[center][hr][img]https://i.imgur.com/j9V1p0j.png[/img][img]https://i.imgur.com/L4GDi1Q.png[/img][hr][/center]

The Agents of Death then looted the mansion. They found nothing useful other than some canned/packaged foods, bottled water, and some medical supplies. However, the horde of robots completely ravaged the mansion. Their very heavy steps shattered wood and tile, they tore up the walls and any hiding spaces looking for the Agents of Death and that mysterious person. Lisa flopped on the sofa as she said,

[color=764820]”... [i]Man,[/i]”[/color] Lisa shrugged. [color=764820]”For all that searching, they never thought to look into the basement!”[/color]

[color=DC143C]"They’re clearly not the smartest,"[/color] Saskia said with a shrug, kicking aside a piece of torn up wood. If they were dumb it’d be easier for them to outsmart them next time. [color=DC143C]"I’m surprised we didn’t come across that monster."[/color]

[color=e77fbf]"Maybe the robots killed it for us!"[/color] Ella shouted.

[color=764820]”Stop shouting!”[/color] Lisa shouted as she ran over to Ella and put a finger to her lips. [color=764820]”You don't know what’s here…”[/color]

Ella pressed her lips together and nodded. 

Saskia rolled their eyes at them both, but decided not to point out that Lisa was also shouting. Hopefully there wasn't anything else in here that was going to try and eat or kill them.

[color=DC143C]”Let's get moving,"[/color] Saskia said. [color=DC143C]"They might come back."[/color]

[color=764820]”... I wish they had dicks I could dissolve in acid,”[/color] Lisa huffed, crossing her arms as she walked out the door.

[color=DC143C]”I'm sure Ella could develop a spell to create them some,"[/color] Saskia chuckled, following behind Lisa.

[color=e77fbf]"No way!"[/color] Ella shook her head. [color=e77fbf]"Metal just isn't very magical girl- and making those, no!"[/color]

Lisa laughed (quietly though), covering her mouth with her hands, [color=764820]”... I mean it’d be no different than making a dildo!”[/color] She stopped laughing, then shrugged. [color=764820]”I think metal is more magical girl than spiders and blood though.”[/color] She playfully said with a roll of her eyes. 

In the distance, there was a [i]massive[/i] smoke cloud that pressed up into the sky, with an orange light underneath it.

[color=e77fbf]"By Sailor Mars, that must be a massive fire!"[/color] Ella said, pointing to it.

[color=DC143C]"No shit,"[/color] Saskia rolled their eyes, frowning. [color=DC143C]"Let’s [i]not[/i] go that way."[/color]

[color=e77fbf]"I think we should! Maybe something’s there!"[/color]

[color=764820]”Yes, a big ass fire,”[/color] Lisa said with a roll of her eyes. Before she looked at Ella, [color=764820]”I don't know about you, but I don't want to know what’s at the end of THAT rainbow.”[/color]

Ella pouted and hung her head, like a kid told she couldn't put her hand in a fire. 

[color=DC143C]”Let's go this way,"[/color] Saskia pointed in the direction to the left of where the probable fire was. [color=DC143C]”Since we have no idea where we're going."[/color]

[color=764820]”Yes we do!”[/color] Lisa ecstatically said. [color=764820]”We’re going to the All-Blade!”[/color]

After some walking, left of the fire… They heard the familiar stomping of the robots. Not heading their way, but in the direction they were walking from. There was a familar orange light with smoke…. Lisa quickly dipped into the bushes, and gestured for the rest to get in.

Ella jumped into the bushes and curled up as small as she could get. Saskia got in last, parting some of the leaves to look through. They quietly pulled their knife out, holding it and waiting. 

A squad of the robots walked by in a line, meters apart, wielding [url=https://i.imgur.com/4CM8i9Q.png]flamethrowers[/url]. As they marched by, they absolutely torched all the trees in sight.

Saskia held their breath… before quickly realising the robots were getting closer, and that those flamethrowers were torching [I]everything[/I]. Including the bushes they were hiding in. 

