soul. [color=MediumVioletRed]"Who are you? And how did you find us?"[/color] The stranger gave a little laugh, and twirled the umbrella. [color=00a651]"Oh, I am a friend...And I have an offer to give to you. As they say, keep your enemies close..."[/color] She lifted the umbrella, and the twins' eyes opened in dread. [hider="Flowers Are At The End Of Illusion"][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyaZtPE7rPY[/youtube][/hider] [color=00a651]"...and your friends closer."[/color] [h1]THE END[/h1] ...Or is it?