Chapter Text
“Um- I don’t like any of this!” Grim, gripped hard on Vivica’s shoulder. Both of them were shaking. “Me neither…” Deuce whimpered as Cater ran over to them “Oh, Come on it’s not that hard. He’s gone full evil crazy berserker.” He sweat as he looked back at Trey still trying to reach Charles as the ink pool stopped moving. Releasing little drops that floated up. Which was not good, not good at all. Now no one could get to them.
“If he continues to shed magical energy like this, he may lose his life when it runs out.” The bird had to wait till now to mention that. “Wait- he could die!” Ace yelled, turning to Crowley “We have to bring him back to his senses before that happens. For losing him would be disastrous of course.” Dally was pissed. “Course it’d be bad! He’d be dead!” Crowley ignored her like always. “But even worse would be…” He finished in his head.
“Nevermind our students live’s must be our top priority. Alert the professors and the Housewarden-!” As Crowley for the first time was doing good he seemed to forget the small enclosed space they were in. Where Riddle could hear everything. “Order in the court!” The beast raised its rose bush hand before slamming it down. The ground had spilt as pieces went flying and now crossing over was impossible. The rose vines came back to grab students and hold them trapped.
“Ahhh! HELP!”
“I WANT TO GO HOME!!”
“PLEASE HOUSEWARDEN!!!”
“ILL FOLLOW UR RULES PLEASE!!!”
“I DONT WANT TO DIE!!”
“I BEG U DONT HURT ME!!”
“I HAVE TO SEE MY MOM FIRST!!”
“MY SISTER GRADUATES LET ME LIVE TO SEE HER!!!!”
Crowley waved his staff, cutting the vines of as many as he could. But many more kept showing and grabbing people. The floating objects dived down, cutting a few people. V included “AAAH!” “VIVICA!!!” Dally was at her side and holding her up. Her left leg was cut by a notebook. The papers had opened to give her as many paper cuts as possible. “It hurts!!’ She cried as Grim licked her face trying to calm her down.
Coughing Ace spoke up “Are you guys seeing this?” Cater was panicked “He cracked the ground open!” Deuce sweat dropped “And all he did was hit it once…” “That’s insane! Overblot’s are that strong?” Dally shouted, wrapping jacket around V’s leg. Riddle’s head was down as he spoke. “You shall henceforth refer to me as Lord Riddle. And should you peasant dare to defy me…” His head shot up with a smile “Then Off With All Your Heads it shall be~!” He cackled.
“Riddle, you have to stop-!” Trey tried as Riddle cut him off “I am the one who gives the orders!” Riddle raised his arms as the rose bushes floated up and were aimed to hit every student. And if they missed the vines were there to finish the job.
“NOW BOW BEFORE YOUR QUEEN!!!”
He swung his arms down and here they came. Crowley was fast enough to create shields around all the students, even the ones still trapped in vines and the ink pool ones. “I cannot block them all.” The roses kept coming, but due to Crowley’s shield they were bouncing off and hitting the ground.
Everyone was jumping around to dodge as a second wave came. Unlike the first it had no targets and was a continuous fall. Crowley’s shields were slowly fading but were enough to protect a few. Dally saw a fork being aimed her way and grabbed it. Cutting her hand in the process. She went at attacking the vines. The ones coming down and the ones holding people trapped. “That all ya got!!!” She yelled at Riddle helping some down. A group of students had found their way to the exit. The next part was making it back to the mirror. Dally had hoped they would make it. The rain was picking up speed. A student had already gotten hit and burned his skin.
Ace and Deuce had fallen over from all the dodging. It was then Deuce grunted and stood up. Ace joined him, the group with Trey and Cater stood all watching the chaos unfold. “Well? Are you ready for your punishment?” He was pissed as he screamed at them “It’s time for your heads to roll, ONCE AND FOR ALL!!!” Raising his left hand he slammed back down into the ground. The ground this time just raptured. People were speedily crossing over it. Hurried to escape but the other side for the crack was still stuck with no way out.
There was much more debris and Crowley once more made a shield. “You’re headmage can’t you do a little more?!” Dally hollered at him as she cut at more vines and even blocked a few more objects. “I am trying!” He yelled back holding his shield “Everyone! To the Chamber of Mirrors!” Cater didn’t wasted no time and took off running. “You heard the man! Let’s move!” He looked back to see that the group didn’t follow him. “You get out of here!” Dally turned and yelled at V. “What no!?” “You’re hurt.”
