Relieved that he caught up to Lily before she got into trouble, Alexander turned his attention to the puzzle ahead of them "I mean, they kind of made this easy; we just need to ask a question that we all know the answer to in order to see who lies. Like, asking about the number of doors behind them, or the queen's gender. Since they've already given us their answer about which door is safe or not, we don't need to use our question to figure that out too." He then turned his attention to his new hammer "Although if it does come down to it, we can use the hammer too. I'll admit, just brute forcing our way through these dumb riddles out of spite is tempting, but I don't want that to push us to make a mistake"

ΣΔΓΠΦ had been waiting for a moment such as this.

She had no idea what MDP’s mana reserves were like, but it would be hard to get anything through such a devastating attack, and ΣΔΓΠΦ wanted to ensure that MDP’s super special attack had the best chance it could to land. Realistically it would, because the only magical girl stronger than MDP was probably Penny or Rachel. But who would stop to think in a land of madness?

ΣΔΓΠΦ released MDP and allowed her gravity magic to propel her further and beyond MDP. Once she soared out of MDP’s protective barrier, she shifted her focus from gaining acceleration to redirecting the incoming blades. Swords were pulled into her orbit, which should have protected her from more incoming swords. As powerful as gravity manipulation was, there was only so much room for the metal blades. Soon ΣΔΓΠΦ was covered in scales of steel, and became too heavy to fly properly. Her ability to control her magic was overwhelmed, and the sphere of metal she was trapped in.

The mass of steel slammed into the castle wall before falling to the ground in a giant metal pile.

Dull laughter escaped the pile, and blood oozed out onto the blades.

---

The populace being bothered by her army was beneath her desire to care. So long as her skeletal army wasn’t killing them, there was nothing to be concerned about. What did catch her notice was that all the warm colors seemed to be leaving Penrose. Taking their place was the air, which seemed to glisten like a mirror catching moonlight on a starless night.

"Now what is it?"

Chloe stopped and looked at the sky. With her troops surrounding her, she opened her third eye and tried to discern what was going on.

---

It looked like the queen was finishing up, which meant that this talk was coming to an end. "Just think about it, ‘Alice.’ You’re free now, or you were until she showed up. How important is your revenge?"

There wouldn’t be time to hear a response. As the queen droned on her decrees, Mika hopped and clapped her hands together. "Mom and I will have to get the next one!"

"That’s… Well, I wouldn’t mind. I’m a little old to be a princess, but if you’d like, Mika." It wouldn’t be bad to try and get on the queen’s good side.

"I’d love to be a princess!" Mika punched the air over her head.

"Heh." Su faked a smile, then turned to Marrie. Her face grew dark. "How many of these mirrors are there?"

They soon arrived at their next destination as they reached the top of the landing. They entered an antechamber with two wooden doors in the back of the room. Alicia looked the place over as the strange being was engaged, with the two heads providing a riddle and Lily further clarifying the exercise thanks to the sign on the wall.

While Alicia was fairly confident in their ability to figure this one out, the sudden grin she received brought her to a halt. her gaze narrowed in suspicion as she wondered how much the monster knew, especially as the rule about magic not being allowed ran through her head.

She shook her head as Lily came over to ask if everything was alright. "I think it knows about my light magic," she replied before taking a step back. "I'm going to go back downstairs. Come get me when you think you have the answer."

She slipped back down the stairs that they had ascended, moving down until she couldn't hear any conversation from the antechamber anymore. It wasn't ideal, but if the answers were going to be deliberately wrong because of her presence, then this was the best way to deal with that.

Mika had some accurate observations there. Then, her mom could beat Mariette’s mom. Mariette didn’t exactly have an answer, but it was cute.

‘… There is,’ Mariette said about there being a reason she hadn’t told all of this before. The less that knew the better, if Ronja just decided to read the mind of the wrong person then Mariette’s life would be forfeit. When Su talked about how this was simply replacing one tyrant for another, Mariette’s expression grew pained. ‘I am aware. This was not how these events were originally supposed to take place… In the original plan, Mother wasn’t here. But… we will adapt.’

Mariette did have a response to how important her revenge was. That it wasn’t revenge, it was to free those Asengav had enslaved, and to prevent him from hurting or enslaving anyone else in the future. But, that was when the others were done…


The magical girl human warrior and the were-lamia monster-girl both charged into the freezer at once. Freya swung her sword, and noticed the magic that had been previously used to restrain Shelyn was now back under her command. With her swings, she cracked the walls, slabs of dirt came up as shields, before she sent boulders hurtling at their opponent, and then, disguised by the boulders, came Freya herself, swinging her sword.

Shelyn, independent from Freya, darted around with intense speed, much more of a brawler or a hunter than Freya’s balance between the defensive and offensive, launching herself at the exposed identified weak points of the giant brute to try to tear them assunder. However, there she suddenly discovered an issue. The giant sent blasts of ice, mountains of ice formed from every slam… and even though they did not hit, Shelyn found that they hurt.

Freya realized with a start. Of course she’d known about it, her previous bane. Ice was her bane. Because the were-lamia could not stand the cold. Freya had been excited, that she could now fight without being held back by such a weakness… but Shelyn could not. In fact, she was confused, why she hurt from even being close to the matter. The were-lamia felt her power draining, her speed slowing, and it looked like the giant would crush her with a slam of its icy club…

When instead it struck stone. Shelyn looked up in surprise, and there was Freya. Defending her, a sword supported by rock blocking the attack, barely. Freya glanced back with a serious frown. Shelyn understood, albeit growled. They would have to work together.

The fight continued, and Freya took the front-line, blocking ice attacks and fighting the monster head-on… but the monster was obviously stronger. But, here and there, Shelyn flashed in at the right time to cut its ankles, or throw a spear of rock that Freya had given her from a distance. Eventually, just as Freya looked like she would be crushed under the club, a rock thrown by Shelyn struck the icy monster square in the eye. Freya then summoned the greatest stalagmite she could and slammed it up into the air… where Shelyn grammed the stalagmite and with her superior strength struck it directly down into the chest of the monster, caving in its ribcage, shattering its lungs, stomach and heart. The beast fell with a great thud, and only because the two had worked together.

Shelyn fell, gasping, still hurting from all the ice scattered around that still acted as her bane, while Freya ran over to try to care for her…

‘Right, we got to get you out of here… Great fighting. I suppose you won that,’ Freya said, trying to pick Shelyn up.

‘Ssshhhhh…!’ Shelyn glared at Freya, intensly frustrated the only reason she survived the fight was because Freya defended her… the one who had kept her locked away for so long. Yet… yet she had defended her. … Shelyn would have to sort out her feelings on the matter later. The Queen was approaching them, and…

Placed her sword on the shoulders of Freya and Shelyn, and pronounced them princesses. As she did, magic surged through them… deeply, deeply satisfying magic, and both of their eyes widened out of the surprise at the sensation.

‘Wh-whoa-’ Freya got a bit dizzy, this felt like luxury and she hadn’t experienced luxury… ever. Neither had…

‘Shh…’ Shelyn held onto Freya, who was still close, eyes deeply, deeply confused. ‘Vashal… Pinsheshesh…?’ she attempted to pronounce the words she didn’t understand. But, whatever this woman just did to her… she wanted more of it…

‘…’ Unlike Shelyn, Freya had been paying attention during the briefings, and was aware who the Queen was… but better follow, and see what happened for now. She wasn’t exactly the princess-type…

Meanwhile. By Mariette.

‘… After the one in the freezer, one left on the surface. After that, it will be the main one…’ she replied to how many mirrors there were left.

Then the Queen came by and lifted her chin, and Mariette did her best to not show her fear. She did her best to nod to her words.

‘… Yes, mother,’ she said. Now, first she had to walk over to put her hand on the mirror in the museum, because she hadn’t, and start that one. Seen for the first time by Su and Mika was the a whirlpool appearing in the mirror, nothingness swirling in the center of the mirror on display as magic from the outside world was starting to be drained into it, and each person present would feel a tug on them. Mariette would then turn, to head for the next one…


‘Hey, so, sorry I gotta ask, but are we not following the plan, then?’ Suzette asked, pointing at the mirror and then looking over at the Queen and Mariette. ‘Because she sort of told us to follow her,’ she said, meaning the Queen.

