[b]Adila![/b] Caddy is in your head. It’s not a natural telepath, the way you are; it inserts seeking tendrils of curiosity into your thoughts, rummaging around, trying to understand: what do you want? What do you [i]want?[/i] You want... normality. The thoughts twine around the word. Normal. Beat. Investigation. Criminals. The colors grow bolder, even as the shadows deepen. When you move, your scales glint for a moment like your Watch badge. A seasonal rain begins caressing the windows. Goblin saxophones begin playing. In this world, a Princess might think she can get away with a crime. She’s wrong. No matter how far she runs, how well she thinks she can hide... the Watch will find her and bring her to justice— And that’s when you realize Stick is missing! *** [b]Helya![/b] A crisp mountain breeze cuts through the air. The sun shines brilliantly through the windows, and the distant thunder of hooves tells you that you are home. You turn, triumphant, and there she is, your love, her head wreathed in a garland of forget-me-nots and ivy, wearing the dress you wove for her yourself. Her eyes are so beautiful over her veil, which you also wove for her after taking a class on traditional Jedadi crafts. She’s carrying the Mare’s Bouquet, and— She lifts her veil and kisses you, and you melt into her, and you don’t even notice when she slips the Caduceus out of your hands. *** [b]Tashanna![/b] Violins play a stately waltz as you dip the stunned Helya onto the floor. Black Lily Lipstick: never leave home without it! You spin, your beaded dress swirling about you, and curtsey to your worthy but defeated opponents. You can’t wait to show Shazari! For once, you managed to win! “I thank you all for helping me get this far,” you say, to the sound of courteous applause. Your heart is doing cartwheels in your chest! “You have made this celebration one of the happiest in my life. I value each and every—“ Dandy roundhouse kicks you in the stomach. *** [b]Dandy![/b] The walls begin to bloom. Vines wind their way around pillars, flowers burst from the stone in high speed, and the air fills with the smell of apple pies and roasted corn. What’s stopping all of Hyperborea of being a garden and a farm, when you think about it? It’s already fruitful, it just needs that push over the edge. It just needs someone to sort everything into neat little rows and organize the harvest. A crown of wheat stalks blossoms around your head as you tramp your hooves eagerly on the floor. You’ll make all of Rowan into a garden just for Adila, or at least, the parts that nobody’s really using... And that’s when Hornet drops out of the sky onto your face. *** [b]Hornet![/b] This is the Ultimate World you came up with! Ba-bong!! Gears and wheels and pulleys cover the walls, churning away to provide the power to do anything! Do you want to fly? You can, tucked inside a Unusual Flying Object or a Dragonfly Glider! Zooooooom!! Do you want to be a good person? Just walk inside a Moral Rebalance and Refueling Station! Dun dun!! You even have a Friendship Wall, covered with the faces of all the princesses who are friends with you! A Miraculous State Analysis display next to their faces ticks ticks ticks as all of their hands swing to: SAFE, or WITH FRIENDS, or even ABOUT TO HUG YOU. Now you know how your friends are all the time, and don’t need to worry about reading them wrong or not being there when they need hel—rrrrrkk! *** [b]Azora Howl![/b] The room darkens, lights extinguishing, and the boom of thunder rattles the windows. Rider blades keen and wail as they are drawn by shadowy figures, holding them to the throats of all these silly little princesses. You drop the silly unconscious goblin, holding the Caduceus victoriously, and cackle! Yes, you cackle! It’s your right!! “If you want this dumb stick back,” you say at Eupheria, who is looming furiously over you, her eyes spinning so violently it looks like they’re about to pop out of her skull, “you have to promise that you’ll do all the boring things I don’t want to do, and that I’ll get to keep my kitten and my sisters and make them do whatever I want! Though... why should I make you promise, when I can just [i]make you?[/i]” Chains begin clamping at every one of Eupheria’s wrists, dragging her down to the floor screaming as you hold the Caduceus between the two of you. And with the crunch of frost on the tiles, your father begins to appear. He’ll be happy to take the Caduceus from you... but maybe you should make [i]him[/i] kneel, too, until you’ve made sure that he really will love you best [i]forever and ever.[/i] [Azora has replaced the environmental trait with [i]Shadow Riders, Slowly Becoming More Solid[/i]] *** [b]Kathelia![/b] Interesting! The Caduceus seems to be making shadowy Riders out of nothing instead of real ones. Possibly it is limited in its ability to create life? That would have massive implications about the Nightmare Army. Or perhaps Azora is just so narcissistic right now that she’s only able to think of others in vague terms, defining her guards by their weapons and your father by his Presence. That suggests that clear intent is required to use the Caduceus, despite the anarchic events of the past minute. Or perhaps making so many changes in quick succession is wearing on the Caduceus, and soon it will need to rest? If true, that would open up many possibilities for conflict resolution here! If you keep passing it around, eventually it will be worn out! Unfortunately, you can’t voice any of this, because a cold, shadowy hand is clamped over your mouth, holding your jaw shut and pressing up against your nostrils. You take big, desperate breaths, despite the fact that it makes the three swords held to your neck uncomfortably dig into your skin. Of course Azora sees you as a uniquely dangerous threat, which is why you’re surrounded by shadow Riders, your arms pinned and your words unintelligible. All you can do is watch helplessly as Azora achieves Ultimate Power... And then your father touches you. *** [b]Mittens![/b] He steps on you. Jessamine howls in fury and lunges at him, only to take a backhand to the face that sends her sprawling. He steps on you and twists his heel cruelly. Stars burst in front of your eyes. Then he’s continuing forward, without a backward glance. He’s not all here, you know that instinctively, but... but he’s [i]coming.[/i] Wherever he is in Hyperborea, Oberon Greymane is fading away to appear [i]here.[/i] You’re hauled to your feet roughly. “Distract her. [i]Now.[/i]” Adila I pushes you down the hall to act like a good pawn, even as she reaches into a pocket of her Watch uniform and brings out a vicious little brass knuckle clenched in her fist. If there’s anyone who deserves it, it’s definitely Azora, but... But do you trust [i]Adila I[/i] with this power? And if you don’t... do you have any way of stopping Oberon Greymane from taking the Caduceus for himself??