The new brood mouse sank heavily onto a rock. Unlike Daisy, she was about as tall as Selena, but was just as full-figured. "Didn't you notice I was there?" She cocked a brow at Daisy. "I smelled you a mile away. Bloody hells, why are you even wandering onto my turf to start?! I need this dungeon."

Selena scooted a little closer to Daisy, not quite hiding behind her, but clearly on edge. "Are you going to fight us?"

Daisy put an arm around her, offering protection without a word. "She doesn't look ready to fight."

"Because I'm not!" The new mouse stomped a foot. "Look, we got a simple thing going. When She wants some dungeon to be extra special, she puts us in charge of it. We make sure that dungeon is extra special for the saps that wander into it. Easy deal. Except now you're ruining it! So you need to go find your own dungeon to get all possessive and protective of!"

Daisy rubbed her cheek, thinking about things. "She?"

"Yeah, She." The mouse leaned back, arms folded under her chest. "The one we are created in the image of? Dirty Mouse?"

Daisy flinched, it coming together. "The one who made—"

"—Everything, yeah," cut in the new mouse. "She made us in her image, gave us a mission, and we're doing it. Or we would be doing it if you didn't wander into my dungeon." She squinted at Daisy. "The fact that you seem clueless is why I haven't torn an ear off yet. How are you so empty-headed? Didn't you hear Her words?!"

"I'm from another world," Daisy said flatly, meeting the stare with one of her own. "A different dimension, really, so no, I don't know who your 'She' is, but I have a good guess." Her thoughts went to the logo displayed on the web site. Dirty Mouse was the programmer that made the game. She self-inserted herself as the dungeon guardians, Daisy decided silently. "I'm really sorry for messing up your dungeon. I mean it. I wasn't there to cause problems."

"Then tell me why." She hopped to her feet. "I saw what you did. You stole what I had to work for years to get right." She pointed directly at Daisy's chest. "Mutagen that changes clothes and not the rest of everything in the process? You just came in, snatched it, and were running away with it! That's mine!"

Daisy blinked, then glanced down at herself. She had forgotten she was wearing an evening gown. "I think we have something to talk about, so how about we take a breath and sit down."

The new mouse put her hands on her hips, but nodded. "We're talking. We're not fighting." She threw up her hands. "We're not savages, unlike some of the rumors I heard. I'm pissed though!" She sat back down, taking deep breaths to try and calm herself.

"I came here for that mutagen too." Selena held up her hands as the new mouse's eyes turned to her. "I, uh, didn't know anyone else had dibs on it."

The mouse fluttered her lashes at Selena. "Actually, I'm happy to hear that. Adventurers are being lured to my dungeon? Fantastic. But you brought a mouse with you." She pointed at Daisy firmly. "And she stole it, instead of you working hard to get a few doses on your own."

"I didn't know that was your dungeon, I promise." Selena held close to Daisy. "But it's mine now. We cleared it!"

"What?" The new mouse blinked a few times, her face blank. "You didn't clear anything!" Her voice hit a shrill note as she slapped a knee. "You barely got halfway in, then ran out, and still almost bought it. That part was pretty funny, not gonna lie. You didn't earn a damn thing."

"Well..." Selena held up her hands. "We cleared enough of it. We got the mutagen we wanted and survived. That's all we needed to do."

The mouse pointed at them both. "If you're going to clear it, do it right. Look, girlie." She approached Selena with a little smile. "I'm really not mad at you, specifically. You did what adventurers do. Keep it up! Watching you fumble around our dungeons is our entire purpose, and it feels good watching you try. No, you're fine. It's her." She looked up at Daisy. "She's the problem here." She looked to Daisy with a scowl. "You ruined it."

Daisy leaned back, feeling uncomfortable under the stare. "Okay, let's skip ahead a little. I'm sorry and want to make this better. How do I do that?"

"Easy." The mouse pointed towards the dungeon entrance. "Give me that mutagen, then go back in with her and clear the dungeon proper. I can have my dungeon back, and you don't ruin the experience for her."

"Ruin the—" Daisy blinked and looked to Selena, then back to the new mouse. "How do I give a mutagen? I know how to, you know, express it, but how does one 'give' it like the way you're asking?"

The mouse girl stared, open-mouthed, a hand going to her chest. "You really don't know how we work, do you?" Daisy shook her head. "We can learn any mutagen. Being exposed to it is the most obvious way. Look, give me permission and I'll take it back. You'll forget it, and everything goes back to how it should be. Well, not entirely back. But closer."

Daisy looked aside, then to Selena, who gave a small nod. "O-okay." She licked over her lips. "I really didn't want to start a problem. I'm sorry. If I give it back, you'll stop being mad?"

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"I will." The mouse took Daisy's hands. "Now, give me full permission," she whispered.

Daisy took a deep breath and opened her system screen. "I grant Mouse #2 full control over my mutagens."

