Nina was dashing through the streets of Penrose. The state of the city was very strange, indeed. All manner of things were happening. From having gleaned some info from her network through her phone, she’d seen the strange vegetation popping up, and also the legions of undead chasing them down and trying to eradicate them. For someone without Third Eye or other, even more unnatural techniques, she was invisible. Illusion magic disguised her, showing the illusion there was nothing there. Beyond that, she had devices from her old world, like a device giving off a protective field to guard her. She hoped it was enough to stave off whatever was in the air.
Regardless, she’d just escaped from Asengav. She was under no illusion that she could escape the Interdimensional Conqueror if he detected her treachery, but with his mind-bending having been broken from her mind, there was no way she would chance being his slave forever again. You miss all the shots you don’t take, so Nina immediately departed for the place she figured had the best chance of saving and freeing her. Then she did her absolute best to avoid any and all encounters on the way.
And so, in front of the doors of the warehouse stronghold known as the Sanctuary, Nina cast off her illusions. To someone watching, Nina suddenly showed up out of nowhere. For the first time, she was allowing herself to be seen on the streets of Penrose. A 15 year old with red eyes, long blue hair tied into two ponytails, a black and red uniform, black metal gauntlets and boots, and an oversized black blade on her back. Her expression neutral with a hint of determination, slightly panting from having ran all the way here. This was it.
With that, she advanced. Expecting to find someplace that would qualify as a front door. See what kind of welcome she’d get. If there was an open entrance, she’d walk in. Otherwise she’d knock. If there was a guard, she’d meet them. Depends on what she meets.
Moving forwards Nina would find the front and only door. It wasn’t fully shut, left open just a crack but it swung open silently and easily. Beyond the door was a place that was once a hive of activity. The communal living space of over two dozen Mahou; but now it was empty. It had been cleared out completely, leaving behind a disquieting atmosphere. And for a moment it seemed as if Nina’s attempt at safety had failed even before it had truly started.
But then a voice spoke up, a recording Nina could tell, from the far side of the warehouse.
“These dark times threaten us all.” The voice said, it was being projected from a door in the far wall.
“If you can understand me, I ask you this. Do you seek Sanctuary?”Moving over to the door Nina would find it a rather simple looking metal door. It too wasn’t locked, but it opened up to a concrete wall. But taking a closer look at the door she would find a small camera installed in the top of the door frame and a rather complex camera at that. Meaning someone could be watching, but nothing more happened.
Nina had softly treaded in, standing straight and at attention, looking around when she came in. The place being empty matched the information she’d gained through her network. And, as she expected, she was spoken to, even if it was a recording. … Still a bit disconcerting, as someone used to keeping a screen and a large amount of incognito magic between her and anyone outside her current allies. Regardless, this was what she had to do now.
‘I do,’ Nina spoke. Keeping it simple. Standing and waiting for any further questions or statements. Saving the introduction for when she’d actually see someone. She recognized that voice.
There is a long moment before the recording speaks again.
“My only regret is that I can’t greet you personally. Just know that you are in good hands.”There is a sudden sharp scent of ozone accompanied by an odd and distorted ripping sound almost overlaid with the sound of a whirlpool. And then the door that led nowhere opened, from the far side, and someone quickly stepped through.
Though considering her size it wasn’t a terrible surprise she didn’t linger in the door. Seven and a half feet tall, eight when you counted her horns, Ashlyn was a striking figure. Add in the half scowl she was sporting and the sharp anger lining her posture and she was well on her way to being an intimidating one.
The thing that stopped that from fully settling was the way she held the door open for Nina wordlessly, her snarly countenance constantly surveilling for danger. Openly discounting Nina as the potential threat. She was seemingly here to make sure Nina got to Sanctuary safely.
Which was only a door way away now. As the space beyond the door has opened up into a metallic room. It was featureless as far as Nina could tell from outside, but was well lit and fit the profile for how the Bastion looked internally.
