[hider=Mariette’s Current Appearance][url=https://i.imgur.com/YuzlPlL.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/YuzlPlLl.jpg[/img][/url][/hider]

Well, it was no mystery who Mariette’s gift had come from. Mariette pocketed the coin and threw a slight gaze to the puppet, if she was anywhere near. Wonder if she’d actually be willing to defend someone like Mariette? … Who knows? Meanwhile her own gift went to… Yeah, suppose that’s fine. Wonder if the combat-like woman would enjoy the alternate version of herself. Mariette had no idea how her gift would be received, after all. Maybe not everyone was interested in something like that. Who knows, once again.

In the rewards section, I was planning on having Tullia give the coin to someone who hadn’t cheated on their ice sculpture, but I need to go back and reread what sculptures were made before I can do that.

Then finally, it was the price for Christmas spirit… Mariette’s visible eye widened as she realized what the dolphin was doing. He was giving her the Black Mirror in front of everyone. Her expression was one of sheer, utter terror as the giant present materialized. A single question echoed through her mind.

[i]COULDN’T YOU HAVE GIVEN ME THAT IN PRIVATE!!!???[/i]

She lifted a hand to materialize a portal as quickly as she inhumanly could to take the present away, but-

Mariette recoiled as Rachel shouted, preventing her from removing the present without objection. Then, Lily skipped to defend her, challenging to a match of Keijo… and then Dino overtook the challenge. All the while Mariette was just staring and thinking, [i]The present is mine, what gives you the right to compete for it!?[/i]

… Mariette was not actually going to let anyone have the Black Mirror, even if they so supposedly won it. She was just raise a hand over her mouth to disguise a portal she opened from her mouth to Dan’s ear and whisper.

[color=077ae6]‘These people do not have the right to compete over my mirror. Can I please remove it from this dimension?’[/color] she asked, probably not going to have any success, but she asked, nonetheless.

Next part. It appeared she had a champion. Mariette opened portals to gather her team in the same place, somewhere in the snow outside, before she stepped there herself. Then, she opened a portal directly from there to Dina.

[color=077ae6]‘Dina. It seems you’ll be protecting your dimension, and my mirror by extension. I wish to help. Come through this portal, and my champions will be able to power you up,’[/color] Mariette offered.

Now, of her champions actually able to help…

[hider=What they could do to help][color=fa898b]‘I can put reinforcing web under whatever clothing you might wear to give you extra Reinforcement…’[/color] Ronja the spider-monster-girl said, spinning a web-bikini in her hands for the demonstration.

[color=ffd230]‘I can fill your head with so much emotional magic power that you don’t even know!’[/color] Suzette chuckled, her arms glowing notably yellow.

[color=a699ad]‘I can totally sneak metal into your clothing and then use my control of the metal to help you dodge on a distance, nobody would even know!’[/color] Jelena insists excitedly, momentarily forgetting Third Eye is a thing despite having one herself.

[color=4e5478]‘I have multiple protective artifacts I can put on you for extra protection. They work. I’d know, I’m unwillingly testing them all the time,’[/color] Taihei the artificer said, lifting a couple amulets that came with powerful protective magic.

[color=fc6828]‘I got curses! I can curse you so that people who touch you fall asleep, or lose their strength, or whatever! What do you say, wanna get cursed!?’[/color] Mayra asked kind of mischievously, the dragon girl getting to flex her Darkness more than her Fire magic for once.

[color=fcedae]‘Then I could take the mana from anyone unable to help you directly help you and completely stuff you with it, overfilling you with mana…!’[/color] said Josefin, the girl with the Mana Oddball spec, lifting her hands and looking excited.

That about covers it for people that were able to actually give her blessings. But Lea, Esther, Olivia, (Freya? maybe not, she may be busy), Tullia and Victoria was there somewhere too. Victoria possibly peering kinda unconvinced at her if we want to go that route.[/hider]