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

Lily listened intently as Alexander recounted the most important parts of the passage secret, glad that she had someone as level-headed as him to remember. She then realized from his musings that they were at risk of being spotted.

[color=fff200]”Oh, you’re right! Um…There!”[/color] She pointed towards a spot of wilderness, where a couple of trees stood amidst the grassy plains that surrounded the castle. Branch Nose understood with a heavy nod, and briskly stepped his way there, blending in with his surroundings by standing perfectly still, just in time to avoid a patrolling guard that passed over the western wall. “Your friend is quite observant,” he spoke softly to Gaia. “I did not think that I would be seen. Us trees are usually ignored.”

However, despite their immediate issue being solved, there was still the problem of the patrolling guards. Lily frowned at Connie’s solution.
[color=fff200]”That would cause a lot of noise…”[/color] She sadly spoke while scratching her cheek. But Gaia, the wisest Mahou in their group, came up with an ingenious plan utilizing covert use of narcotics applied via animal-carried payload. But just as the animals were given the bulbs…Mayra happened.

“Intruder!” The guards were quick to point and shout at the feisty dragongirl with a sailor’s mouth while taking cover from the exploding fireballs, scorching the stonework black on impact. One of them called in with a gem-embedded communication device, not unlike the one utilized by the March Hare in Penrose.
“HQ, come in!”

“This is HQ.”

“Patrol here! Enemy sighted!”

“Understood. Sending reinforcements. Pursue and eliminate.”

The drawbridge dropped down mightily, and a squadron of ten Club Soldiers rode out on winged horses. Soon enough, three Spade soldiers could be  seen leaving from a large window of one of the side towers, sprinkling fairy dust as they flew, carrying their trademark heavy weaponry with ease. Lily did not waste time when the coast was clear.

[color=fff200]”Now’s our chance! Thanks Mayra! Let’s go!”[/color] 

[hr]
For once, Mac’s suspicions proved correct, as she successfully noticed several subtle differences in the Penny before them from the Penny they have come to know: for one, she possessed a less potent magical aura about her, like a candle covered by a glass compared to the Queen of Penrose herself, who boasted a considerable presence in a crowd. She also had uncanny differences in details of her armor. The warden of fate saw what looked like a Wonderland gem embedded in her chest: it shone a vibrant yellow as magical energy sparkled within. Finally, the girl seemed more robotic than usual, showing more subdued reciprocation of affection as she was hugged by MDP, patting her on the head a couple of times.

Penny smiled as she released MDP.
[color=9e0039]“I’m glad to see you too, Magical Dream Princess,”[/color] she said. 
[color=9e0039]”That’s a lot of friends you’ve made there.”[/color]
She glanced to look at the crowd, and nodded as the pastel-colored dream weaver confirmed that the others had departed back to Penrose.
[color=9e0039]”Oh, I think they’ll return in time for the big finale: I trust that Alicia will arrive in time. Nefer’s also coming along.”[/color] She lifted a thumb back at the truck, and at Nefer, who waved at them. When she lifted her arm, Mac recognized the glint of familiar metal in the underside of her limb: it was Wonderland robotics technology, exactly like what the hatbots and chessbots had.
[color=9e0039]“So, should we get going?”[/color]


[hr]
Kimble nodded, and saluted with a smile. “I’ll be careful, Alicia. You just make sure you end this war!” Rachel did not waste time as she turned to Elora. “Drop us at the Queen’s castle. We’re heading in now.” The technomancer saluted, and began typing away on a floating keyboard, connecting wirelessly to the teleporter’s controls.

“Priming teleport…” She announced, making sure Alicia, Ronin and Miko were in the departure zone before pressing the final key.

“Teleporter ready. Activating…”

And with that, the group once again found themselves leaping through the fabric of space, reality unfolding in a flash of light before they found themselves back in the whimsical, if capricious, world of fairytales.

More specifically, they were at a forested section next to the main road. Ahead of them was the royal castle. “Strange,” Rachel would comment, adjusting her glasses. “The drawbridge is down, and there are no guards, only fresh tire tracks…” 

However, as the others were looking at the castle, Miko would notice that one of the trees on the west side was actually a monster: it was seemingly chasing after some of the local animals carrying something fruit-like, as if they had stolen from it. The animals and tree then disappeared behind the corner of the wall surrounding the castle.

[hr]
The Queen, for the very first time, was shocked, her mouth wide open as she reeled from Mariette’s initial outburst. “Alice!” Was the only thing she could say at that exact moment. However, before she had the chance to get properly upset, Mariette quickly took advantage of the mad monarch’s confusion, and pivoted to a question she could not ignore.

The Queen was silent, and glanced intermittently at Mariette, and then at her own mirrors, where her congregated corps could be seen.

“...Is it true, dear Alice?” She asked, as if to buy time to contemplate the idea.
“To proceed so quickly, is that truly wise? Penrose is full of enemies. Even with my Storyslayer, it would be a great struggle if the ignorant slaves are as vicious as before.” She absentmindedly placed her forefinger against her cheek, lightly puncturing the skin, and drawing a trickle of blood.
“Then again, that is what the Grand Magistrate would expect. They want a protracted, long siege, so they can properly gather everyone to Penrose’s defense. They always were ones to drag things out to a crawl.” She dragged the sharp crimson nail down her cheek, leaving a red line in its wake. Her lips curled into a manic grin.
“Yes…They would not see such a development. It would be a fitting twist to their tidy tale, a wrinkle in their writing and a crease in their chapters. Hoo-hoo-hoo!” She laughed, holding the back of her hand up to her mouth.
“Once again, you show the most clever side of yourself, my dear Alice. Yes, let us depart: once we have prepared the mirrors including the Black, we will reach our desired denouement.” She stood up, and a new mirror appeared before her. On the other side, Mariette saw the [url=https://i.imgur.com/Ehx2a4d.jpg]Gryphon[/url].

“Gryphon, continue preparing the invasion as planned.” The monstergirl bowed with her upper body. “As you will,” she replied curtly with a proud voice. Then, another mirror appeared in Mariette’s room: the Queen stepped through it with a smile.
“Cheshire Cat,” she called for the servant, and she opened the door with a curtsy.
“You called, Your Meowjesty?”

“It seems Alice and I will be late for dinner. Take it away.”

“Your word is my command,” she answered, and swiftly took the tray again. As she did, the small note that rested against the apple dropped off, descending to the floor in gentle sways like a dainty leaf. The queen did not seem to notice this, as she now offered her hand to Mariette: it still had a stain of blood on the fingers from before.
“Now then, are you ready to depart?”

[hr]
It took some time to focus, but Chloe found members of Mariette's Rebel Princesses. In one glimpse, Mermaid Princess was leading the charge riding a mighty orca that swam through a large rapid cutting through the countryside. In another, the Pea Princess, though occasionally dozing off was being woken up by dark fairies while riding a Green Helm command jeep. In yet another vision, Snow White, clad in mighty armor of comet born steel, complete with a facemask resembling a bearded fierce warrior, rode in a steam tank of gargantuan proportions, the dwarves marching in rhythm with it's hissing. Finally, the Lilliput Princess had led the Green Helms to the Forest Princess' domain having lured royalists into a deadly ambush, the verdant branch-horned Vassal having exacted nature's fury on them.