“It’s just a party cut!”
“You have at least ten of them on your leg!”
“Dally! I can still do something!” V took off running at Riddle grabbing the same book that had cut her. She joined Ace and Deuce in their charge. Dally sighed angrily before joining up with them. “Hey-! Crowley stammered out.
“GALE FORCE WINDS!!”
“COME FORTH, GIANT CAULDRON!!!”
Grim climbed onto V’s head and let out a powerful breath of fire.
Riddle groans, still sounding like he was dying. Because he was. As he blocked all their attacks hitting them away. The fire cauldron hit him and grunted throwing it off. The cauldron then nearly hit Cater. “Are you nuts!? What are you doing?”
“Uh-oh! If he keeps going like this, things will get worse!” Grim yelled. “We have to take him down!” V added holding up her book. “I refuse to stand by and watch him destroy himself.” Deuce was determined. “Besides, he still hasn’t apologized to me, and I’m not gonna let him get away with that!” Ace was petty and Dally?” “I need to stop him!” She was in ‘Hero mode’.
Trey looked at Ace, then at Charles the ink had been forming up their bodies. Wrapping tight as the petals that fell turned to spiked cages. At least they were somewhat safe? He then looked at Riddle and grunted. He coughed, gripping his pen. “I’m staying! Headmage, lead the others away.” Trey just gave orders to the headmage, what a fun life it is.
“Uh, Trey… what are you doing?” Cater asked “You have to trust me. I can overwrite his magic for a little while.” He coughed again as a petal fell out. He didn’t let that stop, he kept standing. “That’ll be your time to attack.” His pen glowed a bright blinding green as he made his way to the first years.
“You must not engage! This is far too dangerous!” Crowley yelled as Dally turned back to him “You’ve done nothing to help! So take those kids and get outta here ya useless bird brain!!!” He flinched and frowned. “Um- no Seriously what are you thinking!?” Cater looked around as more and more students got cut or even stabbed by what was happening. The rain had burned a lot more. He was sure one guy got hit twice.
“You can’t even beat Riddle on a good day!” “So what? You only fight when you know you can win?” Ace said as his pen glowed a reddish-orange. “You are such a wimp. It was then Dally saw his wand arm was bleeding profusely. “Ace- your arm!” “My arm doesn’t matter! Just more for him to apologize for!”
Grim as now in V’s hands for better aim. “You’ll never be cool with an attitude like that!” His gem shined a purple. “Well, I can’t think of a better way to get him to snap out of this!” Deuce’s gem glowed blue. “Unless you got a better idea…” “Yeah, We’ll do it together and win!” V shouted as Dally caught another object- a spoon!? She cursed herself. “Sorry, Cater. But I am not going to lose him to this.” Trey coughed even harder but he refused to fall. “There’s… something I need to tell him…” As he looked into Riddle’s pain filled expression. “Something I should have told him a long time ago…”
Cater groaned before sighing “Fine. Shoot. The things I do for you.” He walked up after Trey, his gem glowing an orange. “But I do not like or subscribe to this! I mean it!” Trey coughed as ink poured out his eyes. “I un-understand, th-ank you.” V grinned and looked at Dally who gave her best smile. “Ugh, fine! I shall return once the other students have been evacuated!” Crowley yelled as he grabbed one student and made a bridge to cross the crack. Everyone ran, some bringing a friend, others leaving them. “Do try to survive, please!” The group all now stood together ready to take down Riddle.
“Ridiculous fools! And shameless real breakers, all!” He swung his left arm behind his other shoulder. “Very well. Then you shall all be sentenced to DEATH!!!” The creature roared as the ink from his feet rose. It formed into spikes each with one of the four card suits and a ring of fire. It had formed around them. They had to win, there was no other option.
“What are those?” “We’re stuck!” The Adeuce duo yelled. As the creature moved to lift its hand so did Riddle and down they went. “Relax I got this!” Ace yelled as he unleashed his wind. Knocking a few out the way, they were caught in his tornado and vanished. “Alright!” They just reformed this time with fire tips. “WAHAT!” Everyone jumped out of the way as one of them grazed past Dally. The ends of her hair had burned off. “They were dead anyway!” V yelled, giving her a thumbs up.
