Puella Magi - Memento Mori (PMMM quest)

[DrZiztah]

[x] Pick a game.
-[x] Multiplayer Co-op Action/Brawler. Team up with the others and kick some butt!
[x] Afterwards go to lunch. Lunch sounds good.

Yuujin makes a very compelling case there, in your opinion. You haven't really had anything substantial after the breakfast, and it's nearing 4 pm already. But at the same time, you've only had two games so far, which is not nearly enough for the day yet. There's always time for one more round!

The question is, what should you play? Given the way the games have gone so far, you doubt much would change there. Besides, you'd rather like to have at least some kind of break from the rankings and competition, if only for a single game. Maybe some sort of…

"Uh, maybe we could try some sort cooperative game together for a change?" you voice your thought out loud to others before you have a chance to think it through properly. "I mean, uh, there are games like that here, right? Some action games should be like that at least."

"Hey, that one sounds like a great idea!" Ami is quick to offer your suggestion her full support, clapping her hands together in delight. "I've actually noticed something special that might just work!"

Yuujin nods at the exclamation. "Sounds good to me. Lead the way. Matsuko?"

The greenhead playfully sticks out her tongue at you. "Very well! But I think you're just afraid of being beaten by me again!"

"Suuure…" Yuujin drawls out with an overly heavy dose of sarcasm and turns to look away from her. "What's this game of yours anyways, Ami?"

"Oh, I'll show you! Just follow me!"

Ami leads you away from the rows of racing games, and towards another selection of gaming machines to choose from. Though your gaze travels across the colorful screens before you, none of them seem to be the right one. Ami doesn't even glance in their direction as she walks along.

Then she stops, and turns, presenting you one of the large machines from before. Big, colorful letter glare at the arcade, presenting to you the figures of small, comically proportioned knights, each of whom is heavily armed and looks out as menacingly as they can muster.

You think they're just cute, trying to look intimidating like that. They'd look great as plush toys!

"This one actually caught my eye the last time I was here, and I actually went and checked what it was about," Ami explains to you, patting the side of the machine. "Basically, we play as the knights attempting to storm castles and stuff, and it's all versus the computer."

"Sounds good enough for me," Yuujin notes and takes a step forward to inspect the console more closely.

"Oh, this seems like a fun one, that's for sure," Matsuko continues from there and gives you and Ami a bright look. "Shall we start, everyone? Forward, to glory, my loyal knights!"

She's still at it… But guess you'll just have to bear with it for now.

The game begins by showing you all the controls, which seem quite simple. That's something you can appreciate if the game is going to be fast-paced. Next comes the character selection, a process where you're mostly just allowed to pick colors for your chibi-knights.

After some deliberation, you pick the red one, if only so you can call your adorable knight Kishi. The pun is terrible, you know, but you can't help but to giggle at it inwardly.

Then the game begins, and you're forced to discover that the game is, indeed, very fast-paced. It takes only a few moments for the game to turn into a cacophony of screams and shouting as you attempt to make sense of the endless horde of enemies and other triggers around the levels you run through.

It's very difficult, yes, but you're having a blast! Why can't all those action games be like this: intense, but not cheap and terrible with the evil, evil jump scares. You're not really sure how long you stay at it, but by the end of it, everyone's winded and feeling exhilarated from the constant barrage of things happening.

You couldn't make it to the end, but you do note happily that in general you did considerably better than Ami, and especially Matsuko, who seems to have dropped the ball hard on this one. Yuujin is the only one out of you to have had something resembling actual skill in the game, her almost supernatural concentration never quite wavering while playing.

"Aaa, so close!" you cry out as you watch the game over screen descend on the machine. "I swear, if it wasn't for that cheap hammer out of nowhere, we would have won!"

"I know, right!" Matsuko fumes, weakly and repeatedly slamming her forehead against the console. Her pride and bravado have been utterly broken and shattered into pieces. "The developers must have been laughing their arses off when making that one."

"Eh, you win some, you lose some," Yuujin notes, wiping her sleeve over her forehead. "We did pretty well, for a group of newbies here."

"True, and I must say this was… well, extremely fun!" Ami picks up from there. "More so than I thought at first, I mean."

"Yeah, this is a great game!" you gush out immediately after her. "They should make more stuff like this."

"They probably do, it's just all for home consoles and computers," Yuujin answers you. "But hey, what about that dinner? I think I spotted a pizza place nearby."

"Dinner sounds great!" you answer, suddenly becoming painfully aware of an empty feeling in your stomach. Snacks really don't cut it. "Let's get going!"

True to word, there is a rather average-looking place nearby, and with an entirely free able left for you too. The four of you are quick to order your meals, and set to wait for them to arrive. The process is pleasantly fast, you must admit, and you're pleased to see that the stuff they make is actually decently sized too!

It doesn't really compare to the way a certain hamburger place overdoes their burgers, but it's still nice to get your money's worth. You're left drooling at the meal before you, as the smell enters your nostrils.

"Well, bon appétit!" Ami exclaims, telling you to dig in.

What do you do?

[] Talk with your friends over the pizzas!

[] Eat quickly and head back to the arcade.

[] Suggest you do something else?

[] Write-in.

===

The dice rolls for this one literally reversed the previous pecking order

 

[DrZiztah]

[X] Talk with your friends over the pizzas!
-[X] Pineapple toppings are just amazing.

