Fragments of Time ( A Disney Twisted Wonderland x OC story) Book I

Glorious Masquerade Pt. 3

Part 3: A Trap for Wizards
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The walk to Topsy Turvy Square took a while, but by the time Trein and the girls made it, everyone has gathered after scouting out the areas for their fieldwork assignment.

"Wow! This looks amazing!" Rebecca cooed seeing the bright and colorful atmosphere.

"Totally!" Odette nods. Trein counts the students to see if they were all here and they were accounted for. No one was missing, surprisingly.

"Alright, now we've all gathered in the main square for the festival. Before we begin, here's a little context for you to know: this festival was one of the greatest historical gatherings of the Shaftlands, its origins dating back to a time before magic...."

"And here we go with the lecture.... Ruggie rolls his eyes.

Grim looks around seeing the MainStage as well a smaller ones, usually meant for selling things or little performances. This gave Ruggie an idea.

"Hey, uh, Sir? Since we're still technically doing fieldwork, why don't we look around the venue?"

"...Well you do make a fair point. We've some time before the party begins. So go ahead." Trein nods.

The guys were glad to be spared of a lecture as Deuce ran up to Charlie, asking to see if there was anything of interest to see. All around them, various acts for them to see were all around: from stilt walkers to tightrope walkers, it was a spectacle...!

Suddenly, Azul spots a familiar group. "Hold on...are those...Royal Sword Academy students??"

"Hey, he's right! There's Neige with a huge crowd of fans!"

"And Che'nya's here too! Surprising...!"

"Ugh, they're like a group of Ikemen princes come to life!"

"Ugh, lemme guess: they got invited to this thing...?"

"And yet they draw such a Crowd...that's Royal Sword students if I know them." Trein sighed. "But I guess since this is an exchange program, lots of students from varying schools would be here."

"Hey! Someone appeared on the main stage!" Grim looks over.

"Ah, guess that means the show is about to begin. Everyone, take a seat!" Trein asks. The group makes their way to the small wooden tables. Charlotte took a seat at one bench, so she'd be facing the stage. Almost immediately, Malleus slides up next to her with a gentle smile. Grim threw a hissy fit since he was suppose to beside Charlie since they were to be together. This began a ruckus with Sebek who wanted to be next to his lord and started shoving Grim and a bit of a shouting match.

"Ugh, here we go...an endless and irrelevant argument...." Idia rolled his eyes as Charlie to get up and  out of the way before something bad could happen.

"Has everyone of Night Raven arrived?" Rollo appears.

"Ah, Rollo! Are you here for the festivities too?" Trein smiled.

"Of course. I have invited all of you and as Student council president, it is my duty to attend. Is it alright if I join you? I wish to hear your responses to what is to come."

"Please do." Trein nods. Charlie has taken her seat once again beside Malleus, and Rollo took the seat beside her, much to her chagrin. But she acted composed and relaxed, trying not to freak out as Felicity took Grim off her hands. And Malleus forced Sebek to sit at another Table as Idia and Azul got their own seats. Sebek trudged over to where Riddle and Silver were sitting just as the Emcee appears onstage.

"Good evening, one and all! Today is not about the labor or lock, the time has come for our celebration!" He smiled. "Welcome to the Topsy-Turvy Festival!"

"What's the 'Topsy-Turvy Festival'?" Grim asks.

"It's a day where all participants can act as the festival claims: Topsy-Turvy. People spent a day as equals and nothing like title or status matters." Rook explains.

"So a rather informal party then?" Malleus inquired.

"You could say it's like that. Oh and...it's customary for all guests to wear masks."

"Ah! That way no one can know who you are and you can behave as mischievously as you desire!" Azul chuckled. Charlie did notice lots of stands that sold masks. But seeing a venue that came right out of the movie itself was amazing. She was so lost in the moment, she didn't even hear the retelling of Quasimodo and his history with Frollo, even if most of the story were lies. She knew the true story behind the fable. As did the other girls.

It seemed that they guys were unaware of the other piece of history that involved death and disaster. Nothing was written in history books, only that 'the city was dyed and engulfed by a a wave of crimson.' She tuned out what the others were speaking about as well as the Emcee. She shared a look with her friends and they gave her a knowing glance one back.

"And now dear guests and people of the City of Flowers! Please enjoy your time for the time to begin the Topsy-Turvy Festival...begins!" Confetti cannons were blown and rained down over the venue as people with colorful costumes began to celebrate. Dancing, live music and fireworks all around.

Charlie was pulled to her feet by Felicity when the music played and she was dragged to the dancing square, barely hearing Rollo say something that sounded extremely dark...

"Festivals are just gathering of shameless people who indulge in magic."

She barely had time to turn back when-

"Ah! A beautiful dress, my dear!" One of the owners of the mask stand smiled to her.

"Oh! Thank you!" She grinned and curtsied.

"And a beautiful mask must match such a beautiful dress no?" The stand owner smiled and from his back, he produced a beautiful Venetian mask. "Voila!"

"Oh....it's so pretty!" She smiled. Deep Blue silk ribbons we tied to the mask as she was fitted into it and the stand owner tied it behind her head. She fixed it over her face and looked in the mirror. She smiled at her reflection. "Thank you!"

"No problem, my dear! Enjoy the festival!" He smiled as he waved her off. She smiled as she ran to join her friends.

"Charlie! Felicity smiled. "Nice! You got a mask!"

"Very pretty!" Odette agreed.

"It matches you so well!" Rebecca nods.

"You look stellar!" Evelyn grins.

"Thanks girls! You look pretty wicked as well!" Charlie giggled, seeing them show off their own masks, ironically representing their powers.

Hearing the music they decided to join in on the fun, kicking off their high heels, like they do at homecoming, and run to the dance floor. Charlie grabbed a tambourine and started to shake and bang it as she sang.

HEY, SOLDIER BOY I SEE HOW YOU STARE
HEY, BUTCHER MAN I SEE YOU ADMIRE
COME, GATHER 'ROUND
HEY, JACQUES AND PIERRE
COME SEE ME DANCE
TO THE RHYTHM OF THE TAMBOURINE!

Her skirts swirled as she danced and kicked her legs up high, garnering cheers and whoops from the crowd as she danced.

FLASH OF AN ANKLE
FLIP OF A SKIRT
FEEL THEM EXCITE
ENFLAME AND INSPIRE
COME SEE ME DANCE HEY, WHAT CAN IT HURT? IT'S JUST A DANCE
TO THE RHYTHM OF THE TAMBOURINE!

The girls grabbed their own tambourines and shook and banged then as Charlie began to dance, slowly at first, accentuating her hips, her hand flourishes, the dips and spins. When the tempo picks up, she grabs two scarves of blue and silver and begins to use them in her dance as the crowd clapped in rhythm with her moves. Hair twirling, fast spinning and jumps and leaps like a fawn.

MEN OF PARIS
BEFORE WE GET OLD
COME FEEL THE HEAT
COME TASTE THE DESIRE
FEEL THEM WITHIN YOU
CRIMSON AND GOLD
GOLD LIKE THE COINS
YOU WILL TOSS INTO MY TAMBOURINE
WHEN I DANCE
TO THE RHYTHM OF THE TAMBOURINE!

The crowd cheered and hollered as she finished her dance as the boys, mesmerized, screamed and praised.

The girls left the dance floor as the dancing continued among the crowds. They found their heels and slipped them back on to avoid getting dirtied feet and run around with some more excitement.

At one point, Charlie saw Idia go off to the side since he got too busy from spinning so much and Grim set off a shitload of fireworks, creating a spectacle that garnered lots of people's amazement. Charlie likely guessed it was because he poured some of his own magic into the fireworks that they appeared so big and eye-catching. She didn't even see that Grim had a small golden mask on his face until he ran up to her excitedly.

In fact, all the guys have gotten masks! From various shapes and colors to styles and motifs. It truly looked like a Masquerade was happening. It felt like one of her fantasy novels come to life....!

Malleus decided to join in on the fun of creating fireworks for the people, setting off more of the students to use their magic and create fireworks as well, with Trein's permission of course.

Just as Charlie decided to go sit on the sidelines with Evelyn from running around, she was within the vicinity of where Rollo was speaking with Malleus. She stayed still and listened carefully as they talked.

"Rollo? Are you okay? You don't seem to enjoying the festivities."

"Malleus...you and many students of Night Raven possess such strong magical prowess. This kind of power cannot be used willy-nilly. And I should know...it's not something that you can just use to garner people's excitement over that fast."

"Well, true there is that...but isn't it up for me to decide if I should bestow such a gift to the people that I create with my power alone?...." When Rollo didn't answer back, he continued, "These people are overjoyed to be enjoying our magic. That should be more than enough." With those words, Malleus walks off, leaving Rollo on his own.

"Eve...you heard what I heard right...?"

"Yeah...something's up. Whatever it is Rollo has planned, it involves magic...he speaks of it like it's a taboo. This is clear telltale signs he's planning something. You want me to go tell the girls of something's up?"

"Yeah. I need to stay behind." Charlie nods. Evelyn nodded and walks off, leaving Charlie on her own.

"I hope you are enjoying the festivities." She saw Rollo walk up to her, greeting with his normal poker face.

"Oh, of course!" She gave a polite smile. This was something she was taught by her parents and Crowley: to be polite and smile towards hosts and guests alike. But with the vibes she had been getting from Rollo, something was definitely off. But she didn't want to start an uproar...not until there was at least solid proof of something extremely off...

"Miss Luchessi. May I ask you something?" He looked her dead in the eye as he asked, catching her off guard.

"O-Of course...?" She stammered.

"Do you believe that magic...is a vile and corrupted thing?" he asked. "I mean, it must be rather difficult to be bombarded and surrounded by senseless and noisy mages daily. 'What if there was no magic....wouldn't the world be normal?' That's what I think. But what do YOU think personally?...."

Charlie looked away, eyebrows beginning to knit in worry. Thinking back to her time throughout Night Raven, she thought she'd be living in another Harry Potter fantasy.... Upon finding out that she too possessed power not many would have themselves. This made her freak out; she thought she was ordinary! But ever passing month, she had learnt things about herself she never knew existed inside of her....

The magic that the boys possessed was both fear-inducing when crossing paths with them, but she could see as weeks came and went, she started to find a fascination with it and began to grow accustomed to being surrounded by magic wherever she walked. Or rather, a fascination and intrigue to be more precise. That's when she learnt: magic itself can be both beautiful as well as dangerous. Especially after all the overblot fights she battled to save herself and the people around her. Yet with each battle, she can feel her powers gaining strength, stretching further beyond normalcy. And these visions...of a life from someone she doesn't know......she didn't know what they were telling and what they had to do with her.

