A Debriefing

[Queen Grimhilde]

(January 14th. Late Afternoon. Set after Practice, Practice, Practice. Closed to Queen Grimhilde, Magic Mirror, and Maleficent. And I couldn't think of a good title for this. xd)

Queen Grimhilde was exhausted from training. Maleficent was an excellent teacher. She knew they hadn't had time to talk about whad had happened. Grimhilde herself was annoyed at being so close to saving Patch and failing to. She hadn't even found the machine she had been looking for and had been forced to retreat. And Linksano, & Iheart had gotten hurt during the two battles and Ma-Ti had lost his memory. She supposed the only good thing they'd managed to do was drive the villains out and kill a member of Ask That Guy's army. But she doubted many would agree with the second one. She waited for Maleficent to come join her.

[Deleted]

Maleficent entered the Nostalgia House long after Grimhilde did. Once the queen had left the training session, Maleficent had gone to a more remote part of the woods to train on her own, and she hadn’t stopped until she realized that it was close to evening. Despite this, she didn’t feel particularly fatigued, unlike her friend. Just cold.

Spotting the queen in the living room, she went inside and took a seat next to her.

“You did quite well,” the fairy remarked before lapsing into silence, unsure how to ask what she wanted to know. Maleficent had avoided talking about the failed rescue mission since it had happened two days ago, not wanting to dwell on the details in favor of focusing on training and becoming stronger to ensure defeat would not happen again.

A small cough, barely more than a hiccup escaped her.

“Grimhilde, exactly what happened once I left?”

(OOC: That cough be significant. )

[Queen Grimhilde]

"I went searching for that device and got trapped in a lab. I was able to get out thanks to my intangibility potion and rejoined the fight giving up on it for the moment. Facilier captured Patch and told us to surrender. Roses said he was evil and they couldn't trust him. He laughed and said she was right. I lunged at Facilier trying to save Patch. I wasn't quick enough and he tossed it to Mechakara, some cyborg lookalike of Linkara's. He teleported out with Patch and that's the last I saw of him.

Roses however was in contact with Paw who'd found the prison cell Patch had been taken to. Chick and Molrpheus were there as well. However he brought along a rabbit and a mouse for company. They'd almost got the door open but Mechakara blasted the panel stopping the rescue. Roses and Snob then ordered a retreat and we all were forced to leave without the others." said Queen Grimhilde.

She paused turning away from Maleficent feeling guilty. She knew Maleficent had a soft spot for Patch and she could understand. They both left their raven familiars behind in their worlds. She understood the need for an animal companion.

"I wasn't quick enough. I'm sorry. But next time we'll get all three of them back for sure. And we'll makke them pay for taking them away." said Queen Grimhilde.

[Deleted]

Outwardly, Maleficent bore the report of the failed rescue mission with a rather stoic air about her, as though she were listening to something as uninteresting as an everyday weather report. It was a nice mask to hide the ever-present guilt that she had managed to shove to the back of her mind during the training session.

If I had only been there…

The thought entered her head for what felt like the thousandth time in the course of two days. Maleficent was still confident that the result of the mission would have been far different if she hadn’t left to help drive back Ask ThatGuy’s army – Grimhilde even admitted it.

“I assure you, the outcome will not be the same when next we invade.”

Maleficent’s ominous warning was accompanied by a tightened grip on her staff. A new thought entered her mind.

“I heard something about a death. What can you tell me about that?”

If anything, she added silently. Knowing her allies’ views on such things, the fairy was inclined to believe that it was nothing more than a rumor spread by one of the children – or possibly an older soldier, who had been hoping to make the whole thing sound like less of the utter failure it was.

[Queen Grimhilde]

Grimhilde nodded as Maleficent assured her things would be different next time. She was sure of that. They at least knew the layout of the house so next time no one could take them off guard.

"We may need to consider teleporting our injured aboard Linkara's ship so more of us can go attack. A major flaw in our plan was dividing our army. They won't be divided next time unless we're lucky enough they were out training during our attack. But we must be prepared to fight the entire army and any new additions they might have." said Grimhilde.

She paused as Maleficent mentioned a death. She nodded.

"They're not rumors. Roses killed someone in self defense. A blonde girl named Holli. I think she feels guilty for doing it. But this is a war. Death is bound to happen. But I'd prefer it to be them and not our side." said Queen Grimhilde.

[Deleted]

Maleficent was inclined to agree. The “divide and conquer” strategy was really only useful if you knew the territory you were in very well, preferably more than your enemies. None of them had ever before been in the enemy base, and as such they hadn’t had a clue where they needed to go.

