𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐛𝐢𝐞 | 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝

[85]

𝙒𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡'𝙨 𝙜𝙮𝙢𝙣𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙪𝙢, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙥 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙩, "𝘽𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙚" 𝙗𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙡.

On the gymnasium's stage sat a throne, the large sewn banner above it reading 'New Hexide is the Future' as surrounding banners had flaming grudgby logos, and crowns over them. On the 'throne' that really was Principal Bump's chair, sat a three-eyed pink-haired witch with a clawed hairband. Her legs were crossed as she listened to another student stutter nervously to her.

Beside her were two figures, a small demon with white hair and goggles, a cape covering her shoulders, and a much larger being, almost three times the size of any being in the hall, who wore an abomination track uniform from St. Epiderm, a blue cloak around its shoulders with a single, spiked shoulder pauldron.

"Uh, so i-i-if we get a group to organise supplies, we can keep track of perishables and that way, we won't have to fight over food anymore," Jerbo smiled nervously, a clipboard in his hands.

Boscha hummed, placing her finger on her cheek in thought before a little figure by her side, who was also dressed in the abomination uniform from St. Epiderm peered over the Grudgby Captain's armrest.

"President, if I may be so bold," She began, whispering to the Captain.

"President?!" Luz shrieked in horror, the others looking at the pink-haired witch in disbelief and anger. Matt had his arms crossed in annoyance, his patience ticking away at the sight of the three stooges on stage.

"This would take valuable resources away from your guard. You don't want to be collected like the others, do you?" The small demon pointed out, Boscha leaning back in the chair.

"Good point, Miki," She nodded. "Next!"

Boscha snapped her fingers, Georgia's eyebrow raised in disdain, hating the way the Grudgby captain was behaving.

Jerbo sighed, turning around in defeat before gasping and noticing Matt, who was almost half his height, before him. His eyes then darted to the group behind the smaller boy, excitement taking over his once helpless expression.

"Oh my gosh, it's you guys!" Jerbo exclaimed. 

"Did she take any of our ideas?" Matt frowned in frustration, Jerbo looking away as he rubbed his neck nervously.

"No," The taller boy replied, sighing. "Ugh, sorry, I gotta make sure the kindergarteners aren't hunting down lockers again. It was a bloodbath last time. So glad you're alive!"

Jerbo waved as he walked off, Gus holding up a peace sign as Georgia waved weakly. The others frowned at Boscha's lack of cooperation before Matt walked up to the self-proclaimed leader.

"Boscha," He began. "We found–"

"Ahem!" Miki interrupted, clearing her throat as Matt's eyes widened in annoyance at the interruption.

Groaning, the Captain of the guard rolled his eyes, putting on an overdramatic introduction for the pink-haired ruler, Luz frowning at the boy in pity.

"Allow me to introduce student body president, Boscha, and her trusted guards, Miki and Roka."

"Welcome to New Hexide! Home to the future of the Isles and stuff," Boscha grinned, tossing her grudgby ball around before leaning back in her chair in pride.

"What the heck is going on here?" Luz huffed, Amity placing her hands on her hips.

"Yeah," The lilac-haired witch chimed. "Hexide doesn't even have a student council. I would know, I kept trying to organise one, but Bump thought I was too "obsessed", and–"

"Alright, girl, take a breath," Willow smiled, patting her friend's back, Amity huffing.

"And who are you two?" Gus questioned, pointing a finger at them as Hunter stood beside him with crossed arms.

"My little sister and I were travelling for the Day of Unity but found ourselves hiding here after the, uh... incident," Miki explained. "Boscha brought us in, so we helped her establish order over Hexide."

"Now, we are flourishing!" Boscha grinned, checking out her nails as she was ignorant to the screams of the other Hexide students who ran from the aggressive kindergarteners, one dragging Edric away as his life flashed before his eyes.

"Tell my story!"

Luz looked back at the boy in worry, Camila giving him the same look as the younger Latina looking over to her mother as she placed her hand on Camila's upper arm.

"Well," Luz began. "First of all, I'd like to introduce you to my mama, Camila."

Camila flexed her arms, Gus' eyes widening as he pointed finger guns at Hunter, the blonde boy scowling over at his friend in confusion.

"And honorary Hexoleo Hunter!"

Hunter blushed in embarrassment as Luz walked up in determination, explaining her plan to the three beings on the stage.

"Long story short, we're here to help. We're gonna rescue everyone from the Archives and save the Boiling Isles!"

Someone coughed and an awkward silence filled the room, Luz wincing at the lack of a response she anticipated.

"Not the reaction I was expecting," She mumbled to herself.

"As the leader, the safety of Boscha's subjects is paramount. And this is a suicide mission," Miki walked towards the teen. "After the horrors her own grudgby team faced..."

"Ah! Quiet!" Boscha hissed. "I don't need to hear that again! But... Miki's right. We're staying put."

"But–" Luz interjected but was swiftly interrupted by Boscha's glare.

"And that's that!"

Without much further ado, the group were kicked out of the gym's hall, the metal doors slammed shut on them as they glared incredulously at the teen witch's attitude.

"What just happened?!" Luz exclaimed in shock, Matt huffing with crossed arms as he replied in annoyance at the Grudgby Captain's behaviour.

"It's been like this ever since Miki and Roka showed up. We wanna fix stuff around here but anytime we suggest something, Miki threatens to throw people into the detention pit."

"The what?!" Camila's eyes widened in horror as her daughter hummed, placing a finger on her chin in thought while mumbling to herself.

"Maybe there's another way... I don't know how to get into the Archives, but we may be able to get close by teleporting directly to the Titan's Skull."

With a gasp, the group stared at Luz with wide eyes, blinking at her as Hunter narrowed his chestnut ones.

"But how would we even get there, is there some sort of glyph for it? A spell?" Georgia shrugged. "I mean we could sure try to cast it, but I don't think any of us are at that level yet..."

"Don't worry," Luz smiled weakly. "I think I've got a plan."