But the stories of the Seven were clear to all: they were fabrications of the real stories. Making the villains seem like the heroes when she knew 110% they were really monsters! But it's not like the dorm leaders were trying to embody the seven....They only wanted to follow their examples! Follow their traits in life! And is that a bad thing to have in life....?

"W-Well...I'll admit..." She began slowly. "M-Magic...it does seem rather dangerous.....I mean, if you don't know what you're working with and what you possess and can't control it...it can be out of your own control and... hurt the people around you in turn....." She'd be lying if she said that didn't reflect off her. For months under careful guidance, she was learning to master this newfound power within her, slowly but surely. Yet from all these lessons, she found that her magic was as strong as it was ethereal and beautiful...in fact. It was like that for the boys and even her FORCE sisters! She was beginning to bring new spice to the game she didn't know was inside of her!

But all the same...she was worried. That her powers wouldn't be enough to save those close to her....That if she couldn't control her magic, it'd turn on her and hurt her family instead.... Maybe this was her coping mechanism after the travesty with her parents back in the real world..... She couldn't save her parents but she could try and save the family that was in THIS world now....

She continued, "But at the same time....there's also beauty to it...and...over time I learnt that....magic can be of help as it is fun to look at! It's....it's amazing...wonderful even..!" But she still hasn't forgotten: these were wizards of their own making! They could handle themsleves in time of crisis. And as long as she saw them alive and breathing, that would be enough to keep her back on her feet.

"Fun? Amazing?! You're actually enjoying this mess?!" Rollo looked at her with a new look in his eyes. "Ah....I see...it's unfortunate. A pure heart such as yours has been tainted by the dark spell these mages have put upon you." He whispered to himself, "But you have said you believe that magic is dangerous...it cannot be used...." Only to speak up once more. "One day you will go back to your first thoughts: that magic is nothing to be happy over....." with those words he walked, leaving her confused and rather scared. But he glared ahead slightly and growled to himself, "That's not to say you can still be purified......"

Charlie had watched him leave, raising an eyebrow in confusion, hands gripping the fabric of her skirts. "O...kay.....?" Despite the happy smiles going on around her, Charlie felt some fear deep into her veins at Rollo's ominous warning. She definitely had confirmation something was up.....

Not bothering to stay around for the rest of the festivities, she picked up her skirts and darting her way through the crowd, she ran to somewhere where she could think...and maybe cry.....

She somehow managed to escape from the town square without prying eyes and ended up running for her life through the streets of the City. She would've laughed, seeing how she looked much like a damsel in distress, with her lavish dress and shoes.
But her heart felt anything but joy. It was filled with
anxiety, panic...and fear...

Those three feelings for...what? Herself? Her comrades and sisters? Or at Rollo and his warning??? She couldn't think as she ran faster than she could. Even in stiletto shoes (which really should've been difficult tbh....).

By the time she had stopped with the need to catch some air into her lungs, she looked up a few seconds later to see that she ended up at a church. This surprised her as she looked back from where she ran. She didn't know she had ran a long way.... 'Oh crap, the others could be worried!' She sucked on her bottom lip, feeling the need to go back so as to not worry them.

But she couldn't help but turn back to the church, feeling like something was calling to her. Slowly, her body turned away from the path she ran down and wandered into the church.....

Stepping back in through the doors, she felt an odd sense of nostalgia from her childhood... Sunday church service with her family and aunt Samantha....listening to the hymns from the choir as the organ played on and the pastor gave sermon to those in the seated pews....She let out a deep sigh of sadness as she walked down the center isle. She could clearly see it: her father and mother, dressed in their Sunday best, her brother in khakis and a collared shirt, she and her sister in dresses or blouses and skirts with Mary jane shoes....It gave her that sense of bitterness with the happy memories.....and she couldn't help but give a small sad smile.

I don't know if you can hear me
Or if you're even there....
I don't know if you would listen to a gypsy's prayer....
Yes, I know I'm just an outcast I shouldn't speak to you....
Still I see your face and wonder
Were you once an outcast too?

She began to slowly walk along the aisles as the glow of the candles illuminated her face.

God help the outcasts!
Hungry from birth...
Show them the mercy they don't find on Earth.
God help my people!
We look to you still...
God help the outcasts or nobody will.

Her voice drew her sisters who have been trying to look for her when they saw she had vanished. The heard her voice and crowded around the doors to hear her sing.

Some ask for wealth
Some ask for fame
Some ask for glory to shine on their names
Some ask for love they can possess
Some ask for God and his angels to bless them!
I ask for nothing, I can get by
But I know so many less lucky than I
Please help my people
The poor and down trod
I thought we all were the children of God
God help the outcasts
Children of God!

She looks up to the stained glass window as tears gathered in her eyes and she falls to the floor, sobbing quietly, feeling the arms of her sisters surrounding her. They consoled her, taking their masks off and hers to dry her tears. After a few minutes she stopped crying and smiled to them. "Thanks, girls." She breathed in and out carefully.

"Charlie...are you okay?" Rebecca asked.

She shook her head. "No....Girls....Rollo has definitely got something up his sleeve."

"What happened when he talked to you?" Felicity asks.

Charlie breathed in deeply and told them what she and Rollo discussed that made her run from the venue with tears in her eyes. What he said had sent an ominous red flag her way, and it was tell tale that something was up. By the time she finished, the girls were as afraid as she was.

"....We gotta get to the others. Now!" Odette urged as she grabbed her mask, giving the other theirs and made them vanish into their spatial inventory. The evening bell rang, announcing the Topsy-Turvy festival was over.

"Cmon! We gotta get back!!" Evelyn pushed, making the girls burst out the church and run back to the main square, fear striking their souls.
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"All students of the exchange program, please come with me back to Noble Bell College." The vice president announced as everyone gathered.

"Huh, where is Rollo?" Malleus ponders.

"He is making some preparations for all of you, we apologize in advance."

"Gathering this many a mage, it must've been difficult to prepare." Azul commends.

"Well that part is true but our president works harder than anyone of us. He was the one behind it all." The Secretary shrugs.

"But...doesn't he at least connect with the others around him?" Idia asks.

"No. He prefers to be alone. Which came as a surprise when he wanted to do this. He likely wanted to learn something new." The Secretary continues. "Although he's stoic and not so aloof...he means well. He is the leader of Noble Bell. He's the pride and joy of every student here!"
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Rollo stared into the flames of the fireplace in his office as his eyes were clenched shut. Charlie's words echoed on his head like a song.

"M-Magic...it does seem rather dangerous.....I mean, if you don't know what you're working with and what you possess and can't control it...it can be out of your own control and... hurt the people around you in turn.....But at the same time....there's also beauty to it...and...over time I learnt that....magic can be of help as it is fun to look at! It's....it's amazing...wonderful even..!"

His eyebrows wrinkled up as the memories flooded his brain....

'Big brother....I wanna learn magic! And be strong to protect the people I care for!!'

But they became furrowed down as his anger came back. His eyes opened.

"....Lies....all of it. Nonsense recited by fools! If not, then what-?!" He nearly lost his cool as he grabbed at the space where his heart lied in his chest. ".....No....calm yourself....this nightmare will come to an end.....It is time." The flames roared higher. "....Soon the entire world will be swallowed by a purifying flame...all will be set right....I can hardly wait!!"
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Everyone got back to the college, Grim wanting to go to bed, but Malleus insisted they stay in the main hall for Rollo's gift. Azul looks around to see many other students, much to his confusion.

Suddenly, the bell rang once more, confusing a few.

"Uh...is that the bell ringing?" Sebek asks.

"Yes, there's no laughing those chimes." Silver nods.

"But it only rings when in morning, the afternoon and in the evening. We heard it not that long ago." Riddle says. "Why a fourth time in the night?"

Azul looked up when we saw something red at the end of one of the hallways. "Weird....I saw something just now...was that a flame...?"

"No, it looks more like a flower....!" Idia squints.

"Cool! We're these part of decorations?" Two RSA students smile walking towards them.

"Never seen anything like-guh!!" Upon touching them...they suddenly collapsed as they shook like they got electrocuted. Idia gasped when he saw this as more and more students around then felt dizzy and began dropping like flies, making everyone start to freak out.

"They're all collapsing....!" Malleus gasped.

"The flowers, they growing at a fast pace, get away from them!!" Jamil urged as the main hall started to sprout more and more of these lotus flowers, the room lighting up with red, orange and yellow light.

"Hey....is it just me...or is anyone else feeling pretty woozy....?" Ruggie fanned himself.

"You're not alone...." Azul wobbled as he clutched his head. "The more we get close...the more they make us feel dizzy....!"

"These flowers....their glow...it makes me.....scared...." Malleus's eyes began to flutter shut as his legs felt like stone. He felt fear coursing through his veins at seeing such a delicate flower become so ominous. Suddenly to his surprise, the flowers began to climb up his feet, rooting him in place. His mind felt foggy as they release orange pollen that made him sick with vertigo. He moaned in pain as he felt his strength being sapped away, slowly being dragged to the floor. He felt close to passing out...

"Lord Malleus!!!" Silver and Sebek jump into action. Silver cuts away at the flowers using his sword as Sebek smashed them with his feet. Once he was free,  they drag him out of the mess and away to safety.

"Thank you...both...!" Malleus pants as he breathed to regain consciousness. He stood up, rather shakily, with a small smile.

"Milord, stand back. We'llcut down these flowers!" Silver urged.

"Let's kill them with what we've got!" Sebek nods. Suddenly from the grounds, Two monsters made of the flowers emerged before the knights.

"Eat this!!" Sebek threw a charged attack at then, but the flowers opened up and caught it, making it vanish into nothing. "What??"

"They absorbed his attack like nothing!" Silver gaped.

"So that's it...they feed off of magical power....!" Malleus whispered. "They absorb it...burn it away...much like fire.....!" Rook and Deuce pushed everyone away.

"Get back!!"

"Everyone don't get near them!!"

"Lower your magic pens! Now!" Trein orders. "And where are the girls?! Has anyone seen them!?"

"If we don't do that we'll be surrounded!!" Epel screams.

"Epel, listen to him! He is someone we must trust!" Rook urges.

"Silver, Sebek, do as he says." Malleus nods. They do as told. On cue, the flower's pollen vanished into thin air. But a few more weren't done yet, sneaking up from behind-

"Look out!!" Neige pushed Rook and Epel out of the way, getting trapped in their vines.

"Riddle, get out! You too, card soldier!!" Che'nya pushed them away as he got in the crossfire.

"Che'nya! Don't do this!!" Riddle pleads but was dragged away by Deuce. Even the Vice President and Secretary became entangled by the flowers, pinning them to the floor. The hall filled with screams and cries of agony as they felt their strength being siphoned. The NRC students crowd in a cluster as Trein urged for them to listen to the realization he jus through of.
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"Wait, so: Rollo thinks magic is a curse?!" Felicity repeated as the girls ran through the dark streets.