The mouse smirked as she saw the prompt herself. "Ah, you're not entirely clueless at least." She pressed the proceed button on her side. "Let's see what you've been up to." She began to sweep and press, browsing what mutagens Daisy had been exposed to, or even thought up. "Hm, not a long list. That figures, being a young stray mouse."

Daisy felt a flush rising along her cheeks as the stranger examined her mutagens like some kind of resume.

"Hmm, interesting choices here." Daisy felt a sudden flush of warm energy spreading through her body as the mouse experimented on her with some of those mutagens. Her tail exploded in tingles as it burst into new fur and muscle, becoming a thick fox tail instead of her slender mouse one. "Why'd you even bother learning such a common one?"

Daisy blushed and looked aside. "That one belongs to a close friend of mine." Theo's face flashed in her mind. "I'm alright just being a mouse. Speaking of that, I thought we were immune to form mutagens."

"We are." She pressed something, returning Daisy's tail. "Unless someone's in this menu. You'd turn back once I left it, promise."

Daisy looked up at Selena for some support, but she was just watching quietly.

"Hmm, these are interesting. I like these a lot." The mouse looked over Daisy, not hiding how she was enjoying herself. "But this is what I came for." She pressed a clawed finger over one. "Mine." She yanked it free of the list and Daisy felt its leaving, a sudden hole in her thoughts. "If you want it, get it the old-fashioned way."

Daisy panted softly as the mouse looked over the remaining mutagens with interest.

"Such an interesting collection. Very nice." She grinned up towards Daisy, then glanced towards Selena. "I'm glad you ran into her. She gave you quite a selection. What's this? You made one? I didn't think you would." She tapped at the new mutagen, then something else. She changed rapidly, becoming a near copy of Selena, with the mouse's original features as the basis. "A hybrid, nice."

"I did that for Selena," Daisy said. "She wanted to be unique, so I made her a lot of things."

"A lot of things," echoed the new mouse as she returned to being a brood mouse in form. "Like it. Good. A brood mouse without even a single new mutation? I would have laughed." She swiped the menu away, her eyes on the physical Daisy. "Now, your choice. Go back in and face my dungeon the right way, or just leave. If you run, don't you ever come back here again." Her eyes narrowed. "I'm not inclined to forgive twice."

"We'll stay and fight." Selena's voice was firm, despite her initial hesitation. "We won't use any brood mouse powers, just our own skills and strength."

The mouse nodded, then smirked. "Good answer." She began to walk away, pausing after a step. "If you beat it? I might not even be mad at you." She waved over her shoulder as she left them behind.

Selena and Daisy exchanged glances. Daisy shook her head with a little laugh. "I almost think I made a friend. If we can beat her dungeon, or lose fair and square, I think she'll forgive us."

Selena rubbed her cheek slowly. "I guess we'll find out." She took Daisy by a hand. "Let's rest and get this finished. I'm ready to finish this mission."

Daisy held her close and flopped aside with her. "A little nap sounds great right now, sheesh. Just talking with her was a little draining. She was an agressive sort."

Selena nodded against Daisy, then glanced up towards her. "Are you sure this is the right path?"

Daisy nodded. "It's fine. We'll clear this dungeon right and proper. That's how we make up for cheating."

"Cheating?" Selena blinked at that.

Daisy smiled softly. "I got the mutagen just because of what I was, and we were running instead of finishing it. That was the cheat, and what made her super mad. I imagine she only could have been more mad if I tried to conquer the dungeon she was in charge of."

Selena mulled over that. "I guess we did kinda do things backwards." She sighed and flopped down. "Fine, we get some rest, then go into the dungeon again. No cheating this time!"

They nestled close in that little crevice and sleep found them quickly. Restored and ready on awakening, they made their way back into the caves.

They passed by Olm's house, who perked as they arrived. "Back already? Yay!"

Daisy sliced a hand through the air. "Not quite done. I messed up and I'm making up for it. Sorry for the delay."

Olm considered that a moment. "Oh. Olm make mistake before. Make it better." He waved, allowing them to pass by him without any further delays.

They passed through the area they had explored earlier, re-exploring it this time. Daisy fought with a heavy shield and hammer. It was slower going, but much safer than her last approach. The dungeon's entrance came into view and Daisy accelerated towards it. "Glad the other giants took the day off."

Selena nodded in agreement. "They did seem like a bunch of slackers, really." They slipped inside the dungeon entrance. "I guess she doesn't get a lot of adventurers through the place?"

"Any adventurers have to get past the giants for one." Daisy thrust a thumb back towards where they had come from. "Lowers how worth coming here is. Alright, game faces on. Let's handle this dungeon properly."

Selena nodded firmly and headed inwards. They had to explore the entire place this time, no cutting corners. The beasts of the cave were simple at the start, but grew in threat as they delved deeper.

The sloth vampire had respawned, already awake when they entered their room.