this chaos, this calamity

[rosestolilies]

Characters: The Queen of Hearts (rosestolilies) and any PCs who come after her.
Date: Starting Thursday, March 24th and continuing until Tuesday, March 29th.
Summary: The Queen is trapped in the Labyrinth, along with her promises of home. What's to be done but go and find her?
Warnings: Creepiness tailored to the characters.

Comments

[headedforhope]

[Mami had been on a sort of patrol earlier when she noticed the strange activity in front of the Labyrinth- a remnant of the times back home when she'd stalk dark city streets for the grotesque monsters that by their very nature drove ordinary, unsuspecting humans to madness and suicide. She would search and destroy, night after night, with hardly any time for anything else....not that she had any right to complain.

To be honest, as she cautiously lingers by the entrance, Mami isn't sure just what to think about the Queen's promises of home and safe return. Not only had she died, she didn't exactly have much to go back to: Madoka and Sayaka were most likely dead because of her failure, and her house would be as empty as always

[thunder_ace]

[Unknowingly to the younger blonde, Fate was following her. Well... not really, she just happened to be taking the same path through the Labyrinth.

She too had been on patrol, looking for any sign, any clue that could help them find the Queen. She wasn't sure which side she should take in this coup, but it would be wise to at least seek out both sides and gather as much information she could.

And then she had found the flower petal; this was definitely one hell of a clue. So she followed the ever-increasing light, and had eventually found herself in front of the Labyrinth's entrance. With a quick mental message to Hayate, she headed inside.]

[uberlikehermama]

[Vivio wasn't sure about this when she had first grabbed the petal, but the fact that it was glowing had to mean something, right?

And well, it got brighter when she went to certain places, so that's what she was doing, until she made it to the Labyrinth entrance just in time to see Fate-mama go inside of it.

Well, she wasn't going to let her Fate-mama go alone, not with what had happened with Flandre. So there she went, following after her.]

[headedforhope]

[Deeper and deeper, moving ever downward into the Labyrinth, Mami keeps up a brisk yet watchful pace. She's coiled like a spring, her body tense and ready for action; it would be a lie to say that transforming hadn't crossed her mind long before. Although to be honest, part of why she keeps pushing the idea away is because Mami never tested to see if her Soul Gem hasn't somehow been tampered with yet....she would regret this, if she had any time for that.

The choice was thus: transform and risk attracting whatever lurked down here with the unavoidable light display, or continue as is? She was already putting herself in a great deal of risk as it was.....nevermind the fact it was something she couldn't help but be used to.]

[thunder_ace]

[That's the downside to being a magical girl. No matter how different their magic is, they can't escape the flashy transformations! It would help a lot right now, though. Fate couldn't see anything outside of the sphere of light the flame in her hand produced, and it was putting her a little on-edge. If this Labyrinth was anything like the Caves, then there was probably something just waiting to ambush her around a corner...

She reached into her pocket, pulling Bardiche out and keeping a firm grip on the triangular pendant. She'll be ready if something attacks, now.]

[uberlikehermama]

[Vivio kept following Fate-mama, staying far enough away so that hopefully she wouldn't see her and tell her to go back. Kris was sitting on her shoulder as she walked, since if they somehow got separated too much from each other in the darkness that'd be bad.

So yeah, she kept moving down, walking until something happened.]

[headedforhope]

[The more she thought about it, the more the best choice of action became clear to Mami; she wasn't going to be able to help anyone in this dark, lonely place all defenseless like this. Being able to access her puella magi powers would be worth any added risk brought on by the transition itself.

Still holding the petal with one hand, Mami stops walking....and transforms.]

[thunder_ace]

[The light from Mami's transformation, shining just around the corner from Fate's current location, was like the sun compared to the inky-black darkness. So needless to say, it caught Fate's attention!

In another flash of light, Fate's Barrier Jacket replaced her normal clothes and the pendant in her hand grew into a long axe-headed staff. She quickly rounded the corner, prepared for a confrontation... but paused when she recognized the face of the girl in front of her.]

Mami!

[uberlikehermama]

[Vivio's eyes widened at the light, and like Fate-mama, Vivio also transformed, her body aging up as her barrier jacket formed and she charged forth after her mother... only to blink when Fate stopped.]

You know her Fate-mama?

[headedforhope]

[All it took was the sound of those approaching footsteps to set Mami in motion; she was alone here, with no Madoka to protect nor a Sayaka to save. Her movements are cold, quick, ruthless- draw two guns from the creases of her skirt and spin on her heel, aiming both of her loaded hands toward whatever was approaching.

It was fortunate for everyone involved that she recognized Fate's own face as the older woman rounded the corner before she could pull the triggers. Yet not even this moment of utter shock could make Mami drop her weapons; somewhere in the dark corners of her mind, Charlotte loomed, sudden and close and deadly.

Her expression remains cold and distant for a few fleeting moments before surprise takes over.]

...Miss Harlaown? And another girl...?

[thunder_ace]

[Fate's reaction is instinctual; when she sees he gun pointed at the direction her daughter's voice came from, she sidesteps into its path. But once the initial threat seems to be over, she offers the younger girl a smile and takes a step forward. She's probably just on-edge from the unsettling atmosphere, right?]

It's okay. [She gestures behind her.] Mami, this is my daughter, Vivio.

[And to Vivio, a quick telepathic message:] You're in trouble, you know.

[uberlikehermama]

[Vivio pouted, looking over at Fate before sending a telepathic message of her own.] But Fate-mama! I was just worried about you!

[She turned to look over at Mami.]

Umm... it's nice to meet you...

[adelicateflame]

[Around them, the passageways of the Labyrinth suddenly expand as if forced aside by a new presence.

And then it comes. The huge, smiling, toothy face, chasing after the three of them.

Charlotte.]

[headedforhope]

[Mami lowers her guns quickly enough and returns Fate's smile; it's fake, of course. There's very little happiness to be found in this situation. Her role as a magical girl had been exposed....although perhaps such a thing, in this case, wasn't as bad as it seemed. Judging by the outfits of- and the behavior displayed thus far by -the other two females, they weren't exactly ordinary either.]

Ah, no- it's my pleasure, really. But tell me, why are you two-

[But no, no, there is no time left for pleasantries. The Labyrinth is changing- so sudden and strange, what could be happening-?]

-what?!

[And then Mami sees.

The nightmare is repeating itself.]

[thunder_ace]

[Fate's first thought when she sees this creature is.... really? Something as goofy-looking as this is supposed to be dangerous?

But then she notices the rows of clearly razor-sharp teeth, and felt the distress practically radiating from the girl next to her. Whatever this thing is, it's not as harmless as it initially appears.]

You two, head back for the entrance. I'll hold it off! [She's still facing the creature, but her eyes briefly turn to the staff in her hand.] Bardiche?

"Yes Sir. Zanber Form."

[At the monotone male voice's command, the weapon began to change: the shaft shrunk to a short, two-handed hilt. The head turned and separated, forming a handguard. And finally, with a spark of crackling magic, a yellow blade of solid energy flared to life from the newly-formed sword hilt.

C'mon, Charlotte. Bring it..]

[uberlikehermama]

Fate-mama! I'm not leaving you here alone!

[Especially after what had happened with Flandre. How Fate had died. No, Vivio was going to stay right back there and fight this thing with her Fate-mama, no matter what she needed to do. Sure, the cake-face thingy looked dangerous with those teeth, but so was Flandre.

And she did perfectly fine against her.]