Nina was decently confident she’d be accepted, based on previous knowledge. As Ashlyn appeared, Nina nodded to her, and assumed she was free to proceed to the next room. So she proceeded, just as wordlessly as Ashlyn, walking to go through the door that had been offered to her.
There was a short moment of vertigo as Nina stepped through the door. And on the other side she could feel more than hear the low humming that filled the room. Before her was more featureless steel, but as she turned around, she saw a large arched structure that was holding a Wormhole in place.
Ashlyn was quick to follow Nina back through the door, and once she was clear, the wormhole swirled closed. The humming that filled the room fading alongside it.
Nina took a deep breath as she came out on the other side. All things considered, she thought them a bit foolish to allow a stranger this far, yet she was thankful they were as it made coming here a valid option.
"All clear?" Asked a voice from behind them. Near a door that had been obscured by the portal that had brought them here was a wolf looking girl, dried blood on her hands and splattered on her cheek adding to the slightly feral look in her eyes. But she was watching Ashlyn, not Nina.
"Clear. Warehouse is still the safest locked point." Ashlyn replied, some of the tension and anger seeping from her as she spoke.
"Shame" Belladonna remarked before turning and leaving the room to the two of them.
Nina turned to look with practiced neutrality at Belladonna, just in case. Turned out to simply be a routine check, but it confirmed to Nina that she was, in fact, nervous, even if she did not show it.
Ashlyn would shake her head before turning to Nina,
"Welcome to Sanctuary." She would give the smaller girl a tight, but honest, smile.
"Normally the Queen herself would be willing to show you around, but..." She gave a half shrug, really Penrose spoke for itself at the moment.
"I can show you to the communal lounge at least. Monica is -"There was a crackle as a new someone interrupted Ashlyn via an internal speaker system. "I would like to request that you bring her to me instead, Commander. I find I need to ask her some questions."
"Are you sure?" Ashlyn would ask, looking towards one of the upper corners of the room, presumably where a camera was located. Frowning slightly.
"Unfortunately. Though let there be no misunderstanding. She has been granted her stay here. That is not to change or be revoked; you have my word. But, well, I have questions in need of answers." The voice continued, sounding kindly but determined.
"Understood Regent." She said before letting out a breath and rolling her shoulders.
"Well, you've got a choice I suppose." She would explain turning back to Nina once again.
"The Regent wants to talk, as you heard. But it is a choice. I can still take you to the lounge if you want. I can't promise she won't come find you later on, but Sanctuary is a haven first and foremost. If you don't want to talk with her, you don't have to.”Nina simply glanced up in the corner the voice was coming from with her eyes, not turning her head. Of course they would have questions for her, they had never seen her before. Basic security, she would figure but wasn’t always sure about. When Ashlyn started speaking again, Nina turned to her.
‘It is no issue. I would like to speak with your Regent as well. Thank you for your welcome and service,’ Nina bowed her head to Ashlyn, and thereafter turned to start walking.
‘Which way is your Regent?’ she asked, already on her way.
In response to Nina’s question there was a notable blue flash of light on the floor under her. It pulsed again, before a thin holographic line raced off before her. The trail continued to pulse at regular intervals.
Ashly gave Nina a closer look. Curious about the new girl, but she shrugged it off. It wasn’t her business at the moment, but she would learn if that changed.
“Just follow the light.” She would say, not that she really felt it needed to be said. Before venturing off into the depths of the Bastion herself.
With a clearly marked and illuminated trail to follow it didn’t take Nina long. She passed by a few open rooms that had various Mahou within. Some making preparations of some sort, some chatting quietly, and one that looked like a makeshift arcade.
And then she was led to a stairwell that just went up and up and up.
When she finally was done ascending she exited into a room filled with monitors and computers and displays. Some of the monitors were filled with scrolling text, too fast to read, others were displaying video feeds from across Penrose, and yet others showed things happening in Wonderland.
The atmosphere was tense here, more so than anywhere else in the ship Nina had seen.
There were about a dozen or so Mahou in the room and twice that in Bakeneko. And her guiding light led to one particularly young looking Catgirl standing on an elevated platform so that she could overlook a holographic model of Penrose.
