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

[color=fff200]”...Oh?”[/color] Lily did not expect Gaia, whom she considered the very embodiment of serenity and grace, to give her a stern look, and she scratched her cheek, blinking in befuddlement.
[color=fff200]”Did I say something-”[/color] She was about to ask when she gasped at Alex piercing his ear right then and there, her surprise having been shared by Connie.
[color=fff200]”Well, Alex can heal, so it’s not that bad,”[/color] she quickly dismissed the awkwardness with a quick shake of her outstretched fingers. 

[color=fff200]”More importantly…uhh…”[/color]

She drove her motorcycle next to the elder tree, who was still going at a leisurely jaunt, only to stop as Gaia requested to ride upon him, leaning his leafy branches down and scooping the verdant maiden up, letting her sit at the canopy. “Of course! My, I remember when there was once a squirrel that collected a stockpile of food. There were so many nuts that winter, I thought the squirrel went nuts!”

Lily looked awkward, yet she spoke up:
[color=fff200]”Hey, mister…”[/color]

“You may call me Branch Nose, if you please,” the elder tree responded jovially. “It is a name that fits me, does it not? What with my branch that protrudes just like a nose would!”

[color=fff200]”Okay, Branch Nose, could you, uhh…”[/color] Lily was pained at the prospect of having to ask him to go faster. Fortunately, Gaia came to the rescue once more, imbuing the elderly tree with vim and vigor.
“Ohh! I feel the power! Like a thousand springs in bloom!” The tree then sprinted, it’s long legs bounding over the grassy plains, each step launching the gnarled geriatric forward like a skipping rock. At this pace, while still a bit slower than the rainbow unicorns at full speed, was no longer a detriment to their journey, and thus they were capable of making towards the castle in the far horizon, it’s tall towers the only visible structure so far.

Meanwhile, Brittany smiled as Mayra addressed her, and patted the dragon girl on the head as she switched to a new tune:

[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mA5zI18ga8]
Yes ma’m, we pride ourselves on service
You're the boss
The queen, the shahbanu!
Say what you wish
It's yours, in Brittany’s
How about a few more Artifaaacts?

Have some of the weaponry
Try all of the armory
I'm in the mood to help you gal
You ain't never had a friend like me!
[/url]

The unicorn was less happy about the prospects of being turned to salami, and dashed away like a thunderbolt, carrying the dragongirl and her enchanted companion, letting them easily catch up to Branch Nose and the other unicorns.

[hr]
Viper could be seen blushing at Chloe’s flirting, and puffed up her cheeks with crossed arms, like the most stereotypical tsundere depicted in anime ever could.
“Just because you happen to be nicer than “Mister X In A Mask” doesn’t mean you can just say things like that. You're lucky I don't easily report harassment.” However, her sharp eyes turned a bit softer. “Well, I’ll consider it. But don’t think you can make me work more with flirting! Anyway, I’m going to join the cards now. Going radio silent. Over.” She then transformed into a Heart commander, and turned the corner of a nearby truck, climbing into it like a perfect impostor.

[hr]
Rachel nodded as Alicia confirmed the plan, and a confident smile emerged on her features. She turned her eyes to Mac.
“You should stay with, what is her name again…Magical Dream Princess,” she spoke, having needed to recall the name for a short moment. “With your cock-atrice,” she quickly corrected herself with a scoff, “you can scout ahead on your way to the castle.” She watched as the pink magical girl continued playing with the cactus creatures and chased them around, the plant-like beings seemingly ecstatic about her company as they ran swiftly around in circles, likely due to her not shying away from them despite their spiny nature.

But then, the group heard the strange language spoken in the distance, though it was louder, and most alarmingly, deeper. Then, they saw it: a [url=https://i.imgur.com/TaVbbKa.png]giant cactus[/url] with a twirly mustache was running towards them from the horizon at frightening speed, like a runaway train that cut through the desert dunes.
It was followed after by smaller cactus creatures, likely the same ones Alicia had scared off with her warning shot. However, as it came closer, it stopped with a skid, throwing sand into the air.
The cacti that played with MDP ran up to the jumbo cactus, who seemed to be a parent to the smaller ones as they huddled together. They exchanged words in their strange language, and soon enough the jumbo cactus shuffled closer, until it towered over MDP. Then, it spoke more of the cactus language, and watched the smaller cactuses as they made a cartwheel, followed by also making a cartwheel: it’s gargantuan body flipping at the kind of square-cube law-ignoring ease that could make one’s heart skip a beat from sheer astonishment.

