*
"I scream, feeling the pain inside...Endless, I drown in your lies. Why do this?"
**
Main Street
"You owe me six eggs. If ya ain't gonna pay me for em," Deuce began to say before he smashed his fists together, cracking his knuckles.
"I'll hafta slug you six times instead!" Deuce exclaimed, snapping back to his delinquent phase that Y/n and Grim saw back at the Dwarfs' Mine.
"Ha hah. You're gonna slug me?" The delinquent student asked, clearly mocking Deuce. "We'll see about that!!" he shouts, throwing the first punch.
"Deuce!" Y/n sternly says, having a worried expression on her face. But thankfully, Deuce slid to the side, dodging the attack.
The delinquent student widen his eyes in surprise when Deuce grabbed his collar again. "Grit those damn teeth!" he exclaimed, throwing a powerful punch, causing the student to fall back. When the student was down, Deuce stepped closer and picked up the student by the collar again.
"Next time you're eating eggs, you better apologize a hundred times first, you buncha chumps!!" Deuce shouted.
"Deep breaths, Deuce," Y/n sternly says, placing a hand on Deuce's shoulder. "Start another fight and this time they'll expel you for sure," she warned. Her harsh words brought Deuce back to his sense.
"Eep!" The delinquent student yelped. He quickly got up and dashed away with his friend.
"R-Run for it!"
"Sorry for everything, chickens!"
"Whoooooa..." Grim whimpered slightly.
"*pant* *pant* ...Urk!" Deuce yelped in realization of what he had done. "I...I did it again, didn't I...?" he asked while trembling. "ARGH! I was gonna be an honor student for sure this time...!" he shudderd, looking like he was about to cry.
"What do you mean?" Y/n curiously asked as Grim hid behind her shoulder, shivering in fear.
"When I was in middle school, I was pretty wild," Deuce confessed, explaining his backstory a little. "I cut school all the time and got in fights. I called my teachers names, hung out with bullies, bleached my hair...I blasted around tight curves on my Magic Wheel...I'd show off my magic to kids who couldn't use it yet... I was a total punk,"
"So you were only a little more annoying than you are now?" Grim bluntly asked.
"Guess that we juts caught a glimpse of your past self," Y/n mumbled, narrowing her eyes slightly.
"But one night, I saw my mom talking on the phone to my grandma. She was trying to hide from me, but I saw her, and I could tell she was in tears," Deuce says, smiling bittersweetly as he tried his hardest to not shed a single tear, especially in front of a girl he liked. "She was saying how she must have been a horrible mom, and that maybe she never should have tried to raise me by herself. That had nothin' to do with it! She hadn't done anything wrong. It was all me. When the carriage came to take me to Night Raven College, she was so happy for me. I decided then and there that this time, I wouldn't do anything to make her cry. This time, I'd become an honor student - someone she could be proud of,"
"Deuce..." Y/n pressed her lips together.
Deuce fell to his knees and smashed his fists onto the ground in frustration.
"Dammit!" Deuce cursed. "Despite that, I still...I already messed it all up!"
Y/n stepped in front of Deuce, looking down toward him. "You know...even honors student don't got to put up with everything you know..." she says.
"Huh...?" Deuce looked up at Y/n as Grim jumped down from her shoulders.
"Even I, Grim the Magnanimous, was ready to pound those jerks into tuna paste!" Grim said, punching the air in front of him.
"Just make sure you don't overdo it," Y/n added, her tail gently kicking Grim to have him stop encouraging Deuce.
"You guys..." Deuce muttered, completely touched and speechless.
"Even honor students get angry sometimes," Y/n began to say before she squatted down to Deuce's height, resting her head in her palm. "Though I don't really remember, I've been told that even I act impulsive at times. Even my three big brothers, especially Isfrid. He lashes out at others who are irritating to him...but violence doesn't solve everything," she rightfully scolded the boy before she smiled kindly, causing him to widen his eyes in surprise from how beautiful when she actually smiles. "This is just the start of your new path here at Night Raven...you're even close to reaching adulthood already. As long as you feel strongly about this and realize your mistakes, you'll bounce back and achieve your goal someday. This is all just part of you humans growing up...so be patient and hang in there,"
"Y/n..." Deuce blushed. "Heh heh...I guess you're right," he bittersweetly laughed as he turned to the eggs. He picked the eggshells up, gently golding them in his hands.
"The chicks..." Deuce sadly smiled. "Their souls are gonna rest in peace now, right?"
"They were never going to hatch," Y/n bluntly revealed. "They are all unfertilized," she says. Her words caused Deuce to widen his eyes. She stood up and picked up all the bags, carrying them with ease. "Let's go,"
"I'm starvin' over here," Grim says, his stomach growling.
"Wha-WHAAAAAAT?! Are you kidding me?!"
*
Kitchen
Y/n, Grim, and Deuce finally made it back to the kitchen with their groceries from the campus store. Upon entering the kitchen, Ace and Trey turned around toward them and sighed in relief.