The four of you quickly dig into your respective pizzas with a nigh perfect synchronization. You're quite pleased to note that what they sell here is, in fact, still pizza, and thus delicious. It's been quite a while since you've had any, though, so you may be a bit biased towards the sweet and juicy taste only such culinary innovations can provide.

...Definitely biased.

But regardless of your personal opinions about the especially delicious specimen of pizza on your plate, you can't help but to sneak glances at your friends' picks. Ami, who's sitting next to you, seems to have gone with some sort of mushroom combo with the smaller things being drowned under the sea of shrooms.

Opposite to you, Yuujin seems to have gone with a simple pepperoni pizza, which she is calmly nibbling through. She doesn't appear to be in a hurry. Next to her, Matsuko is destroying her mess of a bacon pizza that would put rainbows to shame with everything contained there-in.

You glance at your own combination of ham and pineapple, suddenly becoming aware of something very important missing from your friends' portions. You take a bite out of one of your own slices to reassure yourself of the taste, before opening your mouth.

"You know, pineapple toppings are just amazing!" you exclaim, glancing at the distinct lack of them on your friends' pizzas.

Smells like heresy to you.

"That's pretty silly of you to say," Matsuko answers you, ruefully shaking her head. "Pineapples are but one of the many possible things you can take on your pizza… But a holy grail of toppings, they're not."

"...You're wrong on so many levels, Matsuko," you tell her with a condescending sigh.

"What's all this about pineapples, anyway?" Ami pipes in hastily, part in a bid to defuse the situation, and partly to satisfy her own curiosity.

"It's a question of taste about a particularly bad-tasting topping put on some poor, innocent pizzas," Yuujin quips with an amused shake of her head. "Just let it be."

Let it be? Heretics should not let be! "Yuujin, I think there's something seriously wrong with your taste buds."

"In an insane world, the sane appear insane," she shoots right back at you, taking a very pointed bite out of her non-pineapple-flavored pepperoni pizza.

"Oh Yuyu, why do you insist on having such a bad taste?" Matsuko groans. "Everyone else likes pineapple!"

"You sure about that?"

"Well, why wouldn't they?" you challenge Yuujin. "They're sweet, delicious, and awesome with a pizza!"

"...There can be no fixing tastes that broken."

"Okay, seriously, what is it with the pineapple?" Ami asks you, growing increasingly agitated by the second.

What do you do?

[] Talk more with your friends!

[] Go elsewhere!
-[] Over to yours?
-[] Back to Ami's?
-[] Suggest some other place!

[] Back to the arcade!

[] Write-in.

===

You know, I've had my fair amount of times when I've just had no idea what to write. Sometimes it has been about complex social situations that require some finesse with the emotions and the persepctives of the characters. Sometimes events have brought me to a point where I seriously need to consider the repercussions and the ramifications of the actions you're voting to undertake.

But now? Now, I've been staring at my screen, stymied for who-knows how long, and wondering what the hell can I even write about the topic of pineapples on pizzas.

I hope you feel accomplished at least .

 

[DrZiztah]

[X] Agree with Ami
-[X] But give Yuujin the 'I'm watching you' fingers when Ami's not looking.
[X] Talk more with your friends!
-[X] Where to go next. Maybe just relax and play games back home?

"A very, very important question about a person's taste buds!" you explain with great enthusiasm before you can help it. But as soon as it dawns on you just what Ami may have been after here, you become quite sheepish at your outburst. "But, uh… yeah, maybe it's not something you can really argue about?"

After all, who in their right mind would argue against pineapples?

"Oh, that's good, I suppose?" Ami reluctantly admits, sneaking a few dubious glances to the direction of you and your friends. "I honestly just don't get it."

"It's okay, there's no need to get involved in the insanity," Matsuko reassures her. "Just enjoy your pizza, alright?"

Ami nods reluctantly at her, still not entirely convinced, but neither willing to ask anything more about this. She returns to her slices, shifting her attention away from you.

You bite your lips into a thin line, narrow your eyes, and turn to give Yuujin a very pointed look. You bring your right index and middle fingers over to your eyes, and slowly turn them 180 degrees to point at Yuujin. You'd be watching her and her deviant tastes from now on! Her hate of pineapples would prove to be her own undoing!

Now, if only she would realize the depths of her heresy with more than that nonchalant, nigh-mocking shrug of hers. You swear, she's doing that intentionally!

"But while we're at it… Yuyu, how about we make a little trade here?" Matsuko asks out and turns to look at the blunette. "I'll give a bacon surprise slice for you, and I get to have a taste of your pepperoni. Deal?"

Yuujin pauses for a moment to think hard, her gaze shifting constantly between the two pizzas devoid of any pineapple. It seems like she's intent on stretching out her pondering, as it takes her a while to actually stop doing that and give a proper answer.

"Hmm, alright!" It's quite an informative and overwhelming one. "Here's mine." The girl carefully picks up one of her own slices and moves it to Matsuko's plate. The green-head returns the gesture, and the two share a very mischievous, meaningful look with each other. It causes your heresy senses tingle the tiniest bit.

But you'll let it slide. This time.

Instead, to divert from what just might be another display of under-the-radar lewdness, you decide to bring up another thing that might just be important. Namely… "So, um, anyways… What are we going to do next?" You can't eat your delicious pizza forever. "I mean, we could go over to someone's to relax and play games or something?"