“It would have been more productive to send a spy to study the base first before anything was attempted.”

The news of Holli’s death at the hands of Roses got only a nod from the fairy, though inwardly she was feeling rather smug. All their lectures about her supposed cruelty didn’t mean much when they were the ones in danger, did they? She was hoping this was a sign that they had finally abandoned their foolish, misplaced nobility. Maybe now they’d be able to understand why she had done what she did.

[Queen Grimhilde]

Queen Grimhilde nodded in agreement.

"If only I had my Magic Mirror then it'd be useful for spying." said Queen Grimhilde.

She walked over to a mirror in the hallway.

"Slave in the magic mirror, come from the farthest space, through wind and darkness I summon thee. Speak! Let me see thy face." said Queen Grimhilde reciting it from memory.

At first nothing happened and she sighed turning away.

XXXX

Suddenly a voice spoke from the mirror as the Magic Mirror himself came.

"What wouldst thou know, my Queen?" said the Magic Mirror.

XXXX

Queen Grimhilde turned shocked at seeing her Magic Mirror in this world.

"How long have you been here?" asked Queen Grimhilde.

XXXX

"I arrived with you on the same day. I would have come had you summoned me straight away." said The Magic Mirror.

XXXX

Queen Grimhilde frowned at her foolishness. She should have tried this sooner but now she knew he was here. She turned to Maleficent happy and a bit excited.

"Now we have a way to spy on them." said Queen Grimhilde.

She turned back to the Magic Mirror.

"Show me what Ask That Guy and his allies are up to." said Queen Grimhilde.

XXXX

The Magic Mirror vanished replaced with an image of warriors training in the woods. Some she recognized and some she didn't.

"New allies have joined him and heavy training has begun. They have no plan of attack for now but there is mistrust and the army is not one." said Magic Mirror.

[Deleted]

The sudden appearance of the Magic Mirror – which in her opinion looked rather like an opera mask given the ability to speak – admittedly surprised Maleficent some, though she didn’t show any sign of it. If it was truly as Grimhilde had described it, then their army had just been given a major boost.

Maleficent was intrigued further when the Mirror mentioned that mistrust existed within Ask ThatGuy’s ranks. Strife in an army was practically the kiss of death.

“I do believe we can use this,” the fairy purred. She rose from the couch and strode to the Mirror. “Tell me where this mistrust is centered.”

Once her order was given, Maleficent hesitated for a moment, the words frozen on her tongue.

Show me Patch.

[Queen Grimhilde]

"The beings of fur and metal hate the ones with skin. They all plot to overthrow the army from their kin." said the Magic Mirror.

As he spoke he showed images of Mechakara and Scar. The image shifted again showing Pinocchio, Butters, Michelangelo, and Raphael.

"These four may help you in your quest. Lies and manipulation have put their loyalty to the test. Pinocchio believes his father abandoned him and a new family took his place. While the turtles believe Splinter is our captive and plot to remove him from this space." said Magic Mirror.

Queen Grimhilde smiled.

"Well lies can easily be beaten with the truth. We just have to show those turtles Splinter is our ally, not our prisoner. But as for Pinocchio can you show him a vision of his world? Show him the lie they've told him is false." said Queen Grimhilde.

Magic Mirror was silent for a moment unsure. He then spoke.

"I have not tried that before my queen. But when you bring him before me I shall show him that scene." said Magic Mirror.

Queen Grimhilde smiled.

"Excellent. Pinocchio is just a little boy. Easily misled. Once we reveal to him the truth we'll have more allies and be able to cripple their army. Perhaps even reveal the possible mutinies within." said Queen Grimhilde.

[Deleted]

“How interesting.”

Maleficent surveyed the images shown in the Magic Mirror through curious gold eyes. She recognized the black-manned lion, Scar, from the video she had watched with Grimhilde and some of her others allies a few days ago. Critic had called him a prima donna, but Maleficent had found him impressive enough. If he was cold-hearted enough to kill his own brother for the sake of a throne, there probably wasn’t a lot he wouldn’t do.

“We may be able to persuade the children and turtles to join us, but I suspect it will be difficult convincing them they’ve been lied to.”

Especially Pinocchio. Maleficent hadn’t exactly given him a warm reception during his brief stay.

“We could probably manipulate this mistrust as well. Perhaps convince some of them that they’ve chosen the wrong side. After all, there are many things people are willing to do to get revenge.”

Spoken from experience.

[Queen Grimhilde]

Queen Grimhilde nodded.