‘The protectors of each mirror were to stay by their mirrors when the ritual started, to protect them,’ Ronja explained to the Queen. ‘Me and Suzette by this one,’ indicating the one in the museum.


‘Y-yeah, and me and Victoria in the freezer,’ Tullia added. ‘_{albeit how we were to be there when the uncooperative monster was there is beyond me}’

‘We were supposed to jump out and finish off the exhausted attackers after they managed to take down the monster,’ Victoria chuckled thinking about it.

Suzette nodded. ‘Yupp. And then Mayra and Jelena on the warehouse one, albeit I guess both of those are out…’ Jelena because a bomb had hurt her badly, and Mayra because… well, Suzette didn’t know, honestly. Wasn’t she with Mariette last she knew? ‘And Freya’s supposed to be backing up Esther in the little forest.’

‘Yes, that was the original plan…’ Mariette confirmed. ‘But, do as mother said. Follow… _unless?’ she’d throw a glance at the Queen to see if she changed her mind hearing this.

Regardless, after that was determined Mariette would walk into the freezer, past the corpse of the giant monster, and then put her hand on the mirror in there. The same swirl started there, in this freezer located in the often monster-infested sewers of Penrose.

With that done…

‘Alright. You can open the portal to the last mirror now. And… keep your distance from it,’ Mariette urged.

To the infiltration team’s good fortune, the stairs did not seem to be trapped in any way (aside from the not-so-insignificant exhaustion generated by such a lengthy ascent), and it wasn’t very long before they reached the topmost door. The ever impetuous Lily opened the (also pleasantly un-trapped) door, to reveal a strange ribbon creature with two theater masks for heads. Upon catching sight of the unnerving being, Connie found herself immensely thankful that she no longer had a fear of masks (wish-granting djinns are such wonderful friends to have). Otherwise, she’d be suffering a particularly crippling panic attack right about now. As it was, she merely found the creature to be rather intimidating, as opposed to utterly traumatizing. Said creature promptly introduced itself as this bizarre realm’s version of Tweedledee and Tweedledum, and then went on to present a little puzzle to solve (which seemed to be something of a running theme, as Lily was observant enough to point out).

“I must concur with Alexander’s assessment,” Gaia spoke up after the magical boy had put forth a fairly simple way of telling which of the two faces was the truthful one, while also noting the potential hazards of simply brute forcing their way past. “The guard itself isn’t the problem,” she added. “It’s choosing the right door, since it would seem likely that the wrong choice would not allow for us to correct our mistake, even if we simply looked inside without actually entering. On the subject of what question we might ask, I must admit, I am afraid that I am not particularly familiar with this part of Alice in Wonderland,” the verdant maiden aded with a small frown. “So I am unsure what the ‘canonical’ answer might be.”

“I-I don’t k-know much about t-that story e-either,” Connie added, her mask forming a frown as well. “T-The C-C-Cheshire C-Cat always s-s-scared m-me…” the timid girl explained in a softer voice as she hugged her shuddering body.

“Might anyone else have greater knowledge on this subject?” Gaia inquired while looking at Miko, who seemed to be the most intelligent and studious member of their group.

The verdant maiden also took note of Alicia’s withdrawal down the stairs, but there was nothing to be said in objection to her decision. While splitting up their party was hardly ideal, the negative impact her presence might have on their attempt to pry the truth from the guardian wasn’t worth the risk of her remaining with them. And besides, the renowned Paladin Seraph was certainly more than capable of handling whatever danger might possibly befall her while separated from them, right?

---

To MDP’s great delight, Mayra, and Mac, and all her other friends very much wanted to see her super duper special ultimate attack, with Mayra going so far as to kindly assist her in getting closer to the target of said attack. “Weeeeee~! Tee hee heeeee~!” the whimsical girl squealed and giggled gleefully as she (and Mac) were rapidly spun around and around, before subsequently being launched into the air at considerable speed. Twirling her whimsical wand before her with ever increasing rapidity like a makeshift propellor, the bubbly girl began to form a swirling vortex of pure sweet dream magic, while prismatic streamers began to warp the very fabric of reality itself in ever-expanding concentric circles, like ripples in a pond. “Ooooh~! Pretty witty lighty wighties~! (giggle!)” the playful Princess of Dreams exclaimed, utterly enthralled by her own kaleidoscopic display.

Indeed, so absorbed was MDP with creating her adorably dreamy super special ultimate attack, that she didn’t notice Mac(?) surge ahead of her, only to plummet to the ground inside a shell of blades a few seconds later. This was most assuredly for the best, for, had the easily distracted girl noticed this, and the far more alarming pool of blood(!) seeping out of what seemed for all intents and purposes like the wolf cop’s armored coffin, she would have completely failed to cast her super duper awesome spell and placed herself in some super serious trouble! But as it was, she did not see, and thus react to, Mac(?)’s apparent messy demise. Instead, she twirled her wand even faster, the prismatic streamers, sparkles, and myriad whimsical objects pouring forth in an ever increasing torrent of sickeningly sweet adorableness.

“Okie dokie~!” MDP called out with the cutest of winks and the happiest of smiles. “Heresie weresie’s Magical Dream Princess’s super dee duper wooper special wecial ultimate wultimate attacky wacky thingie wingie~! (giggle!)” Taking a deep breath, the whimsical girl shouted at the top of her high-pitched ultra-kawaiiko voice, “SUPER DUPER EXTRA WEXTRA BIGGY WIGGY DELUGEY WELUGEY OF CUTIE WUTINESS~!!!” With that, whatever walls might have separated the whimsical realm of Wonderland and the even more whimsical realm of the Sweet Dream Dimension were comprehensively shattered, allowing an irresistible cascade of delightful dream creatures and whimsical objects to pour forth upon a prismatic tide of dream energy. This mighty barrage was sure to swiftly overwhelm any adversaries in its gleefully giggling path, and the Jabberwock would be no exception.

Probably.

‘Ouugh…’ Miko made a noise as she watched the nonsense that the Super Map was giving her. She put it away to then focus on the new scene in front of them.

Ronin and Miko came to a stop with the rest as they arrived to this lavish room. That, and then there were the two guards at the front. After delivering their riddle, Ronin smiled, knowing she wouldn’t be able to figure out the answer.

‘Hey, what if we just grabbed two busts of the Queen, opened a door each, and then threw the busts in, and we’d see what kind of traps we trigger?’ Ronin suggested. Though, Gaia said that something like that was not going to work?

Alicia was about to leave, when…

‘Wait. Alicia. I… I know the answer to the riddle,’ she said, thinking there was no point in leaving because of this. … And then she turned to Ronin with a frown. ‘… And so should you!’

‘Wait. me?’ Ronin asked, looking confused.

‘We watched Labyrinth together! The riddle is in that movie!’ Miko said, incredulously.

‘Aaa,’ Ronin looked away for a bit. ‘I do vaguely remember seeing that movie… but nope! I got nothing!’ Ronin smiled back at her sister.

‘Honestly,’ Miko sighed. ‘But even without that, it shouldn’t be that hard to figure out. You only get one question to one guard, so obviously it’s going to have to concern the other guard AND the door,’ Miko said.

‘Sure. Absolutely. Go get them, sis!’ Ronin chuckled, then cheered on her sister to go show off.

‘… I’m just concerned it’s a trick. Like, if the Queen actually put a third door that’s the actual way and the only way to get it is her secret password. Regardless, here we go.’ So she said, and then advanced on the two.

‘You,’ she said, directing to the sad one. ‘Tweedled- uh,’ she hesitated, as she realized she didn’t know which was which.

‘Tweedledeepressed!’ Ronin helpfully supplied.

‘Right,’ Miko shook her head. Then she refocused, and gave the actual question.

‘If I were to ask him which door to go through to reach the Queen’s chambers,’ she said, pointing to the happy one while still asking the sad one. ‘What would he answer?’

The one who tells the truth would accurately say that the one who lies would give them the wrong door.

The one who lies would know the one who tells the truth would point at the right door, and as such give them the wrong door as the answer to the question.

Either way, pick the other door.

__________________




‘Now then…’ Mayra landed back down, and did some minor stretching. Bent down on one knee and extended the other, then the other, pulled one arm back to rotate her upper body, then the other direction.

