984/Friends 2300 meters under the sea

Friends 2300 meters under the sea
Date of Scene:	08 January 2024
Location:	South Pacific Kingdom
Synopsis:	Following Aqua Regina's acknowledgement of Madoka, Coco decides to show her friend her home in the South Pacific.
Cast of Characters:	Coco Kiumi, Madoka Kaname

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Coco Kiumi has posed:
This was a very important occasion. It was unprecedented to hear that Aqua Regina approved of someone so much that she created a whole new type of magic artifact just for them. And not just any kind of magic artifact, but a pearl that basically denoted Madoka as a honorary mermaid princess.

So she is waiting for her on campus, really enthused that the pinkette decided to accept her offer to visit her home as celebration. Of course, she gave advance notice to her attendants. It would defeat the point if there wasn't a warm welcome waiting for her.

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Madoka still wasn't sure she fully understood mermaid customs or their meaning, but having a magical mermaid queen come to personally honor her and give her a gift felt too important to ignore. She kept the pearl safely on her person, making sure that nothing bad happened to it. The whole affair was flattering, to say the least, and a little sudden and overwhelming.

    When she shows up on campus, at the place where she and Coco agreed to meet, Lydian is hovering by her side. Her other Chara are off doing other fairy-related things, and her art fairy was the one most enthusiastic about seeing the place where singing and music was a form of magic.

    Upon seeing Coco, the pinkette approaches her with a smile. "Coco-chan! It's good to see you!"

    Lydian smiles and waves at the magical songstress. "Hi~i!"

Coco Kiumi has posed:
When Coco sees Madoka and Lydian arriving, she smiles widely at them. "Madoka, Lydian, hi! I am so happy to see you. How have you been doing?" Walking towards her at the same time the pinkette does, she starts giving some important information to her friends.

"So, how are you feeling?" First things first, it's actually better to calm down any possible worries she may have. It's quite possible she might feel nervous at the prospect of visiting an underwater palace. "We have magic set up to allow people to breathe underwater even if they normally wouldn't be able to, so don't worry about having to stay inside a Live Stage the whole time. Feel free to roam anywhere. Also, I will teleport us there once you are ready, but I can answer any question you might have first."

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    "We've been doing... pretty well," says Madoka. "Brai and Medo have gotten more active, despite what they said earlier, but they also tend to wander off on their own more often." Hence, why they aren't here.

    As Madoka listens to the explanation regarding underwater breathing, she's actually impressed. "You have magic for that? That's pretty accommodating." She supposes that they had to answer the question of 'what to do with air breathing guests' at some point or another. Maybe that's not so surprising, considering that some sea creatures have to surface for air.

    Upon being asked if she has any questions, Madoka does have a couple. "Mostly, I'm wondering if there's something I should say or do, or if there are some customs I should be observing while I'm there? I mean I don't want to come off as rude or something."

Coco Kiumi has posed:
"They are quickly recovering then, that's so relieving to hear. Can you please tell them I am glad they are in good health when you see them again?" she asks.

There isn't actually any particular custom Madoka has to observe. The most that would have been asked of her is to treat the princess with the due deference, but Coco has already warned them that's not something she wants Madoka to observe, and also not to bring it up for any reason. That would probably make things awkward.

And Madoka is quite polite anyway, so there is no need to worry about how she will interact with other merfolk. "Hmm, nope, you are fine as is. Are you ready to go?"

If she gets a yes, Coco takes Madoka's hand and extends a finger for Lydian to take. They would get briefly enveloped in yellow before disappearing and reappearing floating in the waters of a yellow hall, two rows of mermaids standing before them. Coco has gone back to her mermaid form too. The attendants smile and say "Welcome to the South Pacific, honoured guests."

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Madoka nods emphatically. "Mhm! I'll be sure to tell them when I see them next!"

    Madoka being told that she's 'fine as she is' makes her wonder what their society is like, but she imagines she's about to find out. Seeing them in person would paint a clearer picture than any question she could think to ask.

