[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/q4au2SQ.png[/img][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/rSlSWzD.png[/img][/center] [center][hider=Connie and Mia Stats] [center][color=DarkOrchid][h2]Connie[/h2][/color] 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 5 | 4 | 6 | 22 | 5 Oddball: Nightmares | Tentacles Enhanced Weapon | Power Artifact | Mystic Artifact | Ally | Interdimensional Home Focused | Mental Link | Hidden Death | Mana Font | Mystic Might Alien Mind | Formless | Rival Force | Clueless [/center] [hr] [center][color=SpringGreen][h2]Mia[/h2][/color] 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 5 | 8 | 7 | 22 | 5 Wood | Barrage Enhanced Weapon | Dual Weapon | Purification Artifact | Big Red Button Blessing | Divine Competence | Gifted Item | Mana Font | Mystic Might Rites| Arrogance | Big Brother | Clueless [/center][/hider][/center] [center][hider=Angel of Hope Stats] [center][color=DeepSkyBlue][h2]Angel of Hope[/h2][/color] 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 5 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 5 Reinforcement | Third Eye Enhanced Outfit | Enhanced Weapon | Enhanced Sustenance | Wings | Gifted Job Satisfaction | Chatty | Mana Font | Mystic Might Cagey | Expendable | Big Brother [/center] [/hider][/center] [color=DarkOrchid]“U-Ummm… M-My m-magic d-doesn’t really w-work like t-that…”[/color] Connie replied in answer to Lily’s inquiry, the mouth of her mask drooping into a frown, while her trembling hands nervously fidgeted with her long hair. [color=DarkOrchid]“S-Sorry…”[/color] she added softly. [color=SpringGreen]“It’s all right, little sister,”[/color] Gaia reassured her. [color=SpringGreen]“We can concern ourselves with awakening the town’s inhabitants later,”[/color] she added. [color=SpringGreen]“Right now, our primary goal should be to keep them safe until then.”[/color] In fact, it seemed as if Penny and Mayra had already set off to do just that. Hardly surprising, all things considered. Moving to join them, Connie, Gaia, and the Angel of Hope made their way to a three-story building directly behind one of Annabell’s giant sunflowers. While Gaia and Connie ascended to the rooftop via a beanstalk the former had conjured, the Angel simply glided up through the use of her radiant wings. Once there, the heavenly maiden was greeted with a rather alarming sight… [color=DeepSkyBlue][b]“Good heavens!”[/b][/color] she gasped. In the fields below them, Mayra’s enthusiastic elimination of the invading forces had sparked a fire that was now spreading perilously close to the line of sunflowers protecting the town. [color=DeepSkyBlue][i]Fucking careless idiot… As if telling everyone my real name wasn’t bad enough…[/i][/color] Indeed, the Angel had been unable to hide her momentary shock when the draconic girl had called her “Angela”, nearly petrified at the thought of this chaotic creature knowing her true identity, but she had quickly recovered. It was just an ironic and unfortunate coincidence that “Angel” and “Angela” sounded so similar, and it was just the draconic dimwit’s infuriating insistence to ignore every instruction given to her that had created this unpleasant turn of events, nothing more. That said, the Angel had endeavored to keep her interactions with the scaly pyromanic as limited as possible, something the current situation was making rather difficult… [color=DeepSkyBlue][b]“Fear not, verdant champion!”[/b][/color] the Angel told Gaia, who seemed visibly distressed by the encroaching blaze. [color=DeepSkyBlue][b]“You have this humble servant’s solemn vow that no harm shall come to these most splendid sunflowers!”[/b][/color] Stretching out her glowing staff, the angelic beauty conjured a shimmering wall between the massive sunflowers and the encroaching flames. [color=DeepSkyBlue][i]There, that should save those overgrown weeds from that moron’s fire. Now, let’s see what kinda offense [b]these[/b] two losers can dish out…[/i][/color] [color=SpringGreen]“My most sincere thanks for the assistance,”[/color] Gaia told the Angel with an appreciative smile. Although it pained her to see the fields go up in flames, she knew that periodic fires were regrettable necessities for healthy plant growth. The trampling of those plants under boot and tread, however, was a different matter entirely, and one the Daughter of Mother Earth would now set to addressing… Stepping up to the giant sunflower, the botanical beauty placed an affectionate hand upon its stalk. [color=SpringGreen]“You have been doing such a splendid job of keeping this town safe,”[/color] she told the plant warmly. [color=SpringGreen]“Please allow me to bestow Mother’s blessing upon you to assist your most noble efforts.”