Chapter Text
“Please, go out with me!”
It was late afternoon on a Monday, school had gotten out about twenty minutes prior. Yuu had skipped book club today because he wanted to confess to his crush, Harry Johnson. The most attractive boy in school, all of the girls wanted him. However Harry had never gotten a confession from a man before, and it was hilarious. “Sure…If you were a woman, freak.” He laughed with venom in his words. “You took time out of my day to tell me that? Pft, it’s actually hilarious, however I’m not going to Hell for liking men, unlike you…Ick.” He made a fake gagging noise, grinning.
Yuu stared in shock for a moment, his face went paler than usual, luckily his curly black hair hid the horror in his eyes, and the embarrassment he felt from the world. “Oh-” He choked up. “Th-thanks for giving it to- to me straight.” He simply turned around and ran, Harry still laughing at him from behind. He ran, he hoped he was running home, however the tears in his eyes blurred his vision and his feet wouldn’t stop moving.
What did I expect? I’m such an idiot… He thought, and continued to run, the feeling of gravel and pavement under his shoes. He didn’t even notice when he had reached the road.
Only did Yuu look up with blurred vision when he heard a galloping coming fast straight towards him, no yelling or sign of stopping anytime soon. The last thing he saw was the face of a black horse right in front of him before the world went black.
Part One: Welcome to the Villain's World
“Hrk…My head.” Yuu’s head ached as if he had been on a carnival ride and got banged around by sharp turns. When he went to rub his head however, his elbow hit something in front of him. He was trapped, in a box of some sort with a velvety feeling lining.
He opened his eyes only to more darkness, after his eyes adjusted he noticed the trapezoid shaped top of the box he was in and the slimmer it got towards his feet, like a coffin. Was he dead? No he couldn’t be, or else this panic wouldn’t be rising in his chest. He wouldn’t be able to move either. He began to call out but the yells were muffled by the coffin. “Hello! Help, someone, anyone! I’m not dead!!”
He went to bang on the coffin lid, however he noticed he wasn’t wearing what he wore to his school that day, instead he was wearing robes of some sort, they felt like silk. He still had on his one black heart dangle earring that he wore however.
As he was examining himself as best as he could in the cramped, dark coffin-like box, a voice from the other side of the lid said, “I better hurry up and find that uniform before someone spots me…”
The voice sounded nasally and almost like a young child with a sore throat. The lid of the coffin then began to shake a bit and Yuu did his best to hold on, “Urgggh…This lid weighs a ton!” The voice paused, “Try this on for size! Mya-ha!”
Nothing happened at first but then the coffin began to get very warm, “Fire?!” Yuu began to freak out as the blue flames made their way around the lid of the box, melting it off the hinges the lid had for some odd reason, almost like a door.
Once the door was melted there was a loud bang on the lid and Yuu came falling out of the coffin. He hit the cold, slick floor beneath him with a thud and a groan as the wind was knocked out of him. He quickly sat up and was face to face with a cat-like creature on two legs.
The creature had blue flames coming out of its ears, its eyes were an eerie blue with black pupils, its fur was grey and its tail looked like a pitchfork.
Yuu paused for a moment before yelling, “AHH!” In horror at the talking cat before him, “A talking cat?!” He was frightened but tried to remember what he had learned at the animal shelter he volunteers at every Sunday.
“I am NOT a cat! I’m Grim, sorcerer extraordinaire!” The creature declared with pride. Before Yuu could respond the creature, Grim, pointed a paw out towards him. “Now, you human, give me your uniform! Be quick about it ‘cause if you don’t…you’re gonna regret it!”
“Uniform?...” Yuu looked at the silky robes he was wearing, they were purple, the same color as the lining of the velvety coffin he just toppled out of. The robes had a golden lining to them and the hood, he still had on his black combat boots from before however. The robes were ruffly and flowy, something Yuu would very much like to wear back home, however admiring their detail would have to come later. Because right now a talking cat monster named Grim with fire coming out of his ears was demanding he hand it over.
“But what would I even wear?” He protested.