"You are right. I think the turtles will be easiest to convince once they see Splinter. They actually seem to care about the boy. At the very least we can use that against them somehow. If we can't turn the boy to our side." said Queen Grimhilde.

She stopped as Maleficent spoke about the mistrust.

"Yes. But we must be careful. They'll just deny it despite us having proof through the mirror.
But if we get them to doubt him it will definitely help us." said Queen Grimhilde.

She paused glancing at her mirror and then looking around not seeing anyone else around for the moment. She turned back to Maleficent.

"We can't let them know of the mirror. We can tell Critic and Snob since they're in charge but the less people who know about the mirror the better for our side." said Queen Grimhilde.

She paused glancing at the mirror. The last time they looked Chick and Morpheus had been alright. But now she knew Maleficent could be concerned for Patch even if she didn't say it. She decided to go the safe route to ask about the captives that way Maleficent could be satisfied without having to admit it.

"Show me the prisoners." said Queen Grimhilde.

The mirror vanished from the screen showing the images of Nostalgia Chick, Morpheus, and Patch locked in a cell. All three were tied up but she was shocked that Nostalgia Chick wasn't gagged like Morpheus.

"Magic Mirror why is she not gagged like Morpheus?" asked Queen Grimhilde.

"Her voice has been stolen by Rita shortly after she got there. Now it is locked away but I know not where." said Magic Mirror.

"Rita stole her voice? Critic's not going to like that." said Queen Grimhilde.

[Deleted]

Maleficent agreed with this sentiment. If other people knew about the Magic Mirror, there was a higher chance that they could accidentally let it slip, thus making them a target for another ambush.

Her eyes again fell to the Mirror, her tongue trying to formulate its request to see Patch and the other captives. As it turned out, this was unnecessary – just a second later, Grimhilde asked the Mirror herself.

Maleficent’s relief was short-lived – the new image in the Mirror’s shining glass form was that of Patch in what looked like a cage with Morpheus and the Nostalgia Chick, bound up tightly.

She had been expecting this, had even encouraged it when it came to their own (former) hostage. It didn’t make her any less infuriated. The fairy’s grip on her staff tightened as her mind went to Diablo. Poor Diablo, doomed to be forever incased in stone. Connecting the two animals made her wish to run to the enemy’s base and liberate the hostages herself, and it was taking most of her self-control to keep her from doing just that.

“Her voice?”

Maleficent latched onto the new piece of information to get her mind off the suicide mission it had been considering, and a frown crossed her face. Wonderful. Another thing to look for.

[Queen Grimhilde]

Queen Grimhilde frowned realizing how agitated Maleficent was getting. If that had been her raven or Maleficent trapped over there she knew she'd be worried about it too. While she wasn't close to the three prisoners she knew they needed to be rescued.

"Time for us to make a new rescue plan. They tried and we only failed because we were discovered. We need to lure them out into a battle this time. And you and Critic can lead the group to rescue the hostages. To make sure no one knows the two of you are coming we can accidentally leak word back to Ask That Guy's army that Critic is still recovering and you were hurt badly during their rescue attempt against Pinocchio and Splinter insisted you needed rest with the others. If this works and they think both of you are out of commission they'll let their guard down and most of them will go attack our army. Then a small group led by the two of you can make the rescue." said Queen Grimhilde.

[Deleted]

“Hmm, yes…”

One slender green finger pressed itself firmly against her jaw line as Maleficent’s head tilted oh-so-slightly to the side – a signal that she was deep in thought. The story was believable enough – though she had been fully healed since long after the first battle Critic had been out of commission for quite some time. As far as she knew, the enemy knew nothing else of his current status – something that they could use to their advantage.

And with any luck, she would be able to fight as well.

“And while they’re distracted, the group led by Critic and I will sneak into their base and rescue the hostages. We may have to use some of your intangibility potion.”

The fairy suddenly paused, and a frown crossed her pale green face.

“How do you intend to lure them out? It can’t be something too obvious, or they’ll know it’s a trap.”

[Queen Grimhilde]

"I'll make some more just in case so you'll have enough." said Queen Grimhilde.

She paused as Maleficent asked how to lure them out.

"Well faking a surrender would be too obvious. So would one of us turning traitor all of a sudden. We could have done a prisoner exchange if we still had Pinocchio." said Grimhilde.

She sighed in annoyance crossing off the ideas in her head.

"Perhaps we could just have a battle. Three of our members are kidnapped and many more have been injured. We could just say we've had enough and want to settle this. Even if they all don't show up it should be enough so your group can sneak inside this time." said Grimhilde.