"From the way he spoke, it obvious he wants it gone!" Charlie nods.

"But what kind of thing could be used to eradicate it?" Odette asks.

"There is only one answer!" Rebecca huffs as she ran. "I was in the botanical section one afternoon and I found a small section on a flower that's capable of eradicating it! It's called the Crimson Lotus!"

"Crimson Lotus? It's sound like a magic spell!" Evelyn comments. Rebecca continued,

"As ironic as it may sound, its anything but! This flower is especially known for growing by feeding off of magical powers! And the magic that each Night Raven, Royal Sword or student likewise born in this world are no exception! It senses when a wizard is using power and opens up as a reaction to it! Think of magic as like the sun and the flower is what it is; It feeds off of the sun to grow! But unlike the sun, magic power will run out! And that's not the worst part; any person with magic who comes into contact with the flower will be trapped to make the flowers become stronger! Their magic will be drained away gradually the more they stay entangled with the flowers themselves! And once their magic is gone, they won't get it back!"

"How can such a thing even exist??" Odette gasped after hearing all this.

"No clue! But it has been said to have been extinct for many years! It was labeled by botanists and magicians alike to be a deadly part of the natural and magic world because of its purpose. So they were destroyed by humans hundreds of years ago!" Rebecca shrugs. "I was lucky to have gotten all that information on it before we left. Not many books have it recorded down! Nowadays, only a few descriptions make it as a legendary tale in stories that spelled out the history of old magic."

"But why would Rollo get his hands on such a thing even after it was gone for a century or so?!" Evelyn asks.

"No clue...but we're about to find out!!" Charlie nods. "Get ready!!!" They hurry to the front doors of Noble Bell and throw them open.
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"Why don't we ask him...?" Malleus glared up at the gallery.

" 'Him' who....?" Grim shook.

"Well, well! It seems you were able to figure it out in the end. Should you even deserve such praise for a prestigious school for magicians most foul?" Rollo snarled, standing on the second floor with a dark look in his eyes.

"So you were the mastermind behind all this....!" Malleus glared up at him.

"That is correct~! You may have been clueless all this time, but I guess it's too late to hide the secret~!" Rollo chuckled.

"What did you call us?!" Sebek roared.

"I said you are all clueless!" Rollo snarks, emphasizing the last word. "You didn't know all this time I was planting the flowers under your noses...I could hardly contain my laughter when I saw all of you running around so oblivious at the meeting and festival~!"

"Spoken like a true Villain, I might say~!" Azul chuckled, but Rollo's face went dark.

"Silence!! If anything, YOU are the villains here! ALL OF YOU!! Flaunting your magic and captivating the people around you with it....you think you're so high and mighty when you're not!! But my vision will come to fruition, either way....I'll dye the world in red....and steal the magic of every wizard, witch and mage in Twisted Wonderland!" Everyone either gasped at his statement while Malleus merely glared up at him.

"Take away all the magic....?! If that happens, my dreams of being one of the greatest wizards will be shattered!!" Grim frets.

"You wouldn't have gotten away with this in the Valley of Briars for such an act." Malleus sneers. "I don't care for why you're doin this, for this will not go unpunished!"

"Huh...again: this is why many of you are clueless." Rollo growled.

"He called my liege clueless thrice!!! I WILL HAVE HIS HEAD!!!" Sebek shouts.

"Rollo Flamme, cease this immediately! We will still end this without the use of magic!" Silver spat. Everyone as well glared up at him with the same declaration, but Rollo chuckled quietly before bellowing into maniacal cackling.

"What are you laughing at...?" Malleus demands.

"You're too late! It's already started! With the chiming of the fourth bell, the city has become overrun with these plants! The academy and the city's inhabitants are all being attacked by the flowers as we speak!"

"He's right! Look outside!!!" Jamil frets, looking through the glass panes. To everyone's horror, Rollo was right. The main square was covered by the Crimson flowers, dragging people to the floor and rooting them down while the pollen began to eat away at their powers.

"Mon dieu! He's right!" Rook gasped. He could just hear the screams of fear and agony coming from each person that possessed power.

"You bastard! You're a monster!!!" Deuce threw up at him. "You hide away while people get hurt?! You're a coward!! We'll end you!"

"And what can you do to stop me~?" Rollo sneers down at them condescendingly. "It will only end in your inevitable defeat! Well...except for one~!"

"Who are you talking about??" Epel demands.

Suddenly, the front doors open and Charlie and the girls emerge. "Guys!!!" She screams, only to stop in her tracks, seeing the flowers mummifying every person on the floor.

"What the hell?!" Felicity gasped. Each girl was taken aback at the number of flowers that engulfed the room.

"Miss Luchessi! Get away from those plants!!" Trein wants.

Rollo's eyes immediately went to Charlie and he grinned almost maniacally.

"At last....the guest of honor is here!" He smirks. "Seize Charlotte Luchessi!!!" One lotus monster emerged from the floors and runs straight at Charlie, launching off its haunches to pounce at her.

"Charlotte!!!" Malleus screams as Charlie gasps seeing the creature run at her. Everything seems to be going in slow motion as the monster jumped at her, the girls desperately trying to save their leader, only to be pulled back by the vines of the flowers, Grim crying as he tried to jump for her to save her, Malleus reaching his hand out for Charlie, Rollo's eyes wide with craziness and Charlie frozen in fear as her doom came at her. The screams of her sisters and the boys were drowned out, her own heartbeat pounding in her ears.....

She shut her eyes tight, saying her goodbyes......

Suddenly, the floor under the boys' feet gave out from them and they fell with screams of shock.

"Charlotte!!!" Malleus screams as the doors above them close, his last image of Charlie being one of fear and horror.....

In the blink of an eye, the monster vanished in a puff of orange pollen. Felicity and the girls were thrown into the shadows, their screams going unheard....

Charlie opened her eyes to see she was still alive....shaken, she fell to the floor, reeling from what happened. Her heavy breathing shaky as she felt her vision get spotty and she fainted altogether.

Rollo cackled maniacally, "At last! The dawn of a new era will come and Malleus Draconia will be no more!!!" He walks down the steps towards Charlie. He knelt before her, pushing some of her hair that had fallen out of her face. He smiled tenderly down at her before picking her up bridal style and carried her off into the College. "Justice will finally be served...."
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Everyone clung to one another as they braced for the harsh impact at a powerful speed. Some were lucky to have their falls cushioned while others weren't...even if Trein used some wind magic to slow their speed.

Suddenly, the area was engulfed in red.

"The hell?! There's more?!" Ruggie gasped.

"The whole city is flooded with them! It's like a sea of fire!" Riddle breathed.

"Rollo put us here to make us lose our magic on purpose!" Jamil hissed.

"That bastard!!" Sebek screams.

They quickly decided to pull away at the floors in order to spare themselves of being robbed of their magic and made quick work of the flowers blocking their way out of the tunnel. Despite more growing to replace the ones that were ripped up, they worked relentlessly to get out, despite the tough roots and intricate roots....but they managed to escape and run out into the waterways to gather themselves.

"Is everyone okay??" Jamil asks.

"Somehow...." Deuce huffs and puffs. "Trein had to take a breather because of his back cracking...."

"We managed to get rid of some that were in our way....but how did they do it back then....?" Rook asks.

"No one knows." Malleus shrugs unsure.

"Even without sunlight they're such a nuisance...!" Riddle huffs.

"Wait...where are we....?" Riddle looks around.

"The waterways from this morning!" Sebek remembers.

"The trapdoor must've led to the underground as an escape hatch." Malleus theorized.

"True. And...is it possible that Rollo had used this to plan his trap for us?" Azul asked.

"It could be likely. Using the secret underground systems to gather a once extinct plant would seem likely..." Malleus murmurs. Above them, the town was in chaos as more and more crimson flowers spread through the streets. Everyone grimaced at seeing the carnage and helplessness of the people that were ensnared by the monsters.

"But this doesn't make sense! Why would he want to get rid of magical power?!" Silver scratched his head.

"Does it look like any of us have the answer! It doesn't matter!" Sebek shouts back. "If he hates mages, yet he's one as well, doesn't that mean he's hateful on himself?? The thought itself is contradicting!"

"So he hated mages to the point where he'd want to rob them of their powers. This whole trip was just a trap for his scheme!" Azul grimaced.

"We're glad you see it our way now!!" Felicity shouts as she and the girls approach.

"Miss Tyler! Dupree, Lawson and Chu, are you okay?" Trein asked.

"We're fine. We managed to track you guys down when we got tossed out of Noble Bell." Evelyn explains. "But that doesn't matter: we had an inkling from the get-go that Rollo was planning something."

"What do you mean?" Malleus asked.

"He spoke with Charlie and asked if she saw Magic as a taboo or not! When she gave him his answer, he seemed to react...rather harshly...." Rebecca answers.

"We theorized that he was using something as a catalyst to end magic for good in this world. And under the guise of an exchange program, he would lure in many young wizards around the school to deplete them of something they were born with!" Odette finished.

"Like moths to a flame...like Rollo said...we were clueless from the beginning....!" Idia was bitter. "But...where does Malleus come into the picture...?"

"We think he was a target from the beginning...." Rebecca explains.

"That is true. Malleus is a powerful mage. And he is part of our school. It was no sprites that he'd wan to get rid of him." Azul nods.

"That's enough with adding salt to the wound!" Trein hissed.

"Uh...Draconia...? Are you okay??" Deuce asked, sending the dragon fae being awfully quiet. "Wait a minute! Where's Charlie??"

"We thought she was with you!" Evelyn said.

"We thought she was with YOU!" Riddle said. Suddenly the group tensed.

"Oh my god...that son of a bitch! HE'S GOT HER!!! Rollo's got her!!!!" Felicity screamed as a few more flowers grew behind Malleus. A dark shadow looked over his face as he chuckled quietly as the air stirred with dark anger.

"I see now...this was nothing but a ploy...all of this...was a lie...." He growled softly. "The invitation....the meeting...and now...he has my sweet Titania....!" The air crackled with lightning as a frown crossed Malleus's face. "Unforgivable....Rollo Flamme, I will never forgive you!!!!" He roared animalistically as thunder and lighting crossed the skies. Everyone backed up when they saw how angry he was getting.  "I thought I had been invited!!! Absolutely, COMPLETELY UNFORGIVABLE!!!" He punched the wall at his side with such force, the caved in the wall from his fist alone as the thunder rumbled with anger.

The earth shook. The sky burned. It was clear to all Malleus was beyond pissed...far from angry.....

"Crap...! I don't like where this is heading!!!" Grim curled into Felicity's side. Even Deuce and Riddle felt terrified at the surge of power coming from Malleus. Whether he was mad at Rollo's lie or him kidnapping Charlie, it was clear Malleus would go on the warpath to get his revenge....

