Chapter Text
There was an eerie silence deep within the forest. Nothing but the sound of buzzing insects and the croaking of tree frogs. However, that silence was soon broken by the sound of tree trunks being crushed, followed by the alarmed shrieks of birds that flew off into the sky in panic.
“This way! If you let it catch you, you’re done for!”
“Come on! Move faster!!”
Heavy pants and stomping feet reverberated through the underbrush, twigs snapping and stones being kicked out of the way of their path. As they ran, a huge shadow loomed from behind the trees before it let out a ferocious, unearthly roar. It sounded like a mix of rage and agony, its voice deep and almost gurgling like its mouth was full of some kind of fluid. As it pursued them, one person looked back in an attempt to get a good look, only to yelp as he tripped on the root of a tree.
“Come on, Epel, get up!!” Jack shouted as he grabbed him and pushed him on ahead.
“Th-thank you!” Epel cried as he ran.
“Make haste!” cried Rook from his vantage point high in the trees. “The beast approaches!!”
Yuuki panted as she ran alongside Ace and Deuce while also trying to carry Grim in her arms… but as she glanced back over her shoulder, she ended up tripping on a stone. She gasped as she tucked Grim under herself, curling up around him in a protective ball in order to make sure she took the brunt of the impact when she tumbled. Ace and Deuce cried out and waved their hands as they saw her fall, urging her to move. As Yuuki groaned, she looked down at Grim, who whimpered as he looked up at her with wide, frightened blue eyes… before he noticed the thing behind her.
“FGNAAA!!” he shrieked. “LOOK OUT!!!”
Yuuki looked up, only to see that the shadowy creature that loomed over her, growling almost demonically as it advanced… and as she pulled Grim tightly to her chest, bracing for the fatal blow… she could only think back to how this all started.
~Three days earlier~
It was just a quiet Saturday morning at the Ramshackle Dorm. Since there were no classes on the weekends, Yuuki Hajime, the dorm’s Prefect, decided that she’d use this chance to get some drawings done, so she was sitting on one of the sofas in the lounge, just sketching away on her sketchbook. She was wearing some casual clothing that Cater had bought for her a while back: a loose-fitting lavender shirt with a colorful flower pattern on the front, a pair of blue sweatpants, and a pair of plain white cotton socks. As for Grim, he was sitting on the floor, gorging himself on tuna as per usual, and there were already several cans littering the floor around him.
“Okay, Grim, it’s done,” Yuuki said.
“Ooh!” Grim exclaimed as he hopped on the couch. “Lemme see!”
Yuuki smiled as she showed him her picture: it was Grim, himself, standing on his hind paws with his chest puffed out while he tilted his nose to the sky, proudly.
“Hehe,” Grim smirked as he crossed his paws. “Not bad! Ya really captured my majesty, y’know!”
Yuuki giggled as she tore the drawing out of the book, then got up to pin it to the corkboard… which had several other drawings: some of leaves, others of insects, and even some of the students of Night Raven College. It was like her own little art gallery, something she could look at to make herself feel a little more at home here in the Ramshackle Dorm.
It was as close to home as she was going to get in this world, at least.
“Ya sure make a lot of sketches, Yuuki,” Grim said. “Might be time for another corkboard, y’know.”
“Yeah, I think you’re right,” Yuuki agreed before she heard a knock at the door.
“Yo, Yuuki! Grim! It’s Ace!”
“And Deuce!”
“Come on in, guys!” Yuuki called, and soon, Ace Trappola and Deuce Spade, two of her best friends in the entire school, entered the lounge.
“Hey, Yuuki!” Ace greeted. “How’s it goin’?”
“Oh, pretty good,” said Yuuki. “What are you guys up to? I thought you’d be at your clubs.”
“Well, we would be,” Deuce began, “but clubs are canceled today for some reason. The Headmaster ordered it.”
“Really?” asked Yuuki, surprised. “Why?”
“We don’t know,” Ace answered, “but he made an announcement for everyone to come to the Mirror Chamber. He said it was a surprise. That’s why we came to get you.”
“Seriously?” Yuuki asked, crossing her arms and raising one eyebrow skeptically. These days, she knew to be more than a little cautious around Crowley since she didn’t know what he might be scheming. Even now, he still hadn’t found a way to send her home to her original world, but so far, she wasn’t pressing him… yet.
“You better get dressed in your uniform, just in case,” suggested Deuce.
“So much for a relaxin’ day in, y’know,” Grim muttered as he crossed his paws.
“Well, it must be important if the Headmaster wants everyone at the Mirror Chamber,” Yuuki surmised as she went to get dressed. “We better go see what he wants.”
‘It can’t be anything too outrageous… but knowing Crowley…’
~TWST~
Soon, the four friends arrived in the Mirror Chamber… which, needless to say, was quite crowded. Students were chatting amongst themselves, wondering what was going on, and some looked rather irritated… among them being Vil Schoenheit, the Housewarden of Pomefiore. Flanking him were the flamboyant Rook Hunt, his vice-housewarden, and the first-year student, Epel Felmier.