Come to think of it, you might need to get some games over to your own place. You have no consoles, and your repertoire of board games is lackluster at best. Ariane would have some, but going there with Yuujin and Matsuko may be something for another day. Evelyn practices video games for a hobby, though, if your recall correctly?

"Well, we do have some video games, but only for two players at once?" Ami suggests with a slight frown. "And if we were to look, I think there might be some board games in storage too?"

"Why go over to someone to play, though? We're right next to the arcade and plenty of time to spend here," Matsuko argues back.

"Well, what about taking a third option and going to a beach?" Yuujin asks with a quirked eyebrow. You're not even sure whether she's joking or not.

What do you do?

[] Continue in the arcade?
-[] Pick a game.

[] Go back to Ami's house to play more casual games?

[] Hit the beach?

[] Write-in.

===

Happy new years, everyone!

 

[DrZiztah]

[X] Hit the beach?

"Yuyu, are you serious?" Matsuko asks Yuujin with a slight frown. "That's pretty out of the blue- I didn't even bring any stuff with me."

"Just throwing it out there," Yuujin explains with a nonchalant shrug.

"Uh, sorry to interrupt, but…" Ami pipes in weakly. "But where exactly is this beach you talk of? Northern Mitakihara has no beach areas as far as I know. The riversides are all too tightly built for that matter as well."

"Well, surely Yuujin has something in mind?" you brush it off, despite being slightly curious about this yourself. "I mean, I wouldn't mind walking around one, even if it's winter. It's the atmosphere that matters!" Perhaps they mean to use Matsuko's powers to get to Mitakihara's seaside areas?

"Hmm, if you say so," Ami reluctantly allows. "Beach it is, I guess."

"Wow, didn't expect this to be that popular," Yuujin points out with a slight smirk, though you think you can see a hint of regret from a joke she threw being taken seriously. Well, it's her own grave that she has dug, that cursed pineapple-hater.

"Well, you got what you wished for, lighten up!" Matsuko cheers out, jabbing Yuujin to her shoulder. "But come on, we still have plenty of pizza left!"

The four of you quickly work through your meals, savoring the taste and talking about the games you played in the arcade. It's a good place to go over the pros and cons of everything you tried out back there, after all, and you're not feeling particularly awkward.

Well, not anymore at least.

But after you're all done, Yuujin calmly leads you out of the restaurant and back towards the place where matsuko previously teleported you. This gives further credibility to your guess that Matsuko's going to be taking you elsewhere. Perhaps somewhere that is special to those two?

Sadly, your guess is proven wrong as it's an electric blue flash that encompasses Yuujin, rather than the green one of Matsuko. You notice how the blunette's sleek outfit seems to be a closer match to the whole-body battle dresses you'd normally associate with the Magical Girls in television.

However, you don't have the time to comment or savor in the details before Yuujin has brought out her weapon, a three-pronged, elaborately ornamented spear with two trailing sheets of translucent, light blue silk extending from the side-prongs.

The girl swings the polearm around in a single circle. Your eyes widen in disbelief as you see round entrance, a portal open in the air right where the spear grazed through the air. However, unlike with the pulsating barrier entrances that you've seen in witches, this one is more clearly defined, and even pleasant to look at.

Then it expands and shoots towards you at blinding speeds, and you close your eyes in surprise.

The cold and crisp winter air disappears from around you, and all of sudden you can feel a very warm gust of air roll gently along your face. You can hear waves roll near you. It's noticeably warm all of sudden, even without the winter clothing you're carrying.

You open your eyes and start frantically looking around. You're no longer in Northern Mitakihara, that's for sure.

To your side opens a scenic beach, fine white sand extending from grassy meadows that cover the rolling hills that cover the terrain. A calm and serene sea opens up from there, with only the occasional island or cliff breaking the otherwise calm landscape. The waves are gentle there, crashing across the shore by the small, warm gust that occasionally blows across the area.

In the distance and away from the sea, you can see forests and mountains rise.

"Well, we're here. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to take a nap," Yuujin announces and flops down to lie on the admittedly soft-looking grass. She rests her head on her hands and closes her eyes, as she basks in the Sun's rays.

What the...

What do you do?

[] Write-in.

===

Have a taste of Yuujin's abilities while you're at it. Bet you weren't expecting the beach option to be this literal .

 

[DrZiztah]

[X] Build sand castle
-[X] Declare yourself it's Queen
--[X] Declare a war against anyone who refuse to accept your benevolent reign.
[X] When Yuujin wake up ask her about her power
-[X] Offer her cleansing

You throw your head around awkwardly, trying to take in everything that's going around you. You're already fairly sure that you're just not hallucinating all this, so at least you're making progress! But as to what all of it is, you have no clue.

On one hand, it could be some sort of long-range teleportation through portals, and you're currently on some sort of tropical Pacific island. On the other hand, this could be some sort of pocket dimension as you saw in the Blade Works anime you watched with your friends, which automatically makes the magic thousand-times more awesome. Assuming it's like a Reality Marble, this would be your first time seeing actual magic on this scale.

Nothing you've encountered before would come even close to matching that.

To your side, you can see Matsuko talking with a very befuddled-looking Ami, both of whom are hastily trying to take their winter coats off. You yourself take a few steps closer to the beach, carefully getting the feel of the ground below you, as if it could open up and swallow you at any second.