As they hit the ground, Blot came out of them. “It’s corroding the ground!” Trey yelled and coughed as he cried more ink. He tripped but picked himself back up. Riddle’s cackling was echoed. “You will rule the day you ever dared to challenge your lord!” His body bent and twisted with each movement. It was an intimating sight. Riddle, the creature and everything around them. It all screamed pain and suffering. The people trapped, the one fighting their way through to escape. It was horrifying. Dally was sure that she would have nightmares for weeks.
He formed more spikes to attack them. They all jumped around like mice. Using magic to take them down, V aimed Grimmed, firing him like a machine gun. As a group aimed at Dally she raced her fork and spoon… she still can’t believe that one.
She pretended she had her knives and sliced them. She sliced and sliced even as she felt tiny cuts in her arm. When they were formed she was ready till- “AAHHHH!!” “GRIM!!!’
He had gotten his bow hit. “Help these things got me pinned!” “Don’t touch it!” Dally yelled when V went to grab it. As Dally ran her way over, piercing her arm were the fire ones. She had forgotten about them. “AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!” “DALLLY!!” V used her book to break the tips only for them to regrow. She panicked, her breathing picking up. “DALLLY!!! GRIMM!!” The tip she broke then went to grab her foot on the already hurt leg. “AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!! IT BURNS!!!!!!!!!”
“PAINT THE ROSES!!!”
They turned to dust and shattered. “I’-im okay!” Dally yelled and gripped her shoulder the blood flowed out, fast.. She tried to move it, “AAARFGH!” “V!” Grimi ran to her side and her foot was black. “I-t it-s no-t -mo-vi-ing!” She sobbed “I- ca-nt fe-el i-t-t!!!” She cried out before sucking them in “G-ri-m he-lp m-e-e u-p-p!” “What!?” She glared at him as he flew to let her lean on him. “We-er-e no-o-t mo-v-in-g a-s mu-mu-ch! B-u-u-t w-e-e ca-n he-l-p!!” She said as she fired Grim again.
Trey coughed some more as the ink dripped down his chin. “You good to keep going?” He helped Dally up who nodded. He looked at her arm and then at V’s leg before cough-sighing.
“TREEEEYYYY!!!!!!!”
“NONE SHALL STAND IN MY WAY!” Riddles spent around himself as he raised his left hand again. Slamming down this time the object left joined in the ground flew up. Deuce fell back and hit his head, blood poured out. His vision dizzing, he then realized “MY PEN! Where??” Looking around he saw it laying a few feet away from him. He crawled over when “DEUCE MOVE IT!!” Ace screamed, holding out his hand. He looked to see a spade spike coming right at him. The irony of it.
“CATER!!” Trey’s strained voice yelled. Deuce opened his eyes to see that Cater had caught it for him. It went right through him as he fell down, Deuce caught him. His face wet with tears “Hang in there-! Are you okay?” Dally gasped as she fought to raise her broken arm. She still had to keep going. She wasn’t going to fall! NOt again!
The ink had gone up to Cater’s eyes and bled into them. “Nah… forget me…” Cater said “You keep fighting and don’t…” His eyes back as they turned black. “CATER!” Deuce checked- “HE HAS NO PULSE!!!!”
“CATER!! CATER NO!!” Deuce cried, shaking him back and forth. His body then burst into cards. As he was surprised he felt a pull on his cheeks. He turned to see a tired looking Cater-! “Cater!!” “You silly. I’ve been here the whole time.” Deuce looked up to see Cater around him. “Right… your Spilt Card spell…” Poor Deuce. Dally was going to smack Cater upside the head, with the bad arm. “Quit spacing out! Now let’s roll!” The copies all ran in different directions. It was then Dally saw each Cater had a small cut somewhere. She was worried about when they would come back together.
Riddle and the beast roared as more spikes were formed. This time all with fire tips. “Is this guy just a bottomless pit of magic!” Ace yelled, his whole left arm was covered in blood. Trey and Cater meanwhile were doing dou attacks. “I’m ready when you are, Trey!” “The-en Let-s DO this!! I-ll cov-er you!” The spikes flew down.
“PAINT THE ROSES!!”
“Cay-Cay-Gang-Gang, time to do your thing!” “With pleasure!”
