Gurenji opened the large doors and let everyone inside before entering as well.

“Murasakiiro-sama, we have arrived,” Gurenji called out through the echoing hallways, “We, also, brought some prisoners with us.”

“Mura-what?” Bridget tried to repeat, tilting her head,” I thought you told me her name was—”

“Oh, for the love of—”

“I go by many names.” A voice spoke from across the halls.

“Who said that?” Clause asked.

“I did.”

A red throne appeared before them in record time. The walls moved closer; the throne turned around, revealing a purple Pilkon with yellow eyes wearing a crown with colored jewels, hovering over the throne. The other Pilkons bowed before her, as did Clause, while Bridget stood there, confused.

“Hello there.” Murasakiiro greeted.

Gurenji looked up and greeted her back.

“Oh, Queen Murakiiro, I—”

“Don’t call me that!” Murasakiiro exclaimed. “You know my mother is still alive!”

“Yes, I know, but—”

“And why did you bring these people here?”

“Well, Akapin and Midoricha were dimension-hopping without your permission and—”

“But we did it for a good reason.” Akapin insisted.

“Silence!” Gurenji demanded.

“You be quiet!” Murasakiiro retorted. Gurenji gulped and kept quiet. She turned to Akapin. “Explain to me your reasons, please.”

“We just wanted to provide for ourselves as we have no other way to support the livelihood,” Midoricha explained. “We’re destitute, and there's not much we can do.”

Akapin stepped in and added, “We trade in stuff we don’t need and sell to others who do. It’s a win-win for all of us, right?”

“I see.” Princess Murasakiiro replied. “And what about those two over there? They don’t look like Pilkons at all...”

“Well, you see...” Midoricha started nervously.

“It’s not their fault!” Clause exclaimed.

“Yeah, won’t you please let us explain properly?” Bridget begged the Princess.

“No,” Gurenji stated bluntly.

“All right.” Princess Murasakiiro replied.

“What?”

“Let’s hear what they have to say,” Murasakiiro repeated.

“All right, I guess...” Gurenji eventually gave in.

Bridget and Clause both took turns explaining how each of them got here. When they had finished, the Princess Murasakiiro nodded.

“So, now you know the whole story,” Bridget concluded. “We want to get back to our world, that’s all we ask of you. Please your Highness?”

“It’s your majesty,” Gurenji mumbled. He looked over and saw that the Princess pondered over her decision. “Well, what’s it going to be?”

After much deliberation, Princess Murasakiiro concluded. “All right, I’ll help you.”

“Really?” Bridget and the others asked, surprised.

“But, on one condition.” The Princess added.

“What’s that?” Bridget asked nervously.

“Follow me, if you would." She beckoned.

.-.-.-.

Princess Murasakiiro led the group to a door that led into a secret room, filled with magic floating portals in every corner, all of them identical in their aqua color and oval shape. The only differentiating feature was the name-plates on top of each entrance.

“Wow, what is all this?” Bridget questioned.

“They’re dimensional portals; they can take you to specific locations.” The Princess explained.

“So they’re kind of like the doors back in the Abstract Bizarre Colorful Dimensions, a place where our world resides.” Clause added.

“Something like that?” The Princess Pilkon said in agreement. “Except, these will take you to the same place every time. The name-plates above the portals showed the location inside. So, unless you read them, you wouldn’t have any idea what’s on the other side until you step through.”

Curious, Bridget looked over some nameplates and read them in her head.

Hmm, let’s see here, Glimmer Grove, Admis Abyss, wait, is that Cheese World?

Midori interrupted her thoughts as he rushed over and commented on how one portal had an ‘out of order’ sign on it. The Princess explained that the portal underwent some maintenance and that the others wouldn’t be allowed to use it until it was complete. She then mentioned that her single condition for them was on the other side of the hallway. The group went over to the door at the end of the halls.