Rachel briefly considered summoning her weapon, but she instead realized what the strange performance was meant to show. “Looks like you two won the cactus father over. Maybe you could convince it to pull your group to the castle with a sled or something. Anyway, we will now be leaving.” When the twins agreed to leaving, she raised a hand to her magicoms. “Baby birds are ready to fly,” she spoke the code phrase, and at that moment she, Alicia, Ronin, and Miko were teleported, leaving Mac, her cockatrice, Magical Dream Princess, and the whimsical party of bots and beasts behind, now joined by a giant cactus and its family.

The four of them returned to the teleporter chamber, where Elora was waiting for them.
“Inquisitor, something urgent has come up!” She spoke, and Rachel nodded. “Don’t tell me..The Queen has begun her invasion?”
“I’m afraid so,” she spoke, followed by summoning her cube, which extended a display screen showing footage from the Bolorton site to the group: they saw the various infantry trucks and tanks as they now began to move in a single convoy down the road to Penrose, leaving the fortified walls of the once peaceful farming village behind.
Rachel sighed. “Seems the Queen has decided to jump start her plans for conquest,” she commented dryly, and turned to Alicia. “Can you trust someone to hold down the fort while we invade her castle? I would like you to accompany me to this fight, Alicia…my friend,” she then admitted with averted eyes, causing Elora to blink in surprise.

[hr]
The Queen smiled warmly at Mariette’s request, and offered a hand to her. “Of course, my darling daughter. Let’s spend some quality time together as mother and daughter, and lay devastation upon the accursed cradle of the Nexus that is Penrose.” After that, Mariette closed the mirror as a new arrival was about to enter the scene.

Cheshire Cat meowed in joy upon being granted permission to enter. “Nyanderful! Now then, if you’ll excuse me!” The door opened, and Mariette saw as the [url=https://i.imgur.com/Mng8xsd.png]quirky maid[/url] entered, holding a silver tray: a mouth-watering steak with melted butter with a side dish of a vibrant red apple with a small handwritten note leaning on it, platinum fork and knife, a crystal drink glass, and a pitcher of finest porcelain were carefully placed on the tray.
“Greetings, Your Meowjesty! I am Cheshire Cat, the castle maid and your personal servant from now on!” She walked towards the table set to the side of the room, and placed the tray on it.
“I will now be leaving, as requested!” She then cheerfully proclaimed, as if every order she received was pure bliss for her. As she turned and began to exit the room, Mariette saw that beyond the doorway, there was a small landing before a spiral staircase descended down a circular chamber. Based on the architecture, she seemed to be at the top of a tower.

The cat-like maid briefly stopped, as if remembering something important. “Oh, before I leave, I must inform you of something important, Princess: please call on me with that bell over there whenever you want my service!” She pointed towards the wall, where a tiny ruby bell could be seen dangling from a fancy wallhook shaped like the side of a stylized heart. 
“I’m ready to fulfill every wish you have, such as cooking, cleaning, bathing, changing clothes, playing, pampering, being pampered, being punched, being kicked, being stabbed, being strangled, being cut to pieces, getting immolated, getting blown up, getting shot to the moon, any kind of torture or killing you could ever desire!” She spoke in her usual cheerfulness, as if listing fun games for the princess to engage in. “After all, the Queen has told me how lonely you are, so I wish to alleviate your boredom any way I can! However, regretfully, I only have nine lives to give to my adorable princess. But I’m sure the Queen can grant me more lives should you wish to go on a killing spree! Now then, goodbye!” She then closed the door. However, Mariette could hear her humming to herself from outside the room, as if eagerly waiting for her next order.