The catgirl looked up and took note of Nina shortly after she entered the room. “Greetings.” She would say, before looking down at the table before her with a grimace. She waved a hand and the hologram faded away, though one could still see it on the table as a flat representation. She looked back at Nina before continuing. “I am the Regent, Dina Denisova. And I welcome you in the halls of Sanctuary.” A faint Russian accent curled around her words as she spoke, as did a faint warmth.
“Were this an ordinary day The Queen would have done so herself. But as you are likely aware, today is anything but ordinary. Even by the standards of Penrose.” She folded her arms in front of her as she regarded Nina, her eyes sharp and aged, but not cruel. “I am in the unfortunate position of needing to ask you some questions. But I give you my word that no matter your answers you shall not be removed from Sanctuary.” She gave Nina a kind smile. It made the tense atmosphere lessen slightly.
“We shall start with the simple one shall we. You are not new to Penrose, are you?”
It was curious, honestly. Holographic images like this were not usually seen in this world, nor a lot of other ones. Nina was no stranger to them. The large number of cats, however. That was a new one. Nina held a practiced, neutral expression as she arrived to the room where the Regent was currently located, her eyes drifting across various screens. Human limitations often meant she had an algorithm present the most relevant to herself, but she supposed the individual these screens were made for didn’t have that limitation.
Nina stopped as the Regent presented herself. She had seen her before. In fact, they had fought side-by-side before, even if Dina did not know it. In the attack on the mansion. It was curious how she could have supported them both there, and now be the Regent of Sanctuary. Curious, indeed. … She was also quite curious as to how they knew she wasn’t new. That was a closely guarded secret.
‘You are right,’ Nina said, not betraying her nervousness.
‘I am Nina Wilson, former servant of Asengav. How did you know?’ she asked. If they already knew who she was, then they had better information-gathering skills than Nina had estimated.
Dina was startled at the sudden admission and it took her a moment to gather herself. “Asengav you say? I wasn’t aware that the Portal Witch had progressed this far in her plan already.” She mulled over that bit of information for a moment longer before nodding decisively.
“That simplifies things. The Queen has been preparing for the arrival of those freed from that Horror for some time now.” She would explain, before picking up a tablet and starting to type away on it. It was painfully slow for Nina to watch, as Dina's inexperience with technology was clear due to her hunt and peck typing.
On the table the image would switch away from Penrose and to pictures of Mahou. There were a couple hundred of them as well.
“The Queen is very aware of who is in Penrose.” She says gesturing at the pictures, before tapping on one at random. It pulls up a larger profile on the Mahou in question; Lily Lightning. “She’s been watching and recording since before she obtained her title. But the first record we have of you.” Another slow moment of typing before an image of Nina appearing from nothing and nowhere in the warehouse.
“Is asking for our aid, plainly and knowingly. Those outside of this city have not come to know Sanctuary so clearly. In other circumstances I would not have needed to ask, but Wonderland and your former Master have placed Sanctuary and Penrose in grave danger.”
“You hid from Penny. Not a feat to be discounted. Would you be willing to assist Sanctuary? In both protecting Penrose and striking back against Wonderland?”
Nina watched, growing lightly impatient as Dina clearly wasn’t fluent in the tablet she was holding. But, Penny was gathering information on everyone in Penrose, just as Nina had been doing. In more than one sense, they were kindred spirits. But, it was a relief to Nina… she hadn’t been found. It was the fact she’d stayed hidden that had drawn attention. Just a touch of amusement pulled through her…
Nina was about to raise her voice. Speak in unadulterated support of protecting Penrose and striking back against Wonderland… but then caught herself. There was no way real her would do that. She suddenly became aware, something about the girl in front of her. It was pulling against her mind, even if said girl was holding it back. Dina had some form of friendship-inspiring magic about her. It… honestly reminded Nina of Asengav’s brainwashing. She gave a grunt, and briefly held her arm over her eyes as a reflex, to shield her from the effect. She didn’t know if it helped.
