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[color=BlueViolet]“Would you care for some tea, Amanda?”[/color] Violet asked her friend as she took a porcelain teacup and saucer from the serving tray mounted atop their robotic flight attendant. [color=BlueViolet]“Or perhaps you’d like a different beverage, or possibly some light snacks?”[/color]

They were currently traveling aboard the heiress’s private jet, on their way to a meeting with Amanda’s twin brother, whose location Violet had recently discovered. A fully automated craft, the jet was a one-of-a-kind creation, constructed by Covington Industries for the express purpose of serving as it’s CEO’s primary conveyance. As a symbol of CI’s technological prowess, it contained every state of the art system and convenience one could imagine, all to allure potential clients and intimidate potential rivals. To Violet, traveling aboard such a pinnacle of engineering was nothing unusual, but the same probably could not be said of her companion…

 [color=mediumvioletred]"Hm? Oh, I'm not much of a tea person, used to run on coffee during late work hours. But snacks sound good!"[/color] Amanda chuckled, turning back to look out the window. There seemed to be a glimpse of curiosity in her eye. [color=mediumvioletred]"You know, I haven't traveled by plane since I became a magical girl. Once I got the hang of my magic I just used stuff like my pocket dimention to get around."[/color] she confided to Violet, crossing her legs in thought. [color=mediumvioletred]"There were barely any cases that required me to go overseas and such, and what with Penrose's condition, well, I had to stay there for the long run, for everyone's sake."[/color] Amanda flinched, realizing that she might have soured the mood, then looked back to Violet in embarassment. 

 [color=mediumvioletred]"Uh, sorry for rambling! I hadn't had the time to clear my thoughts so..."[/color]
 
 [color=BlueViolet]“No need to apologize,”[/color] Violet said with a giggle. [color=BlueViolet]“We are best friends, and confiding in each other is what best friends do. Or so I am told,”[/color] she added with a slightly embarrassed smile.

Meanwhile, the small serving robot rolled away to fetch some snacks, after Amanda requested them.

[color=BlueViolet]“A-And on the subject of confiding,”[/color] the heiress added in a more concerned tone. [color=BlueViolet]“I trust you recall that text I sent you the other day? About there being something I needed to tell you, but only face to face? W-Well,”[/color] she continued, while gazing down into her now trembling teacup. [color=BlueViolet]“Remember how I said that the name ‘Ebon Mint’ seemed familiar back at the Sanctuary? The reason for that is because… W-Well… I once made a deal with them, back before I became a magical girl,”[/color] the heiress revealed, her words pouring forth at a rapid pace, as if simply saying them caused her great pain. [color=BlueViolet]“My father was being magically attacked,”[/color] she explained, [color=BlueViolet]“and I needed to discover the culprit. But as you can probably surmise, even [i]my[/i] resources were woefully unsuited to the task. That’s when the Mint approached me and offered their assistance. Having no other option, and not knowing how truly vile they were, I accepted their offer. It seemed just like any other business deal at the time, but now, after witnessing first hand what they did to Penny’s Sanctuary, I find myself horrified that I ever associated with them. A-And I’ve been so afraid that I would lose all of my new friends because of that one stupid mistake! A-Amanda,”[/color] Violet said tentatively as she looked up at her friend for the first time since she’d begun talking. [color=BlueViolet]“Please forgive me for being so foolish,”[/color] she pleaded, taking Amanda’s hands into her own as tears began to well up. [color=BlueViolet]“Your friendship means the world to me. I-I wouldn’t want anything to come between us, which is why I wanted to tell you this myself. You were my first friend, Amanda, my [i]best friend[/i], and you deserve to know the truth, no matter how agonizing it is for me to say it.”[/color]

As much as Amanda wanted to scold her for conspiring with the Mint, she understood where Violet was coming from. There wasn't a point in getting angry, especially since she genuinely seemed regretful. [color=mediumvioletred]"Hey, it's okay."[/color] she softly reassured Violet, wiping away any tears on the other girl's face. [color=mediumvioletred]"You didn't know, and you had good intentions. Honestly, I should've given you the run down on patrons sooner. Just, be careful if you have to work with them again, alright? And if they give you a black coin, don't use it. It's bad juju."[/color] the punkish girl smiled.