"Draconia, stop this at once! If you expend more power you'll be food for the plants!" Trein shouts.

"Dude, he's right! Getting mad won't solve anything!!!" Felicity shouts as more flowers began to pop up from the floor, working Sebek and Silver.

"Malleus-Sama, please cease! You'll be in danger if this continues!" Silver pleads.

"That monster! These wretched flowers! My sweet Charlotte!!! ILL MAKE HIM PAY!!!!" Malleus roared as he released a surge of powers that forced everyone to the floor. They scream as they go flying, rubble and dust kicked up from the impact. Everyone felt the air was stolen from their lungs when they tried to stand up, trying to find one another. Malleus panted as he released all his anger and calmed down. "...I apologize if you had to see that."

"Fgna! Don't scare us like that!" Grim griped as Trein suddenly saw to his surprise that Draconia had electrocuted the flowers to the point where they began to wither. Which caught many by surprise. But for Trein, it made him mad.

"Draconia! How could you lose your temper that easily?! As a student of Night Raven you are to be calm and courteous!"

"Forgive me, Sir." Malleus bowed sorrowfully. "I felt my anger diminish once I sensed the fear...."

"Memo to me: never make Malleus angry...." Idia murmurs.

"Yes. I'd rather not lose my life at such a young age..." Azul agreed.

"But those flowers...Draconia, what exactly happened?!" Trein pushed.

"I don't know...I was just thinking and being angry and then....I just unleashed all my anger." Malleus shrugged.

"You don't know....?" Trein repeated. "Look at the petals of the flowers: they're all withered and dark yellow. They've lost their power!"

"Wait, this is like something that happens in the Scalding Sands: the temperature difference occurs in the day and night. If any plants get left out during the night, they frost over and wither and die!" Jamil recalls.

"Frost??" Riddle murmurs. "You really don't recall doing that?"

"Not in the slightest...." Malleus shook his head.

"I...I think I have a theory!" Epel raised his hand. "Back in my hometown, I once grew vegetable seeds that I wished to eat when fully grown. But they needed one specific thing. If we look at the flower more closely..." he took it in his hands and held it up. "It wasn't frost that made them wither and decay; they died because of a fertilizer burn. It's an over amount of fertilization that causes the roots to shrivel up and die. And the Crimson plants are no exception! See the roots? They're all black and breaking!"

"Nice decision, Felmier." Trein nods. "So the flowers can absorb all kinds of magic...even an abundance from someone like Draconia...but too much of it will cause it to wither up."

"Piece of cake! Now if only we can get Malleus to do this again and all our problems would be solved!" Ruggie snickers.

"I don't think that's possible." Malleus declined. "In the main hall, the flowers that got to first absorbed at least 3/4ths of my power...."

"My liege, are you still okay, though?" Sebek frets.

"Yes I'm fine. But it will take a little longer for me to conjure any spells. I used what last strength I could to protect anyone around me....but it got out of control or was diminished from over exerting.... I won't be able to use my magic for a few minutes. And the strength I have now isn't enough to eradicate the rest of the flowers at once."

"Well then...if Lord Mallues can do it alone...then we need to work together." Silver offered up.

"What?! Malleus has power that could fill a 25 meter pool! We barely have enough to fill at least the shallow end!" Idia shook his head.

"Why not just pull them up?" Epel asked.

"It was already difficult when we were trying to get out of the tunnel!" Jamil reminds. "And with how many are in the city, it's be near impossible to rip them up alone. Not to mention we'd be caught in the crossfire!"

Well we need to do something or everyone in town's a goner!" Felicity shouts.

"Miss Tyler is right. We're the only ones who can help. If we don't intervene, everyone could lose their magic potency for good." Trein emphasized.

"Ugh...like we'd wanna help out Royal Sword..." Ruggie rolls his eyes.

"Yeah, they had it coming honestly." Idia shrugs.

"You spoiled heathens!" Trein griped. "Royal Sword sacrificed themselves for you! Ugh....why was I stuck with such selfish children...?" He ran his hands down his face.

"Ruggie, apologize."

"Me?! You're the one who said they had it coming!!"

"Knock it off! You're both to blame!!" Jamil hissed.

"There's too many people in the town as is...and twice as many flowers....if we don't do something they'll go beyond the city itself!" Rook emphasized.

"All of our friends and family will be exposed to the danger!" Silver nods. "Trein needs is! Charlotte needs us! We need to get rid of these flowers!"

"....They're right." Azul nods. "I couldn't give a damn about Royal Sword....but Rollo has taken my siren and that will not go unpunished!"

"Yeah! Screw those sparkly otome princes! We only need our goddess!" Idia nods.

"I'm game!" Deuce nods. "If I left Charlie behind, I'd never forgive myself!"

"Indeed. We need to rescue Titania before Rollo does something to her." Malleus nods. Everyone started to get on board with saving the city and putting an end to Rollo's plans.

"Okay. So what's the plan? We know how to kill the plants, but one person doing the work won't be enough." Evelyn puts out.

"Well there is one way we can finish them entirely." Idia smiled. "Using our own power's not gonna work...but I think we know of a special tool that can!"

"You mean the Bell?" Malleus inquired.

"Mhm! Like Rollo said: 'With the chiming of the fourth bell, the city has become overrun with these plants'. Rollo gave the flowers their magic with the fourth ringing, causing all those flowers to come up!"

"So then if we ring the bell a fifth or sixth time, it'll cause them to recede...and then be no more!" Odette put the pieces together. "Great!"

"Let's get to the bell tower and fast!" Malleus declares.

"No! I will do it." Trein instead. "I am the grown up of this trip, so I will take responsibility."

"Sir, please! Don't strain yourself!" Silver urged, noticing how he kept bending over with a hand in his back with how much it hurt. Similar to how he had seen with Lilia....

"Trein, please listen to us. You're still to out of it to keep moving!" Evelyn hushed. "We know you don't want to appear weak before us. But now it's our turn to kick ass and show Rollo we're not gonna let him get away with this."

"Miss Chu speaks the truth." Azul nods. "You are an amazing teacher, Trein. And we aren't afraid to face danger."

".....Very well. I will entrust all of you with this task. I will try to help evacuate any other lingering people in the city. I'll take Grim with me and we will lure the flowers and eliminate them." Trein nods.

"Let's get our revenge on Rollo and show him not to fuck with Night Raven!" Deuce shouts.

"Okay. Now listen up: Flamme has used the Bell of Salvation to increase the number of flowers. He's aware of the magic it possesses. He will be guarding the bell at the top of the tower so that no one can get their hands on it. He's more tactful than he seems. So be ready."

"Fufufu....I will enjoy seeing the smile wipe off his lips when I make him pay for hurting my Titania...." Malleus smiles.
———————————

Charlie's eyes fluttered open as she felt her conscious stir. She gasped upon waking up and seeing she was in what looked to be an office of sorts. Books lined one large shelf as a desk with a chair stood off center to her left. She laid on a couch of red satin cloth and dark mahogany. Darkness was swallowing nearly everything except for the crackling fire before her. She couldn't look at it as she suddenly remembered what happened when she and the girls got through the main doors.

The Fire Flowers.

The Boys plummeting through the trap door.

Rollo!

The doors behind her open and she turned. Her eyes narrowed into slits. Speak of the fucking devil.

"Good evening, Miss Luchessi." He greets, shutting the door behind him.

"Why have you brought me here?!" She stood up, glaring at him.

"Because unlike those fools you call friends, I see pure lighted flaws within you." Rollo sighed as he walked past her to the fireplace, looking at it with calm eyes. Charlie kept some distance but also was close enough to speak to him. "You said it yourself: magic is dangerous. And if no one has control over it, then what is the point of having it in the first place?"

"Those were my thoughts before!" Charlie corrects. "Magic is a way of life in this world! If you take it away, it'll throw the world into chaos!"

"And I can be the only one to end that chaos, my dear!" Rollo emphasized.

"By stripping people of the one thing they were born with or taught?!" She threw back. "Wizards, Witches and even Mages aren't evil! They're no less human than the rest of us!"

"Some of us are less human than others. In the moral sense." Rollo growls back.

"Do you mean me?" She reiterated.

"You dance in public without shame or modesty!" He turned to glare at her.

"I dance because I enjoy it. Others enjoy it, too, and give them happiness like anything else!" She fired back, getting angry.

"As they would a woman of ill repute!" He lunged to grab her but a light emitted from her body that sent him hurtling back into the wall. He grunts as he hits the concrete in pain and clenched his eyes shut. The light diminished a tad for him to stand up and look at Charlie surprised. Her hair floated on the nonexistent wind as her eyes burned with fiery hate, glowing a demonic neon yellow.

"If I have the power of magic, why don't I use it to help myself and my family?!" She glared down at him as her hair stopped floating and her eyes returned to normal, the light vanishing with it. "Yes, I'm clever. But I don't twist the truth just as I twist my body when I dance.....There must be some mercy inside you-!" But the look in Rollo's eyes made her stop talking. She backed away when she recognized it.

Rollo stood up shakily as he looked at her incredulously. "You...you have powers! But it said-!"

"Why do you hate magic so much? What did it ever do to you??" She demands.

"..... More than you know." Rollo said cryptically as he stared her down.
——————————————

The group hurried to the South Gate from t where they were at, using the cover of night to their advantage. But upon to the Courtyard where Frollo's statue stood with their plans set in motion, something made them stop in their tracks.

"What the hell?? The Flowers! They're everywhere!" Odette gasped.

"Now how will we get to the tower?!" Rebecca frets.

"It's impossible to get through something that Al damages our playing field so easily!" Idia shivered. "We can still keep distance with the plants, but if we try and step into this land mine, it's game over."

"We can try and fly over." Felicity suggests, looking at their wings.

"We need a different method other than flying." Azul buts in. He winced just remembering his PE classes and his flying was just the bare minimum of the work. He didn't even care if Jamil poked fun at how 'he was doing his best'. But he agreed that flying would be out of the question. Rook and Silver noticed that the roots of the flowers were strong and whip-like, easily being able to shrink and grow and catch them if they flew above.

"Let me use my powers now." Malleus urged but Azul stops him.

"Wait, Malleus! We must think of the fight like a game of chess. Only one piece can kill the king at the end of the Board. We just make careful plans to win in the end when playing our correct pieces. There's no one who'll go all the way to out the king into enemy territory at the start of the game just to capture the pawn."

".....Yeah, uh...we don't really understand chess terms so...." Deuce looked at Epel confused.

"Yeah, I second that. You need to dumb it down for us." Ruggie nods.

"Wow! Your game slang is so old school to them, Azul!" Idia cackled. But calmed down enough to explain it as this: "We must choose a piece or two to sacrifice as the others advance, in order to trick up our enemy. We need one or two of you to stay behind and deal with the other pawns and the rest of us will go forward."