[color=DC143C]"Shit-"[/color]

As the bushes caught fire, Ella threw up her hands with a pained cry, absolutely blasting the area around them with snow. Which did a great job of putting out the fire… but left them exposed.

[color=e77fbf]"Run!"[/color]

Lisa didn’t even say anything before she darted in the opposite direction. The flames singing her clothes…

“We found them!” One of the robots shouted, as they gave chase.

[color=764820]”... Throw me the scepter!”[/color] Lisa shouted, sticking her hands out.

[color=e77fbf]"Alright!"[/color] Ella threw the Sceptre right towards Lisa's hands as she ran.

[color=DC143C]"You better have a good idea,"[/color] Saskia grimaced, lightening her bones so that she could run faster, ignoring her smouldering clothes in favour of getting the fuck out of here. Why was it always fire?

Lisa caught it, then spider legs erupted from her back as she lept to the non-burning treetops. Lisa hung off the edge with the scepter in both hands and fired a beam of ice at the flamethrowers of the robots aimed at her. Then created a thick floor of ice between her friends and the robots. 

One of them stepped on the ice, then slipped and fell forward. However, they aimed their flamethrowers downward to melt the ice. Lisa quickly hopped from tree to tree to escape.

Ella ran as quickly as she could, longer legs allowing her to keep up with Saskia. Saskia pushed a bone spear through her hand, snapped it off, and twisted around to throw it - aiming for one of the flame throwers to try and block it. It went directly in, and when the robot pulled the trigger: it exploded. The robot was blown to pieces and its husk fell forward.

[color=e77fbf]"Do it again!"[/color] Ella shouted. Saskia was pretty sure it wouldn't work twice but… she shoved another bone spear through the same wound, snapped it off, and threw it at a flamethrower. This shot wasn’t so accurate, and only pierced the frame, rendering it useless but not causing it to explode. 

[color=764820]”... We should ruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun!”[/color] Lisa shouted from above, stopping to create another floor of ice that slowed the robotic horde down.

[color=e77fbf]"We're trying!"[/color] Ella shouted up at Lisa, sweat already dripping down her forehead as she ran as fast as her legs could carry her. 

[color=DC143C]"We need somewhere to hide again,"[/color] Saskia grimaced as she jumped over a fallen tree trunk. Maybe they could outrun the robots, but they'd get tired eventually and machines wouldn't. Maybe… [color=DC143C]"Lisa, put ice in front of us too!"[/color]

[color=764820]”Wait, you sure?!”[/color] Lisa shouted down, before she just fired a beam of ice in front of them too. [color=764820]”Okay! Imma trust you!”[/color]

[color=e77fbf]"Whhatttt?!"[/color] Ella yelled, almost immediately slipping in the ice. 

Saskia grimaced, flesh tearing as her wings pushed through her back. She grabbed Ella before she could fall and launched them both across the ice, sending them absolutely hurtling forward… and she used the wings to stop them from falling, sharp tips digging into the ice to shift their direction before they crashed into any trees. Like very weird ski poles.

[color=DC143C]”Keep doing it! Then we can outrun them!"[/color]

Lisa continued to create ice on the floor, which confused the robotic knights who were torn between melting the ice and trying to burn the forest down. Several of them fell directly onto their faces and left huge dents.

Ella started laughing at them, shifting against Saskia in a way that changed their direction enough for her wing to slam into a tree. They used the momentum to push them forward more, ignoring the sharp pain as broken bits of wood stabbed into the sinewy wings. They were going fast enough now that they should be able to get away from the robots.

[color=DC143C]"We need to get out of their sight, then we can hide,"[/color] Saskia called up to Lisa.

[color=764820]”... Where can we [i][b]hide?![/b][/i]”[/color] Lisa shouted back in between leaps. [color=764820]”They’re going to burn the whole forest down!”[/color]

After one last leap, Lisa turned the Ice Scepter back on the robots, and shouted, [color=764820]”We [i]need[/i] to make a spider so we can get out of here!”[/color]

[color=DC143C]"Fine, make the spider! We'll cover you!"[/color] Saskia caught a tree with her wing, spun them around on the ice and to a skidded halt facing the robot. 