[color=BlueViolet]“Thank you, Amanda,”[/color] Violet whispered, while giving her friend a warm smile. [color=BlueViolet]“Hearing you say that makes me happier than I could ever put into words. And I do not believe they shall be offering me magical coins anytime soon,”[/color] she added. [color=BlueViolet]“As far as they know, I am simply a mundane young woman. Albeit a mundane young woman who just so happens to be the heiress of the world’s largest megacorporation… And [i]that[/i] is where I may have some problems…”[/color] she confessed with a sigh. [color=BlueViolet]“As payment for their assistance, I agreed to let them make limited use of CI facilities and equipment. I have no idea what they intend to use them for, and I dread to think of the possibilities, but I promise that you shall be the first to know as soon I learn anything. If nothing else, perhaps I can provide you with insight on what they are planning. An inside agent, of sorts.”[/color]

Amanda leaned back in her chair. [color=mediumvioletred]"I dunno, what if they catch wind and tried to hurt you?"[/color] she crossed her arms, appearing concerned. [color=mediumvioletred]"Then again, as long as you're not a bigger threat than their main targets; whoever they are, it could work."[/color]

[color=BlueViolet]“I imagine things would be worse if I decided not to uphold my end of the agreement,”[/color] Violet pointed out. [color=BlueViolet]“But I understand your concern. In fact, I feel the same way, which is why I had my R&D team create a solution,”[/color] she explained, producing a pair of incredibly thin rectangles from a compartment in the arm of her chair. [color=BlueViolet]“These are state of the art pocket computers, the only two of their kind. Think of them as smartphones on steroids. They’re linked together via an encrypted signal, so any transmissions should be impossible to intercept. If I find out any information on Mint related activities, I’ll send it to you via this. How does that sound?”[/color]

 [color=mediumvioletred]"Woah."[/color] Between the reveal and explanation, Amanda's eyes widened with curiosity. She then grinned. [color=mediumvioletred]"Sounds perfect!"[/color]
 
 With such heavy matters out of the way, the two friends’ discussion returned to lighter topics. So things continued, until an artificial voice announced, “We have arrived at our destination, Miss Covington. Please fasten your safety belts and prepare for landing.”

The advanced VTOL aircraft would set down in a small clearing next to a quaint bed and breakfast, located on the rural outskirts of the town of Locke’s Hollow. It was here that Violet’s sources said that Amanda’s twin brother was currently residing. Despite the fact that it more closely resembled something out of a science fiction movie than a conventional aircraft, Violet’s jet seemed to garner no more attention from the locals than if a bird had landed on a fence post. Indeed, as they made their way inside, Violet and Amanda would notice that none of the other people present seemed to pay them any mind whatsoever. Somewhat odd, to be sure, especially for such an incongruous pair as an elegantly attired heiress and a punk girl. Walking up to the front desk, Violet broke the eerie silence by ringing a small bell on the counter.

[color=BlueViolet]“Excuse me,”[/color] she stated in a slightly colder tone than the one she used with Amanda. [color=BlueViolet]“We were told that Aiden Valentine was lodging here. Would you be so kind as to tell us what room he’s staying in?”[/color]

Finally deciding to acknowledge their existence, the dead-eyed woman behind the counter slowly turned her head to face the two young ladies. “Turtle Room,” she said with a weary sigh, after consulting a dusty binder. “Second floor, second door on the right.”

[color=BlueViolet]“How dreadfully inhospitable…”[/color] Violet muttered as they ascended the stairs. [color=BlueViolet]“Although I suppose I shouldn’t expect much from such peasants.”[/color] Realizing what she had just said, the heiress gave a small gasp, before turning to Amanda. [color=BlueViolet]“I am so sorry, Amanda!”[/color] she told her friend contritely. [color=BlueViolet]“I said that without thinking.”[/color]

 Amanda shrugged, hands in her pockets. [color=mediumvioletred]"Hey, I get what you meant. Some people are jerks. Then again the lady probably has poor work hours if she's tired at this hour. If that helps her case, hell if I know, but people tend to be grumpy when they're tired."[/color] she slightly grimaced. 
 
 [color=BlueViolet]“Still, it was wrong of me to be so needlessly arrogant,”[/color] Violet replied. [color=BlueViolet]“It is something I am trying to very hard work on, albeit with limited results thus far…”[/color]

Stopping at the second door on the right, they would notice that a hand carved wooden turtle had been nailed to it. It was intricately detailed, to a truly impressive degree, and with its realistic paint job, one might be forgiven for mistaking it for a live specimen. Were it not for the fact that it was nailed to a door, of course…

[color=BlueViolet]“Well, then,”[/color] Violet announced, while giving her friend a reassuring smile. [color=BlueViolet]“It appears this is the moment of truth. Are you ready?”[/color]

Amanda took a deep breath. [color=mediumvioletred]"Right, let's do this."[/color]

Knocking on the door, Violet would call, [color=BlueViolet]“Aiden? It’s Violet Covington. We spoke on the phone yesterday. As promised, I have Amanda here with me. May we come in?”[/color]

 [b][color=mediumorchid]"Eh? Oh, just a second!"[/color][/b] A voice could be heard from inside the room, footsteps approaching the door before it was unlocked and opened. 