Trey froze the spikes as the Cater’s destroyed it. Dally was jumping and dodged with her spoon now. The fork arm was MIA right now. The sounds of dead animals spiked “FIRE!!!” Riddle yelled as more spikes flew down at them. The wall of fire trapping them moved in closer and burst one of the caters arms. But that didn’t stop them. The duo were amazing out there. “Perfect strategy!” Deuce said, whipping tears. Ace and Him locked eyes “You goin’ in?” “Bet!”
Riddle was shocked as he watched them even hurt keep fighting him. “I am… being… overpowered…?”
“GALE FORCE CYCLONE!!!”
“COME FORTH, GIANT CAULDRON!!!”
V holding Grim and hitting down as many as they could. She was even walking again (kinda).
Dally hitting them down and out the way. She even kicked one, didn’t think that would work but it did.
“But… how? How?” His right wide as he yelled to himself. “I am never wrong. I must be right…” He grabbed her hair as the inking hands pulled “If I am not right…then… then WHAT HAS THIS ALL BEEN FOR!!!” He sounded like he was crying. And Dally watched him panic but the creature kept moving. He screamed a blood chilling death cry. “Riddle!” Trey yelled before his worst cough hit him, he saw around his feet ink. He felt his legs grow weak and his eyes closing. “I REFUSE! I REFUSE TO LEAVE YOU ALONE RIDDLE!!”
V and Grim were being caged in as they too started to cough. V’s eyes widened in fear. She looked back to see Yuumi’s right arm being burned by the fire wall. “YUUMI!!” Her and Grim ran, yes ran over to her. “Is this ever going to end?” She yelled as she tipped into the black ink, her foot already burned, what’s a few more? Hoping her way over Grim upped her grab Yuumi and- “PULLL!!!!!”
Flying back they hit the ground hard. “Yuumi! Yuumi! YUUMI!” She heard gasping as Yuumi coughed once more “V…vi..ca…?” “YES! VIVICA!! YUUMI!” She hugged her as Grim protected the two with his fire. Vivica looked up “Grim right up a little!” He shot. “That same way but tilt to the left!”
“He’s acting weird…” Dally said as she watched Riddle. He wasn’t in control anymore. He’s focus, he was losing it. She could hit now… but all she had was a spoon? Who was that going to save?
Yes, I am and people like you will never be. Acting like your, some savior. Is that it? Want to be a hero in someone's story? Well, guess what? Nobody here wants to be saved, not by you. Now, REMOVE THEM FROM MY SIGHT!!!
You can’t save someone who doesn’t want to be saved.
You can’t fix a broken record.
Dally wanted to be a hero, but every time she tried. Tried to save someone by being that hero. ‘Hero Mode’ she just wanted to help. But… why was she failing… couldn't she win… what was she doing wrong? She just wanted to help! She fell to her knees. Why was she so bad at this? Why could she never win!
All this time all while she had tried to be a Hero! What was…
She… had…
Tried…
To… be…
A…
Hero…
That was it.
Riddle was dying, his sounds were getting worse. His hair was close to falling out. Dally ran at him. Jumping and dodging out the way. She saw one come straight at her, she jumped on top of it and quickly jumped to the next one. She didn’t know how her body hadn’t given out on her yet but she didn’t care! She kept going and jumping, higher and higher.
She has tried and tried, never understanding why she was never satisfied with herself. Putting up this persona of a ‘Hero’, her idea of a great ‘Hero’ what did she even know about a ‘Hero’? Nothing… So why try to be something she’s not? Here she was yelling and yelling at Riddle trying and not seeing how much he was in pain. She wasn’t a good ‘Hero’. So why should she try? She could still save him. She doesn’t need to be a ‘Hero’.
Looking down at everyone, the student’s still trying to escape her friends all fighting for their lives. And then at Riddle. His pain on full display for all to see and as she jumped one last time. Raising her spoon up in the air and aiming at the glass heart head of the creature she yelled out.
“RIDDLE DO YOU WANT ME TO SAVE YOU!!!”
Everything went dark.
She was floating looking around she saw-
“Daddy!”
Little her?
“Daddy look! I made a snowball!” She held it up for the faceless figure. She had long forgotten what he sounded like but she knew what he had said. “It’s perfect, sweetie.” he smiled. She knew he did but that was the last memory she had of him before… the funeral.