“Mya! Not my problem. Hand it over!” Grim scowled.
“Sorry I can't do that seeing as I have nothing else to wear, but if I find something I will absolutely hand it over.” Yuu stood up quickly and backed away slowly. Grim then began throwing a tantrum, then he began to growl and a flame appeared as he blew fire from his mouth. Yuu decided that was his cue to run, and that is what he did.
I’m doing a whole lot of running today, that’ll hurt in the morning. Big back life I guess. He continued to run as fast as he could, Grim scurrying down halls after him. Yuu ran through the school campus, through the courtyard to the library. When he arrived there he paused. The books were floating around, Yu looked around eyes wide, “Am I high or drugged right now?”
Grim came in right after, “Foolish human! You thought you could get away from me? THE Grim the Great? Take this, MYAH!” He prepared to blast some fire before he yowled, “YOWCH!” A black, whiplike substance wrapped around Grim with a THWACK sound. Yuu jumped back, startled as the whip began to wrap around Grim, trapping him in the air. “MYAH?! WHAT IS THIS?!”
“Consider it tough love.” A tall man in a black mask appeared, he had glowing yellow pupils behind the crow mask, his hair was slick and black, he wore a tophat with a key set charm on it. On his shoulders sat a cloak-like jacket, with feathers down the sides. He was dressed like the mysterious salesmen in anime, Yuu thought. “Ah you.” The man turned to Yuu, “Splendid, I take it you are one of the new students this year? My my, weren’t you eager to make your debut…And you bring a poorly trained familiar with you? This is a violation of the school’s rules!” The man spoke dramatically.
“Student?-” Yuu began before getting cut off by Grim.
“As if I would serve some lowly human!-” He was cut off by the man squeezing him with his “tough love.”
“What a naughty familiar you have.” He spoke in an overly dramatic tone. This man had flare when it came to speaking, Yuu figured. “No matter, orientation is starting, we should be on our way now.”
“Wait, what, orientation?” Yuu’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Yes, well we could have done this properly if you had allowed me to open the gate for you.” The man sighed and put a hand up to his face flashily. “Now, we must be off, we have orientation to get to.”
“But I can’t be a student here, I go to school somewhere else, where even am I and who are you?” Yuu was very confused.
“Oh my, you must be turned around from the journey here. As well as being very mixed up…No matter, follow me I shall explain on the way.” The man began to leave the library, his heels clicking against the floor, Grim floated, wrapped in the “tough love” after him. Yuu stood there confused and shocked, but he was too scared to try to run, he didn't even know where he was. So his only option was to follow the strange man, which he did.
The man led Yuu and the pouting Grim outside to the courtyard. The man then began to explain, “This is Night Raven College, NRC for short, it is a school for students who show a special talent in magic. It is by far the most prestigious magic school in all of twisted wonderland! And I am Dire Crowley, I serve as the headmage here being entrusted by the chairman.”
Yuu paused, “Wait Magic?!” Yuu’s thoughts then began to panic a bit, Holy crap did I end up at some odd cult?!
Crowley nodded as if it were simply the weather, “Yes only those that the Dark Mirror thinks of as magical are allowed to attend this school. Those selected go through the gates, or well the coffins from before the mirror hall.”
This has to be some kind of wacky cult thing. Because what is this man talking about?! Then again there were the floating books, and in front of me a fire breathing cat is being held up by a man with a magic black inky whip. So I guess that makes sense, unless I am dreaming or actually drugged.
“There should be a black carriage that takes all the students to said gates.” Crowley continued.
“Black carriage…” Yuu remembered the giant black horse coming straight towards him when he was knocked out. “I do remember a dark forest.” He said as his mind was flipping through memories, and he was remembering seeing flashes of things he couldn’t make out and a black forest. “So the carriage brought me here against my will?”
Before Crowley could answer Grim let out a muffled yell that sounded like a demand to be put down.
Crowley used that as a chance to dodge the question and instead said, “Now off to your orientation.”
Yuu followed the floating Grim and Crowley all the way back to the Mirror Hall. Students were already there chatting. A boy with red hair talked about some “off with your head” to the new students he needed to guide.