‘I have a condition,’ she said, raising a finger on the arm she’d just raised.
‘Asengav’s mind-bending was recently removed. The moment he learns I’ve escaped, he will attempt to obtain me again. After this, you must aid me in separating myself from him, and void all chances of him hunting me down again, one way or another. Without that, I will never be able to live in peace. Grant me that, and I will aid you, in any way I can.’The lack of direct sight did help Nina ward off Dina’s enchanting nature. But it made it so easy to miss the calculating look on the Regent’s face as well. Kindly she may be, but she was raised to be a noble of the courts in her original life. Dina would not forget such a reaction anytime soon.
“I know the Queen well enough to know she would happily agree to these terms Nina. And if things turn drastic, we do have means of shielding you from his grasp. Such means do come with stings of their own. But nothing so dire as to avoid them if needed.” She would say, her voice still carrying the same warmth, muted a bit perhaps without the edge her nature imparted, but still kind and honest.
“And in truth, such means may not even be needed. Her Majesty is already in the midst of a plot to deal with the Horror as we speak. One with Divine backing at that. Which seems to be well underway.”
‘Alright,’ Nina stated, and then her hand went directly into open air. For those familiar, this was a Hammerspace.
‘To make clear, I mean aid in this event only. I am not tying myself permanently to Sanctuary. But for now… I need your help, and I can provide mine,’ she clarified, not convinced she hadn’t said something she didn’t mean on account of the influence. With that said, she pulled a laptop out of her Hammerspace and then walked over towards the screens.
‘… Dear Penny. Please don’t assimilate my computer,’ she said, before clicking two buttons.
There was a moment of lag, something Nina knew wasn’t because of her computer, and then the screen directly in front of her flickered to an image of dozens of red camera lenses watching her. It then blinked to a single line of text.
[Preliminary access granted]And then with a start, Nina’s computer finally connected to the systems around, and ran its algorithms. The camera network that Nina had built synchronized with Penny’s. While there was considerable overlap, the network widened like never before. She turned to the holographic table, and with another couple button-presses the locations of various forces, mainly Chloe’s skeletons, were highlighted in red.
‘There’s a ritual going on. Besides Wonderland’s invasion, Asengav has started his ritual to lay claim to the Nexus.’ As for what he was going to do with it, only Mariette, Lea and maybe Mikayla knew.
‘Except, I believe the Wonderland Queen has captured Mariette and is hijacking the ritual.’ She didn’t need to explain why that was bad. She pressed another button, and five points were highlighted on the map.
‘There’s five supporting mirrors draining Penrose of magic. They will have started fueling the Black Mirror.’ A warehouse by the docks. A chamber in the sewers. A cave by the river. A mansion by the outskirts. An unremarkable apartment in the residential district. Topographically, they made a circle around Penrose.
‘You can reach the Black Mirror by going through any of these five. Conversely, it means Asengav’s forces can send reinforcements to any mirror from the source, but they can also abandon any mirror should it become compromised. They don’t need all five.’ So she explained.
“The Witch is playing a truly dangerous gambit then.” Dina would mutter looking over the new flow of information. It wasn’t much beyond what the Bastion and Penny’s network had identified, but it was the context and added clarity that were worth more than their weight in gold.
“She is in fact being held by Iracabeth, The Queen of Hearts, and her portals have been restricted. She can see and speak through them, but can not move through them freely at the moment.” Dina would explain as her tail started to thrash behind her. “But…”
She let out a rough sigh. “Penny and Mariette are working together. And have been in some capacity since the Christmas party Dan provided for us. I do not know the details, The Queen had been reluctant to speak on it much outside of the halls of the Bastion. And I believe I know why now.” She gave Nina a close examining look but moved on quickly.
‘Iracabeth,’ Nina repeated her name.
‘She was the one who removed my mind-bending, along with that of other servants of Asengav that confronted her. How she did it with that sword of hers, I do not know. She shouldn’t even have known I existed, and I was miles away from her watching from the safety of our main base, and yet she could remove my mind-bending. I can only assume I was affected due to watching her via a camera,’ Nina said, still not grasping what kind of power that was.