A cop, his coworker mama said. Had come to tell them the news. “He was killed in action, he was a great service to the force. And one of the best one of us there was.” he left, whipping his eyes. Mama cried all night holding Dally. “When is daddy coming home?” Her mama cried even more. As she told her “Daddy’s never coming home Dally!” That was when she learned what death was.
“We gather here to remember Anthony Bloodstone. A loving father, a devoted husband, a great brother and a song to be proud of.” The pastor had said as everyone cried. Dally cried as she hugged her mama. That was the saddest day of her life. She couldn’t look in the coffin. Family was hugging her, telling her how brave she was. She didn’t feel brave.
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“Happy eight birthday Riddle!”
It was him and his mother. Sitting at the table. His father had never been around, and when he was the two fought. Riddle smiles at his mother, a faceless figure. “This is a low-glycemic cake meant to help improve your cerebral function.” He knew she was smiling but he had long forgotten what it looked like.
“It looks good. Thank you, mother.” He held his smile and spoke as politely and properly as he could when he asked her “But… um, if it’s all right, and even if it’s only once, I think I'd like to try a tart topped with a big, red strawberries.” His mother gasped and brought a hand to her chest as she yelled, reprimanded. “Goodness, how could you even ask?” She stood up fast to yell at him. “Every single slice of that glowing poison has more than twice the recommended daily amount of sugar! You are never to eat such a thing!” She calmed down and sat back down. “Do you understand?” Riddle looked down at his cake. “I do. Yes, mother.”
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Mama tried her best to raise Dally. It was hard being on her own. The bills were piling up, even with just the two of them she still couldn’t keep things together. “Mama, I’m hungry…” “Sweets, I’m trying my best. What did you eat at school?” Dally sighed and sat down at the table. “I didn’t eat..” Mama dropped the dishes she was washing and turned to Dally. “Dallas.” “I just don’t like it mama, I want you to cook for me… Like you used to..”
“I wish to as well sweetie it’s just, hard right now. I need you to be a big girl for mommy okay?” Dally nodded as her mama hugged her. “Now homework please?” Dally nodded and got to work. “I don’t like school…” “Why?” “The kids all laugh at my clothes, saying that they're man's clothes. I ain’t a man, so I shouldn’t wear it. I don’t understand, it's daddy’s clothes…” Her mama sighed “You tell them that then! You wear the clothes of a hero, Dally… You’re a hero to my dear…” Daddy had been dead for two years and mama was in between jobs. It was hard for her to find one that worked with her and Dally’s schedule.
Dally would sometimes catch mama crying cause she couldn’t find a job. She wanted something she was good at, but her mama wasn’t a worker like that. Daddy was but jobs didn’t want her. They wanted someone to do the heavy lifting, not her mama…Dally would make some money and help mama. She was a hero after all.
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His mother stood behind him impatiently as he worked. “Well? Have you finished?” He replied back in a blank tone “Yes, mother. I have.” She nodded and closed the book in her hand to get another one. “Then you will use the next hour before your Potionology class to self-direct your study, are we clear?” He didn’t stop working as she laid out what she wanted him to direct. “Yes, mother. We’re clear.” She left his room. That was how most of their conversation went. She never cared to kiss her and hug him the way a parent should. They weren’t struggling and were well off yet there was no love in this house.
“Of course. Whatever you say.” Looking at his window he saw three kids. They would pass by almost everyday playing. The green haired one had a soccer ball on his head. They locked eyes. “Huh?” Riddle didn’t notice his window was open. He quickly closed it and went back to work. When he heard it. Knocking.
“What’s that sound? A bird?” He opened back up to see the three. “Whoa! There he is!” The green haired one yelled as a ginger gasped behind me. A floating head showed up “AH!” “Let’s go outta here! Let’s play!” Little Riddle was scared “S-sorry, what do you want with me?” The green haired one bounced the play on his head. “Well, we were going to go climb trees!” The ginger nodded. The head did a backflip as its full body came back. “I can’t right now. It’s my self-study time.” The ginger spoke up “If ya ge’t to pi’k com’ with us…” The purple head said ‘My grandpa always told me the best studying is playing!’ Riddle at his unfinished notes and back at them. “Just for a bit.” The green asked “What’s your name?” “Uh? Oh, sorry. My name is Riddle Rosehearts!”
