A Series of Revelations

Mary was going through her wardrobe to find something comfortable and a skirt. She tied her hair up in a bun. After changing for both forms, Mary came out of the bathroom. “Okay is this acceptable for your plans?”

After looking Mary over and Laura nodded. Laura said, “Yep, sure is. Wish it was shorter but whatever.”

"Actually, you said you would wear the outfit I selected yesterday..."

"Oh, crap I forgot about that sorry Ellen, let me go change." Mary swapped into the fairy outfit and came back out.

“I’d like your opinions on something. My hair it’s super long. Do you think it would look better, shorter?”

They both thought it over. Laura answered first. “I don’t know it would definitely be different. I keep mine short because it got in the way while exercising. It is really a personal preference. I think you should do what feels right to you. Some of us will probably say yes while others would say no.”

“I concur with Laura, Mary. The length of your hair is a matter for your determination and shouldn’t conform to what we desire.”

“Could you still tell me what you would prefer?”

Laura thought it over. “Okay without actually seeing the short hair, I think the long would likely be better.”

“I don’t think either option is superior. It is contingent upon your objective. Different lengths would yield different aesthetics.” Ellen said.

“Okay thank you. So, where are you taking me?”

“Ha, good try but you will just have to follow us.” Laura said and the three of them walked out of the building.

Freya was waiting on the carriage again.

Mary climbed in asking, “I take it Hilde is still huge then?”

“She is indeed. It should wear off some time tomorrow at the latest.

“That’s good to hear.” Mary was checking out Freya’s curves. Hmm… I wonder if I can convince her to join the harem… God I want to drive her wild so bad. Hilde too. Damn they are both so fuckable. WOAH! NO! BAD MARY! STOP THINKING THAT! Talk about something else, “So, how is the library project going?”

“Well, Sam thinks she sort of knows how the books are organized, but feels like she is missing something key. They did find a pamphlet about one season of the show. It was a brochure for a casino themed season. Not particularly relevant, but it does confirm that it should actually be possible to find what we are looking for, assuming it is actually in the library.”

“That is good to hear. I wish I had some time to help.”

~Ping~

Mary pulled out her phone and checked the message. “Oh, cool. Ellen apparently Aubrey can help with the intelligence loss from the Milked Dumbs you received. Her hair…” Mary started typing frantically.

“Her hair can do what?” Laura asked the frantic Mary, but didn’t get a reply.

Mary deflated for a minute. Then Mary was hesitant. “Laura… so Aubrey’s hair has restorative properties, it returned Talia’s intelligence to her. I was thinking it might help you with your problem.”

“Oh, Hell yes! Freya, speed up!”

“Laura calm down and let me finish. Cassandra truly doesn’t know if it will help but believes it either will do nothing or reset the chance. She mentioned that it could interact unpredictably though and do the opposite.”

“If Cassandra isn’t fucking around with us then I want to try it.”

“Okay I’ll let them know. Okay there done. We are meeting at the fountain in town.”

“Good.” Mary could see Laura was stressed, so she grabbed her hand.

The three of them quickly got off and made their way to the center of town finding Aubrey, and Sam there.

“Hey, thanks for coming. Not that I mind seeing you Sam but why did you tag along.”

“Because I was worried about Laura.” Sam said. “It seemed like something was seriously wrong with her. Laura seems fine though. So what’s wrong?”

Laura spoke up before Mary could, “I don’t want to tell you that. It isn’t like you’re my girlfriend or anything.”

“Ooo-kay, going to gloss over that.” Sam said, “Aubrey go ahead, Start with Ellen since we know that works.”

Mary, Laura, and Ellen looked on as Aubrey’s hair moved to encircle Ellen’s head in a crown, then she sang.

Ellen responded, “Jinkies! That is intriguing. I could distinctly feel the haze over my thoughts lift. My cognition is, unequivocally, far more acute.”

“Okay, my turn Aubrey.” Laura stepped towards her, lowering her head slightly.

“Umm, Laura what is the issue? I ask because apparently it works better if my hair is closer to the affected area. Is your thing a mental problem too?”

