Chapter Text
For the first time in a while, it was a peaceful day in the Titans tower. Beast Boy and Cyborg were watching TV, Raven was in her room, Robin was doing a weapons check. Starfire hummed a traditional Tamaranean folk song, putting the kettle on the stove. From her observations, tea was the Earth beverage of peace. One either drank it to gain peace, or to help heighten an already present peace. Maybe it had some sort of magic property? Whatever it was, she definitely wanted to share that special warmth and comfort with all of her friends. She pulled out five mugs from the cabinet, plopping in the teabags one by one.
“Beast Boy, Cyborg! Would you like to have some tea?” Cyborg gave her a hearty thumbs up from the couch.
“Yeah! Thanks, Star,” He said. Beast Boy nodded along in agreement.
“Four sugars and plenty of soymilk for me, thanks.” Cyborg grimaced.
“Man, you’re just asking for diabetes at that point,” He said. Beast Boy stuck out his tongue.
“Diabetes schmi-abetes, dude.” Starfire smiled to herself, leaving the boys to their bickering as she went down the hallway, knocking on Raven’s door.
“Raven, would you care for some tea?” There was some crashing sounds on the other side of the door, followed by what sounded like the shrieking of a horrendous beast. Starfire was about to blast through the door when it opened, revealing a perfectly fine and unbothered Raven.
“I would like some tea, thank you. No cream, no sugar.” Starfire snuck a glance behind her, but it just seemed like Raven’s normal room. Nothing out of the ordinary. She gave a half shrug, smiling.
“You are welcome, friend!” She said, moving on to Robin’s room. She knocked, peeking her head inside when she found it unlocked.
“Robin? I am making the tea, would you like to have some?” Robin glanced up from the boomerang he was sharpening, blinking in surprise.
“Tea sounds great, actually. Here, I’ll help you,” He said, putting his things down on his desk and following Starfire back down the hallway. They both were just about to enter the kitchen when the alarm went off, the alert taking over the big screen.
“Aw man, I was watching that!” Beast Boy complained.
Robin immediately shifted into leader mode, jumping over the couch and quickly typing into the keyboard.
“Reports of unusual amounts of seismic activity coming from New Salem. Happening for a week now.”
“Then why are we only finding out about it now?” Cyborg asked. Robin shook his head.
“It hasn’t been affecting the town until now. Apparently the tremors are centered in the woods, just north of the town border.” Raven came into the room, her face serious.
“I sensed something evil…” She said. Starfire looked at the screen, taking in the map.
“What could be causing such earthquakes?” She asked.
“Whatever it is, it requires further investigation,” Robin said. “Raven, Beast Boy, you’re headed with me for reconnaissance in the woods. Starfire, Cyborg, go to New Salem and question the townsfolk, ask them if they’ve seen anything unusual. Titans, go!” He sprang away from the computer, dashing towards the vehicle bay, the rest of the gang in his wake. Starfire sighed, turning off the stove. The tea would have to wait.
There was a peace at Monster High too, although it was much more uneasy.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen the entire school so on edge,” Frankie said, accepting her lunch tray back from the lunch lady. “The earthquakes are real buzzkills.” Draculaura nodded.
“Everybody’s all jumpy, it’s like they’re all chugging Coffin Bean lattes,” She piped up, grabbing her plate of veggies. They moved towards their table, where Cleo, Lagoona, Ghoulia, Clawdeen, and Operetta were already sitting. Ghoulia was frantically typing on her laptop, or, at least, as frantically as a zombie could type.
“How’s everyone’s day going?” Frankie asked.
“Absolutely terrible! The last earthquake made me spill eyeliner all over my new Alexander McScream purse!” Cleo said, surly. Frankie rolled her eyes.
“Don’t you have four Mcsream purses already?” Cleo placed her hand on her chest.
“You don’t understand Frankie, that was a birthday present from my aunt Hatshepsut. She’ll be devastated when I don’t bring it to brunch next weekend!” Lagoona sighed.
“The earthquakes messed up swim practice. Made the diving board wobble so much that Gil almost fell and cracked his dome,” She said, downcast.
“And it’s not just Monster High, apparently they’re gettin’ so bad the normies down in New Salem are starting to feel them too,” Clawdeen said.
“If only we could find out what was causing them…” Frankie said, fiddling with her fork. “Then maybe we could stop them somehow.”
Ghoulia groaned, pointing the the screen of her computer. The rest of the ghouls crowded around her.
“The tremors are coming from the catacombs?” Frankie said, in bewilderment. Operetta put her hands on her hips.
“Some of the critters down there have been rushin’ around all scared… Couldn’t figure out why… Must be pretty bad if they’re all runnin’ around like a bunch a crickets on a hot plate,” She said, pensive. Ghoulia moaned again.
“You’re right Ghoulia! We should send in a search party, see what we can find,” Frankie said.
“We’ll all go, strength in numbers!” Lagoona said.