[b][color=mediumorchid]"Right this way, Miss Violet. And...Ames..."[/color][/b] [url=https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/415785156096557058/836612838133989416/20210427_094008.jpg]Aiden[/url] stepped aside, letting the two step inside. Amanda could only shrug back, feeling just as awkward as him.

[color=BlueViolet]“Thank you, Aiden,”[/color] Violet told him with a polite smile. [color=BlueViolet]“I understand if this is somewhat awkward, but please allow me to explain. I regret to say that I am the one responsible for Amanda’s current condition,”[/color] Violet continued. [color=BlueViolet]“You see, Amanda was covering the initial testing of a prototype cellular rejuvenation technology being developed by Covington Industries. Unfortunately, there was a small accident, and Amanda was exposed to a concentrated dose of rejuvenation energy, leaving her in her current, youthful state. Since then, my research team and I have been trying to find a way to reverse the process. However, we have yet to meet with any success. Understandably, we wanted to keep the entire situation under wraps, but after I learned that Amanda had a twin brother, with whom she shared a particularly close bond, I decided it would be best to reveal the truth to you, at the very least. I can only imagine how worried you must have been,”[/color] Violet told him in a sullen tone. [color=BlueViolet]“Please forgive me for perpetuating this deception for as long as I have. It was wrong of me to put my company’s reputation ahead of your emotional wellbeing.”[/color]

[b][color=mediumorchid]"Uh, wow."[/color][/b] Dumbfounded, Aiden scratch the back of his neck. [b][color=mediumorchid]"That's...alot to take in. I guess that explains why Ames hasn't been calling me, but I'd never know the day I hear about some sort of rejuvination experiment."[/color][/b] He glanced to Amanda. [b][color=mediumorchid]"I mean, there was that one case with illegal cloning methods, so I can't exactly rule it out."[/color][/b] He stepped over to give his sister a side hug.

 [color=mediumvioletred]"Sorry for dissapearing, Aiden."[/color] Amanda frowned. Not only cause she ditched him, she didn't like lying to him like that. [color=mediumvioletred]"I wanted to get in contact with you when I'm back to normal, but nothing worked."[/color]

 Aiden ruffled her hair with a smile. [b][color=mediumorchid]"Well you're still alive, aren't you? No harm done! Beside, I get to be the big sibling now."[/color][/b] His smile turned smug with a chuckle, earning an elbow to the side from the smaller twin.
 
 Thankful that Aiden seemed to accept her story, Violet allowed the two siblings to catch up, while she took a closer look at the room Aiden was staying in. True to its name, the Turtle Room was filled with instances of its namesake animal, with depictions of turtles on the curtains and bed sheets, a turtle clock, turtle lamp shades, and even turtle-shaped pillows. And that wasn’t counting the various carved and sculpted turtles scattered about the room on tables and nightstands. Like the specimen on the door, these were all intricately detailed, and Violet couldn’t help but be impressed by the skill their creators must have possessed. [color=BlueViolet]“Such exquisite craftsmanship,”[/color] the heiress murmured as she carefully examined each piece. [color=BlueViolet]“I cannot even [i]begin[/i] to imagine the time and effort that went in to making all of these.”[/color]
 
 [b][color=mediumorchid]“Yeah, this town was pretty big into arts and crafts,”[/color][/b] Aiden replied. [b][color=mediumorchid]“In fact, it was something of a hot spot for any kind of artistic expression. Amateur musicians, painters, theater troupes, you name it, this place had it.”[/color][/b]

[color=BlueViolet]“Had?”[/color] Violet asked with a raised eyebrow.

[b][color=mediumorchid]“Yeah…”[/color][/b] Aiden replied, his countenance taking on a troubled expression. [b][color=mediumorchid]“Like Ames, I’m a journalist,”[/color][/b] he explained. [b][color=mediumorchid]“And the reason I’m here is because, about a month ago, this place was hit with a strange epidemic of overwhelming apathy and hopelessness. It’s as if some sort of unnatural malaise has enveloped the whole town, sapping everyone’s motivation, ambition, and aspirations. Heck, there have even been reports of people falling into comas and [i]dying[/i], simply because they lacked the will to live. I know it sounds crazy, but I’m sure both of you have noticed it, even in your short time here.”[/color][/b]

[color=BlueViolet]“We have,”[/color] Violet confirmed, remembering the nearly lifeless woman at the check-in counter. [color=BlueViolet]“What do you suppose is causing it?”[/color]

[b][color=mediumorchid]“I don’t know for sure,”[/color][/b] Aiden conceded. [b][color=mediumorchid]“But I do have a hunch. The last play to be performed before this whole thing started supposedly featured a very unusual prop. It was described to me as almost resembling an egg, but it glowed with a sickly light, which made it painful to look at. It’s not a lot to go on, but it’s all I have. That’s why I was planning on heading over to the theater this afternoon to see if the prop’s still there, and maybe figure out what the heck it is. You two wanna come with?”[/color][/b]

[color=BlueViolet]“I would love to,”[/color] Violet said without any hesitation. [color=BlueViolet]“As you might expect, I do not get out of the office much, and I have always been fascinated by a good mystery.”[/color]

[color=mediumvioletred]"Well shit, can't have you going out without me, right?"[/color] Amanda would hurry over to the two with a grin.