“Call me Chenya!”
“My name’s Trey and this is Charley!” Riddles hand reached out to Trey's unknowing this was the best and worst description he ever made.
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Dally had made it through school. The building never really stopped but she was used to it. No one talked to her and she didn’t talk to them. She was fine with just her and her mama, she didn’t need anyone. Walking home it was night, she had after school detention after a fight. It wasn’t her fault, the kid was talking about her daddy…
“Give me your money! NOW!” A guy was holding a woman at knife point. Dally stopped to look over. She kept walking before something pulled at her and she turned around and went the way of the guy’s voice. “Let her go.” “And what’ll a kid like you do?” “I’ll beat you, is what.” Dally got her fists up and ran at the man. She didn’t know why she’s never fought anyone before. The guy cut across her nose and she fell back. The woman screamed and ran away.
“Shit, I lost her thanks to you kid…” He turned to Dally and punched her in the face. “Bitch, getting in my way!” He hit her again. He had sat on top of her to beat her. He punched her nose and she was sure it was broken, so she fought back. The two were throwing fists but he was still on top and got a good one to her gut. “ACK!” She spit up blood. It hit him in the face and that seemed to make him beat her harder.
“Shit, fuck ass, nasty rotten brat!” He stood up and spat on her. She tried to get up only for him to step on her. He forced her back down, stomping on her. She coughed up more blood. She cried. It hurt but the woman was safe so she counted it as a win.
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Every day Riddle would sneak off to go see them, together they would play for that one hour. That was all got but he loved it. He learned to climb a tree, play soccer, play cards, and even got chased by flamingos. It was great. This was the happiest his ever been. “W-ait ae you being for real?” Trey asked. “Uh, mm-hmm.” He said as they reached their spot. In the park there was one tree just for them. “How’s ya neve’ had a ta’t beof’e?” Riddle looked down at the grass moving back and forth the people around. “Mother. She says they're too unhealthy for this stage in my development.” Chenya popped his head down “Yeah. If that’s all you're eating. But like one’s not gonna hurt ya.”
“Well, hey. Ya want one?” Trey grinned “hmm?” “My family owns a bakery. We can go have one right now.” Riddle’s whole face lit up as the four made their way to the bakery. “Hey, I'm back!” Trey greeted, Mr. and Mrs. Clover welcomed Riddle and strangely their faces weren’t figures. But Riddle was amazing sweet and sweets, things he had never even dreamed of were everywhere. Trey grabbed his hand “Let’s go in the back.” Taking him the Clovers had made a strawberry tart just as Riddle wanted. “A bright red strawberry tart on a pure white plate.” He bet this was pretty then any magestone he had even seen.
“Don’t just stare at it!” Trey giggled. “Yes, okay.” Picking up his fork he stuck a strawberry, slowly bringing it up to his mouth. He chewed and smiled right away. He looked over at Trey with the biggest and brightest smile on his face. Trey matched his energy. Unaware the hour was up.
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After that mama took Dally to the ER, the man was never caught. The case was never even filed. That was when she went too deep, she got a part time job at a tattoo place for mama. Saving only 30% of her own paycheck, mama never took it willingly so Dally had to sneak and give it to her.
But Dally saved up and bought all that she would need. Brash knuckles, knives, pepper spray, a taser, a med kit and a gun. It took her a while to get her gun license but she and mama did together. It was a fun moment, but Dally couldn’t forget what this was about. To be a hero. She made a quick outfit and went out, she saved a kid from a few bullies, stopped a robbery, saved a girl from getting attacked. Saved a man from his own son, got someone off drugs, helped a single father get housing. She did all these things, her ‘Hero Mode’ was born. She smiled whenever she came home with new cuts, no marks that would never go away. Mama wasn’t happy.
But she told Dally she could be a hero, Dally was just doing as she said. She had to keep her daddy’s legacy alive. Or else… Who would…?
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“WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH YOU!!!” His mother yelled, he had been caught. “You not only ignored your schedule, but you went out to eat that sugar-laden filth!” She screamed. Looking out the open window was Trey, Charley and Chenya. “Was it those three who led you astray?” Riddle jumped to see them hiding “No, Mother! Wait! You’re mistaken! They didn’t do anything wrong, I swear!” He cried, he didn’t want to lose them. He couldn’t! Mother please!