[color=e77fbf]"Gimme the Scepter back!"[/color] Ella shouted, waving her hands at Lisa. Lisa just chucked it at her from the treetops.

Ella caught it, and turned it on the robots, doing what Lisa had been before - covering the ground right in front of them with ice before they could melt away. Saskia, meanwhile, created another bone spear and aimed it at yet another flamethrower. It exploded, decimating a robot. However, they raised their flamethrowers at the two and unleashed a current of flames.

[color=DC143C]"Shit,"[/color] Saskia cursed. Ella used the Ice Scepter on the tree beside them, grabbing Saskia and pulling them behind it. The tree was frozen solid, like an ice wall, blocking the current of flames even as it melted. It singed their arms but they didn’t get completely destroyed.

Ella leaned around the tree, shooting a focused beam of ice at one of the Robot’s legs, trying to freeze them, before moving the beam along at all of their legs. Which froze them for a moment, but it gave Lisa a great window to get away and summon a spider and imbue it with wings and size. 

The knights robotically turned their torsos towards each other and began flaming each other to melt the ice…

[color=764820]”... Throw me the stone!”[/color] Lisa shouted.

Saskia shoved her hand in her pocket and pulled out a small pouch they'd bought to store the Orange Stone, and threw it to Lisa. [color=DC143C]”Cut it out before you go mad!"[/color]

[color=e77fbf]"I can't keep this up,"[/color] Ella wailed, sweat dripping down her face as she made more ice in front of the robots, unable to freeze them anymore thanks to the flamethrowers. 

Lisa caught it, immediately that tiny coccoon began to swell up until it was the size of a sedan. It burst out, and flew over to Lisa and she quickly peeled the Orange Stone off her palm. She grit her teeth as she did so, but triumphantly raised it into the air - before Spider-legs burst out of her back and she launched herself onto the spider. Before commanding the spider to go towards Saskia and Ella.

Saskia began to pull their own wings back into their back, pushing through the pain that came with it - they'd just get in the way on the spider. Blood dripped down their back and clotted before it soaked through their already torn clothes. Fuck. They really needed a pain negation spell.

[color=e77fbf]”Here!"[/color] Ella quickly put the Ice Scepter back in the strange holster she had in it and grabbed Saskia, practically throwing them up and onto the approaching spider. Then her legs glowed with light, which she used to jump up much higher than she should - Saskia quickly leaned over to grab Ella's hands and pull her on behind them.

[color=DC143C]"Quick, let's go."[/color]

The spider took off into the sky, giving the three a great view of the burning forest - and the forest that had already been ravaged by the fires. Lisa went in that direction, flying fast as possible until they approached their next biome: a strange coastal beach.

Except the water was blood.

 [color=764820]”... YIKES!”[/color] Lisa shouted.

[color=e77fbf]"Maybe it's safer than normal water?"[/color] Ella said very positively, while laughing uncomfortably and not even being able to look at the water.

[color=DC143C]"Right, I’m sure there’s nothing in there,"[/color] Saskia replied sarcastically. They weren’t particularly bothered by the blood water, because it was just another fucked up thing in this place. But it definitely didn’t feel safe. [color=DC143C]"Let’s go further along the beach."[/color]

Lisa wordlessly landed the spider on the beach - and without a word (or thought), flopped into the sand. She made little angels in the sand as ahe said, [color=764820]”... This sand feels nice at least!”[/color] She nervously laughed, [color=764820]”Reminds me of home - blood aside, y’know.”[/color] Lisa sat up, a forced smile etching its way across her face.

[color=e77fbf]"I miss the St Portwell beaches…"[/color] Ella said, sitting down beside Lisa. She scooped up some sand in her hand, letting it slip out through her fingers. She smiled, but there was a melancholy in it. [color=e77fbf]"I can’t wait to go back."[/color]

[color=DC143C]"Hopefully soon,"[/color] Saskia added, joining them on the sand. She wasn’t so fond of beaches and the outdoors, but it was like home… being by the sea, even if it was bloody. They sighed softly. [color=DC143C]"... will it even be the same, though? Will we actually have a home?"[/color]

[color=764820]”It won't, and we won’t,”[/color] Lisa shrugged again, lying silent for a moment before adding, [color=764820]”I mean, it’s been ten years. They probably think we’re long dead…”[/color] Lisa awkwardly laughed.