Piling into Aiden’s car, the trio set out to investigate the journalist’s bizarre hunch. As it was located in the heart of Locke’s Hollow, the drive to the Davenwood Theater provided ample evidence of just how much the veil of apathy had affected the town. Nearly every business was closed, no one walked or drove the streets, and the grey, winter’s day only added to the dismal atmosphere. The theater itself was an old, monolithic structure, one which instilled a sense of foreboding as they approached. That unsettling feeling only grew stronger as they made their way through the building’s darkened interior, the beams of their flashlights illuminating far more cobwebs than one might expect to find in a place abandoned only a month prior. No spiders could be seen, however, nor could the chattering of insects or rats be heard as they fled the flashlights’ golden beams. It was as if they, too, had succumbed to the malaise gripping the town. But the webs continued to be in evidence, no matter where the three investigators explored. Indeed, they only grew more prevalent as the trio neared the door leading backstage. Upon closer inspection, the webs appeared to shimmer and, if one watched for long enough, almost seemed to fade in and out of reality.

[b][color=mediumorchid]“Come into my parlor,”[/color][/b] Aiden said with a small chuckle. [b][color=mediumorchid]“I hope you’re not afraid of spiders, Violet,”[/color][/b] he added with a grin.

[color=BlueViolet]“Of course not,”[/color] the heiress snapped in a far harsher manner than she’d intended. [color=BlueViolet]“I am not some easily frighted child,”[/color] she added, although it almost sounded like she was trying to convince herself as well. [color=BlueViolet]“How are you holding up, Amanda?”[/color] she asked her friend. [color=BlueViolet]“And what do you make of these webs?”[/color] she whispered, so Aiden wouldn’t hear.

 [color=mediumvioletred]"Jeez, no one even attempted to clean this place?"[/color] Amanda grimaced at the sight of the webs, on guard in case something tried to attack them. Though it seemed she was just tense. [color=mediumvioletred]"Definitely magic in nature. May need to do a little pest extermination if this place isn't really abandoned."[/color] she whispered back to Violet.
 
 [color=BlueViolet]“I thought the same,”[/color] Violet agreed, fully prepared to eliminate whatever threat they happened to find, no matter how horrific or powerful it might be.

[Color=mediumorchid][b]“Okay, moment of truth,”[/b][/color] Aiden announced as he reached the backstage door. [Color=mediumorchid][b]“I don’t know what we’re gonna find on the other side, but be prepared to run if things turn nasty.”[/b][/color]

Once Violet and Amanda had provided their acknowledgement, he carefully opened the old, web-covered door. What lay beyond was enough to cause all three investigators to give voice to a startled gasp. Illuminated by a faint, purplish glow, [url=https://i.imgur.com/AhWb8hM.jpg]an enormous eldritch arachnid creature,[/url] sat in an equally massive web at the center of the room, surrounded by dozens of smaller semi-translucent spiders. Instantly becoming aware of the three intruders, the horrific monstrosity turned its elongated head to face them, its vertical maw glowing with dark power. 

[color=MediumSlateBlue][b]“Foolish mortal CHILDREN!”[/b][/color] its unnatural voice bellowed, each syllable seeming to claw at the inside of their minds. [color=MediumSlateBlue][b]“How is it you INTRUDE upon this SANCTUM?! How is it you STILL possess the motivation to journey here?! Your thoughts so SHARP, your spirits so BRIGHT! How were they MISSED?! No matter…”[/b][/color] the monstrosity added after a moment. [color=MediumSlateBlue][b]“Like ALL the others, you TOO, shall become DULL and DARK, for none can resist... 

[center][h1]THE EATER OF DREAMS!!!”[/h1][/center][/b][/color] 


✩✩✩Good heavens! Faced with a creature that consumes the very dreams that fuel their magic, what will our two heroines do now?! Do they risk transforming, and in so doing, revealing their true natures to Aiden?! And even if they do so, will it even matter in the slightest against such a foe?! [s]Will Amanda finally give in to her hidden sadistic nature?![/s] The answers to these questions and more await in the next thrilling chapter of The Dream Team!

[color=BlueViolet]"Please look forward to it!"[/color]✩✩✩