[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/CItduwr.png[/img][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/rKTmUnL.png[/img][/center] Having received a message from Connie about a Christmas party, it took several days to get back a response. The message was brief and cryptic, but implied something significant had happened. After a little back and forth a meeting was arranged to clear things up as best it could. Since most of Penrose was still in ruins, or at the very least, shut down, Connie suggested that they meet in her and Mia’s room at the orphanage for lunch. Hilde had been there before, and, as far as Connie knew, still possessed the ability to teleport, so getting in discreetly shouldn’t be much of a problem. Connie nervously waited on her bed, while Mia went out to get some pizza for them. Connie knew she probably shouldn’t worry, but Hilde’s messages had been somewhat mysterious. Something had happened, and the timid girl was worried about her new friend’s wellbeing. Since some secrecy had been requested so as not to cause a scene, a couple girls walked their way around until they could see the window to Connie's room. Sending a message first to let her friend know she was about to enter she waited until she saw a read checkmark. Transforming, Iris placed a hand on Rose's shoulder. For Connie, two winged girls suddenly appeared in the room. The red haired one raised a hand and waved sheepishly. [color=plum]"H-hi Connie. I-it's me, sort of. "[/color] [color=DarkOrchid]“Eeep!”[/color] Connie yelped, jumping up and hugging herself as two strange girls appeared before her. One of them [i]did[/i] seem a bit familiar, though… [color=DarkOrchid]“H-Hilde…?”[/color] the timid girl whispered, clearly very confused. [color=DarkOrchid]“I-Is t-that you?”[/color] Turning to look at the other girl, she added, [color=DarkOrchid]“I-Is t-this a f-friend?”[/color] Perdictably Connie jumped. At least the girl didn't completely freak out though. [color=plum]"Yeah, it's Hildebell. Or as much as I can be I guess. I remember being Hildebell."[/color] She put a finger against her lips for a second thinking about it. Her attention shifted when Connie pointed out the other girl. Smiling brightly she put an arm around Iris, her pigtails bouncing a bit as she moved. [color=plum]"This is Iris. She's my twin sister. It's kind of hard to explain but I got caught in a magical spell and it, well, did this."[/color] She gestured to her and the matching girl excitedly. Connie’s eyes grew wide at her friend’s explanation. [color=DarkOrchid]“R-Really? A s-spell did all t-this? G-Gosh… Oh!”[/color] she exclaimed as something occurred to her. [color=DarkOrchid]“I-I’m C-Connie, b-by the w-way,”[/color] she told Iris, while holding out a trembling hand. [color=DarkOrchid]“I-It’s v-very nice to m-meet you.”[/color] Giving a soft smile, Iris gently took the hand and shook it. [color=royalblue]"Lovely to meet you. Rose told me all about you. I look forward to getting to know you myself."[/color] She would release her hand and stand up straight. She certainly didn't seem as excitable as her sister. [color=DarkOrchid]“R-Rose…?”[/color] Connie asked with a frown. [color=DarkOrchid]“Y-You d-decided to c-change your n-name?”[/color] [color=plum]"Wah?"[/color] She waved her hands. [color=plum]"N-no. I-I woke up as Rose. I love the name Hildebell. Its just- "[/color] Iris held up a hand which cut off Rose. Kneeling down, she spoke softly. [color=royalblue]"The magic that effected us was meant to create a new magical girl. The best I can explain is that Hilde's memories still remains inside of Rose and she would like to remain your friend."[/color] She smiled. [color=royalblue]"And I would like to be your friend too, if you'll have me."[/color] Rose looked around a bit. Not seeing Mia she would ask. [color=plum]"Is Mia around?"