Laura looked evasive.

Mary responded, “Put it around her waist then.” Laura snapped her head towards Mary, “Laura look if we are doing this might as well make it effective.”

Aubrey moved her hair around Laura’s waist, and sang. When she was done she said, “Look why are you being so evasive. What is the issue?”

Mary: Cassandra can you tell?

~Pop~

Cassandra leaned in and examined Laura. “Aubrey, could you do it again?” Aubrey complied but grumpily. “Hmmm… hard to tell, definitely didn’t make it more likely that I can tell you. It did seem to be doing something though. Sorry you two, I’ll have an answer in a couple of days at the latest.”

~Pop~

“Seriously, you aren’t going to tell us or explain why you are naked Laura?” Aubrey asked.

Laura didn’t want to meet Aubrey’s gaze.

Ellen said in a bratty voice, “Why hide it? Either you are or aren’t pregnant Laura.”

“PREGNANT!?” Sam and Aubrey exclaimed in unison, while Laura exclaimed, “ELLEN! THAT WAS PRIVATE!”

Aubrey looked at Mary, “You got Laura pregnant? SERIOUSLY!? Out of everyone. HER!? You have multiple people that actively, definitely want your children and you get the one person who might not, pregnant! REALLY!?”

“Aubrey, don’t yell at me.” Mary said menacingly. “I’m almost half tempted to drag you into an alley and give you what you want right now, to buy the birth control option for you so I can set the chance of pregnancy to whatever I want and turn it to 100%.”

That excited Aubrey greatly, “I… well… we could…”

“Be quiet, I said almost. I found out last night that I found punishing Ellen really satisfying. The other part of me wants to punish you. I’m not going to do either of those things though. Now what happened with Laura wasn’t intentional. We also don’t know that she’s pregnant. That is why we are both stressed. Thank you Aubrey for coming and trying to help. I think you should leave though before I end up saying something I really regret.”

While Aubrey hesitated Sam didn’t. Sam grabbed Aubrey’s arm and pulled her through the portal.

Laura looked at Mary. “You know you probably should get her that option and just get her pregnant right?”

“No, not only because I don’t feel ready to be a parent. I want more from her than for her to be a broodmare.” Mary lost the menacing atmosphere and asked Laura, “So where are you taking me again?”

Ellen replied, “Your endeavor is in vain Mary. We shall not reveal the secret.”

“Okay, lead the way then.”

On the other side of the portal Aubrey was in a daze. Sam looked at her with sympathy. “Aubrey…”

“She said she wanted to punish me.”

“Aubrey, Mary is currently under the effects of a candy that brings up her darker impulses, that is why Mary asked us to leave. She was afraid to say something to both of us, not just you. I trust that Mary and Mark are a good person. I also don’t think you have a right to throw stones, considering what you’ve done, actually done, not just thought.”

“What, I’ve done? What do you mean, because if you are talking about trying to get back at you.”

“I’m not. I’m talking about what you did to Chloe and Talia, yesterday. I already told you, that you took advantage of them.”

Aubrey looked at her in confusion, “Talia wanted to be milked.”

“Not that. Breastfeeding either of them.”

“They did it willingly.”

“They did it impaired. I’m not saying they were at the point they couldn’t legally consent in a lot of places. I’ve had a beer and slept with people before. I’ve also slept with people who have had **** themselves. But there is no way you could say they weren’t impaired. The only reason I’m not getting Mark involved is because I know both of them wanted to suck on your breasts and drink from you prior to it happening. You still took advantage of them and should apologize though. Now while I wasn’t lying about being worried about Laura I came because I still want to resolve things with you. Can we do that?”

“You would help me? Really?”

“Yes Aubrey, I would.”

“Then why didn’t you, in the challenge? Why not team up?”

