[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/72bEcUi.png[/img][/center]

Lily giggled awkwardly after her hands were restored by Alex back to before she touched the feisty salamander girl. 
[color=fff200]”I'm fine, haha!"[/color] She answered Connie, flapping her hand before her in an attempt to lessen the dramatic tension.
[color=fff200]”That kind of stuff happens all the time. Anyway, I'm sorry if my spell hurt. I'm still working on improving my supportive magic~"[/color] 
She quietly thanked Alex before moving on to address the issue with the portal.
[color=fff200]”Maybe you could call Mariette afterwards?"[/color] She wondered, only to smile and nod as Penny offered a means to return back.
[color=fff200]”That's great news, Penny! You're the best!"[/color] She gave a thumbs up to her.
Green electricity briefly flashed in her eyes, bolstered by Alex' Reinforcement.
[color=fff200]”Nice! Thank you Alex!"[/color]
This was quickly followed up with a sound of surprise as the Angel of Hope also added to the invigorating incantations. Lily's eyes positively sparkled upon feeling the effect, and she rushed to hug the heavenly-girl.
[color=fff200]”And thanks to you too, Angel! This feels so nice,"[/color] She added, causing the latter to find it difficult to determine whether she referred to the enchantment or the ensuing sign of affection. She then took the earpiece offered by Penny, and fiddled around with it, showing her short attention span to the recent recipient of her gratitude.
[color=fff200]”Ooh, it's like one of those fancy airbuds!"[/color] She put it in place, and shook her head from side to side to check that it didn't fall off.
[color=fff200]”Alright, this is it then!"[/color]
She spoke, facing Mayra's portal. She slapped her face with both hands.

[color=fff200]”Last one in buys ice cream!"[/color]
She yelled, and dove through the portal.

[hr]
Upon arrival in Bolorton, the very first sensation one felt was the smell of gunpowder that pervaded the air, followed immediately by the ceaseless noise of gunfire, intermittently interrupted by explosions. The group found themselves at what looked like a central plaza. It split into four main roads that spread across the village. At the center of it was what used to be a statue of some kind, though only the feet remained, likely having been struck by a direct hit. Other signs of shelling could also be seen, smoke rising from blackened craters.

In the distance, the group saw an extraordinary sight; massive monsters resembling sunflowers grew out of the cornfield, forming a half-circle around the village. They were facing away from the village, and shot great beams of light energy at the invading card soldiers who were rushing in from across the corn fields. The petals of the sunflowers were wide and seemingly durable as they absorbed gunfire and even a cannon shell's impact, though the blow caused some petals to float down. In the distance, they could see tanks rolling in with the waves of soldiers.

Not far from the front lines, huddled behind a building with a smoking hole on the roof, was Annabell; she was pale as she slouched against the building, holding a hand to slow the bleeding in her stomach.
[color=fff200]”Annabell!"[/color]
Lily screamed, and immediately rushed over to her side. The girl coughed and cleaned her head up to look at them.
"W-who are you?" She weakly asked.
[color=fff200]”We're here to help, that's all you need to know. Where are the locals?""[/color]
She asked, having noted their absence based on the lack of screaming among the noise.
Annabell shook her head. "I-I don't know. McDonald's still in bed, he's alive but he's not waking up. Nobody's awake!"
Lily bit her lip. [color=fff200]"Well no problem, we'll just beat these guys-"[/color]
Annabell grasped Lily's shoulder with a bloody hand, looking desperate.
"There's no time! Evacuate the village, please!"
She then coughed violently again.

[hr]
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/K2ssvzh.png[/img][/center]

Justine lifted an eyebrow at Iron Mouse's arrival, but wasn't particularly alarmed by her sudden appearance; she and Oliver were acquainted, and she quickly mentioned Cradle, so she assumed Maura had sent reinforcements. It was strange that Finn didn't seem as familiarised with her, but she brushed it aside, figuring the two didn't have the exact same social circles. She slightly leaned to the side to avoid bumping her wing into Iron Mouse, and curtsied once Oliver had introduced her.

[color=bc8dbf]”Pleased to meet you,”[/color] she greeted the girl politely, but the urgency of the situation robbed the gesture of it's usual warmth.
[color=bc8dbf]”Now let us make haste. We have no time to lose.”[/color]

The group had left Penrose far behind them as they continued down the road, yet Bolorton was still far away.

[color=bc8dbf]”Dammit, why is it so far away! I wish we had some method of moving faster…”[/color] She grumbled, only to blink as her eyes caught something moving far in the horizon: it was a convertible blasting music at a loud volume, and moving at far faster speed than a car should be able to. As it came closer, they could see two people riding the vehicle; [url=https://imgur.com/G2frvVk]a magical girl in a red suit, who seemed relaxed as she held a hand out over the side, and a large black dog-headed figure who was behind the wheel[/url].
Once the girl spotted the group, she motioned for the driver, who slowed down the car to meet them. Justine didn't know what to expect.

"Yo," The girl greeted casually, her bored expression having slightly shifted to something resembling interest, and turned down the music so she could hear them. "You guys know where Penrose is?" The girl seemed to have a foreign accent, though Justine couldn't tell where she was from. However, there was something about the magical girl that seemed unusual even by magical girl standards.

Justine crossed her arms. Now that she took a look at the car, she noticed it to be heavily enchanted.
[color=bc8dbf]"Why are you asking?”[/color]

"Cause I wanna go there, duh!" The girl snapped back. "But I can't find it. Damn place is better hidden than Atenhotep's tomb," she mumbled as she brought out a parchment and scribbled on it.
Justine glanced over to the others with a bemused look.

[hr]
When Mariette created tiny portals to look around, she quickly realized who the figure at the center of the party was when the crowds slightly parted; the Queen of Hearts herself. She conversed and gave small laughs as befit the royal host. Jelena also saw her, and noticed the layers upon layers of magic that coated her with her Third Eye; it was impossible to tell what the enchantments were unless she focused on her. However, Marquis Harry suddenly spoke, breaking her concentration.
"Might I ask you for a dance? I can teach you the steps if you are not familiar with them." He seemed less interested in directly conversing with Jelena after hearing her voice, which didn't exactly fit with her otherwise beautiful countenance.

Other than the Queen herself, Mariette also noticed a couple of other attendants of interest, such as a handsome man wearing a monocle and top hat, and a hooded girl who watched quietly from the sidelines near the stairs out of the garden.
Before she could further survey the area, the Queen spotted Mariette, and smiled. "At long last we meet, my dear Alice. Come, don't be shy," she spoke with a regal yet gentle voice, and beckoned with her hand. "We have much to discuss, and croquet to play."
She slowly turned to one corner of the garden, and blinked.
"Now then, BRING ME MY CROQUET GAME!" She yelled furiously to the guards. Immediately guests were forcibly pushed away from one corner of the garden by the guards as the croquet field was prepared. She then turned again to Mariette with her sweet smile, shifting seamlessly between different mannerisms.
"Now, tell me, Alice; where do you come from, and where are you going?" She asked as the hooded girl graciously gave her a croquet mallet. She also offered Mariette a croquet mallet to take.