“This is ridiculous,” Vil griped. “This had better be important! Since there were no classes and clubs were canceled, today, I was going to give myself a self-care day!” He then gestured to himself. “Do you know how much work it takes to maintain all of this?!”
“But my Roi de Poison,” Rook said, “you are already so dazzling! Your beauty is truly limitless!”
“There’s still nothing wrong with a little touch-up, now and then,” Vil countered.
“I wonder why the Headmaster told us to come here,” Epel pondered.
“Who knows?” asked Jack Howl as he stood near Ruggie Bucchi and Leona Kingscholar, the latter grumbling to himself.
“This had better be good,” Leona muttered. “I dragged myself outta my room for this.” He then made a jaw-cracking yawn. “I was having a really good nap, too… what a pain in the ass.”
“You think everything is a pain in the ass, Boss,” Ruggie pointed out.
“Well, this is a bigger pain in the ass,” Leona argued.
“Wow, look at all the students,” said Yuuki as she surveyed the room.
“We told you it would be really crowded,” said Deuce.
“Crowded?” Grim asked with his paws on his hips. “I’ve seen sardine cans more thinned-out than this, y’know!”
“Oh, hey! You guys are here, too?”
Yuuki, Ace, Deuce, and Grim turned to see Trey Clover, Cater Diamond, and the Housewarden of Heartslabyul, Riddle Rosehearts.
“Hi, Riddle!” Yuuki said as she went to hug Riddle, who smiled as he returned her embrace before she went to greet Trey and Cater. “Hi, Trey-senpai, Cater-senpai!”
“Heya, sweet thing!” Cater said with a wink.
“You guys got called in here, too?” Deuce asked.
“Pretty much,” Trey said with a shrug. “I was about to make a strawberry cheesecake before the Headmaster called everyone in here. Good thing I decided against it.”
“I just wonder what the Headmaster wants,” said Riddle as he looked at the time on his golden pocket watch. “The Heartslabyul croquet match was going to start later today at 12 pm, sharp. Looks like it will have to be postponed for the time being.”
Suddenly, Yuuki yelped as she was picked up by a pair of lean but strong arms, and before she knew it, she found herself pinned against a very tall figure… and yet, she smiled warmly as she realized who it was.
“Hi, Floyd,” she greeted.
“Hi, Little Shrimpy~!” Floyd Leech sang as he held her and nuzzled his cheek against her scalp like she was his little plush toy. “Mm~! I was just in the mood to squeeze ya!”
“I’m glad to see you, too, big guy,” Yuuki replied with a bit of a squeak to her voice, feeling Floyd’s arms squeezing her gently yet tightly.
“Oh, dear…” Riddle muttered as he placed a hand over his chest. “I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to the thought of you being friends with Floyd of all people, Primrose.”
“Me, neither, y’know…” Grim muttered, remembering all the times Floyd attempted to “squeeze” him.
“He keeps surprising us, too…” Ace muttered, he and Deuce also having the same look of unease.
“Aww, is Goldfishie jealous?” Floyd cooed, teasingly. “Don’t worry, I can squeeze you, too, if you want!”
“Positively not!” Riddle shouted with a look of fright.
“Well, now,” said Azul Ashengrotto, Housewarden of Octavinelle as he and Jade Leech, his vice-housewarden and Floyd’s twin brother approached. “If it isn’t Miss Yuuki and friends?”
“Hi, Azul! Hi, Jade!” Yuuki greeted as Floyd gently put her down on the floor.
“And good day to you, as well, Miss Yuuki,” Jade greeted.
“So did you guys get called here, too?” asked Yuuki.
“Basically, yes,” Azul answered as he adjusted his glasses. “I had to close up the Mostro Lounge early today, though, so this does inconvenience me, just a bit.”
“Sorry to hear that,” said Yuuki. “Good thing I didn’t have to come in for work today, huh?”
“Hi, Yuuki!”
Yuuki turned around, only to nearly be toppled over by none other than the Housewarden of Scarabia, Kalim Al-Asim, who laughed as he wrapped his arms around her. Following him was his vice-housewarden, Jamil Viper, whose expression remained neutral, and yet the way he had one eyebrow hunched and how he tensed his shoulders a bit showed a slight annoyance. Nonetheless, Yuuki laughed as she hugged the silver-haired boy in return.
“Hi, Kalim!” she greeted him, cheerfully. “Did you and Jamil-senpai get called here, too?”
“Pretty much,” Kalim replied. “Too bad. I was thinking about throwing a party today and I was gonna have all kinds of food served there, too, and I was even gonna invite you and Grim, Yuuki.” He then turned to his childhood friend. “But at least you get to take a break, right Jamil?”
“Well, I was going to help you study for the upcoming potions exam,” Jamil added, “but… I suppose I could use a bit of a rest. I only wonder what the Headmaster wants.”
“Who knows?” asked Kalim.
“Ya mean we missed out on another feast, y’know?!” Grim questioned. “Man, as if this day wasn’t sucky enough!”
“Grim,” Yuuki chided.
“What?!” Grim asked. “It’s true!”
“Food’s all you ever think about, isn’t it?” asked Ace, incredulously.