"Ah, you're finally back! Took ya long enough," Ace grinned, helping Y/n's put the groceries onto the counter.
"Let's get this tart-y started!" Trey says, making a pun. They all nodded and continued making their final preparations for the Mont Blanc.
*
"All right. Add the finishing touch of marron glace, and..." Trey instructed as he watched Ace place the final topping carefully.
"Finished!" Ace said, having a bright smile upon finally finishing the tart.
Grim, once again, had sparkles in his eyes in delight, looking extremely excited to try and eat. Meanwhile, with Deuce, he looked extremely gloomy. "P-Perfect..." he muttered without much enthusiasm.
"What'd I spend 16 years of my life believing...?" Deuce continued, looking like a zombie as he looked pale when staring down at his failed attempt.
"Did something happen to him while you were shopping?" Ace asked, sweatdropping as he pointed his thumb over to Deuce behind him.
"Chicken trauma..." Y/n answered, having a deadpanned look. "Better let him work through his one himself,"
"Yeah, whatever. I'm pretty beat. Making tarts sure takes it outta you," Ace says, yawning tiredly.
"Sup, guys?" Cater exclaimed in glee, popping in the kitchen with a bright grin on his face. "Everybody working hard?"
"We're just finishing up, actually," Trey says.
Cater happily walked over to Y/n who held a finished tart. "Ooh, those look sooo cute!" he beamed as he took out his phone. "Lemme snap a quick pic for Magicam!"
"What, NOW you decide to show up?" Ace grumbled, glaring at Cater who poked Y/n's tail. She playfully moved it away from his touch, earning a pout from him every time her tail moved away.
"I just came to see how hard my little newbs were working," Cater stated, playfully teasing the freshmen.
"It's touch work if you're not used to it," Trey says, grabbing a knife and sliced the tarts into pieces. "But there's no better cure for the ails of fatigue than something sweet from the oven! Help yourself to some of this tart," he smiled.
"YAY!"
"Pretty funny how you managed to show right when it was ready to eat, Cater," Ace huffed, a tick mark on his head.
"Heh heh. Someone's gotta be the official taster!" Cater grinned as everyone got their plate.
Mmmm...That smells so good..." Grim drooled. "Glossy chestnuts on top, fluffy cream below...I can't wait another second, I'm going in!" he says. They all picked up their forks, while Grim used his paws, and took a bite of the freshly made tart. As soon as it entered their mouths, they all looked like they were on cloud 9, except for Y/n who just ate her tart with a blank expression on her face.
"Oh, dang..." Ace widen his eyes.
"Yummy!" Cater gleamed.
"This is like something from a fancy bakery," Deuce awed.
"Rich in flavor, yet not too sweet...It's like chestnuts are dancing across my tongue!" Grim beamed, describing the flavors.
"Is that...a good thing?" Trey meekly asked.
"Mhm. It's really good, Trey," Y/n softly says as she closed her eyes gentle, savoring the taste. "Almost had the level of Imperial Chef,"
"Thanks," Trey smiled with a shy blush.
"Oh, Trey! You gotta do the thing," Cater suggested.
"The thing?" Trey asked, blinking in confusion before his face flashed with realization. "Oh..That,"
"Uh, wanna fill me in here?" Ace asked in confusion as the others looked over to Trey as well.
"What are your favorite things to eat, guys?" Trey suddenly asked.
"Me? Probably cherry pie. Or hamburgers," Ace answered first.
"Canned tuna. And pudding, cheese omelet, grilled meat, and-" Grim listed his favorite food.
"If I had to pick, I guess I'd say...omelet rice?" Deuce answered in a questioning tone.
"I like lamb chop with diablo sauce," Cater says, telling Trey his favorite dish with a grin.
"What about you, Y/n?" Trey asked Y/n.
"Ghost Pepper Noodles," Y/n bluntly replied.
"GHOST PEPPER NOODLES?!" Ace, Deuce, and Cater exclaimed in shock. Trey widen his eyes in surprise while Grim was unfazed, since he has seen Y/n eat such noodles without being effected by the spice. It was the same for Isfrid.
"How are you even able to eat that, lil Rabbit?!" Ace asked in wonder, his eyes widening his shock.
"I just can...it's not even spicy," Y/n says in mild confusion.
"Scary...I heard a single ghost pepper is capable of killing even a fae from the level of spice. You must have a high tolerance, Rabbit," Deuce says in awe.
"I guess so," Y/n mumbled in response.
"Haha...all right, you've got it," Trey says, pulling out his magical pen before waving them over the tarts. "Doodle Suit!"
"Now, have another bite of the Mont Blanc," Trey says after casting his Signature Spell.
Everyone nodded and took a bite, only to be surprised by the sudden change of flavor. "Mngh?! It tastes like cherry pie!" Ace gasped, looking at the tart in pure amazement.
