Brittany was surprised at the complete shift in demeanor that Alex showed, and realized that he had freed himself from the anti-magic manacle. “Uh, sure, Alex. Lead the way!” She responded with some enthusiasm. "But uhh, we still got a big problem." The giant was left dumbfounded as Alex leapt away with enhanced agility. "Hey! What about my bone bread? Come back!" The giant started a lumbering chase after them, knocking down trees in his way.

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

Lily was surprised as the animals turned restless, and like in Sleeping Beauty seemed to be actively guiding her away from the factory and towards the desert behind them.
[color=fff200]”Oh, what’s that, Tim? Alex fell down a well?”[/color] She asked, trying to understand. She then turned her eyes to Gaia, who was more attuned with the feelings of the animals, and suggested they might be leading her to Alex. It seemed Connie and MDP also weren’t interested in entertaining the crazed Wonderlander’s antics.

[color=fff200]”I see! They must have picked up his scent!”[/color] She raised her open palm upwards, and like a roar of thunder the enchanted motorcycle appeared, Ixion’s jagged horn and equine iconography decorating it. She hopped on, and gestured for the two girls as the animals clambered on the steering handles or on top of her head for the ride.
 [color=fff200]”Connie, Gaia, Magical Dream Princess, come with me. MDP, could you maybe summon some cute sparkly rainbow unicorns to ride? I could only fit one passenger on my motorcycle.”[/color]

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/K2ssvzh.png[/img][/center]
Meanwhile, Justine kept glaring at the display of the Mad Hatter, unamused by his goofy antics as Ronin and Miko asked questions. The Mad Hatter drew in a dramatic breath as he stopped singing, seemingly pleased to be able to speak more by answering the questions…When Alicia made a surprising change in plans, causing him to blink and adjust his monocle. “H-Huh?”
When Alicia mentioned explosives, Justine nodded, and delivered her signature sinister smile from her old days as a former villainess. 
[color=bc8dbf]”I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I couldn’t agree more with Alicia. Let us be rid of this foul industrial complex with much aplomb, and plenty of bombs.”[/color]
Caroline didn’t react with a change in expression from her usual staring, even as Mac, disguised as Penny, smashed the wall, denting it heavily. She simply nodded along to whatever her sister was saying. With a few more blows like that, Mac might have been able to break through the wall.

Rachel lifted her hammer. “Finally, we have found unity in our purpose. Excellent suggestion, Paladin Seraph. But we need no explosives, for we have the explosive power of justice on our hands!” She gestured for Penny to step aside. “Allow me to take the lead, Penny.” She jumped up at amazing speed, glowing with golden energy. 
“Take THIS!” She then swung her hammer, creating a multi-faceted barrier around it in the shape of a wrecking ball. With a mighty impact, the Inquisitor struck right through the metallic wall as easily as if it was made of tin, creating a wide passage into the inner complex.

Of course, the Mad Hatter reacted with as much melodrama as one would expect from a Minister of Wonderland. “WHAT! No! You were supposed to play riddles and games, not break through my defenses! You broke the rules!”

Nefer threw the hat away as it crackled with electricity, and blasted it with her sci-fi blaster, turning it into a black pile of ash. “Sorry, but I guess we’re playing the game wrong. Too bad, so sad.” She blew a raspberry at the display drone and shot that as well. Soon, the loudspeakers began blaring an alarm tone, along with the Hatter’s voice. “Tea drones, attack! Don’t let them reach the inner complex!” Soon enough, more hat drones emerged from the towers and walls: these ones were holding metallic pitchers with elongated snouts with Mickey mouse hands emerging from under the hats. They flew above the group and began pouring scalding hot tea on them, only to be stopped by a barrier Rachel summoned as an umbrella. “We’ve roused the proverbial bee’s nest now. Let’s go and smash the king bee!”

Justine spread her wings, as did Caroline, and both started flying over the wall.
[color=bc8dbf]”I do enjoy tea, but this is simply excessive.”[/color] She summoned a red spear and with a charge smashed through three of the drones, with Caroline smashed three more with her flaming sword. However, more and more were on their way.

During the chaos, Mac got a chance to inspect the Endless Eclipse, and it showed her a vision of the largest building at the center of the factory complex, and a quick flash of the Mad Hatter’s sweating face, his tea cup now trembling in his hand. That was when she noticed that Mariette had created a new mirror behind her.

[hr]
[Center]

[img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/200312/bd228c426d0da7459764cb788d45b1cd.png[/img]
[Sub].:⋮Drink Me⋮:.[/Sub]
[/center]

The mirror opened up to the Earth Bastion, where a very concerned Mariette urged Penny and Janet to leave. Penny scoffed, hesitating. The queen of Penrose, back in the old days, would have stubbornly remained to fight the royal pain in the butt. But knowing how close she cut it last time, having gained her humanity back, and seeing how much the dark magical girl struggled trying to move her with a tentacle around her waist and another on her forearm, she relented with a sigh.
[color=9e0039]”Don’t make me regret this, Mariette.”[/color] She then jumped through the portal, dragging Janet along by the wrist.

Mariette herself then vacated the premises swiftly, managing to glance back and see a ruby shoe emerge from the bottom of the ominous mirror, alongside a familiar voice:

“My dear Ali-” 

But the voice was cut off by Mariette closing the portal behind her, having entered the Pea Princess’ chambers in her castle. There was no sign that she was followed, and silence once more reigned, until she was noticed: the green-eyed Vassal was standing beside her table adjusting papers when she shouted in surprise. “Princess Alice! Did something happen?”