A boy with lion ears lazily yawned as he slumped back in his seat chatting about how boring the ceremony was, and telling the newest students to follow him.
Then a boy with glasses cleared his throat as he looked at the students behind him, he congratulated the students on getting into his dorm and this school, and he promised to do his best as their dorm leader.
A handsome boy was asking about where the Headmage went. A floating tablet voiced its opinion of how much of a bad headmage this school has, and a boy with silver hair and red eyes suggested the man maybe had a stomach ache.
Crowley cut in right there and then, “I did not!”
The boy with lion ears then spoke, “Speak of the devil…”
“If you must know, I was searching for the student who failed to show up for orientation!” He shouted defensively, then he turned to Yuu, “You are the only one now without a dorm, go up to the dark mirror and be quick about it. I will watch your familiar.”
“One he’s not my cat, two this is some freaky cult stuff.” He spoke the first part and mumbled the second. Yuu walked up to the Dark Mirror, and when a face appeared he jumped back.
The dark green face in the mirror spoke in a deep, haunting, yet wise voice, “Sate your name.”
Yuu was freaked out so he paused for a moment before saying, “Yuu Kyrs.”
“Yuu Kyrs… The nature of your soul is…Unclear to me.” Even the voice in the mirror sounded unsure.
“Excuse me, what did you just say?” Crowley now focused on the mirror.
The mirror spoke in an important voice, “I see no magic in this one…Soundless, colorless, shapeless. Utterly vacant. Therefore no dorm is appropriate.”
A silence fell over the whole mirror hall. “Are you suggesting the black carriage went to retrieve someone who cannot use magic?! How could this be?!” Crowley yelled very dramatically.
Wow this guy is flashy/eccentric. Yuu thought. Just then Grim wriggled free from Crowley’s tough love. “Let me have this human’s seat!!!!”
Crowley tried to shoot his tough love back at Grim but failed, “Not so fast you hyperactive weasel!”
“But unlike that human I can use magic! See look!!” Grim took a deep breath.
“EVERYONE GET DOWN!” The red haired boy yelled. Just then Grim shot out a blast of blue flames, covering the once perfect mirror hall. Crowley stood there in shock as most of the students began to panic. To Yuu’s surprise however, quite a few acted as if this were any other Monday.
“AHHHH My butt’s on fire over here!!!” The boy with red eyes and silver hair ran around holding his flaming behind trying to put it out.
“Stop, you blasted animal, before you set the whole school ablaze!” Crowley demanded but Grim wasn’t listening.
“Ugh… Can I go now or..?” The boy with Lion ears rolled his eyes.
“Oh? I thought you fancied yourself a hunter. Why wait around when the juicy prey is right there?” The handsome boy teased.
“Too much effort. You go do it yourself.” The boy with lion ears snapped back.
Over near the Headmage the boy with red eyes and silver hair was running trying to put his bottom out, with a very handsome boy chasing him. He had darker skin, and dark brown, long braided hair. Yuu thought he was very charming looking.
“Headmage, allow me to handle this, if no one else is up to the task of catching this…large rodent.” The boy with glasses put a polite hand to his chest and did a slight bow to Crowley.
“Ws to Azul, always racking up those participation points.” The voice from the tablet mumbled with an odd sounding laugh.
“I don’t care who does it! Were my instructions unclear?! Someone catch that weasel!!” Crowley now began to get frustrated as all of his students were being utterly useless.
“Preettyy sure you can handle catching one prey on your own there headmage.” The boy with lion ears sassed and received a glare from behind the headmage’s mask.
“I am NOT a weasel for the last time! I am Grim the Great!! Spell caster extraordinaire!!” Grim spat out more fire.
“My, my, aren’t you a spunky little fellow.” The boy with glasses said. Yuu assumed he was Azul based on what the flying tablet had said. “Riddle, care to assist me?”
The red haired boy, known as Riddle, had a face bright red with anger, his voice rose above the screaming students who were trying to evacuate from the mirror hall. “Furry miscreant! I will not allow for any rule breaking! You will be judged by my hand!”