"But will those who cause the distraction be okay?" Silver asked.

"It's a necessary sacrifice for the cursory when we reach the bell." Idia nods.

"Okay, so...who will be the first to start us off?" Silver asked.

"I shall." Riddle holds his hand up. "I'll use the power of flight to draw the attention away from the creatures while the rest of you go on." This came as quite the surprise to the others.

"But Rosehearts, you're not the king of person to take the first fall so easily. Why?" Malleus asked.

"Well there's only two explanations: the first; there's only one way into the school and it'll be a long trek up the tower to the bell. Someone must be able to have stamina far long enough for the outside enemies to be distracted so as to let you get away and hit the bell. And that someone has a gray amount of power and ability. And secondly:....Charlotte would want me to be able to step forward when no one else will. She does it herself when someone has to take charge in whatever. And I wish to follow her example!"

"You sure you want to go first?" Azul pressed.

"I am. Those with a strong moral must take the lead to fight even if all are may be against them." Riddle nods firmly.

"Well, I won't stand by while watching my leader get thrown into the flames! If Riddle's doing this then so can I!" Deuce shouts.

"No, Deuce!" Riddle denied.

"Why?! I'm pretty fast!" The bluenette argued.

"Fast? Need I remind you what happened at the LAST flying test you took?" Riddle smirks. Deuce froze up when he remembered.

"What happened exactly?" Felicity asks.

"Both he and Ace fooled around during their Flight exams and tumbled off their brooms while hitting each other. They ended up with an hour ms worth of extra lessons as a result!"

"I-In all fairness, Ace provoked me and he started it!"

"That's still no excuse! This is not an exam, this is a life or death situation! You can't fly properly unless you've total concentration! Stay in a place that's more suitable you until your gain my gratitude, understood?"

"Yes, dorm leader...."

"Deuce, maybe Riddle has a point." Evelyn assured. "You may be needed for something further on when we storm the Bell Tower. Let him do what needs to be done and when you feel the need to do your job, then do it."

"I understand!" Deuce nods.

"Wait, I just remembered: the courtyard is pretty damn wide. Even if Riddle was to fly fast, he won't be able to get the attention of all the flower creatures!" Odette scanned the area fast.

"Then we need a second person as a decoy." Azul decides.

"I'll volunteer to stay behind." Epel smiled.

"Epel!!"

"I don't need a second helping hand, I can do it by myself!"

"I know! But the point is we just need to draw their attention away through fast flying, right? You may not be aware, Riddle, but I've got amicable flying skills!" Epel smiled. " 'Sides, Heartslabyul can't be hogging all the spotlight! Go Pomefiore!"

"Epel, you sure you know what you're doing? Once you go in, there's no turning back." Azul asked.

"Yes! And I'm not doing this out of instinct. I've thought it through completely!"

"Don't doubt his skill, Azul!" Ruggie chuckles. "Epel's has potential in the Magift club! He's a rookie after flying lessons that unprocessed even Leona. So if he approves, then so do I!"

"Alright, let's set the plan in motion!" Devilry cracks her knuckles as riddle and Epel scan the area.

"The end of the street doesn't have that many monsters...." Riddle murmurs. "Let's take a detour and move carefully if we avoid the main path by the statue. If we do get to the statue, use your powers to lure them close away from the door."

"I'll provide the signal for the group to move!" Epel nods. "So be ready to run!"

"Let's go!" Evelyn urged as they scurry and wait by the sides for the signal.

Riddle and Epel give each other encouraging smiles as they grab the two brooms used for the streets. Using their wind magic, they kick off the ground and blast forward right for the flower creatures, using the shadows to their advantage. They spot them and lure them away throwing spells powerful enough to make them wither.

Once they've reached the stairs Epel threw a fire bolt up into the air, sending off a firework of red, orange and yellow light.

"There's the signal!!! Move, move, move!!!" Odette urges as the group hightails for the front doors, leaving it open enough for each person to slip through, leaving Rebecca, Deuce and Rook to shut and barricade the door suing plant magic. Vines and twigs climbed and slithered across the wood, locking the doors to ensure the flowers from outside wouldn't get back in. "Alright, they can't get through!

At one point in the fight, Riddle started to wane from overexerting his magic and nearly fell into the jaws of the flowers had Epel not used Sleep Kiss to save him before losing his magic, placing the Red Queen to sleep.

"It's alright Riddle. You did everything you could...Now it's my turn! I may not have as much magic as you....but I'm not one to lose! For Charlie; for you and for everyone else...let's end this!" He zoomed off at High speed to draw the Flower creatures away, a powerful blaze set in his eyes.
—————————————

"You have magic!!!" Rollo points an accusing finger at Charlie. "It said in your student profile you didn't have any!"

"For good reason!" She threw back. "And why are you acting as if you don't know?!"

"I do...." Rollo looked at her eerily calmly, which started to set warning bells off in her head. "And I know for a fact that you lost both your parents when you were but 16! And that was the day it awakened within you!"

She gasped as she backed away. "How do you-?!"

"Your eyes speak the truth when your lips cannot!" He sneers. "And It is my job to protect those who deem magic as a taboo!"

"From dirty people who have magic like me? And my sisters??" She demands.

"You said it, I didn't." He remarked. "Your soul is so pure you see goodness in others. I should have known a woman like you truly wanted to be saved."

"I don't think I'm in need of saving." She scoffed, making Rollo glare at her.

"Of course not. Your kind never do." He growled only to storm up to her. "I warn you: I could be a good friend to you. Yet mark my words: I could also be your greatest enemy!"

"You already we're from the beginning, Flamme!" She pushed him away. "The moment my third eye saw you, I knew you were gonna be my adversary! You aren't the first, and you won't be the last! And trust me: you think I'm scared of you? I've met monsters who have more bite than you ever could!"

"Then why couldn't you use your powers to save your parents?!" He demands, making her bite her tongue at his anger. Charlie grimaced, knowing that this was going to reopen old wounds.
——————————————

"Let get into the main building and then head to the bell tower." Malleus decreed once everyone has met up again.

"I hope Riddle and Epel are fine..." Deuce worried, making Sebek and Ruggie tell Deuce that they can handle themselves.

"You do know they may not have a chance of winning...." Idia whispered.

"Well yeah. But like they say it's better to not know." Ruggie shrugs.

"It's true. Even with that many flowers....at least one of us will get to the bell before it's too late." Evelyn assured. "They chose to be the first people to distract since they knew what they were getting into. We can't be worried for them now: only hope they're staying strong."

"That's right. No matter the kind of magic, what's important is to know how to wield it." Azul nods. "Now then: we all have uniques spells that work under different circumstances....and we can use them sparingly....but this time, let's go for a new attack plan: a magic that takes over the mind and manipulates movement...."

"Well, those plants did take on what looked to be the shape like a human body..." Sebek noted the creatures.

"But the flowers just use the robes that students wear and move around in it like they're human; there not actually sentient." Idia corrects.  "So then either they're linked to that robe by traces of their power or the robe itself can protect them for so long....?"

Suddenly a scream pierced the air and in An instant, those damned flowers flowers sprung up.

"Crap there's more!?" Odette hissed.

"Seems like some of the students that didn't get caught are luring them here!" Jamil growled.

"Fight through!" Malleus urged. They did so, dodging and weaving through the flowers but the more they kept crushing them, the more there appeared.

"They keep increasing in numbers!"

"Do we have everyone??" Malleus asked, looking around.

"Mayday! Mayday!!! We're kinda caught here!!!" Everyone looked back to see Ruggie and Jamil cut off from the group by swarms of the flowers.

"Ruggie! Jamil!" Rook frets.

"We can't help them! The flowers will trap us as well with them!" Rebecca shook her head.

"Ugh, screw it....go on without us!" Jamil shouts. Ruggie nods,

"It's the only way!"

"No! We can't just leave you like this!" Deuce shook his head. "That's disgrace us as a team!"

"It doesn't matter if it's about disgracing a team or some shit! Just get to the bell!" Ruggie pushed. "If you come back to help, more of us will be in trouble! At least one of us can try to get out alive!

"Oh?! Can you swear in front of all these witnesses that you won't ask for them to return later?" Azul shouts. This made Felicity punch him in the arm hard.

"Fine, we swear! Now just go!!" Jamil shooed them away as he kicked away one flower. With that, the two hurry for the main doors, leaving Rebecca to close the Main hall doors once more it's her vines and keep it shut to to prevent anything from outside getting in and vice versa.

Both Jamil and Ruggie shared a devious look at one point and decided to lure some unknowing Noble Bell students to the courtyard and have them do their dirty work for them using 'Snake Whisper' and 'Laugh With Me', much to the innocent student's horror.

"Pretty nasty idea, leaving them to be food for the flowers!" Ruggie snickers as he and Jamil run for a safe part of the courtyard.

"To be fair, it was the student council president of Noble Bell College who released the crimson flower. If the scandal was caused by the top, then it's a matter of course for the subordinates to clean up the mess. So it's only be fair to make those who remain on the campus take responsibility~." Jamil smirks, running beside Ruggie to find more students to trick into doing their dirty work for them.
—————————————

"Tell me the truth!"

"Why can't you mind your own fucking business?!" Charlie shouted.

"It has to be somebody's business!" Rollo spat back. "You are under Sanctuary by my order, after all. And soon the same will be given to them."

"Under salvation? What are you talking about?!" She demands.

"Their only salvation is deliverance from this curse! But you still have light!"

"Light? It's nonsence! This whole thing is nonsense!"

"I only grant salvation from the curse!"

"So you admit Magic is a curse? Then why didn't you leave me with them?!"

Rollo opened his mouth to speak, but took back his words by only murmuring, "Though your friends are lost, there may be something in you that can be saved...

"Are you interested in my magic?" Charlie accused. "If not, then what?!"

"I don't want to talk about it." Rollo seethed, but Charlie was stubborn.

"You wouldn't put your own students in danger without a good reason!"

"You cannot understand." Something in that sentence made Charlie look at him with a small...something in her eyes that made her try to play her cards right.

"How would you know? But I can find out for myself."

"You can't understand the pain of nightmarish memories."

"Don't sidetrack. I don't mean to get under your skin....but I can feel that something's plaguing you...You can deny it all you want, but your eyes speak the truth." She said calmly.

"....What could you know about my misery...?" He whispered but she heard him. She straightened herself and she started to speak.

"Once upon a time, there was a lonely man who lived in a world where everything was at peace in his life. He had a stable job and a living community that he lived in. But there was one thing he feared he would never get: Love."

Rollo looked back at her confused, "Why are you telling this?" But she didn't answer.