“Aubrey, I have to be careful about the things I start. If I had teamed up with you and you got caught by Mark, I’m not sure that I could have left you behind in that challenge. Also like I said before I don’t think there was an advantage to teaming up unless you were planning on using the other as bait in that situation. But I don't leave or abandon my team if I can help it. I don’t have an issue helping you improve though. I’m not fundamentally opposed to teaming up either, but if we are teaming up it needs to be for mutual benefit and either we aren’t directly competing or we have agreed upon rules for if that comes up. So how about we put any problems we have with each other and simply start fresh. Then I take you over to the dojo and beat the crap out of you until you have learned how not to have the crap beaten out of you.”

“You really know how to make that sound ever so appealing. Fine.” Aubrey extended her hand in a peace offering. “Please teach me.” Sam shook her hand.

After Cassandra vanished, and Aubrey and Sam left to meet Mary at the fountain, Talia had also run off to prepare for her date the following day. Leaving Merida and Chloe together in the tower. They walked out not seeing a reason to stay.

Merida asked Chloe, “Think Sam and Aubrey will be able tae settle their differences, eh?”

“No clue, I hope so. Honestly, if Sam wants it she will probably end up getting it eventually.”

“Whit makes ye say that?”

“Well, when she fails she learns what she did wrong. She learns how to improve. So, she’ll probably win Aubrey over eventually.”

“Well that is a terrifyin’ notion. Nearly as terrifyin’ as the idea that I could cause someone tae fall intae a trance like that.” Merida snapped her fingers.

Chloe felt a little odd but ignored it, “Is that what you were doing with Flora? Hypnosis?”

“Oh… Oopsie. I shouldnae hae said that.”

“I can see why you two didn’t want that spread around, and why it was you or Laura. Everyone else could be a problem.”

“Even you?” Merida asked.

“Oh, yeah. Do you realize how much debt Flora would accrue? I don’t but it wouldn’t be small.” Chloe noticed that Cassandra had left her book on the table as she was looking past Merida. The back was facing up and it was bright yellow with a black strip across the back. “One second.” She walked over and looked at the book Merida followed and they both were surprised by the title on the side. ‘How to Get Mark Garret to Like You: For Dummies’

~POP~

Cassandra snatched the book off of the table and glared at them. “Okay, what is your silence going to cost me.”

"Clear oot my time workin’ in the shops."

“Can’t. Merida, ask for something else.”

While Merida was thinking Chloe responded. “I want the book.”

Cassandra considered that. “You can have it up until your day with Mark this round after that it goes back to the library.”

“Deal.”

“You can only have it if both of you agree to keep silent about this.”

“I want tae change one o’ my paths, tae somethin’ else and I get tae pick.”

“No. I can give you the reroll option in the store for free, you get three random paths and you pick one. That’s the absolute best you are going to get from me on that. Only Mark can **** a specific path.”

Merida growled, “Fine. Deal.”

Cassandra said “Just realize my deals are far more binding than the ones you make Chloe. Don’t let Mark find out about this. Merida you will find the option to reroll on your phone.”

“I won’t let Mark find out about the book.” Chloe responded.

“Good. Chloe, I'm sending the book to your room since your hands are occupied for the moment.” Cassandra vanished.

~Pop~

“Well that was a stroke o’ guid fortune.”

“Yeah, well I know what I’m doing for the next few days.” Merida chuckled at that. “I’ll see you later Merida.”

“Alright, see you later Chloe, dinnae forget tae share tips wi’ yer friends.”

Flora returned to the cottage finding Allie and Isabella there talking, which they abruptly stopped when she walked into the cottage.

“Umm… If I’m interrupting something I can leave.” Flora said.

“Nonsense. Flora this is your room as well as ours.” Allie said. “Come join us.” Allie patted the bed for Flora to come sit next to her. “Also why is your hair pink? Not that I don’t like it.”

“It’s a candy effect, Laura and Ellen have different colored hair too.” Flora went and took a seat next to the two wolf-girls on the bed. “So what were you two talking about?” Before they could answer Bruno pounced on Flora and started to affectionately lick her face. “Hey! What the? A dog? Oh who’s a good boy.” Flora started to scritch his ears.

“¡Ay, Bruno! ¡Abajo! We talked about this. No jumping on people.” Isabella said.