She absolutely could leave it all to MDP. Mayra was nigh-convinced that girl was invulnerable. It wasn't like Mayra would turn down a fight. Now, if MDP on her own was able to take down the opponent herself, that’d be cool. But if not…

The power of fire charged at her feet as she bent her knees in preparation. She unleashed the power at the same time as she extended her legs and blasted off the ground.

If Rachel was still there, standing behind her shield at an elevated position, Mayra was heading for her. Once again… ‘LAUNCH ME AT IT’ she’d request, intending to get her feet on Rachel's hammer so she could be launched directly at their giant enemy. Otherwise, Mayra’d just go the direct route herself.

Now, she'd taken a second stretching to allow time for MDP’s attack to happen. If it did the job, and there's nothing left, great. Mayra would use fire to slow herself down and then freeze herself in mid-air with a Darkness curse next to MDP and congratulate her on a work well done. If there’s something left, anything left, even if it has turned into a big friend or something because of MDP’s nonsense…

Alex voiced ideas for how to conclude the conundrum, and Lily glanced over at him, with a smile.
”Uh, yeah, that sounds good. Truth be told, I’ve always been bad with puzzle games, though, so I’m not totally sure…” She murmured.

She looked to Gaia to see if she had an answer, having expected her to come up with something. However, even she did not have a suggestion, leaving her to stand next to Connie, sharing in her growing trepidation. Even Branch Nose seemed ignorant of the puzzle, as he quietly observed the proceedings, seemingly natural for the old tree in a tiny sapling’s body.

That was when she noticed how quiet Alicia was, and after voicing her concerts frowned as Alicia turned away. She reached out to hold her hand, but she didn’t have the will to grasp it before her friend released and went on her way.
”Alicia…”

Suddenly, a voice carried across the room, urging her to stay, and everyone turned to look at who spoke: it was Miko, who seemed to have the answer.

"Oh, you know what to ask? I knew you were the smart twin!” Lily asked in awe, her hands closed and lifted up to neck level as she reigned in her excitement. However, she then realized what she blurted out, and blinked.
Not that I’m saying you’re dumb, Ronin! You’re smart too, in your own way!”

“Anyway, I shall believe in Miko, and entrust her with the responsibility of asking the right question,” Branch Nose interrupted politely, helping the group get back on track.

The two-masked being laid down its double vision on Miko as she approached, its red ribbons slowly writhing like seaweed in the ocean. Miko then asked her question, addressing the sad Tweedledee.
For a moment, it was quiet, pondering the question. Finally, it answered:

“He would say…The right door.”

Lily, who had held her breath this entire time, exhaled, having managed to turn slightly red in the cheeks.

”The right door, huh? Does that mean we should pick that one? Or wait, if the other one would say it, then they could be lying, but what if they’re honest about the lie being the truth…Uhh, I confused myself,” Lily concluded, her eyes spinning around in a silly fashion.

---

Rachel saw as ΣΔΓΠΦ helped MDP by redirecting the multitude of blades and granting her safe passage, followed by a scoff as she saw Mayra down below. She was coming up rapidly, and the glasses-wearing girl heard how she intended to ascend and assist MDP against the Jabberwock. She adjusted her glasses sharply, her eyes flashing menacingly. “Treating me like a springboard now The absolute nerve…” But then, as she lowered down her hammer, an evil smile crept to her lips. “Fine then…Prepare yourself!”

The inquisitor began charging her magic, and a gold-white glow began to emanate from her, as both strength and healing magic surged through her, visibly bulging her muscles through her clothes. She made a circular motion with her hammer, swinging it downward at the exact moment Mayra landed dexterously on it. When she did, her glasses shone.

“My hammer is the hammer that will pierce the heavens!”

Then, keeping her momentum, a burst of Reinforcement magic exploded out of the back of the hammer, accelerating the head like a rocket.

“NINE SPHERE ASCENSION!”

She swung with unfathomable power, and Mayra was launched upwards as she also kicked off, breaking the sound barrier and causing a shockwave to spread through the air. As she did, Mayra began to transform…

Up above, MDP made her greatest performance so far as the Magician of Sweetest Dreams, and opened a breach between the plane of Wonderland and the outright surreal Sweet Dream Dimension: now the sky, previously blackened by the Jaberwock’s wings, was now set alight in a cascade of brilliant light, hundreds of colors shooting out as beams and waves in an ever-shifting northern light-esque phenomenon.

However, just as the gate was beginning to open up more, MDP realized that the Jabberwock had summoned an intricate giant sword made of bone.

“‘And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!’
He chortled in his joy.”

She laughed, about to swing while MDP focused on her spell, and was about to connect before her blow was deflected by Dragon Mayra, the ferocious wyrm of shadowy fire close in size and power to the gargantuan monster able to tackle the beast, causing it to lean back on its perch on top of the castle.

This gave MDP her opening, and a torrent of magic blasted open through the dimensional rift, sweet dreams having taken physical form as they emanated as countless specks of imagination, each unique and more joy-inducing than the last. Overwhelmed by the magical barrage, the Jabberwock began to shrink, and shrink, and shrink…Until finally, it had transformed into a man-sized pink dodo-like creature.

The creature, once known as the proud Gryphon, fell again, having slipped on a broken roof tile, only to be caught by Rachel, who placed it in a cage made of barriers. She was somber as she held the bars of its new prison, and sang the last verse of her poem:

“Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe…”

Up above, MDP’s limit finally reached her, and she transformed back to Violet Covington after her mana had run out. Rachel could only sigh.
“It looks like I was correct in my assessment after all: Magical Dream Princess is one of the most dangerous Mahou in Penrose…Good,” she added. However, as the battle had concluded, and the Mermaid Princess' forces began to line up before the front gates, ΣΔΓΠΦ saw something in the far horizon, coming the same way as she and MDP had: it was a truck resembling the ones from Mad Hatter's factory, but customized with a variety of modifications. But most shockingly, there seemed to be a group of magical girls sharing a ride on the open back of the truck, and they all shared Penny's face.

---

The queen was pleased, and lifted her hand up in a flourish from Mariette after she complied and activated the mirror.

“Yes! You have done wonderfully, Alice! Despite the Grand Magistrate’s foul play, we have succeeded in persevering so far before their evil!” She didn’t seem too interested in the other girls present as she fawned over ‘Alice’, like a mother after witnessing her daughter’s theater recital, but she did give a pleased glance at Mika proclaiming her desire to be a princess. “Hmm…There is a spot available for a Princess of Hearts. That sounds lovely, does it not?” She spoke with honeyed words, the experience of a centuries-old monarch shining through them despite her growing insanity.

“Now, there is one more mirror left before our grand finale with the Black Mirror. Take it away, Alice, and break a leg! Oh, but not yours, of course! Somebody else’s legs though…Those can be broken as much as you ever wish, haa!”

She then opened her portal to the location of the very last mirror, and Asengav’s final guardians.
Mariette expressed a desire to persuade them to their cause, but the queen simply pat the eyepatched girl’s head.

“There, there, Alice, you need not strain yourself by speaking with these ignorant slaves. Let mommy handle this.” She lifted her Storyslayer, and once again swung it before her.

“Severance!”

Then, Taihei and Josefin realized they were no longer bent to Asengav’s will, their mental chains having been broken in one fell swoop as they were granted free will…And the horror that came with the realization.

“To you, I offer the same deliverance as to all others,” the Queen spoke. “You may be free of the Power’s domination over your feeble little minds, but you are yet to be bound by an even greater slave owner, one who rules over your warped fates. Follow me, and then will you be truly liberated, as together we reach out for the final truth.”

---

As Chloe observed the mirrors, she could see how they began to gradually grow, their black star-studded surfaces seeming to draw in magical energy that pervaded across Penrose.
There were many Patrons who had both the means to conjure forth a mana-draining spell at this great of a scale, and the motive for it. Of course, the mirror-shaped modus operandi left only one real culprit: Asengav.

‘…’ Miko stared blankly at the sad Tweedle as he answered. ‘Okay. So the idea with that question is, regardless of which one you ask, whichever door they indicate with their answer is the wrong door, and we should pick the other. I just-’ Miko took a second to feel incredibly, incredibly stupid. ‘I don't know if he means his own or our right.’

Ronin stared at her sister for a couple seconds, and then started laughing.