[/color] Closing her eyes, the verdant maiden sent a torrent of life energy flooding into the towering plant, filling it with renewed strength and causing several of its oversized leaves to morph into mighty cobs of corn. These promptly launched themselves at the attacking army like a volley of missiles, particularly concentrating on taking out the invaders’ armored vehicles. As the emerald energy surged outwards like a network of mystical roots, it worked a similar change on each of the other sunflowers as well, and soon volleys of glowing corncobs filled the air. Not content with that, Gaia summoned Nature’s Blossom and waved the staff over the fields surrounding Bolorton (or at least the parts that weren’t on fire). [color=SpringGreen]“To those who would desecrate this pristine farmland, know that Gaia, Daughter of Mother Earth, shall not abide your atrocities to continue even a moment longer!”[/color] Sending out a burst of life-giving magic, the botanical beauty watched with satisfaction as a multitude of thorny vines sprung out of the soil to wrap tightly around infantry and vehicle alike, while rows of cornstalks disgorged dozens of smaller corn cob missiles, like some botanical VLS array. Other invaders succumbed to clouds of toxic spores, were peppered by peashooter barrages, or simply swallowed whole by monstrous Venus-flytraps. Of course, the attacking force was vast, and so large swaths of the enemy remained unengaged, although that would not remain the case for much longer… [color=SpringGreen]“Okay, little sister,”[/color] Gaia told her masked friend. [color=SpringGreen]“I believe it is now [i]your[/i] turn.”[/color] [color=DarkOrchid]“R-Right!”[/color] Connie replied with all confidence as she could muster. Taking a deep breath to both focus herself, and calm her racing heart, the timid girl closed the eyes of her mask and raised a hand towards a large concentration of soldiers, far removed from Penny, Mayra, or Gaia’s myriad mystically enhanced plants. In front of her trembling palm, a churning vortex of dark nightmare energy grew ever larger, until it was expelled as a massive, crackling wave. Racing across the fields, it washed over the invaders by the dozen, filling their minds with the most horrific visions their tortured imaginations could possibly conceive. In particularly extreme cases, these unspeakable horrors might even be made manifest in the waking world as well, their phantasmal forms solidifying into very palpable threats… Flinching as she listened to the terrified screams of her spell’s victims, Connie kept her eyes closed and her head turned away from the harrowing scene playing out in the distant fields. She knew that these people had launched an unprovoked attack on a peaceful town, but that knowledge did little to keep her kind heart from aching at their current plight. As she did her best to block out the soldiers anguished cries, Connie couldn’t help but replay Lily’s hopeful inquiry in her mind… [color=DarkOrchid][i]S-She wanted me to help them, was counting on me to be able to do something… B-But all I can do is [b]this![/b] A-All I can do is make people suffer…[/i][/color] Giving voice to a sorrow-filled sigh, a small, black tear slid down the stark, white cheek of her mask. [color=DarkOrchid][i]I-If only Magical Dream Princess were here… I’m sure [b]she’d[/b] be able to help those people wake up…[/i][/color] In fact, now that she thought about it, it was actually rather strange that the whimsical girl hadn’t joined them. Surely she had gotten Lily’s text, and it was late enough for her to be finished with work. [color=DarkOrchid][i]Maybe she had a late meeting…[/i][/color] Connie mused. [color=DarkOrchid][i]Or did she decide to stay back in Penrose in case there was another monster attack?[/i][/color] Whatever the reason, or whatever the trouble, the timid girl was sure her incredibly strong and talented friend would be more than up to the task. [hr] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/7FwwXfi.png[/img][/center] [center][h3]* * *[/h3][/center] [center][h1][i][b]Chapter One- The Queen and I[/b][/i][/h1][/center] [center][h3]* * *[/h3][/center] She had failed. She had [i]died.[/i] But then, [i]why[/i] did she still [i]hurt?[/i] Her entire body felt incredibly sore. She couldn’t seem to move any of her limbs. And yet… [color=BlueViolet][i]I-I’m still alive…?[/i][/color] [color=BlueViolet]“W-What happened to me…?”[/color] Violet asked groggily as she struggled to open her aching eyes. [color=BlueViolet]“W-Where am I…?”