[color=DC143C]"Ten years we missed out on…"[/color] Saskia sighed. They weren’t sure how to feel about it. It was ten years where their two closest friends were also dead - but then there was Kari. All the opportunities they’d missed. [color=DC143C]”I wonder if Greta will tell anyone that were alive."[/color]

[color=e77fbf]"I hope not! I want it to be a surprise, we can come flying in on a spider in our magical girl outfits! A proper reunion!"[/color] Ella threw her fist into the air, before falling back to lie down on the sand. [color=e77fbf]”We can party and everything. With alcohol!"[/color]

[color=764820]”I mean…”[/color] Lisa trailed off, shrugging. [color=764820]”... Do you think they even care anymore?”[/color]

Lisa was silent for a second as she stared up at that eerie red sky, [color=764820]”There isn’t a Coven anymore. Sloane, Aislin, Sully, Ken, they moved on with their lives...”[/color] Lisa began. 

[color=e77fbf]"Some of them must still care! Even if there isn’t a Coven… I can’t believe they’d all abandon each other,"[/color] Ella said.

[color=DC143C]"Sloane was too stubborn to give up her… goal of protecting the city,"[/color] Saskia shrugged one shoulder. [color=DC143C]"But I think you’re right Lisa. They’ve moved on. Grieved, forgotten us, maybe."[/color]

[color=764820]”... Despite it all, we still need to help Luca. Get back to Adora…”[/color] Lisa said, sitting up. [color=764820]”... Avenge Kari.”[/color]

[color=e77fbf]"Yes! There are still people that need us!"[/color] Ella also sat up.

[color=DC143C]"I’ll make the bastard that killed Kari wish he’d never been born,"[/color] Saskia intoned, eyes narrowing and lips pulling back slightly to reveal her teeth.

[color=e77fbf]"We all will!"[/color] Ella shouted, before grabbing both Lisa and Saskia’s hands. [color=e77fbf]"Together!"[/color]

Lisa was silent.

[color=764820]”... Stop holding my hand like that; it's gay,”[/color]

[color=e77fbf]"... We’ve done much gayer things!"[/color] Ella shouted, refusing to let go of Lisa’s hand. Saskia laughed and rolled their eyes. Lisa tried to pull away, laughing herself.

“... Enjoying yourselves?”[hr][center][hider=Bad Dreams (Instrumental) - Busta Rhymes][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxosHaW-t4c[/youtube][/hider][/center][hr]There stood Mother Will, her cloaked figure towering over them. That sinister smile on her face that never went away…

Ella screamed, jumped up, only to stumble and fall back on her ass. [color=e77fbf]"What- Why are you here?!"[/color]

“I am everywhere,” The Mother Will said, “Because I am The Pit. I am not just watching your every movement, I feel it.”

Saskia's eyes narrowed, but they didn't make any other movements. Ella had blasted Mother Will with just about every attack when she first appeared… there was no point in doing that or panicking.

[color=DC143C]"So what if we are enjoying ourselves?"[/color]

“Because you are made for this place,” The Mother Will said, “I watched your every movement from your time in the Old Coven, to your death, to your first rebirth.”

The Mother Will was silent, “I have to say I am pleased fate brought you here.”

[color=DC143C]”Well that's nice, but we haven't really been made to feel welcome,"[/color] Saskia intoned. [color=DC143C]”And we're trying to have a moment here without you creeping."[/color]

[color=e77fbf]"And we're not made for this place at all! Everything's trying to kill us and there's blood everywhere!"[/color] Ella shouted. 

“That is because you haven’t realized the potential within the bounds of this world,” The Mother Will said. “In the Pit, the corpses of worlds bring about limitless possibilities. Treasures like no other - everything you ever wanted...” 