    After thinking about it for a moment, Madoka checks her bag for the pearl, and then looks to Lydian to see if she's ready. When the little fairy gives her an 'okay' sign, the pinkette smiles and turns to Coco. "We're ready! Honestly, it's kind of exciting."

    Madoka joins hands with Coco, and Lydian accepts the offered finger. Once teleported, both Bearer and Chara start looking around at their surroundings in amazement. So... all of this is under the sea?

    When greeted by the attendants, Madoka politely inclines her back in a short bow, and Lydian does likewise. "Thank you. It's an honor to be here!"

Coco Kiumi has posed:
One particular thing Madoka can notice is that the whole place is heavily monochrome, all of it some shade of yellow. Ever the colour of eyes, hair, worn accessories and tails of its inhabitants is all yellow. Welcome to the kingdom of the yellow pearl.

Next, despite the fact she is underwater and she is wearing much more than the merfolk around her, her clothes don't provide any obstacles when swimming around and what's more, they feel as dry as they would be on land. The marvels of magic.

"The honour is ours, Princess Coco told us what happened with Aqua Regina. It's great to meet someone so eminent as to receive her blessing." Madoka can get the feeling that has been the subject of many chatters while they were preparing for her visit.

"What would you like to do first?" Coco asks Madoka and Lydian. "We could go eat something, or we can move around the palace. We have libraries, rooms to rest, the room with the underwater fountain, and of course, the throne room."

"On that regard, Princess, the food you asked us to prepare is just about ready", one of the attendants swims forward to give the news. "Oh, that's perfect, please bring it to the dining room when it's been served, I can show Madoka and Lydian the way there", Coco replies serenely.

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    The monochrome nature of the Yellow Pearl Kingdom strikes Madoka as being very... distinct. She wonders if maybe this is how they show support for their princess? It's more than just a local custom considering that it also applies to hair, eye and tail color. What's perhaps more important is the fact that Madoka is actually now literally in a palace full of mermaids, actually swimming among them, and they're being nice to her.

    Speaking of, her attempts at swimming are... more successful than she expected. She's taken swimming classes of course, but she was never competitive. A part of her wonders what someone like Ami Mizuno would think of this place. Madoka tries swimming around for a moment to get used to the feeling, never getting more than a few meters away from Coco.

    Turning back to the attendants, she's reminded of the fact that Aqua Regina came to personally honor her, for kindness and friendship no less. It's sweet, in a way, and she can't help but respect a ruler who values those qualities. "Eheh. I'm still getting used to the idea..."

    Madoka has to think about what she'd like to do first, but it also sounds like food will be ready soon. She wouldn't want it to get cold, so she asks, "Well... we could eat first if it's that close to ready. After that, I wouldn't mind being shown around? An underwater fountain sounds really neat!"

Coco Kiumi has posed:
Coco observes Madoka as she swims around, taking in what she does to make sure she isn't feeling annoyed by the different environment. She is doing well honestly. "You are a good swimmer, Madoka. Have you been enjoying your first impression?" she asks after the attendant that came forward has finished taking.

The food's not exactly right there, but it's 15~ minutes away at best, so yes, they may as well start eating. "That's good, I hope the food will be to your liking. They have been at it a while." That said, Coco starts swimming towards the direction she knows the dining room to be at, making herself go at Madoka's swimming pace. Coco is still a mermaid after all, so that's not a matter of Madoka's skills.

When they get there they are greeted by the sight of a table set with colourful drinks and white fish cooked in citrus juice. The chairs are the reclining kind, and they are well furbished. The reclining chair is actually much more appreciated than a normal chair, given the mermaid anatomy.

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    When asked if she's been enjoying herself, Madoka smiles brightly and nods. "Thank you! I have. I don't think I've ever seen anything like this." No water park she's ever seen would even come close to having magic that lets one breath underwater and swim without getting bogged down by soggy clothes.

    Madoka goes along with her gracious host to the dining room. While the pinkette could never expect to keep up with someone who has a mermaid tail, she is certainly doing her best. Lydian, actually, is having a much easier time since she's used to floating around already. It occurs to the Chara Bearer that maybe being in henshin would help her speed a little bit, but for now she's happy going at a casual pace and taking her time.