From there Yuu watched Grim blow out blue fire as he was chased by Riddle and Azul. He was chased around the room until he was cornered and at that moment Azul and Riddle both held up a pair of pens. There red fire blasted from the tip of Riddle’s pen and water from Azul’s. The two mixed and turned into steam before hitting Grim.
“Riddle I would appreciate it if you assisted and did not take over.” Azul smiled, irritated.
“Well I would appreciate it if you would allow me to assist instead of running around like a buffoon, and if you would aim better.” Riddle glared at him, Grim took this bickering to his advantage and booked it the other direction. “Rgh! We have no time to argue, let’s get that miscreant!” Riddle chased after Grim, and Azul sighed but followed.
Yuu noticed that Azul seemed to run out of breath faster than Riddle. However both made good time chasing him. After a couple of minutes they corner Grim and this time Riddle yells, “OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!”
“Myah!” Grim screams in fright as a red light comes in a wave towards him, and when it hits him a loud clang can be heard through the mirror hall. A heart shaped collar clung around his neck now with a large gold lock.
“Queen of hearts rule 23: “one must never bring a cat to a formal affair." Your very presence here is a violation of order. You will evacuate these premises immediately!” Riddle marched up to Grim, looking down on him, with a commanding look in his eyes.
“Mya! I’m not a cat!” He protested and began to blow fire, however nothing happened, only the small whistling sound of air leaving his mouth was produced. “WAH! My fire ain’t working!?”
“Until I remove that collar you won’t be using any magic. You are nothing but a pet now.”
“I am not a pet!” Grim growled and barred his sharp teeth angrily.
“Don’t fret, I have no interest in keeping you as a pet. The collar will be removed once you are off the campus.” Grim and Riddle glared at each other darkly.
Everyone watched awkwardly at the scene before Azul interrupted, “Good show as always Riddle. Your signature spell is quite handy, I've got to have it- I mean I’ve got to have respect for it.”
Crowley turned to Yuu, “Didn’t I tell you to keep a hold on your familiar, Yuu!”
Yuu looked shocked for a moment, “I’ve told you, he isn’t mine.”
Crowley looked a bit surprised, “Not yours?”
“YES! I’ve told you this repeatedly!” Yuu visibly face palmed. How is this guy a teacher when he can’t even listen to some simple words…. But back to the task at hand, I need to go home…Also magic is real?! WTF!!?
“Ahem, someone take this away.” Crowley said and pointed to Grim who was trying to wriggle off the collar.
“NOOOOOO, REMEMBER MY NAME BECAUSE I WILL BE BACK AND BECOME THE MOST FAMOUS MAGE OF ALL!” Grim called out as some older looking students began to take him away.
What’s his deal?- Yuu began to think as he looked up, seeming to be missing an important conversation. He cleared his throat, “Hey, uhm sorry, but I’m still here.” He took a step toward Crowley.
“Ah, yes, I’m sorry Yuu, what an unfortunate turn of events. It seems that since you contain absolutely nothing magical about you, you will be unable to attend this academy.” Crowley did a dramatic pose, placing one hand on his forehead and leaning back while one hand was on his cane.
Thank God, and this man is so dramatic. Yuu thought before Crowley began to speak again, “Step up to the dark mirror and visualize where you came from.”
Yuu nodded and did so, he stepped up to the mirror, a bit creeped out by the glowing face and tried to imagine back home in Colorado. He tried to remember his favorite bits, like the way the weather could change in an instant, the nice rain in spring going into summer, and the large mountains with flowers and trees, and the small lakes with their sandy beaches surrounded by flowers. Or the cosplay cons he would go to to meet authors or some of his favorite voice actors. He wanted to go home.
“Oh dark mirror return this soul to where it belongs!” Crowley spoke loudly as if casting a spell, however the dark mirror remained silent, “Ahem, let’s try that again, Dark mirror return this soul-”
“No such place exists.” The dark mirror cut him off.
Both Yuu and Crowley looked surprised and Crowley asked, “There’s no such place?”
