[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/gCmXisO.png[/img][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/37FouJv.png[/img][/center] [center] [@twave] [@Majoras End] [@PlatinumSkink] [/center] Shortly after Mariette had handed out her gifts to each member of their little group, a red-haired girl appeared before them in a puff a purple smoke. After welcoming them to the party, the girl presented them with a list of activities they could sign up for. [color=DarkOrchid]“O-Oh, wow!”[/color] Connie exclaimed, her eyes shimmering with excitement. [color=DarkOrchid]“T-They all look like s-so much fun!”[/color] [color=SpringGreen]“Then let us sign up for all of them,”[/color] Gaia proposed. [color=DeepPink]“Wowie zowie~! Magical Dream Princess wants to do them allsie, too~! (giggle!)”[/color] the whimsical girl added. Scarcely a second later, Lily darted over to the small group. Moving with the speed of a lightning bolt, she cheerfully greeted and hugged each of them in turn, while also complementing their outfits. Connie was barely able to squeak out a simple [color=DarkOrchid]“T-Thanks, Lily! A-And, M-Merry Christmas…!”[/color], before the green-haired girl had zipped away to spread holiday cheer to the rest of the gathering. [color=DeepPink]“Wowie zowie~! (giggle!) She’s, like, super duper nicey wicey~!”[/color] MDP observed with a big smile. [color=DeepPink]“Oh~!”[/color] she exclaimed when a cute jingle indicated that her phone had received a new text. After the whimsical girl had retrieved the device, she gave a happy squeal upon seeing who the message was from. [color=DeepPink]“Goody woody~! (giggle!) Penny Wenny’s heresie weresie~!”[/color] she would announce with a cheerful smile, before frowning as she read the rest of the robotic girl’s message. [color=DeepPink]“Awww, but she’s feeling grumpy wumpy~?”[/color] [color=DeepPink][i]'That’s okie dokie, Penny Wenny~!’[/i][/color] the whimsical girl would text back. [color=DeepPink][i]‘Magical Dream Princess will come find [b]you[/b] firsty worsty, and cheer you aaall up~!’[/i][/color] After adding nearly a dozen cute emojis, she hit the send button. [color=DarkOrchid]“I-Is P-Penny o-one of y-your o-other friends?”[/color] Connie inquired. [color=DeepPink]“Yeperoonie~! (giggle!)”[/color] MDP replied. [color=DeepPink]“But, like, she’s not just [i]any wany[/i] friendy wendy,”[/color] the whimsical girl clarified with a wink. [color=DeepPink]“She’s Magical Dream Princess’s super duper pretty witty wuvy dovey girlfriend wirlfriend~! (giggle!) And, like, [i]there’s[/i] Magical Dream Princess’s super duper best friendy wendy in the whole wide worldsie~!”[/color] she squealed after catching sight of Amanda at the nearby refreshment table. [color=DeepPink]“Pastel-chaaaan~!”[/color] she cheered as she glomped the dream magician (and possibly caused her to spill her drink). [color=DeepPink]“Merry Werry Christmas~!”[/color] she added, finally releasing her friend and handing her a colorful present. [color=DeepPink]“Like, this is Magical Dream Princess’s special wecial present wesent just for you~! (giggle!)”[/color] Before Amanda could thank MDP for the gift, the hyperactive girl gave a sharp gasp as she caught sight of something occurring outside. [color=DeepPink]“Wowie zowie~!”[/color] she exclaimed, her eyes shimmering with delight. [color=DeepPink]“Like, they’re having a big snowball wowball fight out theresie~! (giggle!) Come on~!”[/color] she added, scooping up Melisa and her turtle, while grabbing Amanda’s hand and dragging her along, too. [color=DeepPink]“Let’s go see if we can play with them~! (giggle!)”[/color] Rushing outside, MDP didn’t stop until she had dragged her friends right into the middle of the wintery battleground. [color=DeepPink]“Like, can Magical Dream Princess and her friendy wendies play, too~?!”[/color] the whimsical girl asked excitedly. [color=DeepPink]“Can they~?! Can they~?! Can they~?!”[/color] [hr] [center] [@BrokenPromise] [/center] Meanwhile, back inside, Connie was looking around the crowded lodge to see if she could find anyone else she knew. The timid girl smiled upon catching sight of Ronin and Miko, as well as Rose and Iris, but there were other guests that made her quite a bit less happy, and actually quite a bit nervous. There was the boisterous, bearded man, for one, although his intimidating demeanor paled in comparison to the starkly terrifying entity that arrived next. Even though the strange being wore a Santa hat, Connie still felt very uncomfortable just looking at it. Then it began to speak. Connie didn’t really catch all of what it said, but she did hear something about being reunited with old friends, which reminded her of a rather disheartening fact. Despite having given her an invitation, Faith had yet to arrive at the party. Connie knew she was probably busy getting settled into her new home, but the timid girl had still hoped that her first friend in the magical community would be able to make at least a brief appearance. After all, she had brought a special present for her… [color=DarkOrchid]“M-Mia,”[/color] Connie asked her friend hesitantly. [color=DarkOrchid]“D-Do you t-think Faith’s g-gonna come? I-I was h-hoping she’d b-be here by n-now, but…”[/color] [color=SpringGreen]“Just give her a bit more time, little sister,”[/color] Gaia reassured her. [color=SpringGreen]“I know she will be here if it is at all possible for her to come.”[/color] A moment later, the verdant girl’s phone began to buzz. Retrieving it, she gave a small frown. [color=SpringGreen]“In fact, this appears to be her now,”[/color] she noted as she read over a text from Faith, wishing them a Merry Christmas. [color=SpringGreen]“Although I could have sworn I left this phone back in our room…”[/color] [color=DarkOrchid]“O-Oh my gosh!”[/color] Connie gasped as she looked at a message displayed on her own phone. [color=DarkOrchid]“I-I j-just g-got a t-text from L-Lotus! B-B-But, L-Lotus is…”[/color] her voice trailed off as her hands began trembling even more than usual. [color=SpringGreen]“Something very strange is going on here,”[/color] Gaia observed as she fixed the newly arrived being with a piercing gaze. [color=SpringGreen]“And I plan on getting to the bottom of it.”[/color] Gliding over to the bizarre creature, the verdant girl was about to ask it some rather pointed questions, when a cheerful voice interrupted. It appeared as though Dan had finally decided to make his grand entrance, and after doing so, he dramatically announced the start of yet another activity. Gaia, however, was not about to be sidetracked by the whimsical dolphin, and pressed on undaunted. [color=SpringGreen]“Excuse me,”[/color] she said, addressing the Lord of Change. [color=SpringGreen]“Am I to assume [i]you[/i] were the one who sent those texts to our phones just now? And just how, precisely, do you intend to reunite us with friends who have passed on from this life?”[/color] she added, her expression providing a clear indication that she was in no mood for games.