[/color] [color=DarkMagenta]“Ah, you’re finally awake…”[/color] Violet’s blurry vision slowly cleared to reveal a scrawny girl in an oversized lab coat. Her mouth was curved in a sadistic grin, while her eyes were covered by a pair of goggles with glowing lenses, and her voluminous, dark hair was styled like an explosion, similar to that of Albert Einstein. Behind her was a bizarre biomechanical technomantic tangle of ultratech machinery, which whirred, bubbled, glowed, crackled and hummed, as the various inconceivable devices carried out their unimaginable functions. [color=DarkMagenta]“To answer your questions, you just got the sparkly shit beat out of you by some of my creations, Teams Primus and Secundus of Phase Two, to be specific, and you’re currently residing in my Lab. As for who [i]I[/i] am, well, you probably don’t remember me, so I suppose I should⏤”[/color] [color=BlueViolet]“I have a photographic memory,”[/color] Violet noted, cutting her off. [color=BlueViolet]“Of course I remember you. You’re Nykannis.”[/color] [color=DarkMagenta]“[i]Doctor[/i] Nykannis!”[/color] The goggle-wearing young woman corrected pointedly. [color=DarkMagenta]“Queen of the Mad Scientists!”[/color] [color=BlueViolet]“I must say, you look somewhat different from how I remember you,”[/color] Violet added, choosing to ignore her captor’s little outburst. [color=DarkMagenta]“Yes, well, seeing as I have a guest, I figured I should make myself a bit more presentable,”[/color] Nykannis explained. [color=BlueViolet]“In that case, perhaps [i]I[/i] should do the same,”[/color] Violet replied, closing her eyes and preparing to speak her incantation. [color=DarkMagenta]“Nice try, Princess,”[/color] Nykannis sneered. [color=DarkMagenta]“But you won’t be transforming or using [i]any[/i] of your magic as long as you’re in my Hyperphasic Transdimensional Quantum Focused Nullification Field!”[/color] the mad scientist declared, before giving voice to a deranged cackle. [color=DarkMagenta]“Nyahahaha!”[/color] [color=BlueViolet]“Is that supposed to sound impressive?”[/color] Violet asked snidely. [color=BlueViolet]“As far as [i]I’m[/i] concerned, it’s just a collection of meaningless words strung together.”[/color] Violet knew she was in trouble. She couldn’t transform, couldn’t even [i]move[/i], but she also knew she couldn’t show the fear she felt. She had to keep up her arrogant and composed facade, no matter how desperate her situation seemed. Besides, the young heiress was far too proud to allow herself to be seen in such a pitiful state, especially by someone like Nykannis. And perhaps, by infuriating her captor enough, she could get the mad scientist to slip up at a critical moment, granting her the chance to escape. It was a long shot, to be sure, but it was also all she had at the moment, and she would be an idiot not to at least attempt it. [color=DarkMagenta]“I wouldn’t expect a simple-minded moron like [i]you[/i] to understand such things, even if you [i]are[/i] supposed to be a genius by this world’s standards,”[/color] Nykannis was saying. [color=DarkMagenta]“But you don’t need to [i]understand[/i] the results of [i]my[/i] genius to experience their [i]effects[/i],”[/color] she added with a smirk. Pressing a key on her holographic display, the mad scientist grinned as Violet’s energy bindings tightened considerably, while sprouting tiny spikes which dug into her flesh. The young heiress winced in pain, but didn’t give her captor the satisfaction of crying out. [color=BlueViolet]“Well, [i]this[/i] is certainly unpleasant,”[/color] Violet observed through gritted teeth. [color=BlueViolet]“But if you are trying to simulate Karen’s hugs, you leave a lot to be desired.”[/color] [color=DarkMagenta]“Karen only [i]wishes[/i] she could hold you as well as [i]that[/i] can,”[/color] Nykannis shot back. [color=DarkMagenta]“Unlike her little ‘hugs’, you won’t be getting out of [i]there[/i] any time soon.”[/color] [color=BlueViolet]“And why [i]did[/i] you bring me here?”[/color] Violet inquired. [color=BlueViolet]“I cannot imagine your employer would be very pleased if he learned that you were holding me against my will, to say nothing of my father. And [i]Penny.[/i]”[/color] [color=DarkMagenta]“Oh, I’m well aware of how detrimental it would be to my continued existence if anyone were to ever discover what I’m doing to you here,”[/color] Nykannis replied. [color=DarkMagenta]“Not to mention what I’ve [i]already[/i] done… Thankfully, no one will ever know! And that includes [i]you[/i]. See, once I’ve finished having my fun, I’ll be giving you a complete omni-spectrum mind wipe,”[/color] she explained. [color=DarkMagenta]“It [i]does[/i] kinda suck that you won’t remember a single aspect of what I hope will be the most hellish experience of your life,”[/color] she continued. [color=DarkMagenta]“But at least [i]I’ll[/i] still remember, and I think that’s the most important thing. And the [i]reason[/i] you’re here is [i]obviously[/i] for revenge!”