Fortunately, it doesn't, and you're left feeling silly about yourself. But seeing as it's all likely real, you follow the example of your friends, and throw the jacket to the grass-covered ground. It is legitimately hot there, and you're starting sweating bullets with that thing on.

And as it is, you feel it might not be polite to bother Yuujin and her nap. Sure, it's kind of weird to just start sleeping when hanging out with your friends, but who are you to judge. You know you'd like to sleep longer if you could!

So instead, you head out towards the beach itself to get a closer look. You can't remember a time when you would have ever gotten a chance to visit a real sand beach like this one, so you're treading on a bit unfamiliar ground here. Sure, you like swimming, but that has been mostly in swimming pools- and you doubt your old swimwear back home even fits you anymore.

You stop before the boundary between the grass and the sand, and look ahead with an unsure expression. You stay like that for a moment, hesitating. Then you step back and crouch down. You hastily loosen the ties on your thick shoes and push down your socks, and then throw them them all out there with your jacket.

You take in a deep breath and practically leap to jump on the warm sands of the beach, almost slipping when you land. You're happy to note that the grains of sand are so fine as to feel pleasantly, even tickling soft and warm under your bare feet. You grin at the feeling, and take a few dance-like steps around to bask in the feeling.

You don't really get why people would complain about sand. It's awesome!

As Ami and Matsuko start following after you, having tried to poke Yuujin who seems to have rebuffed their efforts to get her rise up from the ground, you hop closer to actually walk in the water. A delighted grin creeps on your face when the warm water washes against your ankles.

You paddle there in the shallow water for a few moments before coming back closer to the shore. You stare at the sands that are periodically washed by the waves rolling across the shore, and an idea strikes you. With hurried steps, you jog to the furthest point where the waterline has reached, and kneel down.

You start digging through the sand and piling it before you in large mounds. A smile filled with childish glee finds its way to your face as you start shaping the mounds to more coherent and purposeful shapes, all the while humming a happy little tune to yourself.

It's not everyday that you get the chance to build a sandcastle to call your own!

Eventually curiosity from observing your antics seems to overcome Matsuko and Ami, who walk over to you to observe things closer. You turn to look at them, and flash them a grin. "Visiting my fair kingdom, are you now?" you ask them, forcefully fighting down the chortle of laughter threatening to erupt from your throat at seeing their expressions.

"Uh, maybe?" Ami asks, sounding confused. "What do you mean with your kingdom?"

"Why, I'm glad you asked!" you announce and point towards the series of simple walls and towers before you. It's barely large enough to fit you inside. "This is Tamiburg, the capital to the Tamiko kingdom, of which I'm the esteemed and honored Queen, Tamiko the First! Any and all dissenters and usurpers to the throne will be swiftly brought before justice!"

"...So, uh, you're declaring yourself a queen of a castle smaller than you now?" Matsuko asks. "You know, I think I'll take my chances at rebellion! Bring it!"

"...Silence! It's the size of the spirit that counts!" you declare firmly and reach to the side, to the water. "Those who refuse to accept my benevolent reign… shall face the greatest of punishments!" as you say that, you push your hand to the water… and start splashing it repeatedly at Matsuko. "Ha ha, take that you non-conforming anarchist!"

"Hey, quit it!" Matsuko yells back at you, desperately jumping to the side to get some distance between herself and your attacks of water. "That's just mean."

"Oh, but can I maybe help then?" Ami asks you, ignoring the yelping Matsuko behind her. "It seems like fun."

"Any and all subjects are welcome to my realm as long as they accept the legitimacy of Tamiko the First's benevolent reign!" you tell her, taking one last precision shot at Matsuko before ceasing the splashing. "So what shall it be?"

"...Would her majesty accept a new chief architect to her realm?"

You pause for a moment to feign thinking long hard, before answering her. "Indeed, I hereby promote you to be Ami the Immaculate, the grand vizier and architect of Tamiburg! Welcome back to the castle, my friend!"

Ami gives you a playful mock salute and a happy smile, before crouching down next to the castle to observe it close. She seems to have some ideas what to do there, but gets interrupted by Matsuko before she can voice those.

"...Hey, but what about me?" she asks you with a chiming tone. "Can I please join too? I promise to acknowledge the Queen?"

This time you take even longer to answer her, wanting the rebel to suffer and fidget under your judgment for as long as possible. "Indeed, if you lay down your sword and swear to renounce all your grievances with the fair Queen, Tamiko the First, you are welcome to join the court… as the jester!"

"...But that's not-"

"Well, it fits, don't you think?" Yuujin asks out of the blue, as she appears from behind the green-head. Her eyes are cast down to the castle you've made, looking at it with obvious interest. "Oh, making a sandcastle already?"

"Yup!" you answer, dropping the Queen persona for a while to talk properly with the transformed girl. "But uh, Yuujin? How much does doing this cost you? How does this work? I… I can offer you a cleanse if you need it?"

"Nah, don't fret about it," the girl brushes off your concerns. "Getting here is dirt-cheap, even when bringing others. It's only if I start creating new land and modifying things when it gets costly, but that's nothing you should worry about."

So it is like a reality marble? You certainly weren't expecting her to be capable of that...

What do you do?

[] Talk with your friends.

[] Keep building the sandcastle?

