Chapter Text
Twisted Wonderland: Mirage of the Oasis
Chapter 1: Studying with Friends
[LOCATION: A Dream...?]
Yuu: (It's so dark and cold...Am I in a cave?)
<Aladdin>: Agh, my head...
<Aladdin>: We're trapped.
<Aladdin>: This lamp...
<Aladdin>: Looks like such a beat up, useless piece of junk.
<Aladdin>: I think there's something written here...It's hard to make out.
<Genie>: Ahhhhhhh!
<Genie>: Ten thousand years will give you such a crick in the neck!
<Genie>: Woah, does it feel good to be outta there!
<Genie>: So...
<Genie>: What do you wish of me?
[LOCATION: Ramshackle Dorm]
Yuu: (Another dream...? I have a bad feeling about this...)
*knock knock*
Deuce: Whazzat?
Ace: Huh?
Grim: Five more minutes…
*knock knock*
Ace: Who could possibly be here THIS early? It's a Saturday, for crying out loud!
Ace: Oh, hey Yuu. You're up too?
Ace: I'd like to say I got up with the sunrise, but actually…
Ace: I didn't sleep at all, ugh.
Deuce: That's probably because you ate a whole bag of sour gummy worms last night…*yawn*
Grim: Eeh!? The whole bag's gone!? I was gonna have some of those for breakfast!
Deuce: I don't think that's a very healthy breakfast…
Ace: Whatever. Those worms were payment for me agreeing to another 'study sleepover,' okay? Besides, I plan on taking a big, fat nap in the Heartslabyul gardens later. I found this sweet spot in the hedge maze-
*KNOCK. KNOCK.*
Grim: Is somebody breaking the door down!?
Yuu: (I should probably go answer that…Hopefully it's not any trouble.)
Ace: I'll come with to give them a piece of my mind. It's far too early for this nonsense.
Riddle: Is that any way to speak to your housewarden?
Ace/Deuce/Grim: RIDDLE?!
[Chapter 1 End]
Chapter 2: A Few Odds and Ends
[LOCATION: Ramshackle Dorm]
Riddle: Good morning.
Ace: Have you ever heard of a concept called 'the weekend'? I think you should look into it.
Deuce: Ace-! Have some respect, that's our- Riddle! Er, I mean, housewarden! Good morning to you, too!
Grim: Oh boy, here we go.
Grim: Ever since Deuce got promoted to Vice Housewarden, he's turned all stuffy.
Deuce: I have not!
Ace: You definitely have, dude.
Riddle: Ahem.
Riddle: I see you all are still in your sleepwear. According to the Queen of Hearts' rule number 32, one must always be ready and dressed to greet the day at 8am sharp.
Ace/Deuce: …!
Riddle: But, seeing as it is the weekend, and we are not on Heartslabyul grounds…I'll overlook it just this once.
Ace: Not sure if I should be annoyed or thanking you…
Ace: Anyways, what are you doing here so early?
Riddle: I-Er. I brought…breakfast.
Ace: Huh?
Grim: So THAT'S what that delicious smell is! Lemme at 'em!
Riddle: These are for everyone, Grim. Well, apart from myself. I've already eaten.
Deuce: What's the special occasion?
Ace: What's your ulterior motive?
Riddle: I have neither. I am just rewarding you for taking your studies seriously.
Riddle: At first, when Yuu suggested these 'study sleepovers,' I assumed it was an excuse to gorge on sugary foods and break the Queen of Hearts' rules outside of my supervision.
Ace: (It kind of is that, too…)
Riddle: But I have seen actual progress from you both ever since these sessions started. And as your housewarden, it is my duty to encourage this sort of behavior, so…
Ace: Y'know, if you wanted to sleep over too, you could just say that.
Riddle: That's not-! I have far too much work to do right now.
Riddle: …Perhaps another time.
Riddle: For today, though, I brought some cherry scones from the school cafeteria. They're not as good as Trey's, but they're adequate.
Riddle: Besides, I have a few things to speak to Deuce about anyways. We have some punishments we have to decide.
Grim: Not for us, right?
Riddle: Not unless you've done something worth punishing.
Grim: Nah. In fact, I think I should be getting praised instead. I'm gonna ace these practical exams. They're not even gonna know what hit 'em!
Riddle: That's good to hear. Thank you for organizing this, Yuu.
Yuu: (Thanks for the scones.)
Deuce: So what's the problem, Rid-housewarden? I'm ready to dole out justice on behalf of our Queen!
Ace: Settle down, ranger. You can kiss up to Riddle after we eat.
Riddle: The enthusiasm is appreciated, Deuce. However, before you eat…
Riddle: Can you all get dressed, first!?
[Chapter 2 End]
Chapter 3: A Curious Story
[LOCATION: Ramshackle Dorm]
Ace: So what's the downlow? Who messed up this time?
Riddle: I don't recall asking you to be part of this conversation.
Grim: Yeah, but we wanna know the hot gossip!
Riddle: It's not 'hot gossip.' This is serious business.