“You all can go, I will hang back and hold down the fort while you’re away,” Cleo said. Ghoulia rolled her eyes, groaning. “Oh Ghoulia, don’t be ridiculous! I’ll have you know, I am helping Bloodgood earthquake-proof the school.”
“Are you helping or are your servants helping?” Clawdeen quipped. Cleo blinked at her in bewilderment.
“Is that not the same thing?” She asked. The ghouls laughed, and the bell rang.
“Alright, we’ll meet Operetta at the entrance after school. Everybody bring a flashlight,” Frankie said. The ghouls nodded, splitting up and heading to their classes. They’d get to the bottom of this. Literally and figuratively.
They all met up that night at the entrance to the catacombs, flashlights in hand.
“Everybody all set?” Frankie asked.
“Ready as I’ll ever be!” Clawdeen said, doing her best to be cheery.
“Alrighty y’all, let’s get this show on the road!” Operetta said, throwing open the doors and going down the stairs. The ghouls clambered down after her, their heels clicking as they walked. They passed through the main passageway, heading towards Operetta’s theater. There were a lot less lit torches than Frankie remembered, and the shadows seemed to bubble and shift in the wavering light from their flashlights.
“Is it just me, or does it feel like we’re being watched?” Draculaura whispered. Operetta shrugged.
“That’s just the catacombs, darlin’. Somethin’s always watchin’,” She said. Clawdeen shook her head.
“No Draculaura’s right, I can smell something… But I dunno what it is…” She said, sticking her nose in the air and sniffing. “It kinda smells… like a normie?”
“Ain’t no normie ever been in here,” Operetta said, snorting, “You might wanna get that ol’ sniffer a yours checked out.”
Suddenly, there was a scuffling sound off to their right.
“What was that?!” Draculaura squeaked, practically jumping into Clawdeen’s arms. Frankie waved her flashlight over, catching a flash of something shadowy as it disappeared around a corner. Was that blonde hair?
“Come on ghouls, this way!” She exclaimed, running in pursuit. They rounded the corner, following the figure through the maze of the catacombs. Whatever it was, it was incredibly fast. Suddenly, it skidded into a dead end, the ghouls closing in behind it. Frankie shone her flashlight on the figure, revealing a blonde normie girl in what looked like some weird body armor.
“Stop! We just want to talk!” Frankie yelled. The girl sneered.
“I’ve never been much of a talker,” She said. She curled her hands into fists, and they started to glow bright yellow. The ghouls wobbled as they felt the floor of the catacombs shake underneath them.
“Quick, everybody! Under the arches!” Lagoona yelled, dragging Draculaura and Operetta with her as some of the stone from the ceiling fell down. Frankie and the rest of the ghouls hid under the opposite arch as the girl raised her hands, a hole opening up in front of her in the floor.
“Do me a favor… don’t get in my way again,” She said, giving a mock salute as she jumped into the hole, the ground sealing up behind her.
The ghouls huddled under the arches, waiting until the tremors stopped before reconvening, standing around where the hole used to be.
“I’ve never seen a normie with that kind of power before,” Frankie said, partially in awe and partially in fear.
“Is she really a normie if she can do magic?” Clawdeen asked. “Her hands were glowing!” Draculaura shrugged.
“Sometimes normies are born with powers, or they get them accidentally. My dad met one once, on a trip to Greece. She had super strength and could fly!” Operetta frowned, crossing her arms.
“Whatever she is, she’s been messin’ with the wrong catacombs! This is my home, and I ain’t gonna let some yella-bellied sidewinder destroy it!” She rolled up her sleeves and was about to charge off when Lagoona stopped her.
“Before we go dashing off into battle, we should tell Headmistress Bloodgood. She’ll have a better idea of what to do next,” She said, rubbing Operetta’s shoulder reassuringly. Operetta sighed, slumping forward.
“You’re right… I’m just madder than a wet hen, is all.” Clawdeen wrapped an arm around Operetta, squeezing.
“Don’t worry, we won’t let her get away with this. Right everybody!” Draculaura nodded enthusiastically.
“Right! Ghoul squad forever!” She said. The rest of the ghouls launched themselves into a group hug, squishing Operetta into the middle. She chuckled.
“Thanks… we should probably skedaddle right on outta here, huh?” She asked, breaking out of the clump. Frankie glanced at where the hole used to be. There was no seam, no gap, nothing to indicate that just a few moments ago there had been a person sized hole right smack dab in the middle of it all.
“You can stay at my house! We’ll have a slumber party!” Draculaura said, clapping her hands in excitement. Operetta smiled, slinging an arm around Draculaura.
“Well shoot! Thanks darlin’! Tell you the truth, I wasn’t lookin’ forward to headin’ back home all by my lonesome. Not with ol’ Shaky Hands out there.” The ghouls laughed, heading back towards the entrance. The shadows were less pressing when you had your best ghouls looking out for you.