[] Explore.

[] Write-in.

===

This particular power's of the pocket dimension variety.

 

[DrZiztah]

[X] Keep building the sandcastle?
-[X] Begin planning a sand fortress city.
-[X] Offer Yuujin a barony.

So you're good to go for now then? That's good to hear. Matsuko teleporting you all to the arcade was bad enough, but if Yuujin had to spend a chunk of her magic just to take you to the beach… Magic is not really something you're comfortable using willy-nilly for things you could accomplish without it, such as getting to a city.

But if your old friend is alright with it, then there really isn't much reason to complain. It wouldn't lead anywhere. And besides, it's rather nice here! Getting to a beach is no easy task during Winter!

"Are you sure? Well, if you say so..." you tell Yuujin with a slow and hesitant nod, before coughing into your fist and putting your Queen mask back on. "But ahem, pardon me. Welcome to Tamiburg, good traveler! What is the purpose of your visit and do you have any qualms with the benevolent rule of Her Majesty, Tamiko the First?"

"None that I can think of," Yuujin says with a small, amused smile. "But I'm not really visiting, as much as I'm just here to join the realm of Her Majesty, or so to speak."

You pause for a moment before answering her. "Ah, goodness gracious, you're most welcome! I think we have just the title for you. From here on now, you shall be known as Baron Yuujin, the lord and the steward of the lands around the Jewel of the realm, the idyllic hamlets of Tamiville!"

You make dramatic gestures at the sands around the slowly forming wall of your awesome sand castle.

Yuujin raises her eyebrows. "Well, Baron Yuujin solemnly pledges her loyalty to the almighty Queen, and will set to work to inspect her lands immediately."

You nod along enthusiastically to the short and rather informal vow of fealty. "Indeed, you're dismissed, Baron Yuujin. But before you go, here are my most trusted advisors, you should meet. First of all, the court jester Matsuko-"

"Hey!"

"-and the chief architect of the realm, grand vizier Ami!" you proclaim, ignoring the indignant yelp from Matsuko. She was asking for it, rebelling against your benevolent reign like that.

"Pleased to meet you!" Ami jokes with a polite nod.

"Likewise."

"But now, your Queen has orders for all of you!" you continue. "The defences of our precious city, Tamiburg are too meager. We must remedy this immediately, and set out to create a fortress city worthy to bear the mantle of the realm's capital!" You flash your friends a bright grin. "Let's get to work, there are walls and towers to be built, not to mention the new house blocks for the citizens!"

First of all, you'll need a huge wall, like that great one in China, to surround your city. Lining up the fortress should be towers for your guards, and a couple of gates for people to move in and out. Your city needs to trade after all!

But now, to delegate the work...

What do you do?

[] Begin issuing royal decrees orders to your companions! You need the fortress city done today!
-[] Write-in what you wish to get done.

[] Talk with your friends about something?

[] Destroy the castle once finished.
-[] Meteors.
-[] Dinosaur armies.
-[] Floods.
-[] Hurricane.
-[] Rebel conquer and burn it.
-[] Undead armies.
-[] Earthquakes.
-[] Attack of the fifty foot tall Queen.
-[] Vaporized with magic.

[] Write-in.

===

Alright, the next update will probably be about the group having a montage of silliness about the fortress city of sand.

 

[DrZiztah]

[X] Begin issuing royal decrees orders to your companions! You need the fortress city done today!
-[X] Watchtowers that stretch into the sky.
-[X] A moat to keep out invaders.
-[X] Stables to keep Fluffy and his family of Riding Dinosaurs.
-[X] Orbital defense turrets to protect against space monsters.
[X] Talk with your friends about something?
-[X] Keep things silly and fun.

[X] Destroy the castle once finished.
-[X] Meteors.
-[X] Dinosaur armies.
-[X] Floods.
-[X] Hurricane.
-[X] Rebel conquer and burn it.
-[X] Undead armies.
-[X] Earthquakes.
-[X] Attack of the fifty foot tall Queen.
-[X] Vaporized with magic.

"Alright, let's get to work, everyone!" you proclaim and pump your fist in the air. "The Queen's first royal decree is that the city must get bigger and more secure for its people! It needs a wall that is manned twenty-four-seven by our best guards, and the watchtowers must stretch into the sky!"

"Uh, okay?" Ami asks unsurely. "I mean, are you sure we can afford towers that high, your highness?"

"Of course! There's sand everywhere around us!" you answer her and wave dramatically as if to prove the existence of said sand. "But I wasn't finished yet. We also need a big moat to keep out any invaders! And it should have alligators in it! And crocodiles! And enormous snakes!"

"...Very well?" Ami says, making it quite obvious she's doing her best to ignore the last parts. "That's at least doable, I guess?"

"Of course! Why would I make any outlandish and impossible demands?" you ask her with a firm nod. "Incidentally, the realm also requires new stables for Fluffy and his family of riding dinosaurs. This is a matter of the utmost importance, vizier Ami! Think of the dinosaurs!"

"I may come to regret asking asking this… But who exactly is this Fluffy?" Matsuko asks out loud, her face betraying a mix of curiosity and dread. Next to her, even Yuujin seems to be somewhat intrigued by the identity of Mr. Fluffy.

"He is Tamiko's stuffed dinosaur plush toy," Ami explains, and starts pinching the bridge of her nose in exasperation. "She won him in a crane claw game a couple of days ago. She's rather fond of him to put it mildly."