Alexander thought for a few seconds " so if the right door is what he answered, that means that the left door is the safe one. We're just not sure if it's their left or our left" Then it hit him "wait, we got this. The happy one already said that the left door was safe, which means that means that he's the one who tells the truth. So we just need to use our question to him to check if they mean their left or our left"

Connie and Gaia both smiled when Miko revealed that she did, indeed, know the answer to the guardian’s riddle. Asking her question, to the sad mask, it answered that its counterpart would tell them the right door was the safe one. Lily quickly became confused on how they should interpret this answer, and Connie was equally puzzled, although being shy and socially awkward, she didn’t have a running monologue about it like the genki greenette did. For her part, Gaia understood the logic behind Miko’s question, but just like the pink-garbed maiden, she also quickly realized the new problem said question’s lack of specificity had presented them with.

The frown on Connie’s mask deepened as Ronin began laughing. “I-I, um, I-I d-don’t really see h-how that’s f-funny…”

Alexander then came up with a possible solution to their dilemma, but Gaia was hesitant to feel any measure of relief.

“Although it pains me to say this,” the verdant maiden spoke up tentatively. “I believe we are only allowed a single question, and, unfortunately, that question has already been asked.”

---

As MDP’s whimsical rift in reality yawned open, the Princess of Dreams’s eyes also widened as the Jabberwock conjured a massive bone sword with which to oppose the childish cascade she was poised to unleash. An instant later, however, and the giant monstrosity would have an almost equally sizable, and distinctly draconic-looking, monster to contend with…

“Mayra Wayra~!” MDP cheered in giggly delight as she watched her monstrous friend have (from her innocently warped perspective) an exciting wrestling match with the startled Jabberwock.

This distraction allowed MDP’s spell to hammer the Wonderland monstrosity with all its whimsical force (while leaving Mayra completely unscathed). MDP giggled and squealed with delighted amusement as the Jabberwock rapidly diminished in size and menace, until it was reduced to nothing more than a comically helpless dodo-like creature. “Awww~! She looks super duper funny wunny~! (giggle!)” However, the toll of expending so much of her mana quickly caught up with her, and the whimsical girl felt herself getting exceptionally drowsy. “Like, Magical Dream Princess feely weelies super duper sleepy weepy…” she cutely mumbled as her wobbling form plopped onto a helpfully waiting and incredibly soft pink cloud. “She’s gonna takey wakey a nappy wappy nowie~ Nighty… Night….” She murmured, before slipping off to dreamland.

Unfortunately, it was at this point that her mana reserves completely ran out, and the playful Princess of Dreams returned to her not so playful (and completely powerless) mundane self, all her myriad dream magic constructs vanishing in puffs of pink glitter. This was a problem because that included the fluffy cloud friend Violet had been sleeping on, and now the unconscious heiress was sent plummeting to the ground.

Uh, someone might want to, um, catch her…

“That’s the current status of Penrose your Highness.”

“Understood. Pass along further updates through Snoopy as needed. The next couple of batches are to be kept at the Bastion until we’ve got a better location for them. But outside of those feel free to let volunteers pilot the rest in either theater until further notice.”

“Understood. I shall inform the Regent as well. Out”

She let the line go dead. Shifting her attention back towards the drive ahead, they weren’t far out now. Not if the reading she was getting from the first duplicate she had sent out was still valid. And even if it wasn’t it would still allow them to find the next heading without much trouble.

She doubted anyone would have been able to notice, but she was glad she had a valid reason to stay behind after the engagement at the factory. Even in the presence of Nefer and Akenatan the work she had done on the factory had given her ample time to sort out her internal quibbles.

It was old hat to Penny by now, and made so simple due to her upgrades from Harmony. But still, the need to recalibrate to new responses and feeling after combat again, even now so far removed from her first nights in Penrose. It was strangely nostalgic.



‘Additional nodes in the network expanded the local rage as well as the comms power. Noted.’

“Heads up. We’ve nearly caught up with the rest.” The Queen would say to the passengers besides her. The castle’s gate starting to loom ahead of them. They were just in time to witness the culmination of things from the looks of it. What with the massive and odd beast getting overwhelmed by Magical Dream Princess’s magical attack.

Seeing as she had a better vantage point further ahead. She tapped into the video feed of her body already in the area.

It was this closer vantage point that let Penny notice was about to happen faster than anyone there did. She could read the fatigue building in her girlfriend even as her magical attack completed itself. And Penny still well knew the cost of such an all-out attack. It’s what would happen next she wouldn’t let happen, not since she could do something about it.

‘This is such a reckless idea… But it’s going to work, and it’s going to be fun!’

There was a sudden high-pitched whining coming from Penny, and all of the other Penny’s in the truck as well. As bright blue glow rapidly building over truck.

“You’re going to want to brace yourselves for this!” She would call out a grin over taking her features.

---

The copy of Penny was looking up at the sight of Magical Dream Princess’s dread slowly starting to form as she recognized what was about to happen.

Then she felt it.



A surge of new data flooded in. And her attention snapped towards the gate. “Everyone!” She called out, her voice gaining intensity. “Hit the deck!”

Over on the horizon the truck carrying the group of Penny’s Suddenly flared a bright neon blue. It was the only other warning before-

---

There was something to be said about synchronicity. About multiple people working in tandem to accomplish something. When a dozen people were coordinated to the second great things could be achieved. Even more so when magic was at play. When those twelve people were all the same person?

The effect was magnified.

In a feat of terrifying efficiency the twelve Penny’s in the truck had worked together to encapsulate the truck and then in a show of gravitic force sling shot themselves at the gate. Eliminating the distance in one massive burst of speed and ramming the fortification.

The gate could only shatter under the titanic force inflicted upon it.

The truck was shockingly unharmed, and had also come to a complete standstill. Both of those a result of the gravitic barrier that was encasing the vehicle, though that winked out a bare moment after impact. Allowing a lone figure to leap out of the bed of the truck to catch the falling Violet before she made much distance from where she had once been perched on a cloud.

Electromagnetic thrusters kicked on a moment later, as a Penny carefully carried the unconscious girl down to the ground.

The truck fell a short distance to the ground as well. Before the door to the truck opened and another Penny stepped out. And it when compared to this one, the copies rang unavoidably false. The Prime Penny had arrived, with reinforcements consisting of a dozen more of herself.

“Well. I might have missed all the excitement, but no one can say I forgot to knock!”

‘Haha… Sorry…’ Ronin quenched her smile when Connie indirectly reprimanded her for laughing. ‘It’s just that the silliest things can go wrong…’

‘Right. But if you’re done… Let’s think of a solution…’ Miko demanded. ‘It’s not like we played by the Queen’s rules in any of the other puzzles…’ Miko questioned. They could break through a wall?

‘I don’t really see the need to complicate it,’ Ronin told, then advanced towards… ‘Who the heck would claim a door in a wall…’ She said, grabbing the left door from their point of view. ‘… Is on any other side than the way you’re facing when you’re opening it!?’ So she said, as she decisively opened the left door!

‘T-trickster guards, that’s who!’ Miko replied in horror.

‘Possible!’ Ronin shouted. ‘But we can handle anything this door might throw our way! Now c’mon, we can’t spend eternity here!’ Ronin waved to the rest, and was definitely intending on going through that door.

__________________




Becoming a giant dragon (well, her original form, that is) while being launched faster than she’d ever been launched before…

It was glorious.

Mayra had intended on attacking after MDP’s shot, but Rachel shot her so fast she ended up hitting into the Jabberwock’s sword before it hit MDP before she fired in the first place. Unable to comprehend at the moment why this might have been really good, the dragon went on an assault against the giant monster, and then the pastel princess shot her magic and their enemy was reduced in size, all while dragon Mayra swiped and swiped and breathed fire…

Until eventually the great fire dragon Mayra had taken the great Jabberwock’s place upon the castle.

Mayra roared loudly, victoriously, extending her wings to become as large as she could. Show her dominance. There was nobody under the skies as mighty as she was right now. If this was the fairy-tale, she was the dragon. She was the embodiment of fire, shadow, and-

In the edge of her consciousness, Mayra noticed MDP suddenly dropping through her cloud. The dragon turned, stretching out a claw, but having been preoccupied with celebrating her timing was late. Again.