    Fish was about what Madoka was expecting from mermaid cuisine, and with Japan getting much of its food from the sea there's nothing here that she's not particularly used to eating, though it's been prepared in a slightly different way. She marvels at the drinks, wondering what's inside of them, and then settles down in a reclining chair.

    "It all looks delicious. Thank you so much!" she says to Coco, and also to any attendants that might be nearby. Then she starts trying to figure out how exactly to eat in this environment. She assumes it works much like it does, but she takes it slowly at first just to avoid making a mess. She also feeds a few little bites of it to Lydian.

    Turning to Coco, she asks, "So... were you born here? Is this your home?"

Coco Kiumi has posed:
Coco internally cheers when Madoka communicates her approval over the visit. Having everything pay off like this... That's certainly more than Coco had hoped for. "I am glad to hear you are acclimatising to everything. I hope that's the same for you too, Lydian", Coco addresses the tiny Chara.

"The pleasure is mine, I specifically asked for it to be at least almost ready by the time we arrived, and I am glad everyone delivered.", the mermaid cheerfully communicates.

Then Madoka asks if she was born here. "That's right, that's actually the case for all mermaid princesses", she starts explaining. That's actually a more elaborate matter than other mermaids or humans. The typical mermaid actually goes through an experience very similar to humans, but when it comes to the princesses...

"It was in the throne room, as it's how we 7 are all borns. The previous princess had recently died, and as a result, the Pearl started preparing new life." That preparing is quite close, especially given what Coco is about to address. "I was already alert, even if as a spirit still unable to leave the Yellow Pearl that has been placed on the Throne while it works. About a week later, I was officially born and started carrying the duty of a mermaid princess."

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Lydian nods when addressed. She has developed a habit of being quiet while Madoka handles most things, but she has no qualms talking to someone who can see and hear her. "Yup! I'm doing okay so far. I mean, I don't really think I need to breath anyways, so it's pretty close to normal for me."

    As Madoka listens to Coco's explanation for how mermaid princesses are born, she notes the subtle distinction she seems to be making between herself and other mermaids. Even if she doesn't quite know what they mean.

    "So... mermaid princesses are born in the throne room? Out of a pearl?" asks Madoka, and then fishes through her bag to find the pearl she had been granted. "You mean... one like this?"

    Lydian, who is a bit more polite than Gretchen, swallows her food before speaking. "Huh. That kinda reminds me of Chara. We tend to have some awareness when we're inside our eggs well before we hatch. Sometimes we even hear other people trying to talk to us through our eggshells."

    Madoka is pretty interested in Coco's story. She's never heard anything like this before. "Is your duty as a mermaid princess what brought you to Tokyo?" The pinkette isn't sure what such duties entail, but she imagines it has something to do with protecting her home from sea-related villains.

Coco Kiumi has posed:
Coco is quite interested in the fact Charas don't need to breathe as well as the fact they too retain awareness inside their confines before they come to life. Ok, it's not quite the same as her, as she just has the additional ability to breathe underwater without any magic, and it's not even exclusive to her, but to any marine race, but still, the parallels are interesting.

"Oh, so you too get some freedom too because magic actually grants you independence from your source. That's quite amazing. I guess that some things are just the same everywhere to those like us", she smiles enthralled by the notion. "I will have to tell the others about the similarities between our two groups, they will find it interesting for sure, Noel especially. Thank you for pointing it out, Lydian."

Coco looks at the Pearl Madoka has taken out. "Hmm, yes, that's something like it, but I don't think yours will be the same", she comments, slightly touching it. "I can't say I know Aqua Regina's intentions, but unlike when she made ours, this probably was made to bind to people with a strong friendship towards mermaid princesses, and won't ever generate a life. This is for you, and for you only."

Then Madoka asks about her duty. "That's right, we typically aren't allowed to roam the land unless the circumstances excuse it, but the way Aqua Regina envisioned it, any threat to either land or sea will be of extreme importance to us, and we are sent to fight it and restore peace, hopefully with the pacification of the threat rather than its destruction, if that's possible." Too bad the world doesn't always afford that.