[/color] Connie’s troubled eyes seemed to water as Hildebell, or rather, Rose, spoke, but then Iris went on to calmly explain the situation, concluding with a request to be friends, and Connie’s somber demeanor changed in a heartbeat. [color=DarkOrchid]“O-Of course! I-I’d love it if w-we c-could be f-friends!”[/color] Connie gushed happily as she wrapped Iris up in a tight embrace. Rose then asked about Mia, but before Connie could reply, the door opened and the tomboyish young woman herself entered carrying a pair of pizza boxes. [color=SpringGreen]“Pizza’s here!”[/color] she announced, before freezing in her tracks at the sight of their two guests. [color=SpringGreen]“Uh, who the heck are you?”[/color] [color=DarkOrchid]“Hi, Mia!”[/color] Connie greeted her friend exuberantly as she finally released Iris. [color=DarkOrchid]“T-This is H-Hildebell, b-but she g-goes by R-Rose, now, a-and [i]this[/i] is her n-new sister, Iris!”[/color] she added, introducing her new friends. [color=DarkOrchid]“T-They s-said they w-were in s-some kind of m-magic spell a-accident, or s-something, and… Yeah…”[/color] [color=SpringGreen]“Okaaay…”[/color] Mia said as she slowly put the pizza boxes down on their small table. [color=SpringGreen]“Well, it’s, uh, nice to meet you, I guess?”[/color] she added, holding out her hand to the two girls. [color=SpringGreen]“A-Anyways, you guys hungry?”[/color] The girls let the two friends update one another. After Mia put the boxes down Rose ignored the food question and grabbed Mia's hand. She pulled her over to Connie and Iris where she gave them all a big hug with her arms and circled the bunch with her wings. [color=plum]"I thought I might never get the chance to see you again! I'm so happy!"[/color] [color=DarkOrchid]“M-Me too!”[/color] Connie agreed with a big smile. [color=DarkOrchid]“L-Let’s promise to always be f-friends, n-no matter what!”[/color] [color=plum]"I promise."[/color] Said one twin. [color=royalblue]"Alright."[/color] Said the other. Letting everyone out of the hug, Rose was about to turn to deal with the pizza when she remembered something and snapped her fingers. [color=plum]"Oh yeah, try not to tell everyone who we are. The girl we work for might get in trouble if certain people find out."[/color] To a degree there was limited they could do to keep all the details under wrap. What Kayli did to out herself they could only partly help with. [color=DarkOrchid]“O-Okay,”[/color] Connie said with a nod. [color=DarkOrchid]“I-If anybody asks, I-I’ll just s-say that you’re our n-new friends, Rose and Iris. A-And that reminds me!”[/color] she added, while reaching into her jacket and retrieving a small piece of colorful paper. [color=DarkOrchid]“I w-wanted to invite you to a C-Christmas Party! T-This really adorable t-talking dolphin named Dan is h-hosting it in his beach dimension, a-and I think it’ll be r-really fun!”[/color] she told them with an excited smile as she handed the magically duplicated invitations to each girl. [color=SpringGreen]“It’s one heck of a beautiful beach, that’s for sure,”[/color] Mia agreed. [color=SpringGreen]“And it’s the perfect place if you’re getting sick of our current arctic climate,”[/color] she added pointing her thumb at the window. The weather outside had noticeably worsened, and snow was beginning to be blown about by a harsh wind. The two took the invitations and looked them over. [color=royalblue]"Oh yes. I believe Kayli received one of these. We would love to join you."[/color] The girl nodded approvingly. [color=DarkOrchid]“G-Great!”[/color] Connie cheered, her eyes shining with joy. [color=DarkOrchid]“M-Mia and I c-can introduce you t-to Amanda, and M-Mayra, and a-all our [i]other[/i] n-new friends! A-And you c-can introduce us to K-Kayli! Oh! A-And Faith m-might be there w-with some of [i]her[/i] f-friends, too! She h-had to move away, b-but she said she’d t-try to make it, i-if she could,”[/color] Connie continued to ramble. [color=DarkOrchid]“O-Oh… B-But, um, I h-hope s-she doesn’t g-get upset that you c-changed your n-name…”[/color] [color=SpringGreen]“Come on, Connie,”[/color] Mia chided playfully, while putting an arm around her friend’s shoulder. [color=SpringGreen]“This is [i]Faith[/i] we’re talkin’ about. I’m sure a carefree person like her would be perfectly fine with it, especially considering Rose’s current situation. Besides,”[/color] she added. [color=SpringGreen]“We’re not really supposed to tell people that Rose and Hilde are actually the same person, remember?”