Bruno reluctantly got down off the bed but put his head on the side and gave them all a very fierce puppy dog stare. Flora said, “OH, you’re a good boy yes you are, yes you are. So we have a dog, now?”

“Bruno is my puppy but yes he’ll be staying here.” Isabella replied.

“Awesome, I love animals.” Flora beamed at Isabella.

“Flora, do you mind if I ask you something that might be personal?”

“Sure not a problem.”

“Why didn’t you buy back all of your collateral from the casino?” Isabella said, unable to keep herself from glancing at Flora’s breasts.

“I mean I’ve got to be topless for the rest of the day so what? I mean honestly I’m not bothered by it. Having the extra BP could be worth it.”

“Okay this might sound rude but you would really go topless for what is the equivalent of money?”

Flora considered that. “Isabella, I know we haven’t been here that much longer than you have but, it feels that way. Having BP can be extremely useful. The nudity isn’t really that big of a deal. It might even help me. After all, Mark definitely seemed to like it, as do you apparently as you can’t stop glancing at them.”

“I’m… I’m sorry.” Isabella said, looking away.

Allie laughed at that. “You always were one for big breasts Isabella.”

Flora turned to Allie, “I actually wanted to ask you for something, Allie. It might also make Isabella more comfortable. Could I borrow that magic collar you were sent?”

“Oh, that is actually pretty smart.” Allie got up and went through her wardrobe and pulled out the collar, Flora noticed that Allie actually had something like a dozen different ones in her wardrobe. “Here you go.”

When Allie passed it to Flora she noticed that the collar changed slightly, shrinking in size and the dog tag was replaced by a little bell, and the collar shrank in thickness to be more like a cat’s collar. “Well that’s neat.” Flora remarked as she put on the collar. Then Flora stripped off all her clothing. “Isabella, does this bother you at all?”

Isabella looked confused. “Does what?”

“Me being nude?” Flora asked.

“What? No. Of course not. It’s normal for you to be nude.”

Flora nodded in satisfaction at Isabella’s response, then Flora asked. “So what were you two talking about?”

Allie responded “Well, mostly just the show and the fact that the three of us were placed in this room.”

“What’s so odd about us being in this room?”

Isabella grimaced, “Allie told me the name of the cottage, The Playhouse Kennel. Like we are some animals to be caged.”

Flora shook her head, “I don’t think it’s like that, Isabella. Last night we were talking about room effects and we think there are passive magical effects on all the rooms. We knew about the amenities but thinking about it, I agree that the rooms have magical properties. The names are supposed to be hints I think. ‘Playhouse’ is simple enough, and so is ‘kennel’. They relate to the fetishes of the effects.”

“So, what? We should be Mark’s good little housewives or pets?”

“I mean that might be what is being pushed.” Flora nodded. “But, I think it is less about the extremes and more about opening us up to the idea.”

“I guess, I’m just not used to the idea still.”

“Well, don’t worry Isabella, we will both look fantastic as Mark’s brides. I know you aren’t ready for that yet, but I trust you will get there.”

“I guess… Flora, I’d like a perspective that’s not Allie’s on this. Should I just give up and embrace being Mark’s partner and eventual spouse? Like, I feel like that is going to get **** on me but it is also not something that I dislike the idea of.”

“No, you should definitely not give up. Not unless you want to become a housewife, and nothing more. But that doesn’t mean you can’t embrace being Mark’s partner. Just do it on your own terms. Look, I’m conflicted about my own transformations. I don’t dislike being a lioness. Originally, I said I would have preferred to have been made a more traditional cat-girl. I’m now really glad that I wasn’t. Isabella have you looked in the mirror yet?”

“No, I haven’t.” Isabelle shook her head.

“Do that the next time you are in the suite. I think it could help. Even if it isn’t perfect, having an idea of what your most likely outcome is can help you know if you would like that or if you need to fix things. I was terrified of what I saw the first time. Even if I don’t remember everything I remember feeling alone and disconnected. I was a pet and nothing more. It helped me immensely. Now when I look into the mirror, I feel at peace. It isn’t where I want to end but it is so much better than the first time. So, is there anything about the show worrying you?”