Yuuki sighed and shook her head before she noticed someone else standing in the corner, trying to make himself as less noticeable as possible: Idia Shroud, the introverted Housewarden of Ignihyde, along with his little “brother”, Ortho. The pale-skinned, fiery-haired boy was pulling the hood of his jacket over his hair, his noise-canceling headphones covering his ears to block out the sounds around him. Yuuki smiled as she went over to the pair, causing the former to tense as she approached while Ortho happily went over and hugged her.
“Hi, Yuuki!” the little android exclaimed.
“Hi, Ortho!” Yuuki replied before she looked at Idia. “Hi, Idia-senpai! How are you?”
“Umm… uh… g-good… I guess,” Idia replied as he looked away, his cheeks turning a light pink… as well as the ends of his hair as he felt his heart start pounding.
“Is everything okay?” Yuuki asked as she took a closer look at him. “You look flushed.”
“She’s right, big brother!” Ortho said, worriedly. “Sensors indicate your heart rate and body heat have increased! You’re not sick, are you?!”
“Do you have a fever?” asked Yuuki. “Maybe you should go back to your room and rest!”
“N-no! I’m fine!” Idia replied. “I mean… err… maybe I could go back to my room if I’m not feeling well.”
‘How am I supposed to keep my cool when Yuuki, the Super Cute Girl of NRC (source, me), is right next to me?!’ he thought. ‘I mean, yeah, she’s the only girl in NRC, but still!!’
“Is everything all right, over here?”
Yuuki looked around, only to find no one behind her… at first.
“Up here, child.”
“Huh?” Yuuki asked before she looked up and saw Lilia Vanrouge, Vice-Housewarden of Diasomnia. “Oh! Lilia-senpai!”
“Hello, dear,” Lilia replied as he dropped down to the floor. “I hope thou art well.”
“I’m fine, thank you,” Yuuki replied. “How are you?”
“Well, I must admit,” Lilia began, “before we were summoned here, I was planning on getting… how do you young ones say it, again? Err… ‘my game on’, is that it?”
“Uhh… kinda…?” Yuuki answered, although she seemed to wince a bit.
“No one really says that anymore…” Ace muttered while putting a hand on his hip.
“Shh~!” Deuce shushed. “He’ll hear you!”
“Sir Lilia!”
Lilia turned to see Silver and Sebek Zigvolt approach him, the latter looking panicked.
“We cannot find the Young Master!” Sebek cried. “We only took our eyes off of him for just a moment, sir!”
“Sebek, would you please calm down?” Silver asked. “Lord Malleus isn’t a child. He’s capable of looking after himself. I keep telling you this.”
“Bite your tongue, Silver!!” Sebek shouted, flashing his fangs. “How dare you speak lightly of this?! What if an assassin had somehow snuck in here among us, waiting for the perfect opportunity to take the Young Master’s head?!”
“All right, all right,” said Lilia as he raised his hands and stood between the overly-exuberant Sebek and Silver. “Settle down you two. I’m sure Malleus is just fine. I just saw him not that long ago. He’s in here somewhere.”
“So he’s safe, then?” Sebek asked before he sighed in relief, placing a hand on his chest. “Thank the Fairy of Thorns!”
“I told you there was nothing to worry about,” Silver added with a roll of his eyes. “Why must you constantly make such a fuss over everything, Sebek?”
“Are you saying that I should take my position as one of the Young Master’s bodyguards lightly?!” Sebek questioned as he nearly butted heads with his upperclassman.
“Man, what a weirdo, y’know,” Grim muttered.
“I still can’t believe he’s a first-year, just like us,” Deuce added.
“Forgive Sebek,” Lilia said as he turned to Yuuki and her friends. “He tends to be a, err… how dost one say it? A ‘drama queen’.”
“Drama is putting it mildly…” Ace murmured while Yuuki stifled a snicker, but as everyone was distracted, she looked around the Mirror Chamber, scanning the number of heads in the room.
‘Hmm… I was thinking that Tsunotaro might be here,’ she thought. ‘It’s hard to miss someone like that: he’s a guy with horns growing out of his head.’
“Attention, students! Attention, please!”
As everyone looked up to see none other than the Headmaster of Night Raven College, Dire Crowley.
“Good day, everyone!” called Crowley. “I am glad that you all have arrived here, accordingly! I have a special announcement for all of you!”
“What kind of announcement, Headmaster?” asked Yuuki.
“You may have noticed that both classes and clubs have been canceled today,” Crowley said. “That’s because I have planned a special surprise treat for you all!”
“Ooh, what kind of surprise?!” Kalim asked as he bounced up and down like a little kid, prompting Jamil to grab him by his shoulder.
“Settle down,” he scolded him. “You’re not 7, Kalim.”
“Haha!” Crowley laughed. “I don’t blame you for being eager, Mister Asim.”
“Just get on with it, Crowley!” Leona snapped. “You’re borin’ me to tears, here!”
“Very well, Mister Kingscholar,” Crowley began, “I’ve arranged for you all… to have a surprise field trip!”
All that met him was silence… as well as the sound of chirping crickets.
“A surprise… what-now?” Yuuki asked.