… But Penny had managed to crash her truck and come flying to catch her. Mayra turned fully around, staring down at her. She was reminded of something. She… very much wanted to fight Penny. Ever since the briefing where they had been presented all the threats to Asengav in Penrose… she’d very much wanted to fight Penny. … And that was the glare she was aiming down at Penny at this moment…

… But not while she was holding Violet. Mayra had enough sense to recognize her too, and also enough object permanence to know that was where MDP had been. While Mayra very much wanted to battle Penny, seeing her holding their mutual friend, which Mayra did not want to harm, stayed her instincts. Instead, her second concern…

Mayra growled, and then pointed with a claw and a nod of her head. At Brittany. Who had taken an arrow from Gryphon because Mayra’d been a fool. Was she alright? If not, could someone help her? Mayra was somewhat unable to articulate her concern as being a giant dragon did, in fact, not come with the ability to speak, and also lowered her sense of reasoning to that of an animal. In this case… a concerned, if giant and very dangerous, animal.

Alicia paused on the stairs as her name was called, looking back at Lily and Ronin with confusion clearly displayed on her face. "I'm not leaving," she told them. "Just making sure they don't use my powers as an excuse to give us wrong answers. I trust you guys to figure it out."

So as Ronin made her question to the guards at the door, she continued with her original plan and moved beyond earshot of upstairs. No doubt she would have had something to say about Ronin's decisive move as she gambled on which door was correct, but she was not close enough to see it. Hopefully it would work out, and hopefully they would soon be on their way

…

…

…

---

Chloe groaned. ”Another pointless distraction." Fortunately, Asengav’s weakness had been well documented by the Mint. ”Very well, have the troops shatter every mirror they can find in Penrose. Scatter the fragments as best you can." Then Chloe winced.

Takes one to know one: Active.

”And… maybe light some candles too. That should weaken whatever this is."

”By Nagash’s will it shall be done!“

”Oh!" Chloe raised a finger. ”Aside from the mirrors, do as little damage as possible. This isn’t an excuse to enslave the local populace."

”Of course…“

If the people of Penrose were scared before, they would be downright terrified when the six foot tall bone men started entering stores. One entered a public restroom and brought the pommel of his sword to every mirror over the sink. Many more in the housing district forced their way into homes. The fortunate ones left their doors unlocked, and the skeletons raided every vanity they could find. The less fortunate ones locked their doors, and the skeletons forced the doors open. Often shattering a window or pulling the doorknobs until they gave way. The fragments were scattered on the streets for the lord of mirrors to witness.

More Ossiarch soldiers raided furniture stores. But rather than departing with any furniture, they would take all the candles they could carry and leave. Once outside, they would be set alight. Many of the boney soldiers melted the bottom of the candles just enough to stick them to their bodies, and walked about town with melting candles on their heads and shoulders.

As amusing as the carnage was to Chloe, she was aware that something had to be done to keep order. So several Bone Tithe Shriekers appeared at the highest points of the city, and Chloe channeled her voice through them like she had earlier.

”Hewow eveweyone!" Came Chloe’s sickeningly sweet voice. ”Some fawty wirwing has been discovuwured in uwu house! So nowo we gunta fix it. Pwease don’t be awarmed!"

This was going to end up being expensive for Mint, but her last order from Al was to hold the fort.

---

Mika was, understandably, very excited to rush into the next mirror and earn her keep as a princess. But before she could get very far, the queen had already broken everyone's mind control. She looked back at Su, who shrugged her shoulders, and then Mika lowered her ears.

Maybe another opportunity would reveal itself later… or if any of these people wanted to fight. But Mika didn’t really want to beat any of them up. They looked kinda cool. And that spider one looked sorta familiar for some reason…

As the Queen lifted her sword and swung, an excessive amount of artifacts in Taihei’s skin suddenly sprung to life. A giant shield swung up, clear white, to shield from any harm that was to come to Taihei or Josefin or the mirror. As someone who lived with constant horrible misfortune, Taihei had devised an excessive amount of artifacts meant to reduce the chance of death to nothing. A meteor could land upon it, reducing the very apartment to dust and leaving a crater, but Taihei and those under her protection would still be there. As someone fate tries to kill every few hours, this came as natural to her, and it would protect from physical as well as mental attacks…

And for the moment, it even opposed the strike of the Storyslayer.

Taihei, shocked at the power of the blow that suddenly came through the opened portal, raised both hands and staff to amplify her artifacts, to keep the shield intact, her eyes widened. The attack wasn’t even coming from in front of her, it was like it came from within her. Yet, despite this, Taihei’s artifacts still defended her, even against the most unnatural of blows…!

Next to her, Josefin immediately collapsed. Taihei but grunted, unable to provide the same protection to her ally. While alarmed at the collapse of her friend, she didn’t have the time to focus away from the attack currently striking at her very existence. It was strong, so strong, and yet… yet her defense was working. She was holding it at bay.

‘Heh… hah!’ Taihei let a rare smile spread across her lips. She knew who was on the other side. The Queen of Wonderland. Not even her power could break through Taihei’s defenses! … Was what she was thinking while they were barely holding together, but at this moment, tentacles flaring and her shields holding firm against the Storyslayer’s strike, Taihei felt invincible.

Josefin slowly stood up next to her. Taihei chuckled in relief. Figures someone as lucky as her wouldn’t fall to a random slice like that. She didn’t know what convenience allowed the supernaturally lucky girl to survive, but right now, she didn’t care. The strike at her existence still remained, but it was waning in power.

‘It would seem even the Queen can’t strike through our defences!’ Taihei shouted, emboldened. ‘Come, Josefin, it’s time to mount our counter-’

SLASH

Taihei fumbled, unprepared for what had just happened.

There stood Josefin, giant sword in hand, eyes wide with small pupils. She’d just slashed straight across Taihei’s body. The thing was, Josefin’s strength and her sword was no match for Taihei’s superior toughness; it had inflicted no physical damage whatsoever.

But the slice had come filled with the full might of Josefin’s Mana specialization, struck directly to Taihei’s magic defense. No matter the defense, it uses mana to materialize, and being in close quarters with Josefin could cause any such magic to destabilize, if but for a moment. Josefin’s strike had cut the slightest, tiniest hole in Taihei’s protective magic shield… and the Queen’s strike passed through.

Had the Queen somehow mind-bent Josefin with her strike? Or had Josefin been a traitor in their midst, the entire time? Regardless, the fact that the one and only one who could make a hole in Taihei’s defense was next to her the entire time, and that when it mattered the most she turned her sword on Taihei… Her own closest, most trusted friend, of all people… There could be no other culprit than…

‘Tsk… fucking bad luck…’ Taihei cursed her own Soul Mutation, just as the Storyslayer’s slice broke through and cleaved into her identity…

She expected to die.

…

Taihei gasped, staggering as a new clarity flushed her mind.

What… what were these thoughts?



Taihei’s gaze flashed quickly over to Josefin, the determined blonde breathing in sharply as she gazed earnestly at Taihei, and…

‘AAAAAAAAAAAAH!’ Josefin cried as she hugged around Taihei, clutching tightly. Her giant sword had been dropped, falling clanking to the floor.

‘I KNEW IT! I knew I had to be here for a reason! It’s finally time! Taihei, you’re finally free…! I’m so happy…!’ Josefin shouted out, Taihei supremely confused, but also frowning at dark thoughts…



… The Queen broke into the moment to tell that she would see them truly liberated. Taihei had her doubts, this could just be replacing one master with another…

‘Taihei,’ Josefin clasped one of Taihei’s hands, smiling so eagerly at her. ‘Believe in me. It’s going to be all right. Trust in me. It will solve itself somehow. I promise,’ Josefin said, looking happier than Taihei had ever seen her.

… but at this point, who cared? If there was any chance it was better than Asengav, it was worth it. Taihei wasn’t hopeful, the curse of misfortune was still imprinted into her soul, just like good luck was imprinted in Josefin’s, but what the hell. Josefin looked so happy.

‘… Alright,’ Taihei merely said, nodding, and eventually the both stood up to look upon the Queen and those who followed her. In Taihei’s mind, questions about the circumstances of Asengav’s recruitment of her still swirled, and a hot, burning rage slowly started to glow within as she pieced various pieces together…




‘…’ Mariette didn’t really have much to interfere with in that whole scene, so she simply walked in through the portal, walked past the two un-mind-bent followers, and then put a hand on the mirror. With that, as the swirl into the void began again. She knew, the effect would be unmistakable on the surface. This would be the time when normal Magical Girls would have risen to oppose them, and they’d likely have lost. But, now…

‘This is the last mirror surface mirror,’ Mariette said, to the Queen and to Su and Mika. ‘All that remains now, is the Black Mirror itself, and the ritual that should take place there…’ she said. A shudder went through her, knowing who was guarding that one. And also… what they would have to do there.