‘While the mind-bending was removed from the others as well, they did not have the option to leave as I did,’ she said.
‘Also, hm,’ Nina looked at a camera she hadn’t looked at yet. It showed the inside of Mariette’s new base, in a mountain-range not that far from Penrose.
‘What do you know about that?’ Nina asked, pointing at a screen. There was the vegetation that Chloe’s skeletons were fighting all across Penrose… but then there was the one Grief Seed that Mariette had brought into her home. That one had been free to spread its influence across the empty base, one camera showing the outside the base showing Olivia fleeing with her spirits carrying the still wounded Jelena.
“The Queen of Hearts' power seems to defy much of what anyone understands. I am willing to believe that Mariette is attempting to manipulate her towards her own goals, seeing as you and the others have been freed.” Dina would offer up. Though it was only a guess at this point.
She was quick to let out a curse in Russian at the sight of the Grief Seed’s rampant growth. “Little unfortunately. The Queen had been approached about the seeds before, but she had not the time or capability to analyze them herself. She mentioned an uneasy feeling about them in passing, but nothing more.”
“Will they accept shelter in Sanctuary?” She asked, gesturing towards Jelena and Olivia. “Do they need such?”
‘Olivia is not a fighter, and Jelena is still injured. They do need help. However, they’ve not been in contact with Iracabeth, so their mind-bending is probably still in place. Given the opportunity they will do what would benefit Asengav,’ Nina replied to Dina about the one seen fleeing the base and the one her spirits were carrying.
‘Alright. So, what’s your plan so far?’ she continued, pressing a couple buttons to try to run an algorithm to find said information in the system, should she be permitted to access it.
“Originally Sanctuary was preparing to act as a fallback location for those that had assaulted Wonderland. While also relaying Information to trusted members within Beacon in case a counter attack happened.” Dina would explain cupping her chin as she considered her options. “The attacks from these plants were unexpected, and worse unplanned for.”
“Furthore more, I know that Penny and Mairette’s plan requires the Black Mirror be present and that there is a God helping said plan.” She grimaced again, glaring at the red skeletons marked across the city. “But we are sorely lacking in armed forces that I find trustworthy.”
Sanctuary did not have much in the way of armed forces. Not truly. Penny herself sat at the forefront in that regard, besides her there was Ashlyn, Belladonna, Leanna, and Sann. But that was it for expeditionary capabilities.
There were plenty more that would rise up if Sanctuary found itself attacked again of course. But what Sanctuary, and Penrose, needed in this moment was more than could be asked of only a handful of Mahou.
“Excuse me. Regent?” One of the other Mahou in the room approached the two.
“The first batch from Wonderland has just been acquired.” She would say, her voice soft and musical even though her face showed no emotion at all.
The girl tapped on her own tablet, clearly much more accustomed to the technology, and a secondary window opened up on the table. It displayed thirty figures highlighted in blue standing in one of the Bastion’s many holds.
“The guidance room is nearly completed as well. With only the last few command stations not operational.” She continued as Dina took in the news.
“So many already? The report led me to believe it would be lesser.”
“The Queen has always delivered more than she promised.”Nina stood motionless listening to Dina first. A plan between Mariette and Penny. So Nina’s guess that she’d been compromised had been accurate… and then, a different Magical Girl showed up, and presented to them with a tablet, and thirty figures. Thirty machines. A battle force.
Nina took a deep breath, and suppressed a smile. There was something about a force of exceedingly high-tech machines made for battle that was just so
nostalgic to her.
‘… What are these command stations?’ Nina asked, definitely latching onto that particular word. Not yet operational, she says.
Dina cuts a look at Nina, before her gaze dips down to the girl's laptop and understanding blooms. “The Queen is not one to turn away an advantage when she can find one.” She starts, tapping at her tablet. “Even before she reestablished connection with Sanctuary she had turned one of Wonderland’s assets against them.” A camera feed opened up, showing the war machines in detail.