"Until one day, he saw a strikingly beautiful woman who was new to town. Her name was Cassia. And from there, they began a bond like no other. That bond became one of friendship and soon love, like the young man, Paul, was looking for. Within time....they married and had three little children of their own. But the third, the youngest, was something else to the new couple.

"Her eyes glittered like the stars and her smile was like the ray of light in such dark times. The parents felt in their soul that she was going to be someone who would take on the world with very little problems....even the mother herself could look into her baby's eyes and could see a powerful future within her.....but they wouldn't be around to see it...

"One day they met an unfortunate fate....although their bodies died....their souls had seemed to be elsewhere....yet their families grieved for such a painful loss....one that no one could see coming....but one did. Their youngest child. She saw it happen moments before the accident could occur. She saw the collision; she saw the damages; she saw her parents' faces behind the windshield before it cracked and seeing the car fly....but she couldn't speak of it, in fear of being pinned as insane due to her vision. She sealed away her trauma, she tried to cope with her losses and shut out all that was in her life.....even her own brother and sister were doing all they could to help the family survive as her guardians...they didn't know the true pain she felt...seeing her parents die....right in front of her eyes....That is why she couldn't save them...." Rollo slowly turned to look at Charlie when he began to piece together who she was talking about.

A sad look crossed her eyes, but her face stayed strong. "I saw them die and I was powerless to prevent it from happening...but now I have a family to call my own in this world....and I will do everything in my power to protect them!....even from a monster like you, Rollo Flame!!!" From behind her back she threw a log from the fireplace at him. He screamed as it licked at the cloth of his robes, alighting them with fire. He tried to stamp it out with his feet, but the flames didn't stop burning at the fabric of his robes. Using the distraction, Charlie unlocked the door and ran out of the room, hiking up her dress skirts to flee with all her strength as Rollo screamed her name in anger, his voice echoing down the halls for all to hear.
—————————————

The rest of the group made it to the main Lecture hall where the madness began.

"The bell tower should be nearby right...?" Idia murmured.

"Yeah. The entrance to the tower's at the second floor." Evelyn nods.

"Yeah, but how do we get there?" Felicity motioned to the sea of fire flowers before them. All around them, the bodies of the exchange students littered the floor, entangled in the vines of the flowers and sweating like they were having a fever.

"Roi du Neige!" Rook exclaims.

"We gotta get them out of there!" Odette urged.

"Sebek and I will clear a path for the stairs!" Silver nods. The got to work at hacking away at the flowers with their swords while the rest tried to get the students out of their flora-traps. But with each flower that's as pulled or crushed, another replaced it creating twice as many as when they entered.

"There's too many!" Malleus shouts. "And the sickly sweet smell is nauseating...!" He placed a hand to his forehead at that, unknown to the rest that a creaking sound came from up above.

"The flowers! Their weight is making one of the chandlers to come loose!! Get out of the way!!!" Rook shouted as one fell loose of its bindings.

"Idia!!!" Deuce ran and tackled Idia and himself out of the way just as the chandelier crashed to the floor, spraying glass everywhere, but Rebecca used a shield spell to protect them just in time.

"Shit! Are y'all okay?!" Felicity shouted.

"Yes...we're okay, somehow...!" Azul huffed and puffed as he got to his feet.

"Well, I'm not 'we're okay, somehow'! I nearly got a cut on my nose!!" Idia shouts. "If it hadn't been for Deuce....I wouldn't gone 2D instantly....!" Idia started to thank Deuce for saving him at the last minute, but the pain on Deuce's face made him stop talking. "Deuce-shi? What's wrong??"

"My...my ankle! I think I twisted it!" He hissed as he clutched it in pain.

"Out of the way! Let me see!" Rook knelt close to him as he inspected it. No bones were broken thankfully, but it would hinder him from trying to walk or run at full speed. Rebecca used some makeshift bandages out of her shawl and bound his ankle carefully.

"This should hold you out until later." She sighed. "I'm sorry I don't have a first aid kit on me...."

"It'll do, thank you Becca." Deuce smiled. "But I have one request: leave me here. I can buy you guys some time to get to the second floor."

"But Deuce...are you even sure you can hold our tilt he end?" Azul inquired. "You may look brave now but you know what's ahead...."

"No...I don't!" Deuce but back.

"Then why throw your life away for us?!" Felicity demands.

"I may not have the smarts or use of powerful magic like most of the people in school....but both Riddle and Charlie have seen my determination to get any job done even if the odds go against me! I know I'm outnumbered, but it won't keep me off course!"

"....Very well. But...I have a request...." Azul knelt and whispered to Deuce, who's face morphed the more Azul spoke. They exchanged hushed nods and whispers until-

"Sorry to 'crash' your little meeting but uh...." Idia whispers. "We should stop running..."

"Idia!" Evelyn shouted in offense.

"Look, every time someone watches a disaster movie, the heroes usually meet their tragic end after the escape and non-ending suffering! Why don't we just accept our fate instead of running away?!"

"Excuse you, you mother-!" Felicity went to smack him, but Evelyn held her back from doing anything rash.

"I think he means to say he's staying behind to compensate for Deuce saving him." The Asian girl reiterated simply.

"Exacta-mungous!" Idia nods.

"Shroud-senpai, don't do that! It's not your fault!" Deuce urged. "Go with the others!"

"If Roi du chambre stays, then so shall I!" Rook smiled.

"Hunt!"

"Don't freak out; Deuce. It's of my own volition."

"....Alright!"

"Ugh, Yknow what, forget it...I'm not gonna intervene on their enthusiasm...I'm coming with you guys." Idia rolled his eyes.

"Is the stairway clear??" Odette looks over her shoulder.

"We've got it cleared!" Malleus confirms.

"Odette and I will be with Rook and Deuce." Rebecca smiled. "We need to know what we're dealing with regarding these crimson flowers."

"Okay, just be careful!" Evelyn warns the four.

"You too!" Deuce smiled. "And Ashengrotto; kick Rollo's ass and save Charlie!" On cue, a scream could be heard from upstairs making everyone look their way.

"Charlie!" the girls scream.

"Find Rollo!" Malleus commands as he surged up the stairs, fire blazing in his eyes. Azul, Silver, Idia, Evelyn and Sebek followed as Rebecca, Odette, Deuce and Rook battled several fire flower monsters to keep them away.

"Hunt! Becca! Dee! You know I never got to say this, but...thanks for sticking with me." Deuce smiled. "It's nice to see you guys are willing to stay behind and fight something as dangerous as this!"

"Hey! Charlie has faith in you and what you're doing! Don't give up the fight!" Rebecca smiled.

"Now c'mon! Let's take these things down!" Odette yelled.

"Yeah!"
——————————————

Charlie managed to put lots of distance between herself and Rollo after she managed to distract him. But she knew he'd be even more furious at her for doing such a thing. But she'd rather join her friends in damnation than be at his side.

She managed to find one room and unlock it with a small Bobby pin and slipped inside, leaving it slightly ajar. Looking around the place, she saw it was a wide and spacious area with a fireplace and a large desk to fit around ten people. A stack of red and purple robes hang on the walls beside the small library....was this the student council room?

She looked over at the desk and saw lots of documents on the table and began to sift through them. Reports of club activity expenses, planned events, accounting books (no doubt Azul would want to get his hands on that...). Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary....so what was she missing....?!

Suddenly, something caught her eye when she turned towards the fireplace. One brick on the right end is completely clean of any soot unlike the other bricks. Huh...did someone touch it and clean it frequently or...?

She pursed her lips...there was only one way to find out. She quickly flicked her finger forward and shot out a small bolt of light to hit the brick, which fell and revealed a small leather booklet hidden in the nook.

She smirked. Too old-school mystery novel leveled. She quickly used her magic to levitate it towards her and she grasped it, looking at it over in her hands. Was it some kind of spell book or...diary...? She quickly opened it and flipped through the pages, seeing many words scribbled across the crisp pages. Dated correctly and written in near calligraphy, she did indeed see it was a diary. But from the names of the various books jotted down about the Bell of Salvation and the history of the City of Flowers to an encyclopedia of extinct plants in the world, she knew right away it was Rollo's.

"Hmph. There must be something in here that can exploit him..." she murmured as she flipped through the pages...suddenly she came upon an entry that made her stop in her tracks. She read the pages word for word, her shock becoming sadness... "Oh my God..." she gasped.

Suddenly, the door creaked open and Charlie turned, hands up and ready to fight. But a small bleat made her look down and her frown became a smile.

"You again!" She smiled upon seeing the goat from the streets today. He bleated and ran up to her, nudging his head in her hands. She petted him gently with a keen smile. "How'd you get in?" The goat looked up at her as he pointed his snout to the doors. She peeked out and saw a small vent was busted open on the first floor, ripped from its hinges and dented beyond repair. She snickered. "We'll that's creative, I'll give you that."

As if remembering what was going on right now, she panicked. She had to warn the guys of what was going on! "Look, I need you to help me." The goat bleats as he nods his head, showing he understood her. "I need you to show this to the others." She held out the journal, marking the page of Rollo's Entry with the corner of the page and closed it, letting the goat take it in its mouth. Then she looked at the ring on her finger and nods, slipping it off and ripping off a cloth of fabric from one of the NBC robes, she strung the ring onto it and tied the small cloth strip around the goat's neck. "And show this ring to them so they know that I'm here. They have to know the truth and stop Rollo immediately!"

"Stop me how exactly?" She tensed up as she spun around, seeing Rollo standing by the door, a mix of anger and fury swirling in his eyes as he glared at her. She saw the ends of his robes were stamped out, albeit charred a tad from her log throw. But she gulped down her nerves and stood her ground. "You were brave to throw that log of fire at me to get away, but My plan will come to fruition! And I won't let you or anyone else stop me from completing it! With your light at my side, You will appear as a beacon of light to the new dawn of this world! We are the same, Luchessi, don't forget it!"

"I am NOTHING like you! I don't loathe magic!" She growled. "And It doesn't matter what you do to me, my friends will destroy you!"

He smirked darkly in turn, "Is that so?" He then chanted a spell that made her start to get vertigo and she clutched her head in pain. The darkness of the room began to swallow the corners of her sight as she began to become panicked and hyperventilate, needing to alert the others.

"There is nothing you can do now, Charlotte! Because as of this point, you belong to me!"

She released a long piercing scream that ricocheted through the halls of the college before she fainted, praying that her goat friend was hidden away safely....
—————————————

~meanwhile at NRC~

"Ugh...it's getting so late from all that Halloween party prep..." Ace cracked his back as he and Jack walk side by side down Main Street to the Hall of Mirrors. "I bet everyone else is partying it up at the exchange meeting in the City of Flowers right now!"

"Hey, the headmaster said they're only doing sightseeing, fieldwork and are sleeping safe and sound right about now." Jack assured. "Speaking of which...." He yawned.