"Hey, I'll have you know that Fluffy is the most fluffiest of all dinosaurs, and breathtakingly adorable to boot!" you yell and pout indignantly at the description. She's leaving out all the important parts! "I mean, he's just so huggable, and soft, and fluffy~! The absolute best! The great Fluffysaur!"

"...Tami, I think we get it," Yuujin lies through her teeth with a deadpan tone.

"Good!" you huff. "...Also, can we have orbital defence turrets against monsters from space?" Tamiburg space programme is a go!

"...How about we just start with the towers first?" Ami suggests and kneels down next to the sandy foundation of your mighty fortress city. "We can talk about the other things later."

You bite your lips and pout again, as if thinking very hard about the suggestion. It is quite a dilemma to you, seeing as you want your city to be absolutely perfect, and for that you require dinosaur stables and orbital defence turrets. But your chief architect and vizier has a point there: you need to prioritize.

You let out a heavy sigh, and nod. "Very well, we shall build the walls and towers first. But we will be building those stables and turrets later!"

"Of course, your majesty!" Ami exclaims, doing her best to hide the relief she's feeling. "We'll get straight to work."

Being the fair and benevolent Queen that you are, you join your loyal subjects in working. A ruler needs to take care of those she rules over, after all. You're not entirely sure how long it takes for you to turn the fortress city into a work genuinely pleasing to the eyes.

Ami and Matsuko seem to focus on building the wall and the towers, with the former especially trying to figure out how to make the watchtowers as high as possible. She seems to have come up with a somewhat cylindrical design that narrows as you go higher. Though they don't quite reach up to the sky, they're quite impressive in their own right.

Yuujin seems to have come up with a way to modify her spear-like weapon, having turned it into a makeshift shovel. She has dug around the castle walls to make a moat that connects to the sea, and follows that with a series of canals that she claims are for the benefit of the farmers and peasant living in Tamiville.

You can't argue with that.

Sadly, the moats have a distinct lack of reptilian beasts to guard it. However, the crocodiles will continue to live within your heart and dreams.

You yourself focus on the interior design of Tamiburg, happily piling sand in mounds that vaguely look like houses and other buildings. You also make a point to create the very impressive stables for Mr. Fluffy and his family.

It's a matter of such importance, you're not sure whether you can trust anyone else with it. The housing of your precious Mr. Fluffy is paramount!

The end result, though, is bigger and better than you've ever made. Granted, your experiences with sand castles aren't too many, but you're fairly sure the end result would draw several impressed looks from passer-bys.

"I proclaim the great fortress city of Tamiburg… Finished!!!" you yell at the top of your lungs, and bounce up in the air from the joy. "Behold, our beautiful realm!"

But now that you're finished, one very important question remains.

"Awesome! But uh… What next?" Ami asks you.

"Isn't that obvious?" you exclaim and turn to look at Ami with a mischievous look in your eyes. "The same as with all sand castles… We destroy it! Spectacularly!"

"Ooh, I know!" Matsuko bounces up with obvious glee. "A meteor could appear and hit the city!"

"Nah, that's silly! The orbital defense turrets would take care of that," you tell her. "Obviously an army of evil dinosaurs and rebels will come and destroy the city." Complete with a climatic showdown between the evil tyrant-saur and Mr. Fluffy atop the palace. Mr. Fluffy would sadly lose, but escape and train to become a hero worthy of legends! A classic tale…

"Uh, but how about something more likely?" Ami tries to suggest, smiling weakly. "Say, a hurricane could do it? The sea could also flood and take the city down with it. Or maybe an earthquake?"

"But that's booooring~!" you whine pitifully, while Matsuko nods along to your words.

"Yup! Natural disasters are so mundane. I say an undead army will come and turn the city to dust!"

"Ooh, I have an idea!" you follow up immediately. "A group of gigantic people would appear and attack the. It would be a grim reminder to the tiny humankind, about how they live in fear of the giant Queen and her consorts!"

"...Or a blast of magic would vaporize the city all of sudden?" Yuujin finally pipes in, drawing everyone else's look towards her in a simultaneous movement. She raises her eyebrow at the display and folds her arms over her chest. "Just a thought?"

"Hmph, there's so much to choose from…" you say, falling into sulking, before you realize something. "But how about we do everything! It would be the Tamicalypse!"

"...I like the way you think," Matsuko says with a very wide smile. "Come one, bring it all down!"

You do as suggested, trampling, and jumping, and splashing the sand buildings with everyone else. Though you feel a bit bad about destroying something as awesome and incredible as your first sand castle, you have a blast tearing it all down like that. It wouldn't last too long anyways.

By the end of it, only some remains of canals remain where once stood the proud city of Tamiburg. A testament to your Baron's skill at managing the countryside of Tamiville. Your entire group is laying on the grass, grinning and cooling down from the wild ride while basking in the bright sunlight.

What do you do?

[] Talk with your friends.

[] Suggest you do something in the totally-not-reality-marble.

[] Suggest you leave back to the real world.

[] Write-in.

===

Well, this one was a strange udpate to write to say at least

 

[DrZiztah]

[X] Talk with your friends.
-[X] Reminisce about the trips you and your friends used to dream about.
[X] Suggest you leave back to the real world.
-[X] Go to a café to relax and snack.