“None.” The deep voice in the mirror responded.
Crowley turned to look at the now very nervous Yuu, “Where do you hail from?”
“Colorado Springs, in Colorado, the United States of America?” As he said each few words getting more descriptive Crowley looked more confused.
“I don’t know of such a place…Or any of those listed, are you pulling my leg?”
“What… why would I be lying?- and I mean not knowing Colorado or Colorado springs is fine, but… Not knowing the big USA is kinda far-fetched… Are you sure you’re not a cult leader of sorts?” Yuu put a hand to his head, pulling down his hood on the robes, revealing his very fluffed up, curly black hair.
“CULT?!” Crowley looked shocked. “This is no such thing!”
“Okay, sorry, but you have to see my confusion, I wake up in a coffin in robes that seem to match literally everyone in here and then there’s you who is dressed like the big bad guy from a tv show trying to sell the main character something sketchy. No offense. Then people in here start blasting fire and water at a magical talking cat. So either I’m dreaming or I've been kidnapped by a cult that actually knows the secrets of magic.” Yuu spoke fast. He gave himself a slap across the face, “and I don’t seem to be dreaming.”
Crowley paused and a large silence fell over the crowd before Riddle spoke up. “You dare mock this esteemed academy you were graciously given the chance to see the ceremony of and wear the robes, the pride of our academy?!” He walked forward speaking loudly.
“Usually I pick my battles wisely but right now I am kind of freaked out. I’m not mocking you, I'm trying to make sense of this nonsensical situation. It feels like I'm an Alice right now and I've fallen down a rabbit hole, so kindly let me speak to the man who has said I could get home yet cannot get me home. Love the hair by the way looks good.” Yuu put his hands up not trying to start a fight. But he kept talking which made a few students cringe. Yuu did not care about the embarrassment at this point he wanted to get out of this place.
The red head turned even more red with anger as he yelled, “First you break queen of hearts rule 23! And now you dare speak back to me?!”
Yuu face palmed, “Is this an Alice in Wonderland Cult or what? What the heck does the queen of hearts have to do with any of this?! I just want to go home and your headmage seems to not know of such a place."
Before the tension could get any further the boy, Azul spoke up, “Sorry to interrupt your little quarrel but the place you speak of is not on any of the most recent maps.”
A boy with pink and black hair spoke as well, he had a deeper voice, “And certainly not on any old ones either.”
Yuu dropped his hands and stood up straight to look at the two, “What.”
Everyone seemed to nod.
Yuu’s hands began to shake a bit, “What. the. Hell…. Christ all mighty, uhm okay okay okay..” He took a step back, “Okay this isn’t funny.”
“What names are you speaking of?” Azul tried to sound kind.
“Oh my God, uhhh you all don’t know Christianity? Holy moly. Wait, where am I exactly?”
The handsome boy with blonde hair spoke up, “You are on Sage Island, at Night Raven College, in Twisted wonderland.”
Yuu looked shocked, “Hold on, Wonderland? Like Wonderland from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland?” This made everyone look confused. “Maybe I am dreaming then… No wait, I'm not.” He tried to think aloud. He pointed at the boy with a deep voice and pink and black hair, “Do you know of the planets Mars, Neptune, Saturn, Mercury, Jupiter, or Venus?” He had to check something.
“Sorry young one, I don’t.” The boy responded.
Yuu looked even more confused and Crowley spoke up, “Perhaps you are from another universe then because everyone here is confused at what you are saying.”
“Another universe?” Yuu was starting to feel the embarrassment kick in. That would make sense actually, crap. When I looked outside I didn’t see anything familiar either. “That… makes sense.. Well then how am I going to get home?” He looked at Crowley.
“Hmm…Nothing like this has ever happened in the history of Night Raven College…Perhaps we should head to the library for more information.” Crowley took Yuu by the hand to lead him, “I shall lead us there, House wardens kindly take all your students to their dorm rooms!” He pulled the stunned Yuu along, who was also now uncomfortable. He hated random physical touch, but right now he had bigger fish to fry.
WELCOME TO THE VILLAIN'S WORLD