"Canned tuna!" Grim exclaimed in glee.
"Omelet rice..." Deuce mumbled.
"My noodles..." Y/n muttered, her eyes widening in surprise as she licked the sides of her mouth to lick off the crumbs.
"This is Trey's Signature Spell," Cater winked. "Don't you think it'd work super well on a date with a girl?" he asked with a grin.
"Magic that changes flavors...! Amazing!" Deuce awed.
"Technically, it's 'overwriting characteristics.' I can change taste, color, smell, whatever," Trey explained. "But since the effect only lasts a little while, it's kinda like a 'doodle.' That's why I gave it that name,"
"If I had magic like that, I could be eatin' canned tuna every meal of every day!" Grim smirked in excitement. "That's way more amazin' that that bully Riddle's stupid collar magic!"
"You simply can't understand the main purpose of his Signature Spell," Y/n bluntly sighed, shaking her head in disappointment before she finished her tart.
"Oh, that's in a whole other league," Trey replied, smiling gently at Y/n. He was glad that Riddle has someone like her who tries to understand him, but Trey couldn't help but be slightly jealous. "His signature spell is a weapon. Mine's just childish prestidigitation. Speaking of Riddle - it's too late to give him these now. Let's call it a day and do it tomorrow," he suggested. "Don't forget that tomorrow's the unbirthday party. You don't want to be late,"
"Tomorrow at last..." Ace muttered. "This collar's coming off for sure! Just you wait, Housewarden!" he exclaimed in determination before he meekly looked over to Y/n. "...So like, can I stay the night again, lil Rabbit? It doesn't sound like I'll be allowed back in my own dorm tonight," he says, scooting closer to her. Y/n would look unbothered by this despite Deuce's glare.
"Again, seriously?" Cater sweatdropped.
"Alright..." Y/n nodded.
"It isn't right to keep mooching off of Y/n, Ace," Deuce scolded, glaring at Ace with a hint of jealously. 'I wanna sleep with Rabbit too!'
"Yeah, it ain't!" Grim exclaimed, agreeing with Deuce. "If you wanna stay tonight, you gotta pay for the privilege! Ten cans of tuna!"
"What?!" Ace gasped. "You guys want me to sleep outside?!"
"I really don't mind, guys," Y/n bluntly says.
"Really?!" Ace gleamed. "You're the best!" he says, hugging Y/n.
*
Heartslabyul Dorm
"See~ I told you the crown princess was adorable," Cater grinned as he and Trey walked down the path to the dorm building.
"Ha ha. You weren't wrong about that," Trye chuckled.
"Anyway...nice of our first years to have a little sleepover together," Cater says, resting his hands behind hid head.
"Deuce's keeping an eye on Ace," Trey assured.
"Is it cool if I join them?" Cater asked.
"Not at all," Trey bluntly denied.
"Tch. Party Pooper," Cater playfully mumbled. Trey sighed in response. The two walked into the dorm, but there seem to be a lot of noise coming from the lounge. "It's pretty noisy here...Is that coming from the lounge?" he pondered out loud, looking at the direction of the lounge in concern.
*
Heartslabyul Dorm - Lounge
Upon entering the lounge, Trey and Cater were met with many students inside, all having collars. They were all beheaded by Riddle. Noticing this, Trey and Cater widen their eyes in surprise.
"Trey! Cater! You're finally back!" A collared student exclaimed. "We've been looking everywhere for you!"
"These collars on you guys...what happened?" Trey meekly asked.
"The Housewarden caught us drinking lemonade with honey..." The distressed student answered.
"Decrees of the Queen of Hearts, acticle 256...'No drinking honey-sweetened lemonade after 8 p.m.'" Trey recited as he looked over to the glass cup filled with lemonade and to the side was a jar of honey.
"So you broke that, huh?" Cater mumbled.
"But we didn't know!!" The student shouted, tears forming in his eyes.
"Can't even eat or drink what we want..." Another student muttered, sighing.
"That damn housewarden...There's gotta be a limit to all this rule crap!" A third student stated, trembling in frustration.
"I...I'm sick of living like this..." The student says, clenching his fists closed as he tried his best to not shed a single tear. "Everyone we do violates some insane rule I don't understand...I want to transfer dorms..." he sobbed. "Like to her majesty's dorm! She is really kind to those in lower status! Treating them like equals..."
"...." Trey frowned sadly before placing a hand on the student's shoulder. "...It'll be all right. We'll go to the housewarden," he assured before looking at the other students. "Back to your rooms, buys,"
"...Haah," Cater sighed, rubbing the nape of his neck. "...Guess I'd better go make some tea or something, as a show of deference to the Queen," he says, turning toward the door.
"Thanks, Cater," Trey says in a apologetic tone. "Oh, but make sure it's herbal tea and not black. Pretty sure article 153 mentions the type of tea you can have to drink at night..." he informed.
"...Yeaaah, sure. Of course,"
~To be Continued~