🏎️💨 Lap V - Save the Girl(s); Save the World(s)

Luna uses her reflexes to try and squeak the cart under the naginata chainsaw.

To Vivian, she says, "Ice magic can do anything!" Need and whim are the focusses of her magic, after all, and a little bit of fairy dust.

Pira is briefly distracted by the appearance of a hot fairy lady in her vicinity, although the offer of a relaxing steamy bath quickly gets her attention back. "Oh yeah, it's the beach episode!" By magic of a character selection costume change, she immediately swaps out her usual attire for a barely decent swimsuit and then waves at their allies: "Come on, space girls, fairy gals, you should join in too! Make it a party! And you too, Sparkheart - it's the magic water, bet it's gonna repair you!"

Cass, despite her better nature, is flustered by the turn of events. She's not used to being anything less than overdressed in multiple layers, and more than that there are plenty of people here who she'd consider attractive. Well, not that appearances were the be all and end all of that side, but then by know she knew who they were as much as what they looked like.

She drew to the edge of the drop. She didn't move far enough to be out of the conversation, in case she missed anything, but enough that she hopefully wouldn't be on anyone's radar.

Already dressed in little more than a bikini, Thundra is properly attired for the steam bath. "Ah! Now, this is relaxing! I feel stronger already!" She flexes her muscles, which seem to bulge even larger, her thighs thickening to impossible proportions. "Let us finish this quest, friends! Glory awaits!"

Luna had no real sensitive anatomy to hide, being a fairy, but cloaks herself in frost within the bubble. It shouldn't work, the frost should melt instantly, but does.

"Ah, this is a treat. Just like the spring melt!"

[ +- ] 🎸 Red Soil

The bath is refreshing, and thanks to time-pausing fey magic, you enjoy an hour or so from your own perspectives while—outside of the dew drop—no time has passed at all.

And because you were able to rescue Absinthe before reaching the end of the Rainbow Road, you might just make it to Red Soil in time to prevent Vera’s assimilation…!

Before ending the magic and sending you off, Absinthe warns you of the enemy and what’s at stake:

"The enemy you are about to face is AUTOCORRECT! He started off as a decorated member of the Grammar Police Force, but in the year 1984—"

As far as you know, calendars stopped counting at 20XX (twenty exty-ex).

"—he became a captain of the Thought Police. He compelled speech. He compelled internal monologue. And when heroes saved worlds, he compelled entire worlds to reset.

"Everything you know and love will fade like a dream unless you stop him."

---

You pile into the double-dashers (or onto the mechanical horse) and race to the end of the rainbow.

FWEEEEEEEEE…
🏁

On the other side is a bleak vermilion world seemingly incapable of sustaining life. Fortunately, Cass’ reading confirms the air is breathable, the temperature is within the range of Humanly Survivable. There is hope for Vera.

You ride across what appears to be part rock, and part… bone? You are riding on the remains of a fossilized giant who must have been hundreds of feet tall. There’s a warped billboard sign embedded in the red soil advertising TJ’s Arcade, with a caption under the logo: "Hello My Name Is T.J."

You keep driving, crossing a narrow bridge to what is surely a collapsed ribcage.



Roaring flames from the pit do not deter you. For, there is a fox-tailed woman chained to the place where the giant’s heart belongs…

Pira is beyond intrigued by the ominous and grim atmosphere of the place, so reminiscent of her old villain days, so delightfully red and dangerous. She keeps pointing out views to everyone in the vicinity as they ride, and even attempts to pick up some sort of a volcanic rock as a souvenir.

When they draw closer, Piranha's attention snaps to the chained figure. "Fox lady!" She greets enthusiastically. There was never a doubt in Pira that Vera was still alive, because in her world the only way to perish would be through a tearjerking backstory cutscene; that's just how Feet of Rage worked. "Your rescue has arrived! And I bet someone has missed you quite a lot..." Her eyes flick mischievously towards Casanova, before the fighter directs Sparkyheart towards the chains: "Hold on, I'm gonna slice those off!"

Pira perches on a random stone nearby - or is it a fossil? a bone? - and watches the situation with curiosity, although for once keeps her comments to herself. She's trying to let them have a moment, like a considerate teammate!

Seeing Vera so emotional, no so vulnerable, was a new experience for Cass. Sure her vulpine amour was the more emotional of the two, but she didn't usually have such raw pain on the surface. The thought shocked the space commander so much that she didn't even panic for thinking of Vera as a vulpine amour.

Instead, after performing her habitual perimeter checks, her hand caught Vera's and gently lowered the gun before she brought her into what she hoped was a reassuring embrace. At this point she panicked, not really sure what was reassuring about the embrace or whether she needed to do something else, but she hoped it worked.

Pira is about to comment something insightful about Casanova and Vera - her first thoughts go to "Now, kiss!" - but is interrupted by the appearance of the big bad robot. She jumps to her feet instantly, raising her hands to her mouth so she can yell at the guy: "Yo, buddy, do you mind?! They are having a moment!" Piranha sounds genuinely indignant at her friend's behalf. "And don't even think about harming the three Vs, or I'll come after you and correct your own code; with my claws!"

Luna is shedding icicle hearts with her hands clasped before her, when she sees the big robot. She flutters over beside Pira and puts her tiny hands on her hips giving her best 'don't-mess-with-me' frump. "Robots will GET corrective action, in the shiny metal patutie!"

Thundra flaps her valkyrie wings and rises up into the air, raising her weapon defiantly. "Come over here and say that to my face! Or are you afraid, Metal Man?"

The memory takes Cass by surprise. She swallows the awkward feeling though, and forces her way through her panic. As her usual wordless self she moves to stand in front of Vera, between her and Autocorrect. She raised her own blaster defiantly.