The clattering march of a small army filled the dark mountain cave. Led by them was Celica, princess of Zofia. She had chosen 9 of her most reliable allies to accompany her in this expedition into unknown territory. The people in a nearby village spoke of a mysterious power hidden deep beneath the earth. Celica had ventured into the cave in search of this power, hoping it could help her end the war.

The journey had been very difficult. Many powerful, undead foes filled these treacherous corridors. Some time had passed since they had last found a Mila statue, the only safe havens in these dungeons. Most of the company were tired, but Celica pushed on, determined not to leave empty handed. The flame produced from her magic flickered. Her closest friend, Mae, spoke up in concern.

"Are you OK, Celica?" she asked, "you don't look so good."
"I'm fine," Celica reassured her friend, "we must keep going."
"Are you sure, milady?" Boey chimed in, "you must be in top condition if we're to keep facing such powerful monsters."
"There's no need to put on a brave face." Palla, the green haired pegasus knight, approached her commander. She was older than Celica, and so had taken to keeping an eye on her just like her younger sisters.
"Here, have this." Palla offered some bread and water to Celica. She gratefully accepted.
"Thank you Palla. This is indeed a difficult journey, but I have a feeling there is a Mila statue somewhere near here."
"Perhaps, but there's no need for you to push yourself so hard," Palla reminded her.

After a brief rest, the group continued. There was still no sign of a safe haven. Boey squinted through the darkness, finding it harder to see as they went deeper. He suddenly yelped. His foot had kicked a particularly hard rock.
"What's the matter, Boey?" Celica was quick to check on him.
"Probably just another rat," Mae sighed.
Boey was clutching his foot. "Just... A rock, milady."
Celica was relieved that it wasn't anything more serious, like a monster. "Please be careful, Boey."
"Yes milady," he agreed, embarrassed.
Standing further back from this scene was Catria. From a distance, she noticed something about the wall lit by the mages' fire.
"Milady, there's something about this wall. It's a different color from the rest of the cave," she noted.
Celica looked at the wall, intrigued. "Yes, you're right. I wonder what it could mean?"
"Allow me, milady," Palla stepped forward, putting an ear to the wall.

"…I can hear wind," she informed the group, "Perhaps there is something hidden behind this wall."
"Allow me, princess." The rugged mercenary, Saber stepped forward. The others moved back as he hit the wall hard with his sword. The wall crumbled, revealing a small doorway roughly 4 feet high.
"Excellent, Saber," Celica commended her reliable ally, before crouching down to get through the small opening. She saw a small opening, much like the architecture found near a Mila statue.
"There's certainly a Mila statue in here," she informed her friends.

Celica then laid eyes on the statue. It was unmistakably of the goddess Mila, but much smaller than the others, roughly 3 feet tall. Regardless, she could feel the soothing energy of the earth mother. "All right everyone, come in after me!" she announced to the group.
"Pardon me, milady," Boey had followed her in, awkwardly crouched, "but the mounts can't possibly fit through such a small opening."
"Oh, I see," Celica could see the obvious problem.

"Valbar?" she called for the armor knight.
"Yes priestess?" he answered.
"Can you look after the pegasi for me? Stay outside and guard the entrance," she instructed.
"Of course!" he complied.
Outside, the three whitewings dismounted and handed the reins of the pegasi to Valbar. He looked nervous as he thought about how to keep control of all three at once but was determined not to let Celica down. The three sisters crouched through the door, following after Mae.

"Some rest at last," Palla sighed, relieved.
"Woo hoo!" Mae cheered. Est joined her.
"It seems like one of us could change class here," Celica suggested, "although I'm not sure. This statue seems a bit odd..."
"Please, allow me," Palla volunteered, "I believe I am able to access some new power."
"Yes, please do!" Celica agreed enthusiastically. A more powerful ally would make their battles much easier.

