[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/q4au2SQ.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] [color=SpringGreen]“You are most welcome, my venerable friend,”[/color] Gaia told the ancient tree, giving voice to a stream of melodious laughter in response to his gleeful excitement. Despite her earlier anguish, Connie also couldn’t help but giggle at the sight. [color=DarkOrchid]“I-I’m so g-glad Mia w-was a-able to h-help you,”[/color] she told the giant tree. [color=DarkOrchid]“A-And t-thanks so m-much for h-helping [i]us[/i],”[/color] she added, her mask forming a happy smile. Then Alexander explained why he wanted to meet with The Guardian. [color=SpringGreen]“I see…”[/color] Gaia replied, her emerald lips pursed in contemplation. The fact that someone wanted him to deliver a message and some other unknown item was mildly concerning, but the verdant maiden was thankful that Alex appreciated the need to maintain a degree of secrecy around the matter while they were still in Wonderland. Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said of Lily, who decided to simply blurt out Kayli’s name, prompting an annoyed frown to mar the nymph-like girl’s otherwise lovely visage. A moment later, Connie gave voice to a startled yelp as Mariette began whispering in her ear. The Portal Witch proceeded to convey a bunch of information the masked maiden and her companions already knew, or at least suspected (like the team at the factory having achieved their objective). When the bunny-eared girl had finished, Connie stammered out a shaky, [color=DarkOrchid]“O-Okay…”[/color] [color=SpringGreen]“Understood,”[/color] Gaia confirmed as well. Taking a look around, the the nymph-like young woman saw that Mayra had located the girl who’d been captured along with Alex, and since she appeared to be very much under the influence of Wonderland’s mind altering magic, it seemed prudent to let their draconic friend keep watch over her for the time being. After all, Lily only had one spare magic earring, and, unsurprisingly, chose to give it to Alex. Connie cringed when the magical boy subsequently gave himself an impromptu piercing. [color=DarkOrchid]“U-Ummm… C-Couldn’t you h-have j-just p-pinned it t-to y-your c-clothes…?”[/color] the timid girl inquired, while nervously fidgeting with her hair. After all, that’s what she and Gaia had done. Meanwhile, Chloe had vanished into the midst of her skeletal army, which, upon closer inspection, resembled pieces from a miniature game Gaia was somewhat familiar with brought to life. It was more than a little strange, yet, the equally strange mad scientist they’d met at the Christmas party had mentioned during one of her rambles that every fictional universe was real somewhere in the myriad multiverses, so perhaps it was only to be expected they'd cross paths with something like this sooner or later. In any event, the greater concern was Chloe’s continued loyalty as, if the dark magical girl [i]was[/i] to turn against them, the Daughter of Mother Earth did not at all look forward to engaging in such a conflict… By this point, Connie had remounted her rainbow unicorn and Lily had climbed aboard her re-summoned bike. Gaia herself was just about to mount her own steed, when the voice of the ancient tree caught her attention. Or, more accurately, it brought her attention to the plodding nature of his steps. Obviously, his lack of speed would be a major impairment, but the botanical beauty already had a solution for that. [color=SpringGreen]“May I have the honor of riding amidst your branches, my venerable friend?”[/color] she inquired of the great tree. Assuming she was permitted, once ensconced amidst the lush foliage, the verdant maiden would place a hand on one of the branches and send a surge of life energy flooding through the old tree, filling him with renewed vitality and greatly boosting his speed. [color=SpringGreen]“Mayra,”[/color] Gaia called down to dragon girl. [color=SpringGreen]“Seeing as how I have been granted an alternative mode of transport, you and your new friend can ride upon my unicorn, if you wish.”[/color] [hr] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/udsgqgr.png[/img][/center] [center][hider=MDP Stats] [center][color=DeepPink][h2]Magical Dream Princess[/h2][/color] 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 4 | 9 | 4 | 24 | 9 Oddball: Sweet Dreams | Barrage Wealth and Resources (not while tf'd) | Enhanced Weapon | Power Artifact | Dual Weapon | Natural Aging | Money | Intuition Focused | Mental Link | Hidden Death | Mana Font | Mystic Might Alien Mind | Formless | Rival Force | Clueless [/center] [/hider][/center] Before MDP could get too close to her potential new friends, a mystical arrow arced overhead and landed in the midst of the cactus creatures. While the projectile didn’t hit any of the strange beings, it ended up causing all but one of them to flee in fright. [color=DeepPink]“Awww! It’s okie dokie, cactus wactus thingy wingies!”[/color] a visibly distraught MDP called out to the fleeing creatures. [color=DeepPink]“Like, whoever whever shot that arrow warrow probably wobably just wanted to play fetchy wetchy with you!”[/color] As it happened, Ronin also joined in with her attempts to befriend the cactus creatures, much to MDP’s delight. She was even more overjoyed a moment later, when their efforts bore fruit in the form of the last remaining cactus shuffling over to them. It was much smaller than the others and chattered in its own strange language as it brushed up against MDP’s legs, causing her to giggle even more than usual. [color=DeepPink]“Tee Hee~! That tickle wickles~!”[/color] she squealed. [color=DeepPink]“Aww~! You’re, like, super [i]duper[/i] adorable worable~!”[/color] the whimsical girl told the creature with a big smile. [color=DeepPink]“Yes you aresie~! Yes you aresie~! And, like, your prickly wicklies don’t hurty wurty at allsie wallsie~! (giggle!)”[/color] Soon enough, the other cactus creatures returned and joined their smaller companion in cuddling the giggling Princess of Dreams, with one even jumping up and bouncing off her chest, much to the bubbly girl’s great amusement. [color=DeepPink]“Like, do you wanna play taggy waggy~?!”[/color] she asked the strange creatures, her eyes sparkling with excitement.