"Man, I didn't know going to beach could be that much fun," you heave out after a moment, stifling a giggle threatening to erupt out of your mouth. "I've really wanted to go to a beach for a long time… or, well, anywhere really, but I never really got the chance do anything like that."

Guess there's a first time for everything. And now you're also going to go to Hokkaido in a few weeks for another trip…

"You know, this is hardly the only thing fun in beaches, Tami," Matsuko tells you. "I kind of wish we had planned for this beforehand so everyone could have brought some stuff for swimming. It's not a proper beach trip if you don't go to the water!"

"Bwah, maybe next time?" you say.

"Just give me a call, and I'll see what we can do," Yuujin promises you, and takes a small pause before continuing with a certain sense of reminiscence. "Kinda want to go to Cologne again myself. Doubt I'll get a chance soon, but eh… It's a really nice place."

"Well, I do have a couple of friends from France, which is pretty close?" you suggest, suddenly starting to muse if you actually should ask Ariane or Evelyn about that. "They'll probably go there to visit at some point, I'd think, so maybe hitch a ride on the same plane? What do you think, could be a fun plan?"

"It's better than nothing," Matsuko notes with a certain subtle tinge of worry in her voice. "I'd personally like to go to The States myself. There's just so much to see! And I don't mean just a cheap trip to Hawaii, Yuyu's beaches are so much better, but an actual road trip through the country!"

"Wouldn't that take forever, though?" Ami asks. "It's a lot bigger place than people realize, you know."

"Eh, I'd probably reserve several weeks to do that," Matsuko brushes the concerns off.

"But hey, Ami? Where would you like to go if you got the chance?" you ask her, genuinely curious.

"Oh? Hmm… To be honest, I've been kind of curious about trying more serious downhill skiing at some point. I've only tried kids' runs before," she admits with a faint, embarrassed blush on her face. "So… Anywhere with snow and good slopes, I think?"

"That sounds like fun!" Matsuko grins.

"Definitely," you agree turning to take a look behind you at the pile of winter clothing lying there, unused. "Oh, by the way guys, do you think we should go back to the real world soon? Maybe pick some sort of café and wind down there?"

"That's a fantastic idea!" Matsuko agree much quicker than you'd thought. "Everyone, take your stuff, and Yuyu'll take us back."

"Huh, that was pretty sudden," Ami blinks, but nonetheless rises to stand up and pick her own winter clothing. The rest of you sans Yuujin follow after her and clothe yourself in the jackets and shoes again.

Once you're done, Yuujin simply summons her spear and sticks it to the ground. You watch as the word starts to ripple and disappear, as if some sort of illusion gave in, leaving you back to a cold and dark construction site, a stark contrast to warm and bright Sun of Yuujin's world.

You shiver a little when a cold wind hits you in the face.

"Hmm, welcome back to the real world, where two years have passed while you were gone," Yuujin jokes dryly and steps out of the area with a bright flash of blue light that signals her de-transformation. "Let's go see what the future has in store for us."

"Uh, right?" you say, genuinely a little bit worried that she may not be joking about the time having passed faster here. Would your friends forget about you in that time? "But say, any ideas for a café to visit?"

"I think I know a place," Ami tells you. "Follow me, and I'll show you."

From thought to action, Ami takes the lead and starts walking down the streets with the rest of you in tow. It takes a few minutes for you to arrive to a simple street café that seems to have been on your friend's mind.

The entire group sits down to a free table and start looking through the menu to order something to drink and snack on. It's a quick affair, though you seem to notice Yuujin and Matsuko being engaged in some sort of telepathic conversation again. You get the impression that the former is not too thrilled about whatever it is, as she eventually excuses herself to go to the toilet.

It's about 7 pm, and you suspect this'll be the last stop before your friends have to leave for home.

What do you do?

[] Talk with Matsuko and Ami!

[] Wait for Yuujin, and then talk with everyone!

[] Write-in.

===

Righto.

 

[DrZiztah]

[X] Brainmail Matsuko and Yuujin.
-[X] Er, Matsuko? What was that?
[X] Wait for Yuujin, and then talk with everyone!
-[X] How good was spend time with them and when you can meet again.

You watch with some concern as Yuujin disappears from your sight and to the restroom. Though you can't quite put your finger on it, you're fairly sure there's something going on there, something… suspicious? No, maybe not really suspicious, but it's something you're nonetheless curious about.

Matsuko seemed to be in a bit of a hurry to leave the pocket dimension-slash-world before, and something definitely passed on between the two of them. It could be something better left to the two of them. But at the same time, you're their friend! if there's something going on, you need to know if it's something you can help with.

As such, you close your eyes for a moment and open the telepathic link between yourself, Matsuko and Yuujin.

'Err, Matsuko?' you ask her, cautious in your tone if not in your words. 'What was that?'

'Huh, what that?' she asks back.

'That. That thing you just did with Yuujin,' you exclaim firmly. 'Is there something going on? It seems like you're trying to hide something.'

'Uh, I don't know what you mean-' Matsuko tries to deny, lying pretty badly, before getting interrupted by Yuujin.

'Just taking my meds,' the blunette tells you, and you can imagine her shrugging in front of a mirror as she tells you that. 'Matsuko is tyrannically punctual about it.'

