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

Lily was surprised by Alex’ animal companions transforming back to normal, and giggled as they clambered over him.

[color=fff200]”Can they transform back too? This is just like in Model Warrior Julianne! It’s so cool!”[/color]

She glanced back at him after he posed his question.

[color=fff200]”Well, the meeting ended with Penny and Chloe making a truce and us agreeing to work with Mint, for the time being at least. With their help, we decided to split off into two groups. The other group with Alicia in it went after those Wonderland eggs, like the one we saw in Bolorton,”[/color] she said. She paused her words as she saw how Mayra passed by their group with a roll of her eyes, Brittany hanging on with a lazy smile on her.

[color=fff200]”Uh, I think it’s been a couple of hours since we arrived here, but I’m honestly not sure. It would be bad if time passed faster in our world again,”[/color] she added, now sounding a bit concerned as well. She glanced up at Branch Nose.

[color=fff200]”Mister Branch Nose, what time is it here?”[/color]

However, the venerable old oak could only shake his trunk as he kept stomping through the land, making sure to keep his treetop steady for Gaia. “I do not know. For us trees, there is no such thing as time, for we do not worry about keeping it. The seasons may change, years may be added to our circles, and we may even wither and die someday, yet life is so much more than counting the little hands on a clock, or thinking of the sun’s journey across the sky. We live through every moment, and every moment lives through us.”

Lily sighed; she couldn’t really disagree with him as he clearly had a different outlook on life, but it was a disappointing answer nonetheless.
[color=fff200]”Well, thanks for answering anyway.”[/color] She glanced back at Alex again.
[color=fff200]”So, did you and Brittany manage to escape because of this Guardian you mentioned?”[/color] She asked, curious to hear about his side of the story during their trip.

[hr]
After a while, the group finally arrived within the vicinity of the royal castle: a moat alongside a wall surrounded the massive structure, with the drawbridge pulled up, and the occasional Club guard patrolling the walls. Lily pouted. [color=fff200]”So, if Chloe-ified Caterpillar is right, there should be a secret way in, right?”[/color] She mumbled, and looked around.
[color=fff200]”Something about stones, I think? I was so mad at her, I didn’t really pay much attention.”[/color]

[hr]
As Mac and Magical Dream Princess conversed, they could hear the sound of an engine coming from the direction of the factory. The little cactuses scurried behind the jumbo cactuar, who hopped in place, as if trying to scare away the source of the noise, which turned out to be a pickup truck with Wonderland insignia. The truck came to a stop, and a familiar magical girl stepped out: Penny. She waved at the two. They also saw Nefer in the passenger seat, who seemed busy tinkering with some kind of device.

[color=9e0039]"Sorry for being late: had to take a moment to fix this up in the garage.”[/color]
She looked around, her eyes briefly flashing, a sign of her scanning the area. [color=9e0039]“Based on the residue of teleportation magic, I’m guessing the others have already returned back to Penrose?”[/color]


[hr]
“Agreed,” Rachel spoke after Alicia, and gave an understanding nod as the twins made their case on why they should stay with them. “You may not be strong, but you are capable enough to know your own limitations, and where to best apply yourselves. Those skills are what separates great Mahou from common ones,” she added, placing a hand on both of their shoulders. “Beacon counts itself fortunate to count you among their allies, official members or not.” She was about to continue her speech when someone arrived at the chamber from the corridor: it was Kimble, who tackle-hugged Alicia. “Alicia! You’re back! Did everything go well?”
Rachel sighed. “We succeeded in destroying the Conjuration Eggs. However, the Queen still intends to proceed with her invasion, and in fact has already begun directing her legion at Penrose. She has also taken Mariette hostage back at her castle. We intend on going there and stopping her.”

Kimble looked serious, and then looked towards the others, and finally Alicia. “You need someone to defend the city while you’re gone, right? If it’s not too much to ask, could I do it?” She asked, her eyes burning with determination.
“I don’t have too much experience, but I’ve been around the local Beacon girls long enough to know some by name. I could also ask Sally for help.”

[hr]
The Queen seemed jubilant as Mariette placed her mirror closer to hers, and decided to take the opportunity to teach her daughter about military tactics. “My dear Alice, today I will show you how to conquer a city,” she spoke. “First, you need an army suitable for the task. And not just rank-and-file soldiers either: like an intricate machine with different cogs running inside it, an army also requires a variety of roles to function properly. Here are the Clubs: your standard troopers, equipped with gem rifles and gem grenades, with scouts as a vanguard force, and heavy weapon teams to support the main force. And here are the Hearts, whose role is to-” At that moment, Mariette heard Cheshire Cat knock on her room again. “Princess Aliceee, are you eating your dinner? If you need help, I can cut the steak into smaller morsels and feed you~” she spoke with glee.

It seems the Queen heard the exchange, as she glanced in Mariette’s direction. “Oh, don’t forget to eat your food while it’s warm, young lady. You have a lot of growing up to do after all,” she then said: it wasn’t clear whether she was genuinely oblivious about the lack of aging that regular magical girls had, or whether it was her trademark insanity.