(( takes place right after this ))

The new design of her henshin pen openly mocked Lacerta. It spoke of promises unfulfilled. Potential potentially squashed. It spoke of ... failure? Shaking her head violently as if the action could physically shake the thought of abject failure free did Lacerta finally stop moving. The young woman had thought that tonight would be a cause for celebration and yet ... something obviously hadn't clicked into place. There was a piece missing. Her pen had changed and Tama had said that she was ready to be upgraded to an eternal senshi - but yet when her pen's new design had been unlocked she still remained as she was, a super senshi of the dark moon court. It seemed as if there was confusion on Tama's behalf as well but after a few failed faltering attempts at discussing what could probably be the underlying issue did Lacerta finally disengage from her encounter. The idea that maybe she wasn't meant to go any higher in ranking bloomed in her mind as did the self doubt. Perhaps it was this self doubt that had her glossing over something rather important that Tama had suggested as an afterthought.

But for once - there was possibly a plan in mind. The idea was to find her older cousin, perhaps in name only, but Lacerta knew that Rhona, no Acubens, was indeed a missing family member that she hadn't known she had needed at the time ... until that time came. She had merged her new identity into the Lee surname quite remarkably well over the past months. Her bees were adapting to their new home and she in turn was following their example.

But now, the idea that she wasn't meant to see what being an eternal senshi like Acubens was was eating at her spirit. She felt adrift. Even as she stared once more at her changed pen did she mutter under her breath that life wasn't fair. Life had unequivocally destroyed things that she had come to rely on and it wasn't fair. Tears threatened to fall as she whipped out her compact and hastily asked for Acubens to meet with her. Hopefully she'd be able to figure out what was going on. Her smile faded as she awaited a response from Rhona and as the seconds ticked by another doubt filtered into her mind. What would Acubens think if she could never reach her full potential? Would she too cast Arianna aside. No, now she was being silly. Acubens wouldn't cast her adrift but would the simple fact that she couldn't reach the level of eternal make those of the dark mirror think twice about how useful Lacerta could be?

Lacerta had found a seat on the rooftop of a building and once again asked for Acubens to meet her. This once had been a place where Acubens had once comforted her after she had experienced a night where Destiny City had decided to snatch dozens of individuals for an extreme fight or flight adventure of the shadow persuasion. Carousel music, dragons, phantom crowds. Lacerta sniffed in remembrance at that moment in time. It had ended with her being injured but only after teaming up with a fellow Dark Mirror. She'd had her first upgrade after the shadows had spit her out and it'd taken but now there was more than just a kernel of self-doubt lingering. What she needed just now was the comfort that Acubens was seemingly able to give out with her effusive emotions.