Riddle: Two Heartslabyul first years not only broke curfew, but snuck into another dorm overnight. Even worse, it was Scarabia.
Deuce: Oh, yeah…They're pretty strict about security there, aren't they?
Grim: Who wants to sneak into Scarabia of all places? We even had to break OUT of there one time.
Ace: You must not have heard the rumors.
Grim: Rumors? Aw, tell me *that* dysfunctional duo isn't being weird again…
Riddle: No, that's not it. But it is rather silly, in my opinion. I try not to listen to baseless rumors.
Ace: This has proof to back it up though, supposedly!
Riddle: Then I'll give you the dubious honor of explaining it.
Ace: I'm *very* grateful.
Riddle: Your sarcasm is showing, Ace.
Ace: Wasn't hiding it.
Ace: Anyways! You guys haven't heard that the wish-granting oasis apparently works, now?
Grim: The what-granting what?
Ace: Listen. My brother told me about it. It's one of the school's oldest mysteries. It existed even before Scarabia got renovated…
Ace: Apparently if you go to the eastern oasis there in the dead of night and make a wish when the moon is highest in the sky, it'll come true.
Ace: You only get one wish though, so you better not waste it. That's what I've heard, at least.
Deuce: I've also heard that. It's a tradition for Scarabia first years to try it out, I think.
Ace: Yeah, but it didn't actually do anything. Except now people are saying their wishes *are* coming true.
Ace: Some guy was having trouble falling asleep in class, so he wished to be more awake. Now I guess he's the most focused in his section.
Ace: And get this: There was this really quiet kid in my flight class, right? I heard he wished to speak up more often.
Ace: Now he's like a totally different person! If he didn't look the same I wouldn't have recognized him with how confident he is now.
Ace: So that's probably why people have been trying to get into Scarabia. Pretty interesting, right?
Yuu: (Wishes, huh…I wonder if this has anything to do with my dream.)
[Chapter 3 End]
Chapter 4: A Way To Say Sorry
[LOCATION: Ramshackle Dorm]
Riddle: The rumors of a wish-granting oasis are interesting, perhaps…but also utterly nonsensical.
Riddle: All of these supposed 'wishes' granted are just students changing on their own willpower. It's all well and good if a little magical thinking helps promote that self-development, but not at the expense of the rules.
Riddle: I know Scarabia's housewarden and vice have had to take extra measures to deal with other dorms' students trying to stay overnight, not to mention their own students breaking curfew. I don't envy them that.
Riddle: Which is why I have an assignment for you, Deuce.
Deuce: Yes, housewarden, sir!
Riddle: I haven't even said what it is yet.
Ace: Yeah, don't just say yes right away. Could be something *really* sucky.
Riddle: It's not 'really sucky,' but Ace is right.
Grim: That's a rare sentence.
Deuce: But, as your vice…
Riddle: As my vice, your duty is to support me in doing what's best for Heartslabyul.
Riddle: And sometimes…what is best for Heartslabyul is not always what I would like to hear.
Riddle: We all know that despite my best efforts, I am not always right.
Ace: Woah, did it hurt you to say that?
Riddle: Quiet.
Riddle: Deuce, I am simply saying that I trust you. If I go too far, I expect you to hold me accountable.
Deuce: But Trey-
Riddle: Is not here, and is not you. I picked you as my vice housewarden for a reason, Deuce. Don't let Heartslabyul down.
Deuce: I won't. I promise!
Deuce: But, um…What is the assignment, anyways?
Riddle: Nothing too strenuous. I need you to deliver a tart to Scarabia later.
Deuce: Oh, that's all? Okay.
Riddle: You should at least ask what for.
Deuce: Oh! What for?
Riddle: It's an apology tart. The Queen of Hearts says that one must take responsibility for those under their care; I want Scarabia to know we are apologetic for our students' rash actions, and that we will take measures to ensure it does not happen again.
Ace: I thought Scarabia doesn't allow outside food?
Grim: Yeah, ain't they worried it'll be poisoned or something?
Riddle: Normally, you'd be correct. But apparently Kalim has been easing up on that rule, as of recently. Though it's fine if they refuse it as well. The point of the tart is the message, not who it's eaten by.
Riddle: Can I trust you to deliver the tart just before dinnertime, Deuce?
Deuce: Yes, sir!
Ace: I'll help out, too.
Riddle: It's not exactly a two person job.
Ace: Yeah, but the more representatives of Heartslabyul the better, right?
Riddle: I suppose you're correct…
Grim: Well if Ace is goin', I'm goin' too!
Deuce: Huh? You're not even part of Heartslabyul!
Grim: Yeah, but if they reject the tart, I'm gonna call first dibs.
Riddle: At least he's honest about his motivations. I guess that means you'll be going along too, Yuu. Keep them in check for me, will you?
Yuu: *nod*
Yuu: (This business about the wishes, though...It's making me wonder.)
Yuu: (Should I tell them about my dream?)
[Chapter 4 End]
TO BE CONTINUED...