'And for a good reason! I-,' Matsuko huffs, seemingly starting a longer explanation before cutting herself off. 'Anyhow, yeah, Yuujin is on a medication. Though it may sound bad like that, it's nothing you should worry about, alright?'

You have to make an active effort not to nod and clue Ami to her being left out. Though it sounds very concerning, you suspect this is not the time and place for that. It's still a rather private thing, and it would probably be really rude to ask about it, especially given how Matsuko looks like she really doesn't want you to bring it up.

Though you can't help but to wonder what it is...

"Um, guys, why are you being so silent?" Ami breaks you out of your thoughts with a question. "I mean, it's pretty strange to come back from all the Sun, but I don't really feel that tired?"

You have to stifle your giggle. "Oh, sorry, I just got lost in my thoughts!" which is technically true too!

"Yeah, the same!" Matsuko agrees with a nod and turns on her chair to stare at the bathroom doors. It barely takes a few seconds for one of them to open and Yuujin to walk out at a leisure pace, looking no different than before.

Granted, there's still the small undercurrent of annoyance of having to bother with this on her face, well-suppressed as it is.

"So, what did I miss?" she asks while casually sliding back onto her chair. "The café still seems to be in one piece at least."

"What, did you assume any different?" Matsuko asks back, turning her glance towards the reception. "Also, I think they have our drinks ready!"

True enough, the waiter, a young-looking teenage guy, brings you your drinks and pastries before politely leaving you to your own devices. As you look into your teacup, you can't help but to wonder about the day and everything that has happened. Though it was awkward at first, it now feels natural to be with your old friends again, even if for a single day.

"Guys, uh…" you start before you realize what is happening. And by the time you've managed to close your mouth, your friends are already looking at you. Way to go, Tamiko, now you need to voice your thoughts! "Um, it was… Well, it was really nice to spend time with you again after all that time."

"Aww, Tamimoe's getting sentimental~!" Matsuko says with a bright grin, while stretching closer to ruffle your hair. You easily dodge the weak attempt and huff at the nickname.

"I'm not! It's just that… it's just really nice, that's all!"

"Aww, it's alright," Yuujin breaks in. "It was a really nice day, that's for sure!"

"Definitely!" Ami agrees with a firm nod. She looks by far the happiest out of you there, though she is good at putting it under a veneer of dignified politeness. "We should start doing this again."

"Hmm, yeah…" you say and pause to think. "When do you think we could meet later, though? Shirome's still quite a bit away."

"Oh, but that's not a problem, not at all!" Matsuko exclaims and cracks her knuckles very visibly, as if to remind you of something very important. "Getting the ride is no problem!"

"And really, it's not like we have much to do with our days," Yuujin continues. "So, really, just give us a call, and we'll figure something out."

"I will keep that in mind," Ami nods and grabs her cup. "But how about we all take cheer for a good day, alright?"

Hmm, that sounds like fun! Matsuko and Yuujin seem to agree to that too, seeing as they bring their own glasses to the middle of the table and extend their arms. A happy smile finds its way on your face as you all raise your cups in the air and push them together.

"Cheers!"

"Prost!"

"Santé!"

"Kanpai!"

A moment of silence follows, before all of you descent into a varying states of mad giggling.

What do you do?

[] Talk more with your friends.

[] Telepathy Yuujin and Matsuko.

[] End the day
-[] Hunt a witch
-[] Go home

[] Write-in.

===

I know now how to say cheers in several other languages. In addition to the English-German-French-Japanese ones up there, I'll also add 'Kippis!' from Finnish and 'Skål!' from Swedish .

 

[DrZiztah]

[x] End the day
-[x] Hunt a witch

Much as the day began much earlier, it also ends with the four of you simply chatting about nonsensical stuff and the general life. Your drinks and pastries are consumed away quite fast, but the conversation continues, with the topics shifting to the finer points of the movie you saw earlier and different arcade games.

You can't help but to side-eye Yuujin whenever you think she's not looking. Though it's not something you'd pay attention to without the prior suspicions, you can notice how her speech seems to be somewhat more difficult.

It's nothing major, really, a fraction of a second's pause to think here and a small mispronunciation there… But when you're actively looking for it, it's rather notable.

But seeing as your old friend doesn't just collapse or become completely unintelligible, you let it be. She's alright for all intents and purposes, even if probably under some stronger drugs.

The day ends on pleasant terms as all of you go your own ways. After some insistence on Matsuko's part, Ami eventually agrees to joining the shatter route back home. You yourself decline the offer, citing business in the city.

You still need to become stronger, after all, and for that you need to fight and push onwards.

And with that, you bid your last goodbyes for the day, and head to a more remote corner to transform and climb onto the roofs of the city. The cold evening wind blows against your face as you move out in search for witches to hunt.

It takes you some time, but you eventually come upon one below an elevated highway intersection. The barrier seems rather small but growing, as it flashes in dull and lifeless colors of grey and black.

However, that doesn't seem to the most pressing concerns as you can pick up the sound of someone- no, several someones blaring the horns of their cars. Your gaze turns straight above towards the elevated highways, and your eyes widen in horror as you see a bus crash against the railing with a resounding boom and screeching, as the tires continue pushing it forwards against the rapidly folding beam of metal.

It will fall very soon. You have a few seconds maybe.

What do you do?

[] Write-in.

===

So, SV... do you feel like heroes? 12