“Yeah, Allie and therefore me as well being eliminated. Allie told me about ASTRID and that scares me a lot. Being transformed into Allie, I love you dear but I don’t want to be you. Everything really, I’m just overwhelmed.”

“Well… I don’t see the two of you getting eliminated. Mark is in love with Allie that much is clear. He’ll get her over 100VP easily.”

“You think so? Because Allie was filling in more details about what she’s done this last round and Mark doesn’t seem to have made much time for her. He seems far more interested in Sam and Laura.”

“Look, I said that I didn’t choose Allie to sabotage during the challenge, because I thought it would be worse for her than Ellen. That’s true but really I didn’t want to risk getting Mark angry at me. I know he says he isn’t going to retaliate for stuff in challenges, and mostly I believe that. I didn’t want to risk it though. As far as not making time, well I think we all mostly feel that way. Allie and Mark already have so much history and time to have established a relationship that the stuff he needs to make time for the rest of us he has already dealt with, with Allie. Honestly, Allie in my view you have both the easiest and hardest position. If you can accept Mark being with the rest of us I think you have the easiest time, which it seems like that is at least mostly the case.”

“Yeah, I think being with Sam and now Isabella is helping. It makes me feel like I’m not alone. Talia is right though we really need to start pushing for more time with Mark each day.” Isabella smiled at Allie and squeezed her hand.

“Well don’t do that today. Mary is rather stressed right now, and the candy effects on her are making her indulge in some things that she wouldn’t normally. Don’t ask, just let the candies clear out of her system.” Allie looked concerned but let the matter drop. “Now I don’t know what you two were planning today but I’m going to the library, I didn’t get a chance to explore it for stuff not related to my sleepwalking.”

“I think I’m just going to take a few more days to acclimate, maybe explore the town and walk Bruno.” Isabella said.

“I’m staying with Isabella for the most part. I plan to do some stuff with Sam too but not today.”

“Alright, have fun you two.” Flora got up and gave Bruno some pets, “You have fun too Bruno.” As Flora sashayed out of the cottage, Allie and Isabella couldn’t help but stare at her naked rear and swishing tail, as she waved goodbye over her shoulder.

Merida found herself standing outside of Maja’s shop and went inside. Oh aye, this isnae creepy at all. A dimly lit red marble hall. Totally no’ an evil villainess’s lair. I hope Chloe is right that she can help. Merida entered the rotunda and saw the same statues along the top that all the others who had visited before had seen. She saw hers, she was standing on one leg with the other being held up behind her with her foot nearly touching the back of her head. It was hard to tell at this distance but it looked like she was wearing a virgin killer sweater. Her eyes were made of citrines, and the body of an orange stone.

“Welcome Merida.” Merida jumped in surprise as the voice came from behind her.

“Bloody Hell! Ye scared the life oot o’… me?” Merida turned around and found no one there.

“Did you know Maja has telepathy?” Merida jumped again but this time immediately turned around, to find Maja there, and immediately fell backwards in shock upon seeing Maja’s appearance. She had black sclera, red irises, dark midnight blue hair, a long black dress, black stockings and a sinister black crown.

Maja caught Merida as she was stumbling backwards, “Now Maja can’t have that.” Maja pulled Merida back to her feet. “Twas, joke. Maja can read minds though. Your thoughts were so loud Maja couldn’t help but hear. So Maja play joke. Now how can Maja help you?”

“Okay, I was lookin’ for some advice. Also did ye really change intae that so quickly just for a joke?” Merida was clutching her chest.

“No, Maja was working on something for Talia. Maja saw opportunity, and took it. Maja is happy to give advice, please step on the pedestal and we will get your style sorted in no time.”

“No’ the advice I was lookin’ for.” Merida replied.

“What advice would you like Maja to give then?”

“Well Chloe thought we might hae similar transformations and that ye might hae some suggestions on how tae deal wi’ them.”