‘No portal there is necessary…’ Mariette said. ‘We can head there directly if we go through the mirror,’ she said, gesturing to the mirror in front of them. The time of the ritual was approaching…

… She needed to find the time to send a message.

Lily nervously laughed along Ronin, though with lesser enthusiasm, and frowned as Alex suggested asking another question.
”Uh, I don’t think…” She was too slow to answer, as Gaia pointed out it was their only question.
But just as the party seemed to give up, Ronin was the one to lift their spirits, the green-aligned girl showing her ever courageous smile that caused Lily to shake off her fears.
”That’s right…Let’s have confidence in ourselves!”

As Ronin opened the door, it revealed a corridor on the other side, with a wooden door at the very end of it. Tweedledee and Tweedledum gestured for the Mahou to enter, waving with both ribbon hands. Lily stepped in after the twins, holding on to Alex’ free hand as she did.
When everyone was inside, the door behind them closed, and the door before them opened, revealing…

An immaculate reading room befitting a monarch could be seen beyond the open doorway: the walls were lined with bookshelves, the books themselves flying in and out like flapping birds. A delicate round tea table stood in one corner, with a couple of equally dainty chairs, a hot cup of tea left there as if prepared by someone. A fireplace burned with gentle flames of iridescent color, and the middle of the room was dominated by a globe model of Wonderland, magically enchanted to show the various dukedoms and principalities of it on the surface.

The reading room had several wooden doors, and one of them opened. Beyond it stepped a curious magical girl forth: the Cheshire Cat. She greeted the Mahou with a curtsy and a cat smile.

“Nyanderful! You have finally arrived. I was sure Alice’s chivalrous chevaliers would overcome all trials to rescue her! However, your princess is in another castle, or so I believe.” Her cat ears drooped as she frowned.

“Taken away by the wicked Red Queen herself. But worry not. For what is sought is most often found, if it is truly sought. If you truly seek the princess, then I can help you.”

Lily could not believe her eyes, and blinked a couple of times to ensure that she wasn’t hallucinating.

”Ummm…”

Branch Nose, however, seemed less confused.

“What reason do we have to believe you?” He asked the question that most likely burned in everyone’s minds.

The Cheshire Cat grinned.

“Only a few find the way, some don’t recognize it when they do - some... don’t ever want to.”
She crossed her pointing hands.
“However, they meet at a crossroads: your way, and that of my true mistress…The princess’ former fiancee knows whom I speak of, don’t you? After all, she was the one who aided in your daring escape from the Red Queen’s clutches,” she added with a wink towards Alex.

---

Rachel was about to sigh from reprieve at the end of the battle, when she heard the sound of a zooming vehicle and turned to see the truck Penny drove accelerate rapidly and crash through the castle gates with tremendous force, causing the walls of the citadel to shake from the impact. She dropped down to meet with the Queen of Penrose once she had caught Violet with the finesse of a superheroine, less hostility in the Inquisitor’s demeanour than the android might have first assumed. In fact, there seemed to be a hint of a smile, before it was suppressed.

“You’re late,” she spoke curtly, and glanced at the truck, out of which Justine and Caroline clambered out of. “But it seems you found a solution to the petrification issue.”



Justine supported her sister with an arm as they approached the taller women.
”It turned out she needed a gold needle, which the local cactus creatures gave. They were surprisingly friendly,” she added, and gave a smile to her younger sister, who also gave a slight smile, if a bit less enthusiastic. They turned to look at the Mermaid Princess, who rode to meet the group on the back of an orca whale.

“Oh joyous day!” We have taken the castle! With the loss of her general and throne, the wicked queen will surely fall, and Princess Alice shall take her rightful place as monarch of Wonderland! Then, we will have finny freedom, and fun!”

Justine placed a hand before her mouth to stifle a giggle, while Rachel scoffed. She turned to look at Mayra, still in the form of a giant dragon, who pointed towards Brittany: she was at a nearby patch of grass on the side of the road, where she laid, her hands resting over her heart.

Rachel shook her head slowly. “She is alive, but not without consequence: I caught and healed her, but she still hasn’t woken. Sometimes mortal trauma can shut down weaker Mahou; I’ve seen it happen before in the ranks of Beacon. She was never meant for direct combat. Were it not for her enchantment-induced insanity, she probably never would have done what she did.”

---

The Queen of Hearts was shocked at what happened as she unleashed her severance technique on what seemed to be but an appalling amphibian: the attack, designed to magically strike at the mind of the opponent and directly overwrite their Champion Scripture, was instead resisted to an alarming degree. Were it not for the assistance of the other one, she would have been left open against a counter-attack. Though she held her speech as intended, a twitching eye betrayed her true feelings, the queen realizing that she was running out of time: there was only so much ink that a pen held, after all. If it ran dry before she got to the end of the book, it would all be left unfinished.

With that realization in mind, the mad monarch of Wonderland witnessed Mariette’s return from the surface mirror. Her eyes grow wide at her next words.

“So this is it…The final looking glass…The Black Mirror. Finally, it is time! Come, everyone! Let us make haste! We are soon over the page!”
With those words, she walked through the mirror, leaving Mariette once again with a moment of solace.

On the other side was a dark realm, glittering with distant mirrors, like the dimension where Mariette’s mansion once stood. But here, the darkness itself seemed alive, as if made from intangible fingers that slid over reflective surfaces, always met with an opposite counterpart of illusion. In the distance stood the Black Mirror, as well as the greatest of Asengave’s champions.

The queen’s eye flashed purple.
“...Mikayla Synnot. Fitting that the Power’s most formidable servant would be set as watchdog.”

She considered her options.

“Mikayla…”

She would no longer risk the severance technique, aware that Mikayla might have similar defensive capabilities as the merrow.

“Mi..ka...y...la...”

However, there was an opportunity here, and a most fitting coincidence, as if fate itself conspired for this moment.

“...Mika.” She turned her head to Mika, and pointed her finger at Mikayla. “Against Mika. Mika versus Mika. Mano a Mano, Mikano a Mikano. But only one Mika may Mika, like no Mika has Mika before.” She opened her hand dramatically.

“Now is your chance to prove yourself. Get rid of her, and you shall be bestowed the title of princess, and the prestige of the gentry.”

---

The populace turned into a wide-spread panic as Chloe’s skeletal scare force began their rampage across the city. Though curiously nonlethal, houses and apartments were turned inside out. Mirrors were shattered, and candles were ransacked, and brought to the streets, lit and raised up, as if a procession of the dead, or very metal concert fans, had gathered. Even Chloe’s words fell on deaf ears, as only a few confused citizens who actually comprehended the baby talk considered her excuse, the rest being too shaken to calm down.

Of course, regular people were not the only ones who Chloe reached with her announcement: she saw as a group of Beacon magical girls led by Ascendancy members hopped from rooftop to rooftop, until they reached the one where Chloe now stood: led by Tsuki, with Hudie in tow, the magical girls had their weapons summoned.

“What is the meaning of this? Are you trying to cause a scene even as Wonderland is mounting an invasion?” Tsuki accused her with a pointing finger.

“No, she’s not stupid enough to do that,” Hudie responded, her masked eyes seeming to see the strange actions of her underlings. “You are after Asengav, correct?”

"Oh right, her" Alexander responded. Then, turning to address the others, he clarified "Someone helped me and Britney escape from prison. She also gave me a package and a message to pass on, both to the same person. I mentioned some of this earlier" he paused to think for a second "The fact that she knows that much is a good sign to me. At least that she isn't working for that crazy queen. Between that, and our complete lack of other leads, I think we kind of have to take a chance on her" he shrugged "I mean, unless someone else has any better ideas. I might have Absolute Direction, but because of how twisted this place is, added to the fact that we're chasing after someone with access to portals, I'm worried it won't be enough"

Once it was clear that Ronin had not perished from the choice that she had made, Alicia was belatedly summoned to rejoin the others. They passed through a corridor before arriving at a large reading room. The walls were lined with bookshelves, making her think of the library she had visited in Justine's castle before its destruction. Though the large map of Wonderland in the middle of the room was definitely unique.