"That's pretty much the way she does things, and I think she is really happy there are humans who share in her ideals. She really believes in peaceful cooperation among everyone, you see."

One piece at a time, Coco has finished her own portions of the food, and so she looks smiling at Madoka, either waiting for further questions, more to drink or eat or for her to ask about some other zone of the palace.

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Lydian giggles when she's thanked. Since Coco is sharing details about her own magic, it only felt fair to do the same. Madoka fingerpets Lydian for a moment, and then turns her attention back to Coco.

    When Madoka is told that the pearl she holds isn't quite the same as Coco's, she tilts her head and looks at it a bit more curiously. So whatever this is, it's pretty unique, and it's something that belongs to her specifically. "She mentioned something like that before, that it was proof of our bond as friends. I'm still not sure what it does, but Aqua Regina made it clear that it was pretty important."

    Madoka notes what Coco says about preferring to purify their enemies. "In as far as that's possible, I'd certainly prefer that outcome. I don't really have purification magic like you, but I can always support you and others who do. I think it's better to forgive than punish, even if the former isn't always an option."

    Madoka looks down at her own plate, and it's mostly finished. She polishes off the last few bits and feeds some of it to her Chara before wiping off her lips with a napkin or whatever the South Pacific equivalent is.

    "Well, that tasted really nice. My compliments to the chef." Madoka would probably say that regardless, but in this instance she seems like she really means it. For a moment she wonders if she should put her plate somewhere, but instead she thinks that maybe this is the kind of situation where a servant is expected to deal with it. Madoka decides to just copy whatever it is that Coco does, since the local princess would know better than she.

    "So... should we go? I'd really like to see more of your home, Coco."

Coco Kiumi has posed:
"Of course! You mentioned you were interested in the underwater fountain, right?" Coco smiles, getting up from her chair. "You can leave the plates there, I will get them taken care of", she specifies, while she motions to head for the door.

Next she moves through the hallways, explaining to Madoka a few interesting tidbits they see along the way, such as a depiction of the legendary spiral conch, an item that was last seen in the Indian Ocean or the engraving of a winged white horse with a yellow mane whose body ended in a tail instead of hind legs, it too covered in fur, that being the Guardian Hippocampus of Aqua Regina for the princesses' protection.

Then they reach the fountain, a pool of water with a central pillar on which rested a seashell containing a pearl. From the seashell water pours down at all times.

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    "That's right!" says Madoka, and then swims to the door with Coco. Lydian trails slightly behind, staying close to Madoka's shoulder.

    As she follows the mermaid princess along, Madoka looks at the various displays. The legendary spiral conch catches her curiosity for a moment, and silently wonders what happened to it. Then she looks at the engraving of the... horse fish? Seahorse? Well not really a seahorse but a horse clearly meant to inhabit the sea. Then again, maybe the wings meant it could handle flight too?

    "It's almost like a pegasus," notes Lydian.

    "I've never seen something like that before," says Madoka. Could such a thing like that exist? Apparently. The world of magic suddenly seemed a lot wider and more varied than just Witches and whatever Obsidian was doing at the moment.

    When the three of them reach the underwater fountain, Madoka clasps her hands together as her face brightens. "Oh wow. I have to admit I had no idea how an underwater fountain would work. Is it... coming from the pearl, like magic? Or is it just a piece of art meant to look that way?"

Coco Kiumi has posed:
Lydian's pegasus comment drives Coco to talk more. "Oh, that's true, he actually is like one. Maybe you should tell him yourself one day if he happens to leave the North Pacific." Coco doesn't see him actually being interested in it, but maybe he actually knows something about why they look so alike.

Though, at the moment his form isn't available, so there isn't much he can show Madoka. "There is actually a Sealing Key that got stolen to open Gaito's palace. It's also what allows him to return to his true form, so he doesn't have much to show until we get it back."