“Ah, Maja sees. Maja does suppose the two of us do have some things in common. Maja is confused as to what you mean by deal with. What is the problem?”

“Well, how d’ye deal wi’ bein’ treated like a poseable doll or figurine?”

“With quick, harsh retaliation, but Maja understands your question. Maja likes most of her transformations. Partly because Maja did the best in challenges and was rewarded for it. What is it in particular that bothers you?”

“I dinnae want tae be treated like a mannequin or doll.”

“Then do not let Mark treat you that way.”

“What aboot when I am made one, literally?”

“Still do not let Mark treat you that way.”

“What if I’m made tae enjoy it?”

“Maja doesn’t know what else to tell you Merida. Maja loves showing off. Maja is a work of art that deserves to be seen, admired, and adored. Anyone who has thought that Maja was simply a doll has paid the price severely for it. Only one did not pay that price at Maja’s own hand.” She said menacingly. “Are you trying to have Maja talk you into or out of rerolling the [Posing] path? Because Maja can tell you enjoyed yesterday immensely.”

“I dinnae ken.”

“Well if you fear being a literal doll or mannequin, know that is certainly a possibility. If you truly dread that idea so much Maja would suggest rerolling. That is a highly likely option for placing low in a challenge. Getting an animal TF might decrease the likelihood you get that but not eliminate it. But Maja would recommend not harmonizing the TFs you have. You seem to enjoy them.”

“I dae, that’s why I was wonderin’ if I was bein’ hasty.”

“Merida, stand on pedestal.” Merida looked at the empty statue plinth and reluctantly stepped onto it. “Now, may Maja pose you?” Merida nodded. Maja posed Merida in a ballerina pose and showed her in the mirror as such. Maja left her there, saying nothing to Merida just letting her stare at her own reflection.

After a minute of posing, and Maja saying nothing, Merida turned her head towards Maja and asked, “So, whit is this supposed tae accomplish?”

“Seventy-three seconds. That is how long before you moved at all. Maja would like to point out that you still haven’t stopped posing.”

“I didnae want tae stop in case it messed up whatever ye were tryin’ tae convey.”

“Maja just wanted to show you what it would be like. Do you dislike? Maja asks because you have still not moved your body.”

“No… I dinnae dislike it.”

“Maja would like permission to use magic on you. It will be temporary, lasting exactly five minutes.”

“Will ye tell me whit ye want tae dae?”

“No, either trust Maja’s process or don’t.”

“Nothin’ will be permanent?”

“Maja promises. Maja would be in trouble if Cassandra had to undo anything.”

“Fine.”

“Then please look back into the mirror, first, you may also put your leg down.” Merida did so, as soon as she did, she couldn’t move and she saw and felt her body turn to solid gold.

Och, NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! BLOODY HELL! I CANNAE MOVE! I'M A LITERAL STATUE! NO! Okay, calm doon. Maja said only five minutes like this. But what if she’s lyin’? OH GOD, NO! WHY DID I AGREE TAE THIS?! Merida started counting in her head trying to keep herself calm. When she counted to three hundred she truly began to panic. NO! NO! IT’S BEEN FIVE MINUTES NO SHE’S GOIN’ TAE LEAVE ME LIKE THIS! NO! Merida saw her reflection turn normal again and she practically leapt off the plinth. “I THOUGHT YE SAID EXACTLY FIVE MINUTES!”

“Merida, do not yell at Maja. Maja detests the echo it makes in here. That was exactly five minutes. Everyone thinks counting to three hundred takes five minutes but it does not. Also, Merida, Maja believes you have your answer to whether you should reroll the [Posing] path, don’t you?”

“If anythin’ even close tae that could happen then aye.”

“It could.”

Merida whipped out her phone, and sent a brief text to Mary.

Merida: Hey Mary, just letting you know I’m rerolling my [Posing] path right now. I’m not asking your permission. I talked with Maja and she helped me definitively determine I don’t want it. I got a free reroll from Cassandra but I can’t tell you why. I feel like I can tell you it is nothing sinister.