A battle force of Penny replica’s looked back.
“But the Queen is not unlimited in her capacity to multitask, and even she would be severely taxed in trying to coordinate across Wonderland’s Kingdom, within the assault force she is a part of, and in Penrose’s defence simultaneously." She continued. “But that is what the Sanctuary is for. Assisting one of us when our burden is too great to handle alone.”
“The command stations, which you walked past on your route here, are where one can direct and control this advantage the Queen has made.” She turned a knowing smile towards Nina. “Something I feel you would be quite adept at if I am not mistaken.”
More than you could possibly realize.Nina held quiet for a second, looking up into the ceiling. In the past, she’d been the one to lead her armies from the far back as an operator. Asengav had put her in the same role, because it was what suited her best. And now, the moment she escapes him, another position perfectly suited to her appears… It felt almost like fate. Nina was not one who would usually believe in fate.
Regardless, she turned to look at Dina again, her neutral expression touched with the color of determination.
‘I’m qualified,’ she understated.
‘I’ll do it.’“Excellent!” Dina would proclaim.
As she turned towards the Mahou who had brought forth the information.There was a rumble as the Bastion lurched suddenly, rocking in unexpected turbulence. She dropped her tablet, cracking it as it landed poorly. As the rumbling continued for a few moments.
“Report!” She called out, her eyes constricted to slits.
“Stormfront formed out of nowhere right on top of us!” One of the numerous girls on deck called back. “No damage noted, but it… Looks like our power reserves have increased?” Another added, clearly confused by that later fact.
“Keep an eye on this storm." Dina would order after a moment. Unsettled about this sudden development, but there wasn’t much that could be done. “Inform me the moment something changes.”
She would turn back to Nina. "Nevertheless, follow me. I’ll lead you to the command stations. And to the others that have also come forward to assist in coordinating the forces we now have.”
Sudden storm definitely made Nina question what was happening and wonder if the Sanctuary was about to be hit by someone’s attack, and she looked at the laptop to confirm how it looked through cameras. For now, though… It was time to get to work. Nina followed, still holding her laptop, heading towards the command station and mentally preparing herself for leading machines into battle once more.
A small pop-up showed up in the bottom-left of her computer screen, and Nina glanced down at it. An icon was telling her she was in prime position to release the virus and was asking her if she wanted to deploy it.
The virus… the one she had developed in preparation for fighting Penny. Everyone in Asengav’s team had realized just how big a problem Penny was, and as such Nina had offered to create a virus. The virus, created with all the genius of the ruler of a world in which computer technology was far beyond anything this world had imagined, would automatically adapt to the system it was infecting and do as much harm as it possibly could. Nina’s simulations had said while it wouldn’t take out Penny outright, it would drastically reduce her effectiveness. It was their ultimate weapon, prepared for the day when they would do battle with Penny…
Nina clicked two buttons, and all memory of the virus was permanently deleted. With another click, she remotely wiped everything from the computer back in Mariette’s base and disconnected it from the network. She closed her laptop and continued after Dina. … She couldn’t risk still having the virus if Asengav somehow got to her while she was in a command station.
A fair bit above the encounter between Chole, Tsuki and Hudie a spatial distortion ripped open and down dropped four figures. All of them lit up electromagnetic hover jets to soften their landing, but even before then it was clear that all four shared an appearance.
As all four stood up in sync one stepped forward, they lacked the innate grace its original held. Lacked the same commanding presence, but that did not mean seeing four Penny’s wasn’t a sight to see.
’Sanctuary reinforcements have arrived. Wonderland operations are still underway, but progress has been made.’ They spoke, their features remaining flat and unmoving.
’How has the Horror hunt gone so far?Unseen by those there was other Pennybots being dropped off by portals around Penrose as well. Most taking up Over watch positions around the bloomed Grief seeds.
Crusader Lord
AtomicNut
Mokley
Ammokkx
Love Dove
Neziul
Simply Not Real
SkyeOfStars
Veilsight