[/color] the Monarch of Mad Science added. [color=DarkMagenta]“You broke into my facility, disrupted my work, and, even [i]more[/i] unforgivably, you annoyed and humiliated [i]ME!!![/i] Did you [i]honestly[/i] believe after doing [i]ALL THAT[/i] there wouldn’t be [i]ANY[/i] repercussions?!”[/color] [color=BlueViolet]“Do [i]you[/i] honestly believe that keeping me here for any significant period of time won’t attract anyone’s attention?”[/color] Violet countered. [color=BlueViolet]“I would have thought someone of [i]your[/i] supposed intellectual prowess wouldn’t be foolish enough to think that the mysterious disappearance of a prominent individual such as myself would simply go unnoticed.”[/color] [color=DarkMagenta]“Of course not,”[/color] Nykannis snapped. [color=DarkMagenta]“[i]That’s[/i] why I’ve placed you in a [i]very special[/i] part of my Lab,”[/color] the Monarch of Mad Science added with a grin. [color=DarkMagenta]“A part that’s fully encased in a time dilation field! Nyahahaha! Five days in here is five [i]seconds[/i] out there,”[/color] she explained. [color=DarkMagenta]“So we’ll have [i]plenty[/i] of time to have all [i]sorts[/i] of [i]fun[/i] together… Starting with [i]THIS!!![/i]”[/color] she declared, pulling an oversized weapon out of a crackling tear in the dimensional fabric. [color=DarkMagenta]“Behold! My Negaphasic Numinospheric Nightmare Cannon! Nyahahahaha!”[/color] Despite her attempts to maintain her dismissive facade, Violet’s eyes widened in horror as she beheld the mad scientist’s highly unnerving weapon. Its amorphous, midnight black form seemed to shift into spines, tendrils, and wickedly sharp [i]teeth[/i], while its barrel was set in the mouth of a face whose chalk-white skin was slit by inky black cuts and pulsating veins. The mouth itself was frozen in an anguished scream, most likely in response to the spikes of darkest obsidian, which protruded from its forehead. The eyes were opened impossibly wide and filled with mind-numbing terror. Indeed, those horrific orbs shuddered and bulged with such intensity, it seemed as though they would burst apart in a shower of gore at any moment. However, the most starkly terrifying thing about that distorted, nightmarish visage was that its identity was [i]known[/i] to the young heiress. At one moment, it appeared to be her own face, first as her mundane self, then as Magical Dream Princess. The next, it was the faces of her father and Amanda, then the face of [i]Penny[/i]… [color=DarkMagenta]“Whatdaya think, Princess?!”[/color] Nykannis inquired with an eager grin. [color=DarkMagenta]“Just looking at it makes ya wanna piss yourself, right?! And see how it’s trying to eat my arm?!”[/color] she asked, pointing to where the liquified back of the eldritch weapon was smashing itself against the energy shield coating the mad scientist’s skin like a wave against a sea wall. [color=DarkMagenta]“If I didn’t have my defenses cranked up to the max, this thing’d literally [i]eat me alive![/i] Nyahahaha! Just [i]imagine[/i] the POWER it contains!”[/color] the mad scientist gushed before sobering slightly. [color=DarkMagenta]“As you might be able to guess, I developed this guy after studying your friend’s nightmare magic, though why you’d be friends with the servant of your patron’s arch nemesis is beyond me.”[/color] [color=BlueViolet]“She doesn’t serve the Lord of Nightmares by choice,”[/color] Violet shot back, trying to regain some of her composure. [color=BlueViolet]“And I will do everything in my power to see her freed from its vile clutches.”[/color] [color=DarkMagenta]“Yeah? Well, good luck with [i]that,[/i]”[/color] Nykannis sneered. [color=DarkMagenta]“Heh, maybe [i]this[/i] little guy will give you a taste of just what’ll happen to you when you try and [i]fail miserably![/i]”[/color] she added, before giving voice to another peal of maniacal laughter as she charged up the eldritch weapon. [color=DarkMagenta]“Oh, and don’t worry,”[/color] the Mad Scientist Supreme reassured her prisoner/test subject. [color=DarkMagenta]“Even if your mind gets completely torn to shreds, I’ll just put ya back together, good as new! That way, we can do this ALL OVER AGAIN!!! NYAHAHAHA!!!”[/color] There was a burst of horrific, mind-melting energy as the cackling Nykannis fired her warped weapon. An instant later, and Violet’s world was consumed by the most suffocating darkness imaginable…