[/color] [color=DarkOrchid]“Oh gosh!”[/color] Connie exclaimed, while placing her trembling hands over her mouth. [color=DarkOrchid]“Y-You’re absolutely r-right! I-I’m so s-sorry!”[/color] she apologized to the twins. [color=DarkOrchid]“I p-promise I’ll t-try to r-remember!”[/color] [color=royalblue]"Maybe it's best to think of us as Hilda's friends too?"[/color] She gave as a suggestion. n [color=DarkOrchid]“O-Oh, u-umm, I g-guess that c-could w-work…”[/color] Connie noted, not fully convinced on the idea herself. [color=DarkOrchid]“B-But then, w-what should w-we say if p-people ask about H-Hilde?”[/color] Pondering the question a while, Rose pointed at herself. [color=plum]"Not that I want to say this, but Hilde is gone. I know you because Hilde did. But the spell used Hilde as a vessel to create us to fullfil a purpose. We exist now to aid and protect Kayli in her mission."[/color] She put her hand down on the table and went quiet to let that sink in. [color=DarkOrchid]“G-Gone…?”[/color] Connie echoed, her voice a plaintive whisper, and her eyes filling with tears. For a moment, she just sat there, a look of confusion on her trembling face. [color=DarkOrchid]“O-Okay,”[/color] she sighed, while lowering her head in sullen resignation. [color=DarkOrchid]“I-I understand. Y-You j-just have her m-memories, b-but you’re [i]n-not[/i] her. N-Not really… H-Hilde was my f-friend,”[/color] she added, using the soft sleeve of her jacket to wipe the tears from her eyes. [color=DarkOrchid]“A-And I’m r-really g-gonna miss her. B-But, I also m-made two [i]new[/i] friends,”[/color] she smiled up at the twins. [color=DarkOrchid]“A-And that t-takes some of the s-sadness away.”[/color] [color=SpringGreen]“Thanks for agreeing to come here, and for explaining everything,”[/color] Mia spoke up. [color=SpringGreen]“I know ya didn’t have to, but it really means a lot. To both of us.”[/color] Rose cringed as Connie worked through what she said. It clearly hurt her to hear and see how the girl reacted. She seemed to react as though Hilda was still somewhere in there as she held a hand over her heart. She was starting to tear up herself. [color=plum]"I'm sorry. I just… It wouldn't be right to pretend. And Hilde would want you to know.[/color] She wrapped the two in her arms again. [color=plum]"You were some of her best friends and it's a blessing to hold her memories of you."[/color] [color=DarkOrchid]“T-Thanks, Rose,”[/color] Connie told her, smiling as she returned the girl’s embrace. [color=DarkOrchid]“I-I just [i]know[/i] w-we’re gonna have l-lot’s of fun t-together, r-right Mia?”[/color] [color=SpringGreen]“That’s right, little sis,”[/color] Mia chuckled. [color=SpringGreen]“But what are we still sittin’ around here for? That pizza’s gonna start gettin’ cold soon!”[/color] Letting them go again, Rose moved around the table. [color=plum]"Alright. Let's eat. "[/color] After letting her secrets out she felt a little tired. As they went along though and got the chance to relax they moved on to more fun topics. As they would find, Rose seemed to have inherited Hilde's cheerful demeanor while her sister Iris was a lot calmer and kind of anchored her sister before she got too carried away. After the meal, the four of them spent the rest of the afternoon playing some board games, just as they had on the day they’d healed Faith and Hilde got her new name. With the departure of Faith and the death, for lack of a better word, of Hilde, the memory was now a bittersweet one, but Connie cherished it nonetheless. And now a [i]new[/i] memory was being made, the first of what she hoped would be many more to come.