“It seems permitting any free time at all is simply too much for you.” She grabbed his arm and pulled and she started to close the window. “Mother! No!” He sobbed, pulling back, she was bruising his arm. “I shall have to keep a much closer eye on you.” “No, I… Mother!” The last thing he saw was Trey’s face as the window was closed. His mother then got it deadbolted and a cage on the outside. It was to never open again.
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Dally awoke to a space filled with books, she was floating in a sea of blood and blot. She shot up. “ARGH! Where!?” She looked around to see Riddle still Overbloted standing on a pile of books he lost his balance and fell. “Which rule should I follow to make this pain go away?” Two voices sobbed as a wave of books came. She swam and swam trying to reach him. She found him…
Buried under a pile a book there he was “RIDDLE!” She reached out to grab him and looked up at her. He was crying a mess on the ground. “We can do this.” He shook his head as the books caved in closer “No, no!” Dally pulled at his arm. “You can do this, come on!” She used her broken arm to grab him and pulled. She pulled as hard as she could. It was then a light shone through. She saw a doorknob.
“Riddle!”
“Dallas!”
Two voices yelled at them. He looked up and nodded, helping they both reach for the nob and its light. Riddle cried as the ink melted away.
“Riddle”
“Dallas”
“Riddle”
“Dallas”
“Riddl”
“Dalla”
“Ridd”
“Dall”
“Rid”
“Dal”
“Ri”
“Da”
“R”
“D”
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Waking up, she was surrounded by her family. “DALLY!!” Ramshackled hugged her, Vivica, Grim an- “YUUMI! YUUMI!” She was alive and bruised. She had scars on her chin and neck. “They’re awake!” Yuumi’s voice was ruff and bad.
“Finally. I've been over here all freaking out like ya’ll were never going to wake up” Riddle rasped out “What did.. I.. what… happened?” “Ah, how wonderful!” Crowley spoke with a smile. “It would seem your consciousness has been restored.” Riddle struggled to sit up “My… what…?” “Y-you don’t need to worry about anything now. Just rest.” Trey said with Charles at this side, he didn’t dare try to speak. Ace was pissed “Uh-uh! Don’t you start coddling him again!”
“That’s exactly why he goes crazy berserk whenever someone raises their voice! Now the garden is trashed and we all got scarred!” “Him too.” V added “Yeah, him too- him too?” Ace looked and right over his eye the lace had stayed, left arm had a rose tattoo burned into it. “It sure ain’t pretty when you human folks get all stressed.” Grim sighed as he sat in Dally’s lap.
“I can’t say anything about the scars but like nobody died! So maybe cut him some slack, k?” Cater waved it off. He was covered in small cuts everywhere. “Cater…” Riddle covered his eyes. “Hmm?” “I really wanted to eat that chestnut tart…” He sobbed- sobbed?”
Everyone jumped at the start of tears. “I don’t care about croquet or what colors the roses are. I don’t like my tea black with sugar. I prefer it with honey. I like milk tea more than lemon tea. I want to relax with everyone after a meal. And I really…” His sobbing was catching up to him as he struggled to speak. “Time… to play with Trey, Chenya and Charley!!” He burst into a mass of tears. He was sobbing.
“No way- Riddle Rosehearts crying like a baby.” “Well to hit him where it hurts Cater.” V laughed as Yuumi nodded. “Don’t think you’ll get away with this just ‘cause you started cryin’ ” Ace hollered “You could use a crash course on how to read a room!” Deuce slapped the back of his head lightly. Riddle continued to cry “Riddle…” Trey sighed. “I-I’m so sorry-” He coughed. Trey had scarring around his neck and lip. “I knew you were struggling and I did nothing but look the other way. But I won’t do that anymore.” Trey finally said what he should have all those years ago. “Riddle, the way you’ve gone about things is wrong. You owe everyone an apology.” Trey and Charles helped Riddle sit up.
“I’m sorry.” He sniffed out. “I am so truly sorry!” Everyone was smiling, cause it was over. He said sorry and they can all go to the nurse. They were all bleeding, like really bad. “You know what's funny?” Ace don’t do it, “I always wonder what I’d say if you ever apologized.” Ace she swears to fucking Seven. “And now that we’re here, you know…” ACE.