Mary: Okay, if you need advice on what to pick let me know. Otherwise pick whatever you think will make you happiest.

Merida (To Cassandra): Will I have time to chat with Mary about this or will I have to pick in like a minute or something.

Cassandra: You will have time, not infinite mind you but ample. Let’s say an hour if you really need more time for some reason I’m not unwilling to grant it to you but you need to actually give me a reason besides just indecision.

Seeing Cassandra’s response Merida confirmed her choice to reroll her [Posing] Path.

Rerolling [Posing] Path, Three Random Options, Pick Your Favorite:
[Nanite Nymph]
[Posh Vixen]
[Press Sexcretary]

Merida: Okay so I got [Nanite Nymph], [Posh Vixen], [Press Sexcretary]. Thoughts?

Mary: Give me a moment.

Mary: I wouldn’t pick the [Nanite Nymph] you could still end up as a robotic doll eventually. [Posh Vixen], is likely to mess with your societal background making you upper class in various ways, while also making you a fox-girl. Also it will 100% make you a fox girl. Doesn’t matter what other TFs come up for a vote that round you will be one when it comes up. Just fair warning. The [Press Sexcretary] is likely to push you into being my PR manager trying to put me in the best light while also getting screwed senseless by me.

Merida: Thanks, I’ll let you know if I have more questions.

“Hey Maja, would ye give me your advice on which tae pick?”

“Maja, cannot do that. You must decide for yourself.”

“If I get back up on the pedestal could ye show me whit I would look like as a vixen? I mean fox-lass? Ye are supposed tae help us wi’ findin’ a style, right? I mean I was interested in gettin’ an animal TF tae no’ be a doll anyway.”

“That Maja can do. Please step on the pedestal.”

Merida stepped up on the pedestal and Maja displayed a few versions of Merida as a vixen.

“Can I get a picture o' the images in the mirror tae send tae Mary?”

“Maja can send the pictures. Now smile!” Merida smiled and posed.

~Ping~

Mary: I revise my previous advice. You should pick [Posh Vixen] the others sound dumb and should be ignored.

Merida laughed at Mary’s response. Well I’m caterin’ my look tae her anyway, maybe this way it’ll be slightly less skintight, if I’m supposed tae be posh. Wha am I kiddin’, no it won’t. Och great, noo I want tae wear ears and a tail. Well, at least I’ll never hate whit I’m wearin’, I guess. “Okay Maja, could ye help me design my style wi’ the assumption I’m goin’ tae be a fox-lass eventually?”

“Maja certainly can. Are you certain?”

“Aye, I like the way this looks mair than I think I would if I became a bear-lass. I also dinnae think I want tae be Mark’s PR person. I’m certainly no’ goin’ tae pick the nanite option.”

“While Maja is not advising you here, if you were not picking that option as a courtesy to Maja and Maja’s sisters, because of Astrid. Then you should reconsider.”

“That’s pairt o’ it, Maja, but no’ all o’ it. Mary pointed oot that I could still be a robotic doll. So no.”

“Sound reasoning. Very well. Let Maja work her magic.”

Path Change Finalized: [Posing] -> [Posh Vixen]

Flora went through the portal in town to Ellen’s Library. She still marveled at how large it was. She was pretty sure she could get lost in here, if there weren't clear markings pointing towards the exit pretty much everywhere. I know the others want to be methodical about this but I don’t feel like that is the way to handle this. Something feels off about that though, the books move as if they have a mind of their own.

Flora just picked a direction and started wandering down rows of bookshelves, glancing at the titles as she did so. Occasionally she could hear books moving about but never see them. Hmm, the others mentioned this too, that the books seem to not move while being observed, or at least try to. Are the books we are looking for just hiding? Wait… is this a prop hunt situation? Oh god, I can not let Mark know I thought about that. He won’t stop calling me a nerd for that. Hmm… I wonder. Flora activated her boon to be unobserved expecting nothing to happen and nothing did. Well that’s a let down. Well I kind of want to know what this wanting to be seen feeling is like so I’m just going to keep it on. Flora kept exploring. About ten minutes later a brown leather bound book shot out in front of her and moved across the aisle to the opposite shelf. Okay where are you, I know I saw that. Let’s see… Flora scanned the shelf she saw the book move to, eventually finding it and she took it off the shelf. The cover was a nice thick brown leather. It looked like an old journal of some kind from the exterior and it lacked any sort of identification on the book. What section am I even in? Flora looked at the titles and determined it was historical biographies. She took the book over to a table and sat down to begin reading it.