"But still! It's so not fair! Ugh...Deuce is probably partying it up over there as we speak..."
——————————

"Get back!!!" Deuce shouted as he crushed down flower creature under his boot before it could hit him. He there's back one creature but just as another  was sneaking up on him, Rebecca shot it down with a magic bolt. "Thanks, Becca! You alright?"

"Faring well! Thank god we don't have to stay in those dresses when we fight!" She smiled as she flew up high, donned in her guardian form. She and Odette managed to transform just as a hoard of the crimson creatures came to attack. But no matter how many nature or fire attacks the girls threw at these monstrosities, they kept getting up like they had barely a scratch on them. "These things keep getting in our way!"

"I don't think we can keep up! We can't take down these creatures and try to save the others!" Rook hugged and puffed. "But we must stay strong!"

"Wait, Deuce what are you-?!"

"ORAAAAAAAAA!!!" With a shout of rage, Deuce ripped up over three pounds of the roots and vines from one student, crushing them with his bare hands. 

"Holy crap!" Odette gasped.

"I may not be able to run, but i can still use my hands!" Deuce shouted. He kept screaming bloody murder a she ripped up chunk after chunk of the flowers in a blind rage.

"Deuce, Knock it off! You know you can't rip them all up!!" Rook tried to hold him back, but Deuce pushed him away.

"Stop it, Spade! You're gonna hurt yourself!!" Odette begs, grabbing his arms and holding him back.

"I don't care!! I'm ripping these up even if it kills me!!!" He screamed, ripping away from her hold. "I'm too far gone to back down now! I'm not throwing in the fucking towel!!! IF I'M GOING DOWN, I'M TAKING THESE DAMNED FLOWERS WITH ME!!!!" He grabbed two arms full of the roots and like the Hulk, ripped them straight off of one student's probe body, surprising Rook.

"My God....how determined is he?!"

"We gotta help him. then!" Rebecca nods. "If he says he's not going down, then we'll follow him! Time for Operation: Weed Killer!"
———————————————

The group hurried to the second floor as Deuce's group battled below.

"We gotta find the entrance to the Bell tower!" Evelyn scurried, hands grasping her skirts with vigor. "And watch out for the flowers!"

"But where's Charlie?!" Felicity frets. "We heard her screams just minutes ago!"

"Ugh, this like a horror movie come to life...! I can't do it...go on without me...I'm out!" Idia huffed a she slower to a halt.

"You bastard! You are give up at a time like this?! You're leaving their sacrifice as a scapegoat?!"

"Sebek, knock it off."

"Don't tell me to not knock it off, Silver! I'm giving this whiny complainer a piece of my mind!"

"Ugh, will you shut up?! What kind of thinking system do you have that makes you think you're above anyone else? What did you eat to feed your ego? Be used to be blunt, I'm not so sure it's a good diet on you." Idia snaps back.

"Why you-?! Who do you even think you are, insulting me, all bark and no bite?!"

"Sebek, knock it off!" Evelyn wind-slapped him to get him away from Idia. "There's a time and a place for everything!"

"Miss Chu is right. Calm down, Sebek." Silver urged.

"They're right. In a situation like natural for a fragile human like Idia to feel unease." Malleus nods.

"S-Sorry, my lord." Sebek apologized.

"And that goes for you too, Idia. If you wanna lie there and take it like a loser, go ahead and be my guest. If you stay as nourishment for these flowers, don't say we didn't warn you." Azul snarks.

"That rich, coming from someone who has low physical strength as me...."

"I'm above more than you at least and out in as much work with flying!"

"Oh sure~. You feel like sinking or swimming with those flimsy limbs of yours~!"

"Enough!" Felicity shouted. "If y'all wanna passive-aggressive flirt with each other, so do at another time! But right now, we're at a life or death oration here!"

"She's right. I mean, Mallues has been calm all this time. He must have a plan when we move forward." Silver nods.

"Oh, we do move forward....and plan how exactly I will extract my revenge upon that heretic Rollo Flame for his false invitation and kidnapping my Titania!"

"Well...at he's he's motivated." Azul shrugs.

"Then let's hurry!" Felicity urged. Suddenly, a bleat came down the hall and made everyone turn to the sound.

"Hey! It's that goat that flirted with my young master earlier!!" Sebek shouted as he ran towards it, but just as he was about to capture it, it leapt over him, hitting him with its hooves before scurrying to Felicity and Evelyn, spitting out the book before bleating frantically.

"What's it's doing?" Evelyn asked, grabbing the book and looking at its contents.

"Wait, I saw this goat beside Charlie!" Felicity realized and knelt down to look her in the eye. "Do you know where she is?" It bleats and pointed its nose down the hall where he saw her being dragged away. Felicity saw the the purple ring glisten around its neck and untied the cloth holding it and slipped it off. She looked at it and nods. "Yeah, Charlie's close!"

"Wait!" Evelyn stopped her before she could run. "You gotta see this! Everyone!" The boys and Felicity crowded around Evelyn to read what she was looking at and their eyes widen as they delved further into the truth....
————————————

Rollo stood at the railing of the bell tower, looking down across the city alight with red and orange. A small but victorious smirk laid at his lips. "Ah... The city is now dyed a bright crimson red... What a beautiful sight...It's the first time I've ever felt so at peace. Soon, the crimson flowers that have spread from this city will cover all of Twisted Wonderland..... and All magic in the world will disappear forever! At long last.....With this, no one will have to suffer anymore. No one! Not a single soul...will end up like him ...." His eyes flickered to sadness but it slipped away just as quickly. "No...This is the only way!" He looked behind him with a determined glint. "And with the purifying light, a new era will be born...!"
—————————————

"The bell tower's entrance is up ahead!" Felicity yelled, clutching Charlie's ring in her hand as the small white goat ran, leading the charge. The group hurried to the doors that lead to it, but an bolt of orange pollen came whizzing out of nowhere. Felicity screams and ducked, making everyone else dodge as well befor wit could hit them.

"What was that?!" Evelyn shouted.

"The flower monsters! There's some ahead!" Silver yelled as a crowd of them began to slowly make their way to the group like a pack of zombies.

"We're trapped!" Azul gasped.

"We'll take care of them! You guys get to Rollo and save Charlie and the city!" Felicity commands as she and Evelyn transform into their guardian gearx the former scooping up the small goat to protect in a water bubble from the creatures. Using their wings to fly up and over the flowers, they use their wind and water powers to push back the creatures, giving the guys a window of time to get through the bell tower's doors. Once the last person slipped through the doors, the shut them closed, leaving Felicity and Evelyn on their own.

"We need to get to the top floor! Fast!" Malleus commands as they start to climb. Silver noted that Idia had stopped ceasing all conversation after Evelyn read Rollo's diary out loud, putting everyone a bit off-put by his behavior. "Shroud, are you okay? You seem unnaturally quiet. Maybe you're not feeling so well, you should sit this one out...."

"Idia, even if you mull it over, Rollo is still the enemy!" Azul engrained into his head. "Yet you still hesitate?"

".....No. I'm still not letting him get away with all this that easily. Let's just get to the top of the mountain and take on the final boss!" Idia urged. "Our princess needs us!"

"Well, look at you acting with all action and little words!" Sebek smirked.

"Don't get the wrong idea: I'm not moving because of your meat-head words." Idia snaps. But before they could reach the next set of stairs, below them the fire flowers began to emerge from the bottom of the first floor and the second floor.

"Of course there's be more waiting for us!" Malleus griped.

"Knowing Rollo, he'd make precautions to protect the bell from us." Azul nods.

"Malleus, we will handle this!" Sebek announced.

"He's right. We'll handle these flowers while you, Idia and Azul hurry to the top! If we let you fall here, Father would never forgive me!" Silver nods.

"He did entrust us with your life...so we will uphold his wish!" Sebek agreed. "Astraea would be proud of us as well!"

"Ugh, is now really the time for shonen dramatics...?" Idia sighed.

"Silver, Sebek...I know we don't have much time, but...you two are the best knights I could ever hope for. And I thank you." Malleus smiled.

"Okay, can we go now...?" Idia asked.

"Yes...Shroud, Ashengrotto....let's keep going." Malleus nods as he and the two hurry up the stairs as Silver and Sebek start to hold off on the flowers with their sword skills. Slashes here, jabs there, quick parries; they moved swiftly with purpose. Just seeing the faces of their Lord, their guardian and their princess flash through their minds, making them push past their growing fatigue and kill the dreaded flowers with ease.

"Silver, behind you!" Silver quickly cut down one monster before it could attack.

"Sebek, on your right!" The first year stabs the creature through the gut. Even as more contains to pop up, and their strengths tarts to slowly dwindle down, they don't stop. For themselves, for their masters...for her.
——————————

Malleus, Idia and Azul hurried up the stairs as fast a they could to reach the Bell. But both Azul and Idia were slowing down due to their weak stamina of getting halfway up the stairs, making Malleus rethink his choice of choosing them over Silver and Sebek. Even with their heaving breaths of reassurance that they could do this. But to Malleus's anger, he looked outside and saw that the entire city was doused in the fire flowers, red an frisbee painted the grey streets like a sea of Flames.

"It won't be long before dawn comes and they'll get outside the city grounds!" Malleus growled.

"Wait, remember what Rollo said about the Bell Tower? It's only within the city limits that the Crimson Lotus flowers can be strengthened by the Bell's sound. If they step out of city limits-"

"Then they'd wither and die right away! But due to how many people they've captured and taken magic from, they'll be next to invincible..." Idia grimaced.

"But the power from the bell can reach outside the city itself! Which means that even if we do still ring the bell, those that get outside won't die instantly!"

"Then we have to hurry!" Malleus urged. "It doesn't matter if either of you run out of stamina! We must do this!"

"Y-Yeah! If my physical stats are at low level or I face against Rollo or these damned flowers, I'm not one for losing!" Idia nods.

"We are dorm leaders and of equal status at Night Raven College. If Rollo messes with one us, he messes with all of us!" Azul agreed.

"Well glad to see you two are on the same page. Honestly I'd just leave you both here if you were going to slow me down and rescue Titania all by myself~. And I can't carry you both while getting up the stairs: they're too narrow and many support beans so it's obvious we need to go one at a time." Malleus snickered, but more flowers bursting through the cracks of the floor made them stop and start their fight. They showed their prowess as Dorm leaders but stomping on every flower within reach. But after a while they doubled in number, making Idia get frustrated.

"Ugh, I can't take it! They keep increasing no matter what we do!"

"It's too hard to breathe with so many in the room....I have no choice: I need to get rid of them!" Malleus growled a she prepared to exterminate them like he did in the waterways.

"No, Malleus! If you do that, you'll destroy the bell tower!" Azul shouts. "If you do that, all we have fought for will be for naught! And don't think I'm paying compensation for demanding a historical building after this! So let ME do this!" He shoved Idia and Malleus behind him as he focused all his power into his attack and then released a massive wave that got rid of all the flowers like they were a projection.