When they swim along to the logic-defying fountain, Madoka is understandably puzzled by the whole thing. "I suppose calling it an art piece is more like it", Coco agrees with the pinkette. "It does use magic somehow to work like that, and it's also the place of gathering apart from the throne room, but that's pretty much it, nothing is actually special about it."

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Madoka actually looks surprised when Coco reveals that the Guardian Hippocampus's location is known, though she feels a bit sorry for him when the mermaid princess says that the Sealing Key got stolen. "Gaito, he's your enemy right? I think you've mentioned him before."

    When told that the fountain is a gathering place, Madoka says, "I can see why. It's a very pretty landmark." After being told that it's just an art piece and isn't some kind of perpetual water-creating machine, she's actually somewhat relieved.

    "So when you say the throne room, do you mean your throne room? It might be fun to see that next, if it's not too much trouble," asks Madoka. "Also, while I'm asking questions, there's a few things I'm curious about. About how deep are we, and how do you deal with environmental concerns like pollution down here?"

Coco Kiumi has posed:
Coco nods at Madoka's question over Gaito. "That's right, he is trying to gather all 7 pearls in order to use them to obtain the power of Aqua Regina for himself. So far, he has captured Noel, and Sara is by his side." The mermaid shakes her head.

"You have seen how she is, but I am convinced we can still reach her, and rescue Noel too." That's something she has to believe. She refuses to accept that her best friend is lost forever to her own grief.

Coco nods along at Madoka's comment over the fountain before leading her to the throne room as requested. "Yes, it's actually my throne. I imagine that from your perspective "princess" is a bit of a misnomer since this is my kingdom, but it's how we do things here."

When they enter the throne room, Madoka can see a huge (yellow, of course) shell with a velvety cushioned interior: the throne of the South Pacific. Coco smiles at it. "Well, there it is. More important than it being a throne is the fact this is where the Yellow Pearl brought me to life. I was born here." She says it in such a way that its importance to her is clear.

She stops to think when Madoka asks for the depths they are at and pollution concerns. "Hmm, I guess this is about 2300 meters deep. Yeah, that should be right. We aren't really that deep. As for pollution, it's just as much of a job as anything else combating it, though it's a well-remunerated one, considering its importance."

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Madoka certainly remembers Sara. She made quite an impression, walking in on the concert as she did. While Madoka certainly sympathizes with a girl who has a broken heart, she doesn't agree with the way that Sara was going about it. "Maybe she can be purified too one day," agrees the pinkette, who would certainly prefer that solution over anything else.

    "Well, I suppose 'misnomer' depends on the tradition," responds Madoka. "In some cultures it can refer to an heir to the throne, but in others terms like 'prince' or 'princess' can also refer to a ruling monarch who isn't married. 'Ruling Princess' might be a more precise title, but in practice each government defines the terms however suits them." With a smile she adds, "So no, it's actually not that surprising to see the person in charge be called 'princess'. Not nearly as surprising as the fact that the person who's been helping me out this whole time is mermaid royalty."

    2300 meters deep sounds about right, but it still leaves an impression on Madoka. "Oh geeze. If it weren't for the magic on this place, I'd never survive down here. I'm impressed you can handle the pressure."

    Madoka takes a look around the throne room, and especially at the throne. She swims up close to it and considers just how much it must matter to her. "So, this would be the first place you saw, then? This really is your homeland in every sense of the word." Turning to Coco with a smile, she continues. "You live in such a pretty place here, Coco. I have to admit, I never in my life expected I'd ever get to see such a thing. It's an adventure in of itself. Thanks for showing me all of this!"

Coco Kiumi has posed:
"I am sure we can help her." Coco says in agreement, the last thing she has to mention on the Sara subject.

"You are really well-informed", she mentions impressed over Madoka's speech. "Do you deal with royalty a lot?" Well, that's a lot of information, and moreover, correct information, so it's quite special that Madoka knows so much about it. And a small chuckle follows."I suppose so. We mermaids really keep to our own, but I am glad I got to make this exception and meet you."

"That's just a normal thing like breathing water instead of air", she comments plainly. "Though I think I get why it surprises you. The pressure is quite strong for those that aren't used to it", she comments as a way to make her last statement less awkward, worried it might come across as impolite.

