After Penny’s inauguration as the new Queen and the Ascendancy’s aggressive campaign of pride and prejudice among many others, Penrose’s riots eventually quietened down, replaced by an ominous air that clouded over Penrose. Both Alicia and Mariette had gained notoriety and power in their own ways in the wake, either recruiting members loyal to the cause of change or collecting supplies and connections. Even so, as magical threats subsided, common ones resurfaced, but not in a way one might have expected; due to the circumstances surrounding Penrose’s growing infamy as, unsavory folks among the common people have been drawn in to practice their trade of drug business; rumors spread in the magical community that it was another ploy by the Mint to seize control of Penrose’s populace and expand.
However, a small number of Glimmr posts have also expressed concern over certain disappearances of magical girls. While mostly from the ranks of the hunted, a couple of normal magical girls had also vanished without a trace.

And Remedy was the next target.


At dusk, during one of her countless peacekeeping missions, Remedy felt a chill down her spine, as she felt a presence suddenly behind her. Before she had time to turn, she felt a hand grip her face, long red nails digging into her skin; she saw a glimpse of white fangs glistening in the dark, about to bite into her neck-

-When suddenly she was instead thrown aside. When Remedy next turned her eyes up, there was no sign of the attacker. Yet, the sting of pain she felt was only too real. It took only a couple of seconds after when Remedy heard from her fellow comrade in Cradle what happened; she was saved by Viridian, who had immediately alerted the team to one who had claimed one of their own once before.

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[color=0054a6]"Forgive me, Lady Justine,"[/color] Sonia spoke, bowing with a perfectly still posture with her arms clasped before her. She was bathed in light coming from a ceiling light above her.
[color=0054a6]"I had overestimated Veronica’s caution, and had to make a retreat before they could harm you."[/color]

A pair of crimson red eyes gazed from the abyss beyond the light, disappearing for a blink before they resumed looking at Sonia.

[color=662d91]“Unfortunate, but expected. The former Mint broker has taken every rightful precaution against a possible kidnapping. It is amusing how much emotion she has invested in a bodyguard. But that is no matter.”[/color] Justine giggled a bit, and picked up a cup of hot tea from a small table next to her, complete with a tiny plate. She took a sip from it, and put it back down.
[color=662d91]“We shall now proceed with the operation.”[/color]

[color=0054a6]"I will secure this area first, my lady,"[/color] Sonia stated. Holding her hands out, she closed her eyes in concentration as a magical circle expanded around her feet, encompassing a sizable area around the two. Justine smirked; the anti-scrying zone had now been established, ensuring their meeting would be untarnished by a certain peeper.

[color=662d91]“Excellent. Sonia, arrange some furnishings while I send out the invitations.”[/color]

Sonia nodded, and proceeded to summon a satin rug and chairs, arranging them around the center of an empty yet vast corridor. Justine picked out a cell phone, and sent a simple message:

[color=662d91][The time has come. We shall meet at the underground parking lot. I will be waiting~][/color]

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[color=fff200]”You know Alex, I’m really glad we went to that movie night.”[/color]
Lily was cleaning the apartment with a vacuum, having wrapped a yellow bandana around her forehead.
[color=fff200]”It was a lot of fun watching some goofy old movies, even if it was a bit too crowded for my tastes. I also...Got to talk with one of the girls from when...You know. I got to really scream and shout, which I really needed, hah.”[/color]
She then looked aside as she held the handle of the tool close to her.
[color=fff200]”And...We got to be...Like a couple on a date. That was nice too. It’s just a shame we can’t do much with all this crazy stuff happening.”[/color]

That was when she heard a ping from her phone, and picked it up, only to widen her eyes; it was a message from Ronin.
[color=fff200]”Wait, why would se-Oh no.”[/color]
She quickly realized the implications behind the samurai girl’s request. She fumbled with her phone as she turned off the vacuum and set it aside to rapidly type a response.
[color=fff200][  Hiya Ronin ^_^  ][/color]

[color=fff200][  Umm, I’m sorry to say this, but I’m actually busy :(  ][/color]

[color=fff200][  But don’t worry, I’ll get to the bottom of this (ノ°д°)ノ( ┻━┻)  ][/color]

She sent the message with a shaky thumb, and lightly smacked her forehead with the vacuum tube. When Alex came over to check on her, she bit her lip.

[color=fff200]”Hey Alex...Ronin just messaged me. She is going to try and free Mariette from her mind-bending. But I think that means she’s going to join Justine in her attack. And that means I’d need to fight her!”[/color] She held Alex’ shoulders, dropping the vacuum. 
[color=fff200]”What should we do?”[/color]

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Helga was at the Golden Trove, working as usual, when she stopped and blinked.

“...I feel a great disturbance. Or maybe that’s just me needing a lunch break. Hey Su, do you reckon I forgot something important?” She yelled out.