"Amazing! Ashengrotto, nice work!" Malleus marveled.

"Well, unlike you, I knew of a way to get rid of the flowers without causing any property damage! I take pride in being second to none when it comes to controlling magic. If I could kill only the minimum number of flowers I need, then we could proceed efficiently without consuming a huge amount of magic power, right? Now hurry! Lotte's waiting!" Azul pushed past them and hurried up the stairs, making the other two to follow. But three more flights of stairs up and a new wave of flowers followed after them like rising lava. Azul pushed for them to keep going while he took the rear to keep them back. But no matter how many times he tired to use the same technique, the flowers relentlessly pushed through the wood like daisies. Azul started waning so when he casted his last attack, he bolted up the stairs to give them room for them to catch their breath.

Azul decided to take the lead and run first, Malleus second and Idia last, which meant he would have to keep the flowers back while they kept running for the top. This started a fight between the three, making Idia reluctantly take the spot. But thanks to some tinkering with a small souvenir he got, he snapped a small blue cloth which instantly spout out magic sparkles and attracting the flowers' sensors, giving them a window of time to escape. Idia was...pretty cocky with the praise he got from both Malleus and Azul for his intuitive thinking....

Rollo sensed that they were coming up the stairs and growled. "They're climbing the bell tower....villains are truly hard to dispose of....it's pointless. Why struggle when it's inevitable? Why resist? All will be at ease once the flowers erase the evil that is magic. And with a ray of hope, no one will suffer. All will be free of the dark, cold despair!" He heard a moan of pain behind him and shushed them carefully. "Be still, my sweet. Your time will come...don't fret."
——————————————

"This is bad. We're near the top and there's no way past this barricade!" Azul panted when they reached the finals set of steps.

"I managed to block off the previous set of steps with some wooden boxes so the flowers can't break through...!" Idia huffed for air. "We don't have much time though...!"

"Then there's no choice. I'll bust through!" Malleus nods.

"No! Don't go that, you'll cave us all in!" Azul shouts. Suddenly, he stopped when he heard some shuffling behind him and turned around.

"Wait, isn't that the gargoyle statue from earlier today? What's it doing here?" Malleus looked up.

"Maybe it's a different one, they all look similar." Azul brushed off.

"No, this is the one from earlier, I'm sure of it!" Malleus nods, noting the similarities of the statue he examined, much to the other's weirdness at how keen on detailing he is. "Look; he's so expressive and nice!"

"Thank you, my boy! That makes me feel very glad...!"

"Uh...Azul, are you trying to joke around using a new voice?" Idia looked at him.

"That isn't me! And who are you to say were to joke around?!" Azul fired back.

"Don't look at me, I didn't say that!"

"Wait, so it's not us then...Malleus?!"

"No."

"Then....who the hell spoke?!" Suddenly, before their eyes the statue creaked and moved its limbs and opened its eyes, speaking like before,

"Good Grief. I've stayed so still for hours on end every day and my back is still stiff no matter how much I crack it! Could one of you help me?" But all the Gargoyle got were shaken looks before they screamed,

"The statue's talking!!!"

"Of course I can! I'm a gargoyle of Noble Bell College for a reason!" The gargoyle scoffs like it was obvious. I've watched over this school and the City of Flowers from the Bell Tower for numerous years!"

"This is like the talking paintings in the hallway at school!!" Idia slapped himself to make sure he wasn't seeing things.

"I knew I wasn't crazy when I thought I saw it move!!!" Azul shrieked, rubbing his eyes. "I told you!! I knew I was right!"

"Okay, okay! You were right all along, sheesh!" Idia rolled his eyes only to notice Malleus was strangely quiet and unblinking at the Statue. "Uh....Malleus? You okay?" But the dragon-fae stayed silent, only staring at the gargoyle with wide eyes.

"Malleus?! What's wrong?! You staring like you've seen an alien!" Azul waved his hand in front of his face. "I know you like gargoyles and all, but this is just plain weird...you should be more excited!"

"Uh, not exactly. I think he's too in shock to say anything....or maybe he's just trying to deny what he's seeing....or MAYBE-!" Idia shrugs.

"But isn't denying what you see different when it's real?!" Azul hissed. "Wait, if he's silent, it could mean....he's going to get angry again!"

"....You know...your horns are rather magnificent. We could be good friends, you and I." The gargoyle approached Malleus with a small smile. "C'mon, old chap: say something!" He lifted one hand and poked at his shoulder, making Azul and Idia try to stop him from provoking Malleus. "Excuse me?? Anyone home?!" A tap of the forehead seemed to snap Malleus out of his trance.

"Oh! My apologies." He sighed. "I was a bit lost in my thoughts....It's nice to meet you, I'm Malleus Draconia. I am the only son to a clan that rules over the Valley of Briars as well as as student of Night Raven College. It's very nice to meet you." Malleus greeted, shaking the gargoyle's hand.

"That's what I was gonna say: he's fanboying too close to the sun!" Idia shite before Azul count interrupt him again like before.

"Hold on!" The gargoyle steps back to look at all three of them. "You're from Night Raven College, you said? Why are you here?"

"Well that's the thing...." Malleus stood up as they began to tell what happened so many hours ago leading up to now. By the time they finished, the gargoyle sighed.

"My God...all this actually happened...! I had a feeling those dreaded flowers were terrorizing the city....my comrades and I were ambushed by a few when we were sleeping near the bell. Only I alone escaped. And to think...Rollo is the mastermind behind it all!"

"So it's true. The Gargoyles like him have powers to remain alive much like the portraits in the school, so it'd be a reason for them to get caught up in this." Azul murmurs.

"He dare put such a magnificent creature in danger....it'll make me want to take Rollo down even more..." Malleus growled.

"Rollo...what happened to him...?!" The gargoyles sighed in defeat.

"You know about him?" Malleus asked.

"I do. He is one of the Most dedicated students of this academy that I've ever had the pleasure of knowing and learning about! Through rain or shine, wind or snow, he goes through the trouble of going up this bell tower to polish and make the Bell shine like a star! And he even removed the moss that few in us if we got wet from the rain! That is the Rollo I know! He cherishes the tower and the Bell of Salvation so much! I knew it from the beginning I saw him. But...why would he...?"

"No matter his reasons why, he will never be forgiven for all he did." Malleus frowns. "We need to get to the Bell, destroy those flowers and stop Rollo and save Titania before it's too late! That is our only goal! Now, you said you escape from the top floor? If that's the case there has a be a clear opening that leads to the very top. Is there a secret passageway we can get to that'll lead us besides the main entrance?"

"....There is. I will let you three in on a secret. From the tale of the judge and the bell ringer, there is a secret passageway that leads to where the bells lie. Only the two of them knew, and we gargoyles. I can lead you to it."

"You're sure sits okay to spill a Secret that's been protected for so many years?" Azul asked skeptically.

"I'm sure." The gargoyle nods. "Besides, if you three are the only ones who can stop Rollo...then it could be for the best." He hopped around to lead them to where the secret passageway was, but before he could reach it, the flowers flooded the room, making him reel back.

"The crimson flowers!"

"Crap! They got through my barricade!" Idia frets.

"I can't lose my powers or I'll go back to being a statue! And I know where the passageway is!"

"Do not fret! I will turn these flowers to ashes and eradicate them for your safety!" Malleus promised as he accumulated a sphere of power in his hand.

"Don't you dare!!" Azul and Idia stopped him by holding his arms back. "We need to get rid of them without resorting to a mushroom cloud!" Before their eyes, a giant monster composed of the flowers manifested before them.

"Wait! Use a unison raid!" Idia suggests. "Like in my RPG games; Use our magic with enough strength to take out that thing!" Without question, all three all joined hands as they summoned a sphere of power that swallowed the room in its glow and disintegrated the flower monster, shrieking in pain as it vanished into nothing.

"Amazing work!" The gargoyle smiled.

"Ah, it's nothing." Malleus smiled.

"The trap door is up there, in the ceiling!" The gargoyle pointed to an iron latch, deep indents in the wood to show that it was indeed a door. Malleus walked up to it and opened it, where a wooden ladder unfolds leading up. "Use the ladder to get to the bell! Now hurry- agh!" A swarm of flowers began to crawl up the statue's bottom half.

"More flowers! Were they hidden where we couldn't see them?!"

"Agh...it's no use....my powers being drained...!" The gargoyles choked as more flowed burned from its mouth, silencing him.

"Ugh, that's sick!" Azul held his mouth like he was going to barf as more flowers cracked the stone interior of the statue.

"Go....leave me and stop this madness!"

"No! I'll save you!" Malleus grabs his pen, ready to throw down if needed to save his new friend, but Idia put a hand on his shoulder to stop him.

"No! Even if you do that, we'll still get caught in the blast!"

"But I can't-!"

"It's alright." The gargoyle smiled. "Just....ring the bell...save your princess.... She needs you!"

"No, Gargoyle! Hang in there!" Malleus begs, starting to rip off the flowers with all his strength. But the statue's strength was waning as it tried to beg Malleus to go, his voice getting weaker and weaker....

"Please...I'll be okay....you must stop Rollo...although I'm made of stone....you three are made of something stronger...! Please....for my sake...end this nightmare...!" With those final words, his eyes closed and he stilled and froze completely.

"No...no! Gargoyle, Can you hear me?!" Malleus shook the statue but it didn't respond back. "DON'T LEAVE ME!!!" But it stayed silent as if it weren't alive just seconds ago. Malleus grimaced and but his lips, trying not to cry.

"He's gone...." Azul sighed sadly. "All the magic within him is gone....he's just a gargoyle now...." He sadly turned to the trapdoor and make his way up.

"Malleus....you okay?" Idia asked in a hushed voice. "I know your upset about losing your new friend but....he's been able to move so much due to being swathed in the power of the bell for such a long time. I know you can't leave him behind but-"

"I know." Malleus nods and gets to his feet. "We need to move on and ring the Bell for his sake....."

"....Yeah." Idia nods and leaves to get to the ladder leading to the top of the tower. Malleus looked back at his still friend and paced a hand on his head.

"Wait for me, my dear friend. I will restore you and all your friends very soon. And that's why...Rollo Flame will fall at my hand!" Malleus clenched his hands into fists as he stormed for the trapdoor, making his way up the ladder, shooting his friend one last look goodbye before vanishing into the darkness.

He was the last one up as he stood beside Azul and Idia, and there hung the Bell. The metal glinting under the moon's rays. All that was left was to ring the bell and end this nightmare.

"Before we go through with this, let's say hello to our host for this party~..." Malleus chuckled as he turned to greet Rollo, but his smile fell when he saw in Rollo's arms-

"Charlotte!"