"I really care about sharing all this with you, Madoka", Coco smiles with affection to her. "We are friends, no? And I actually really appreciate that you were willing to visit my home with me. Thank you, really", she says sincerely.

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Does Madoka deal with royalty a lot? "Eheh, well... not really. I guess I just pick up on that kind of stuff through TV shows and books. I think one of my teachers went over it one day, too." Granted, of course Madoka would pick up on the stuff related to princesses. "I'm glad we were able to meet too, Coco. You've been a good friend from the start, and I likely wouldn't have become a magical girl if you hadn't kept me safe at first." Madoka grabs her own left shoulder as she remembers the feelings from back then.

    The pinkette is unsurprised that her mermaid princess friend has no issue with the water pressure, though Madoka suspects that a normal human being would probably get crushed. "I'm not sure it's something that a land dwelling human could get used to. Magicals might be an exception, since our henshin armor is really strong, but normally we'd need a submarine to get this deep."

    Lydian blurts out something that Madoka had chosen not to say, to the Bearer's quiet awkwardness. "Yeah, the change in pressure alone could give Madoka the Benz!"

    Madoka returns Coco's smile with her own. "That's right, we're friends, and I'm glad to be here too. It's neat to learn so much about you and where you're from. Also gives me some context for your struggles."

Coco Kiumi has posed:
"It's quite ok. I would have had a much harder time if you hadn't shown me around when I first arrived." Ok, things are not quite the same, but the fact Madoka had been the one there to give a disoriented student a hand matters to Coco. "And things would have been much worse if you hadn't been there for the fights we had together."

"Submarines are quite resourceful", Coco comments. "Though, it's probably a good thing that we don't see many here. I don't know what ramifications the existence of mermaid kingdoms becoming public knowledge would have. Though, the Veil probably defends against that in some measure, which is a good thing for all the headaches it has given me." Suffice to say, if her friends had been able to deduce she is a mermaid, she wouldn't have been so worried about dying from the revelation of her secret.

It is with awkward feelings that Coco regards Lydian's comment. "Yeah, I am glad that can't happen to her in here." The last thing she wants is for her friends to suffer just because she wants to show someone her home.

Madoka returning Coco's declaration of friendship definitely has her in a good mood. She is quite glad things are actually like that.

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Oh, that's right. Madoka actually did show Coco around campus all the way back, didn't she? "We barely knew each other back then. I felt it was my responsibility, since I knew my way around." Looking around her as she swims, she wonders out loud, "I guess this is like a role swap in a way. Was our school as interesting to you as your kingdom is to me?" There's something about the sentimentality of this that appeals to Madoka. It's like Coco is returning the favor.

    "I'm sure the Veil would hide your kingdom pretty well. Honestly, considering how bad Obsidian Corp is, secrecy is probably one of the best defenses our magic affords us." Madoka thinks for a moment about the consequences of a mundane government interfering with mermaid matters. It probably wouldn't be long before a war started or something.

    Lydian seems aware of the awkwardness she's caused, but doesn't quite grasp what the problem is. She looks between Coco and Madoka with a bit of confusion, but her Chara Bearer doesn't want to get into it.

    Going back to the subject of the Veil, Madoka continues, "It does cause a lot of headaches though, doesn't it? I have to wonder how my parents would feel about me being a magical girl. They might be proud of me, but also... they might be pretty worried."

Coco Kiumi has posed:
That hadn't been her first time seeing a school, thanks to Aqua Regina's crash course on human society (emphasis on the 'crash' part of it, living as an amnesiac human for a while was... rough), but back on the subject, Radiant Heart is certainly an interesting school, and it was her first time with a japanese school, moreover, so the subtle differences were enough to make it a novel experience. "It sure was", Coco gladly confirms.

"I am relieved that you now have Veil protection too, in that regard, and also things like the armour the henshin gives you." Despite having been a fully fledged magical girl from the start, Coco's transformation hadn't naturally come with the latter protection, so she definitely knows what's like to fight without it.