The statue glowed softly. Palla approached, and kneeled before the oddly small shrine, closing her eyes. A mysterious light shone down from the ceiling, bathing the pegasus knight. Her green tunic faded, replaced by a short green dress. Palla shivered slightly as she felt the cold air brush against her now exposed shoulders. The light faded. She opened her eyes, the blessing over, and stood. She turned to see the awestruck faces of her friends.
"Palla!" Est cheered, "you look so pretty in that dress!"
"Indeed," Catria agreed, "this is quite a surprise."
"Thank you, my sweet sisters," Palla smiled.
"That's... not what I was expecting," Boey said, "is this even useful? What kind of class is she now?"
"Oh, Boey," May chided him, "stop being such a spoilsport."
"I don't know..." Palla answered Boey's question, "but I feel like I have some magical power now." She looked over her new clothes curiously.
"This power should help us in the battles ahead. I'm sure of it," Celica said, filled with hope at this new power.

Palla went to say something, when she suddenly had an odd feeling. She felt like she had swallowed a lot of air. Her friends seemed to be getting bigger. Confused, she looked around. The cave seemed to be getting bigger by the second.
Catria was the first to notice a problem. "Umm... Guys?"
Boey was the next to see it. "Something's happening to Palla!" he cried.
The last statement made Palla realize she was the one who was changing.

"Oh... my," she gasped, her voice now higher pitched. She was shrinking quickly, the stunned faces before her rising above her field of vision. Before long she was level with their knees. Ensnared by panic, she looked about, trying to find anything that could stop her dwindling yet smaller. She could find no way out as pebbles expanded into boulders. Her shrinking stopped as quickly as it began, and she stumbled like she had been moving. Her friends and sisters now giants before her, she was smaller than a mouse.

"Palla!" Both sisters' voices called out in concern. Hurrying to their sister, they both crouched down and got as close to the ground as possible.
"Palla! Are you OK?" the youngest, Est asked.
"Yes, I... I think I'm fine," Palla was taken aback by how big her world had become.
"Did this statue do this to you?" Catria questioned, more levelheaded than her younger sister.
"I don't know," Palla answered, "This is so strange..."
"Here, climb on my hand." Catria laid her hand flat on the ground. Palla accepted her sister's invitation, climbing carefully onto her palm.
The tiny woman clung onto her sister's thumb as she was lifted into the air. The rest of the group leaned in, keen to see their miniature comrade, making Palla flinch.
"Wow, Palla! You're so tiny!" Est cheered. Palla jumped as her sister's giant finger poked her in the side.
"Stop that, Est," she commanded, causing her giant sister to laugh.
"Your voice is so funny!" she chuckled.
"This is quite the strange turn of events," Celica said, "I hope you're alright."
"I'm fine." Palla smiled at her commander.

It's quite intimidating to see so many giant faces. she thought.
"What application could this possibly have in a battle..." Boey wondered.

Moving to answer, Palla was interrupted as giant fingers wrapped around her tiny body. She was abruptly squeezed and lifted into the air. She groaned as she felt the pain from the tight grip, the culprit's beaming face and pink hair being all that she could see.
"You're so cute like this, Palla!" Est squeezed her now much smaller sister harder.
"S-stop, Est!" Palla gasped out.
"Est, you're hurting her!" Catria called out her younger sister.
"Oops." The hand unfurled, leaving Palla bent over on the palm, and she was lowered to head height. She gasped as she tried to catch her breath.
"Please be more careful with me, Est." she reprimanded her sister.
"I'm sorry," Est said, seemingly remorseful, "you're just too cute like this!"
"Even so..." Palla began but trailed off.
"Perhaps we should ask her to try out some of that magic she mentioned," Boey suggested to Celica, "there is a chance she would be still useful in this state."
"Good idea Boey. Would you mind trying for us?" Celica asked the tiny green haired woman.
"Of course, milady," Palla agreed, "what sort of spell should I try? I'm not too familiar with magic." she squeaked.
"Hmm..." Celica pondered...