[Sora sits on the balcony of her treehouse, looking out over the lake. She's... Not exactly happy. No, she's sad. Finally, she turns to the Vine growing along the railing and transmits a message.]

...There's a lot going on. And I know what the Queen said. So... If anyone needs anyone to talk to, I'm a good listener. It's... I think it's the only thing I can do in this situation.

[Filtered to Aqua and Ventus--"Hackable"]

...Ven? Aqua? I... ...Would you guys like to stay in the treehouse with me and Xion? It's too big for just the two of us, and there's plenty of room. I'm sure she won't mind.

[And so the transmission ends and she just looks out over the summer lake again, waiting for any responses.]

[On the mirror today, Alice was there, with a slightly aggravated look on her face. She looks the same as before, so what could be gnawing at her?]

Okay, I've been over hearing faint angry noises, screams and other such things. I haven't been paying attention, because I had better things to do. But someone I know told me something was going on.

... So what's been going on now exactly?

[ the writing starts off in large, untidy letters, scrawled slowly across the scroll. The ink blots, but it's at least legible; as the writing continues, it becomes more fluid, but none of it is written in straight lines ]

Dear Citizens,

What's a vigilante to do? Using her fearsome powers of shocking irony, our new adversary (although, technically, shouldn't the Queen's enemy be our friend? Anyone?) has turned me into a giant bat. No, seriously. I'm not making this up. This is my life! Do you have any idea how difficult it is to write with wings webbed between your fingers!? I'd talk, but it comes out like a high-pitched, sonic-screech... echo... location... thing.

Anyway, let's get down to business. Sort things out. How did we defeat the lesbian mistletoe? Kissing! How did we defeat those shadow/light monsters in the snow? The power of friendship and teamwork! So, for once, I'm not gonna let gravity do the work and hope that I manage to hit the bad guys hard enough that they forget they're twice my size. Not that punching would help much in this case, now that I think about it, so here's what we're gonna do:

We're gonna get together, hold hands, and hug it out.

As per the Queen's suggestion of reaching out, opening our hearts, blah blah blah, for a limited time only, I'm offering—

• hugs (may evolve into cuddles, if things get desperate)


• oddly personal conversation (I'll take any and all secrets to the grave)


• cheek-kisses (even though... I'm not sure that I have lips at the moment. Ha. Haha.)


• athletic butt-slaps (mostly joking here, but I really dislike being a bat)

Lots of love,

Girl-Bat
(the Caped Crusader formerly known as Batgirl)

p.s. You may also use this space to discuss conspiracy theories. e.g., maybe the Queen and Echidna are in cahoots. E casts a nasty spell on us, the Queen helps us fix it, she gets a +10 in her Knight in Shining Armour rank and -20 Skeevy Kidnapper points.

[ Video ]
[Melia is sitting on white stone against a background recognizable as the ruins at the center of the gardens.]

It would seem that a most sudden rash of mutations has been raking the population. I don't know the complete story, but this is related to an Echidna attacking you? It seems the Queen is doing something I don't quite understand involving hearts.

If any of you affected wish to talk with someone, you may come here to those ruins and I will offer you my ear or company in discussion, depending on what you wish. As you can see, I am myself a mutant, and have been since long before I arrived here. I have seen many people of all shapes, and ugliness does not really exist to me. Indeed, many of your changed forms still appear beautiful to me.

You do not know me yet, but I have acted as a confidant many times and never betrayed that confidence. When people do not come to family or friends to talk things over, they often come to a priest.

And for those that wish for them, I am offering kisses for an unlimited time. You're all cute, you know.

[She cracks a playful smile during that last couple of sentences to show that she's lightening the mood.]

[Mahalia is still completely herself, luckily, but looking very distressed, her concern evident as she speaks.]

Has anyone seen Paderau? I only left her for a few minutes, but she's gone.

[She glances over her shoulder, back where the statue-like figure of the warden had been standing, last she'd seen her.]

I suppose it's a good thing she isn't trapped anymore, but... [She worried at a lock of her hair, then looks back at the mirror.]

I know there's a lot going on, and people are... busy, but if anyone's seen her, please let me know.