That last one is a subject Coco doesn't actually know personally, since the closest person she has to a parent is the one sending them into battle. "I am sure they would come to trust you with it over time, once they have adapted to the time. You are quite sensible, and they would probably understand you wouldn't do reckless things on purpose and that's something you feel it's important for you to do."

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    The topic of the Veil leads to some mixed feelings for Madoka. On the one hand, she's glad for it. On the other, she's never been one who liked to lie or keep secrets.

    Lydian chimes in, "I for one am glad that most people can't see me. It saves me a lot of trouble."

    Madoka giggles and teases her little fairy. "Yeah, you're so cute someone might try to steal you."

    As Madoka thinks about it, a lot really has changed in her life. Her view of the world, her way of thinking, and even her self-image. Even a fantastical place such as this is a part of her reality now.

    "On a more serious note," starts Madoka, "at some point I'll should probably practice swimming around here in henshin. With Gaito making himself more of a problem and Sara suddenly showing up, there's a good chance I'll have to fight in conditions like these some day. Nevermind the possibility of facing another water-based Witch." She'd also have to see how her weapons work underwater, but she's not going to practice something like that in the middle of Coco's palace. She could do that well enough at home.

    Something occurs to the Chara Bearer, and she decides to ask the Mermaid Princess. "If you don't mind me asking, did you have to practice your magic, or did you just naturally know how to sing and things like that?"

Coco Kiumi has posed:
"I'm sure you would have had just as many people trying to get you back", Coco comments playfully at Lydian. Besides Madoka herself obviously not letting things be.

That does raise a worrisome question to Coco that she had never considered, leaving X-Chara aside for a moment. "Is it safe for a Chara to spend a long time apart from their owner?" If not, the Veil is actually pretty important, and she is glad Lydian can enjoy its protection. "I hope so, because finding her again would be harsh unless you can roughly sense where they are at all times." She wouldn't exclude the last thing since they are part of her.

Practising her magic... That would actually be a no. She doesn't know if it's a thing magic beings get or if it's due to the fact she is essentially a magic-artificial being, but her songs have always been second nature to her.

"Singing has really being very intuitive to me, so I have never really practiced it. Do you think it's a perk all magical creatures get, or just something that would come from being born from the Pearl that gives me my powers?" That's actually a question she has never asked herself.

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Lydian, mortified at the idea of being Chara-napped, is comforted by the fact that others would be searching for her. "That's right. I'm sure Madoka-chan and her friends would be searching high and low for me!"

    Madoka has to consider how best to answer the question of Chara being apart from their Bearers. "In general, for magical Chara Bearers like me, it's normally fine for them to wander off on their own. I'd be more worried about Gretchen otherwise. Aside from special cases, Chara tend to wander off on their own all the time. However, I think if I went too long without seeing one of my Chara, I'd start to worry about them."

    Lydian chimes in at this point, raising a finger as she speaks. "Chara can typically sense each other just fine, but our Bearers don't really get that same kind of Chara radar. That's why we make a habit of ensuring that at least one Chara is by Madoka's side at all times, so that she can rely on us as needed."

    To address the other question, Madoka responds, "Well, I for one knew how to use my bow and jump around from the moment I first Chara Changed. I think a lot of magic folk have at least some innate knowledge. I had to study a little bit, but it was more high-level tactical stuff like target priority or finding new ways to use my powers."

Coco Kiumi has posed:
"Of course! You can count on us", Coco smiles at Lydian. "At least things are fine if you are on your own", she comments further after Madoka's explanation. "But keep your wits about you, ok? As quickly as everyone would try to get in on the rescue, the risk of something happening to you before we can arrive is always there", Coco warns the Chara.

Coco is about to leave the subject when the mermaid considers that the thought of the kidnapping did strike Lydian hard. "But I really doubt that anything would happen to you. That's just me thinking lots about thing." Maybe even too much.

"I think your training really paid off", she adds towards Madoka. "You were really efficient last time."

And now that the Veil has become less of an issue for RHA's magical defenders, everyone can cover for each other, and be there for each other. Despite everything being thrown at them, things are definitely looking up.