As they spread out, one of the far doors opened to admit a magical girl into the room and relayed what information she had.

"Yeah, that sounds about right," Alicia noted with a sigh. "You must be the neutral girl that the map detected. At least we know that Mariette is still with the Queen." If Mariette was going to rescue herself, it hadn't happened yet. Or at least not in Wonderland.

As they debated whether to trust the new arrival, Alicia considered what they knew at this point. "We need to get back to Penrose. If the queen isn't here then she's probably with her army attacking the city. They'll need our help." She certainly didn't seem to be in Wonderland, so Penrose was the next obvious spot to look. Considering what had happened to Bolorton, there wasn't a moment to lose.

Connie gasped as Ronin, with all her usual fearlessness, simply walked up to the door that might have possibly been the correct one and opened it. Equally alarmed, Gaia readied her staff to unleash nature’s full fury on whatever fiendish adversary might await on the other side. After all, despite what Ronin (and Lily) might have thought, there was a big difference between courageous confidence and suicidal recklessness. Yet, when the door was opened, no such threat presented itself, and the verdant maiden and her masked friend both breathed a sigh of relief. However, what was revealed was a nondescript corridor, leading to still another door. In other words, the perfect location for a trap. That said, it wasn’t like they had any other options. Thus, when Ronin and Miko entered, followed by Lily and Alex, Gaia asked Branch Nose to inform Alicia that they were moving forward, before taking hold of Connie’s trembling hand and guiding her timid friend through the door, with the returned Paladin Seraph and miniature ent bringing up the rear.

Once the entire party had entered the corridor, the door behind them slammed shut, prompting another yelp of horror from Connie, but it soon became apparent that there was nothing to fear from the corridor, as mere moments later, the door before them opened, displaying what appeared to be an opulent library beyond. Of course, this being Wonderland, the books themselves were clearly enchanted, the various tomes flapping around like birds. Other than that, though, the chamber appeared almost cozy, with a warm, relaxing ambiance. Even so…

“We shouldn’t let our guard down,” Gaia advised as she carefully scanned the room, taking particular note of the various other doors scattered about.

Indeed, no sooner had she said this, then one of those doors opened and a cat-themed magical girl stepped out, startling poor Connie once more in the process. However, the newcomer did not appear to be hostile, rather quite the opposite, if what she said was to be believed. Unsurprisingly, Gaia wasn’t entirely convinced of the cat-girl’s sincerity, and neither was Branch Nose, who voiced the question the verdant maiden herself was just about to ask. The answer provided was more than a little perplexing, but if Gaia understood correctly, the cat girl served someone who secretly opposed the queen, someone who had aided in Alexander’s escape from the castle. This was confirmed by the magical boy himself, who also noted that trusting her was probably their best option, but that still didn’t address the core problem, something Alicia helpfully noted.

“I must concur with the Paladin Seraph,” Gaia spoke up. “Our purpose for infiltrating this castle was to rescue Mariette,” the nymph-like girl continued. “Since both she and the queen are no longer present, then it would seem we have no further need to linger here.”

“M-Mia’s right!” Connie added. “A-And if the c-city’s being a-attacked, e-everyone who s-stayed behind c-could be in d-danger!” The masked maiden’s trembling hands clenched into fists as her mind filled with images of Emily, Shane, Rose, Iris, and Miss Kaylie as well, all juxtaposed with the horrible deaths of Nuncio and Sammy. “I-I… I-I d-don’t wanna lose a-any more f-friends!”

---

While many interesting and dramatic things might have been happening around her, Violet was in no position to participate, as the heiress was still deep in dreamland. On the one hand, this was a good thing, as she did not have to deal with the horrifying realization that she had just revealed her secret identity to a great many people, and thus, attend to the not-insignificant ramifications of said revelation. Yet, on the other hand, this is a bad thing, as it does not provide much content with which to fill a Plenumic Observational Situation Transcript. Unless, of course, we take a moment to peer into the contents of the dream the young Miss Covington is currently having…

…

…

…

Appropriately enough, Violet had once again assumed the form of Magical Dream Princess and she had found herself in what seemed to be an underground shop of some kind. The close cavern walls and rows of shelves were illuminated by small lanterns, creating a warm and cozy ambiance.

“Like, what’s this placey wacey~?” MDP wondered aloud as she examined all the various items as only someone as ADHD addled as her could. “There are, like, sooo many wany different wifferent thingy wingies heresie weresie~! (giggle!)” In fact, the whimsical girl was having so much fun as she bounced around the various narrow aisles, that she was inspired to sing a cute and silly song she’d made up on the spot.

“Onesie, twosie, threesie, foursie~!
Take a look around the storesie~!
Twirly whirly, one, two, three~!
Giggle wiggle, Tee hee hee~!
Dance around the shelfy welfies~!
Find a goodie, help herselfy~!
This sticky wicky looks like a dragon wagon wing~!
And this bottle wottle is full of crawly waly things~!
Like, even though she’s undergroundy, there’s soooo much stuffy all aroundy~! (giggle!)”

Eventually, the bubbly girl was noticed by the shopkeeper, who called out in an equally cheerful voice, “Hi! Hi! Welcome ta Zoppy’z shoppy! Zoppy’z got lotz o’ nicey nice fingz! Did ya see any ya wanna buy?!”

Whirling to face the source of the voice, MDP squealed with glee when she saw it belonged to a scrawny, deformed goblin girl with a big, toothy smile.

“Awww~! You’re super duper adorable worable~! (giggle!)” the whimsical girl told the tiny shopkeeper, even as she bounced over to wrap her up in a tight hug. “Like, Magical Dream Princess could huggy wuggy and cuddle wuddle you for ever and ever and ever and ever~!”

“D-Dankz…?” The somewhat dazed goblin girl replied, though her initial shock and confusion were soon replaced by enjoyment at being pressed against the bubbly girl’s chest as she was rocked back and forth. “Y-Yer reeeeally soooft…” she added sleepily, her eyes closing and her mouth curling into a contented smile.

“Thanky wankies, Zoppy Woppy~!” MDP replied, her cheerful voice practically oozing sickening sweetness. “Like, Magical Dream Princess just wuvs your little wittle shoppy woppy~!” she told the huggable goblin. “And, like, she’d also totally wotally wuv to be friendy wendies with you, too~! (giggle!)” Setting Zoppy back on the floor, she crouched down and held out her pinky. “Like, this is Magical Dream Princess’s super duper special wecial pinky winky friendy wendy promise womise~!” the childish girl explained as she used her other hand to lift up Zoppy’s non-deformed arm and placed the goblin’s pinky against her own. “Allsie wallsie Zoppy Woppy has to do is follow wollow alongy wongy while Magical Dream Princess says the super special wecial friendship wendship spell~! (giggle!) Here we go, round and roundy~!” she began as she used her pinky to guide Zoppy’s hand in a series of circles. “Friendship wendship will aboundy~! Friendy wendies, yay, yay, yay~! Friendy wendies, hip, hip, horaaaay~! (giggle!)” With that, MDP concluded the “spell” by pulling her hand away, spreading her fingers wide (forming several tiny glittery fireworks in the process), and then giving Zoppy another hug. After a few more seconds of gleeful giggles, an important detail finally managed to enter the Princess of Dreams’ bubbly brain. “Oh! Magical Dream Princess just rememeber wembered~! Zoppy Woppy wanted to sell something womething to Magical Dream Princess, didn’t widin’t she~?! Like, Magical Dream Princess knows just the thingy wingy~! (giggle!) Magical Dream Princess would wuv to havey wavey something womething to remember wember Zoppy Woppy by when she goes backy wacky homey womey,” MDP explained. “Like a pebble webble pally wally~!”

“A lucky stone…?” Zoppy asked, her ears perking up along with her formerly sleepy expression. “Zoppy’z got lotz o’ dose!” the little merchant added, grabbing her cutesy customer’s hand and scampering over to where all the lucky stones were stored, her new friend filling the small shop with her sweet giggles as she was led along. “Ere ya go!” Zoppy announced, gesturing to where several dozen stones rested on several different shelves.