“One rinky-dink little ‘sorry’ ain’t gonna cut it! I will never let you live this down!” Dally put her head into her hand. “Uh, you sure you wanna say all that right now?” Cater said sheepishly. Dally coughed cutting in “He’s right…” Dally cut in. “Riddle you nearly killed us all and even scared us. A simple sorry means nothing.” Riddle looked down pouting. “If that’s the case what would you like to have me do?” Ace went to cross his arms. “Your one arm is bleeding, don't cross it” Dally interrupted.
Ace did as he was told. “Well, I don’t know about you but I don’t have a birthday coming up soon. Deuce was confused “What? What does that have to do with anything?” “Gettin’ there! I demand a full do-over of the entire Unbirthday party.” Riddle was even more confused. “What..?”
“Cause, a certain someone kicked us out last time. And this time I want a whole fresh tart from you!” Ace jumped and pointed at him “And don’t have Trey come in and help you out either, you gotta do it all on your own.” Ace put his good arm behind his head. “You swing that, and maybe I’ll think about forgiving you. Maybe.” Riddle smiled to himself “Yes, I can do that.”
Grim was going around when he saw it “It’s the same type of rock that came out of that big fella we fought in the magestone mine!” “Grim don-!” He had already ate it
“GRIM!!!”
It had been a few days and everyone was doing better. Yuumi, Trey Charles and all the others who coughed up petals had scarring on their neck, lip, chin, some or all three. Yuumi’s right arm had burns along the top side Dally had a burn going along her right shoulder and down to about her elbow. V’s whole left leg was just gone to shit. But it was still good. Ace had a bad, nasty cut on his arm, Deuce had a bunch of small cuts on his forehead and back. Cater just had them everywhere.
Coming back to Heartslaybul with casts was fun, they got dressed for their theme again. And even brought the ghost camera. Trumpets played and the students all made a “Please welcome our leader, the red sovereign himself. Our Housewarden, Riddle Rosehearts!” He smiled at everyone, all happy to celebrate and not worry.
“Good, the roses are red, the tablecloth is white. A perfectly decorated Unbirthday. Uh, and the dormouse in the teapot?” He went to check as Trey grabbed his hand. “You don’t have to give up on every rule all at once. Even if you can't spread jam on the dormouse nose, you can still eat some. Instead of thinking in absolute terms, try thinking ‘what if we did this today instead’?” He handed Riddle a jelly sandwich. “Yes. That is wise.” Riddle took it with a smile. “Then let’s turn up! Party time!” Cater raised his glass.
That’s when Riddle got surprised “Stop everything! Those roses are white!” Everyone was sweating as he made his way over, his face hidden. Riddle then painted them red himself. “Where were we? Ah, yes. Silly me. Our Unbirthday.” He said, smiling back as everyone calmed down. People were still nervous but they were happy to be here and have a normal Housewarden. They cheered.
“Here’s the tart I made..” He showed his tart, it wasn’t as good or well made but it was a good effort. “I hope you find it satisfactory?” V laughed, “Nice design.” “I like that you went the extra mile to put the glaze on. Well done for your first try.” Ace called Trey out for babying him again. They all chuckled. Tasting it, it was bad. “Oh, my seven, that's bad.” Dally laughed as Yuumi ate away “I don’t see a problem with it. “Same.” Cater went as the two ate.
“What did you put in this?” “I just did as the recipe said, I may have done a bit too much of Trey’s secret ingredient, the Oyster Sauce?" Everyone just looked at him as Trey and Charles laughed. “Never seen anyone fall for that before now.” “Eh, funn’ Riddle neve’ change!” Riddle looked lovingly at the two. “It was a joke.” The three locked eyes as Dally took a photo.
“Wait Chenya? You're here?’ Riddle called out to the cat man, eating away. The cat then grabbed Riddle’s crown and floated just out of reach. Trey explains Chenya goes to Royal Sword Academy, a rival school. The rest of the Unbirthday was a fun time, they partied together all putting the past behind them and cheers to a new future.
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Unknown to them a lion was plotting his take over. “You need more than strength to win a spell drive game. You gotta use this.” He tapped his head. His partner laughed, “Shishishishi, you’re devious Leona.” Leona smirked as a wicked plan was forming. “I hope they’re prepared. I'm taking everything.