The Mother Will looked at Lisa,

“... [i]Revenge.[/i]”

Then looked at Saskia,

“... [i]Love.[/i]”

Then at Ella,

“... [i]Indulgence[/i] and [i][b]so[/b][/i] much more.” 

Then she continued, “And above all else; the freedom to act on your impulses, and what everyone wants: power.”

[color=e77fbf]"That’s not what I want, I just want to get home!"[/color] Ella declared immediately, staring at Mother Will with complete confidence.

Saskia was silent at first, expressionless. Love… it was her deepest desire dragged out. Thankfully, Ella didn’t even pay attention to it. She probably thought the looks weren’t pointed. But to get that here? When they were barely surviving? [color=DC143C]"This does seem like the perfect place to practice torture methods… But what if my impulse was to leave?"[/color] 

The Mother Will unnaturally stretched, her face reaching out to Ella until they were inches apart. 

“... This is your home now.”

Ella recoiled, head jerking back and feet pushing against the sand to push her away. [color=e77fbf]"No thank you! There’s no anime here!"[/color] 

“... How do you know?” The Mother Will replied. “You haven’t looked yet.”

Saskia’s lips twitched down into a deeper frown than normal. This wasn’t their home, and couldn’t be but… How would they get out? Would the Hound be able to teleport them out like he had in Mirage Springs? Something told them that wouldn’t be the case. He’d pushed them [i]down[/i] a hellish crack to get here. Would he have to pull them back out?

Could they even get out?

[color=DC143C]"Then how do we navigate our new home?"[/color] They asked without much change in tone, looking and sounding unbothered.

“You don't need to navigate anything,” The Mother Will said as she sank into the ground. “... Everything you ever wanted will find you.”

[color=DC143C]"... Right, helpful, thanks,"[/color] Saskia said, raising a hand to give Mother Will a half wave. Thank fuck she was leaving, they really couldn’t handle something like that for long.

[color=e77fbf]"That’s not an answer!"[/color] Ella shouted. [color=e77fbf]"How long do we have to wait?!"[/color]

The Mother Will didn’t answer, she simply left.

Lisa just shrugged.

[color=764820]”She’s a cryptic bastard, isn’t she?”[/color] Lisa laughed. [color=764820]”We might be down here for a while…”[/color]

[color=DC143C]"I get the feeling she wants us here forever,"[/color] Saskia said. If that was the case… would it be even harder for them to find the All-Blade?

[color=e77fbf]"No way! She can't keep us here!"[/color] Ella said, jumping up. [color=e77fbf]"But Lisa's right… we should prepare for the long haul. But we can survive anything together, right?!"[/color]

[color=764820]”Right!”[/color] Lisa shouted, throwing her hand in the air for a high-five. Before turning to Saskia, [color=764820]”... We should sacrifice Ella if necessary, though.”[/color]

[color=DC143C]"Agreed,"[/color] Saskia intoned as she slapped her hand against Lisa's. 

[color=e77fbf]"What?! You'd betray me like that?!"[/color] Ella wailed dramatically.

[color=DC143C]"You are the most annoying,"[/color] Saskia laughed lightly. Of course, they never would. If anyone was going to be sacrificed… they'd sacrifice themselves.

[color=764820]”Don’t think of it as betrayal,”[/color] Lisa smiled. [color=764820]”Think of it as volunteering!”[/color]

She then laughed, [color=764820]”There isn’t any better way to go out than a heroic sacrifice!”[/color]

Ella’s face scrunched up in thought, seeming to think about it quite hard. [color=e77fbf]"I guess you’re right! It’s my job as a magical girl to sacrifice myself for the greater good… Maybe I’ll come back stronger."[/color]

[color=DC143C]"We’re [i]all[/i] coming back stronger from this,"[/color] Saskia said.

Lisa nodded her head, squatting down as she began drawing the symbol of the Sycamore Tree Coven into the sand. She looked up at everyone, and said,

[color=764820]”... Let’s stay here for a little bit, it’s relaxing,”[/color] Lisa shrugged, looking at the literal sea of blood. [color=764820]”Well, for this place’s standards.”[/color]