After taking a few moments to look over the various rocks and pebbles, MDP gave voice to a delighted squeal, “Ooooh~! Like, Magical Dream Princess thinkie winkies this stoney woney looks extra wextra friendly wendly~!” No sooner had MDP picked up the stone in question, then it came to whimsical life and began happily conversing with her, much to Zoppy’s amazement. Once the incongruous pair had finished getting to know each other, MDP turned her attention back to the stupified shopkeeper. “Like, how muchy wuchy does Zoppy Woppy want for Mister Wister Stoney Woney~?” she inquired.

“Well… Zoppy was gonna sell ‘em fer many lotz, but since ‘e’z a super lucky talkin’ stone, ‘e shud probably cost… many many many… many lotz?” the shopkeeper asked hopefully.

“Like, Magical Dream Princess thinkie winkies thatsie watsie’s the perfect werfect amounty wounty~! (giggle!)” MDP declared, before waving her whimsical wand and conjuring a pile of glittering prismatic gems, which she poured into Zoppy’s eagerly awaiting hands.

“Dankz lotz!” the overjoyed goblin told her with a big smile.

“Like, Zoppy Woppy’s totally wottally welcome~!” MDP replied with a playful wink. “Like, Magical Dream Princess has to go bye bye for nowie,” she told her new friend. “But, like, she’s positive wositve she’ll see Zoppy Woppy againsie wensie in no timey wimey at allsie wallsie~! (giggle!)”

“Yer a really great customer, so Zoppy’ll look forward ta it!” Zoppy replied.

“Byeeeeeeee~!” MDP called out, waving as the world blurred around her. She couldn’t wait to see what kinds of new friends she’d meet in her next dream…

---

“How perplexing… Miss Taihei’s defenses are objectively weaker than your own by several thousand orders of magnitude, and yet, where The Storyslayer was able to breach yours with effortless ease, it now appears incapable of penetrating this mere aquatic artificer’s…”

“That’s because Terrible Luck Taihei has more protagonist power than I do. Or, put another way, she’s got the Grand Magistrate’s favor on her side, which is one of the reasons I’d never try to fight Penny myself, despite being tens of thousands of times more powerful than her. Even with the objective staggering power differential, instead of smashing her into microscopic paste, I’d basically be committing suicide. Look, here’s another example. Mika should, by all objective logic, be throwing her ditzy life away going up against something as powerful as Mikayla Synnot, but the reality is, little miss Netherrealm Queen is going to get her ethereal ass force fed down her spectral throat, one way or another.”

“Most fascinating… I must admit, the rules framework governing this particular reality plenum has always eluded even my most intrusive attempts at perceiving its immensely intriguing intricacies.”

“You can say that again… But, really, it’s not all that difficult. Once you know how the Grand Magistrate thinks, you can predict pretty much how any series of events is gonna turn out, which is why this little drama with the Queen of Tarts is so fucking hilarious.”

“Yet, that is the crux of my predicament, for the presiding Grand Magistrate is a study in contradictions, his arbitrations blessing some, while cursing others, without proverbial rhyme or reason. If there is a formulaic method to his actions, even I, a being at the 2374th level of mentalic acuity, cannot discern it. Indeed, I fear that even my most exemplary pupil, Thyerg’Xolys, would be comprehensively confounded by it.”

“He’s trying to orchestrate a story, one he hopes will be entertaining to read, but which really just caters to his own personal preferences. The question then becomes: what are those preferences? It’s taken some time, mind you, but I’ve gradually pieced together a psychological profile of this ‘Supreme Storyteller’, of what he wants to see, and the ways he employs to see it. None of what he does is even remotely rational, even when placed in the dubious service of crafting an ostensibly compelling narrative, but with the insight into why he does it comes the ability to preemptively determine the most likely outcome of any action he chooses to take. For instance, the moment Penny Prime returned to the core narrative, who was more likely to save Princess Baby Talk, her or ‘look at me, I’m a dragon’?”

“Seeing as Miss Asimov’s physical capabilities exceed those of Miss McCullough at her greatest power level by a not inconsiderable margin, it would be a logical assessment that the former would be more likely to succeed in a rescue attempt than the latter, extraneous factors non-withstanding.”

“You can bet your polyhedral ass she would, but not for the reason you think. She’d succeed because she has more narrative weight, more protagonist power, more Magisterial favor than even a ‘fan favorite’ like Mayra could ever dream of having in a million years. Even if that fire breathing bitch was the fucking goddess of all dragons, with infinity symbols for all her stats and the power to rewind time itself in a universe where that’s supposed to be impossible, the Brave Little Toaster would go even further beyond the impossible and save her girlfriend’s glittery ass before our hypothetical dragon goddess could even blink.”

“And yet, none of these insights seem to perturb you in the slightest.”

“Of course not! Like I said, I think it’s fucking hilarious! Queenie might like to think she’s the greatest thing to ever exist in this reality plenum, but even if everyone else agrees with her, the reality remains that she’s a complete joke! I mean, for someone who supposedly has such vast knowledge on the way this reality plenum really works, she still can’t see that she’s just another puppet! Just like every other entity in this fucking place, the only reason she succeeds at anything is because she’s allowed to! Kill the Grand Magistrate?! Nyahahahahaha!!! The stupid bitch’s dialogue in the Incident Chronicle doesn’t even get a fucking color code! If that doesn’t say your protagonist power is complete dog shit, nothing does! She’s fucking destined to fail! Yeah, she might have been able to bypass the tangental reality layer shunt I placed over Penrose, and appropriate the Grief Seeds for her own pathetic purposes, but I already strongly suspected that both of those things would happen, and neither of them really matter in the slightest. Although, her manipulation of the Grief Seeds ultimately blowing up in her ugly face is gonna be particularly enjoyable to watch.”

“I gather that your investigations into their inner workings has born proverbial fruit?”

“You better believe it has. Not only do I know how they really work, I know where they’re from, and neither of those insights bodes well for Queenie. Or our dear Magistrate, for that matter. But to bring things back to your initial point of confusion, even if her Royal Deludedness was able to harm me, if only slightly, that actually worked to my advantage. In fact, showing off the full extent of her disgusting power by attacking me so successfully was probably the worst thing she could’ve ever done! After all, it allowed me to study the energies of her precious Storyslayer, y’know, the one thing that makes her so disgustingly powerful in the first place? And in so studying I was able to understand exactly how it functioned, allowing me to construct a far superior version for myself! Nyahahahaha!!! With that in mind, I think it’s only right that I thank her for so kindly providing me with such an excellent gift.”

“And how might you plan to convey your gratitude?”

“Simply put, I’m going to make her wish she’d never been born. But before we get to that stage, I’m gonna lend Queenie a helping hand. Yeees, things are about to get a LOT more interesting… Aren’t they, Finn?”

“That’s three times I owe you Mayra.” One of the Penny’s would call up to the dragon. Even as another of the Pennybots moved over towards Brittany at the Dragon’s growled semi-instruction, semi-question. Penny had always been skilled at reading the more monstrous Mahou, a byproduct of her own origin no doubt. But really it was her granted Wishes that did the most at the moment in helping her interpret the concern, and itching battle lust.

She didn’t add anything further, not wanting to make staying in control anymore difficult for Mayra, but Penny was already planning on scoping out a good arena to pay Mayra back. She couldn’t lie she was curious which of them would come out victorious herself. But now was not the time for it.

At the same time, the Prime Penny was greeting Rachel. “That as well as setting up something of a counter offensive.” She would gesture towards the rest of her copies moving about. Most were pulling out supplies from the bed of the truck, weapons and other Wonderland equipment that Penny had acquired while working on the factory. But a few had moved to take hold of the ruined entrance and keep anything from surprising them as they prepared for further action.

She turned to Brittany her copy looking up to nod in silent agreement with Rachel’s prognosis. A grim look over took Penny’s features for a moment, her eyes turning a dark orange at the rage that thrummed through her. She had failed Brittany; Sanctuary had failed her. The reason was mostly immaterial to Penny she had picked up the crown of Penrose to protect and she failed.

“I can get her and any other who need it to an infirmary.” Penny would say after, her eyes returning to their normal gold, as she turned her attention towards the Mermaid Princess. “It’s not much, but healers are on standby and any who are too exhausted to continue our assault would be safe that I can promise that.” She intentionally didn’t look towards the copy that was holding her girlfriend as it hovered near the edges of the group. She fully counted Violet amongst that number, and unless she woke up Penny would be having her leave with Brittany.

“But regardless we need to get moving quick. I was able to reestablish contact with Penrose and things have gotten unstable and are growing worse.”