The first page read:
Lunarian 12th, 4092
Dear Diary,
Mama and Papa said I should write down my ideas in you. Like I was talking to a person. That it would be good to learn to write better. I think it is sort of silly but they are making the others do it too. Anyway, today was an exciting day. It was my twelfth birthday. We had cake, it was great. Tomorrow I get to start at the magic academy, with two of my sisters. I wish all five of them could go with me but I was told the others don’t have the talent. I wish I could share some of my magic with them. Especially one of them. Others bully her because it seems like she doesn’t have any magic. I hope it just hasn’t arrived yet. It would be awful if she never got any. Anyway, it's a big day tomorrow. So I’m going to bed.
Goodnight,
A.L.

“HOLY CRAP! Is this Astrid’s Diary? I mean she has five sisters, magic, one who’s bullied for no magic, Signed A.L., I don’t know their last name but it fits.” Flora quickly flipped through to a much later entry, in the middle of the book.

Noxtus 28th ,4098
My Dearest, Daisy,
It’s me again. I know I haven’t written to you much this month. Like I told you, final exams are brutal. So glad to be done with academy learning after today. Obviously I passed with flying colors. I WOULD be top of my class if my sister wasn’t also in my year. It’s annoying Maja is a bit worse at theory than I am but has more raw magic power than I do… Sorry Daisy, I know I’ve complained about this before. Oh yeah, something happened at graduation today that upset me. One of my classmates thought it would be a good idea to mess with Slevia since someone leaked that she didn’t have any magic of her own… DAISY! You know I don’t like you using that word for people like Slevia. She is not a ‘Dud’... … … Yes, I’m waiting for an apology… Apology accepted. Anyway, I wanted to teach people a lesson that they couldn’t mess with my sister. Maja stopped me though she could tell that I would go too far. I actually think this sends a better message too. … What? What did Maja do? Oh she turned that dick into a bronze statue then reshaped him into an attractive female statue and placed him in the front garden, for everyone to see. Maja said she would consider selling the statue back to the jerk’s family in a few months. … No I don’t think it was too ****… What did I want to do? I wanted to kill the guy. He thought he could just toy with and **** my sister because she doesn’t have magic? Those kinds of people need to learn their lesson… … Yes I get that it is a bit hypocritical to complain about others abusing their abilities against those weaker than them… No Maja and I didn’t do that to him because he is weaker than us. We did it because he attacked our sister… I’m glad you can see reason, Daisy. You’ve been a great friend over the years. I promise to write as often as I can, okay? … … … Yeah I love you too. Signing off now, goodnight.
With Love,
Astrid Lundevall

“Well that confirms it. Slevia didn’t mention that, that incident occurred at her sisters’ graduation but Slevia doesn’t talk much either. I guess ‘Dud’ is some sort of slur, for people without magic. I’ll make sure that Mark knows that we shouldn’t say that around the Lundevalls. I should show this to the others.” Flora closed the book and got up and made her way to the portal when a message flash over the portal. ‘Restricted Books May Not Leave The Library’, “Well that’s just great.” Flora set down the book and got out her phone but when she looked back up she saw the book flying away towards the shelves “DAMNIT!” She still went to message the others when saw a message on her phone, ‘Sorry, no cell usage in the library unless initiated by the Master or with Cassandra’s approval.’ “Well shit. So that’s intentional then. Fine, I found one book that was relevant. Let's see if I can repeat the feat.” Flora went marching down the rows of shelves, while remaining unnoticed even by the books. Time for this lioness to go hunting.