Chapter 8: Prep Up
A few days later
The beast stood, leaning against the tree in the garden, folding his furry arms. Distances away, he could hear Hex shouting another spell. He walked back into his house, sighing. Hex…
He sat down at the dining table, just as Camo and Whirlwind hopped over to him. "Hey Beast, what's the matter?" Camo asked in concern. "It's nothing, really." The beast muttered. "Oh…ho ho ho ho!" Camo exclaimed, taking a good look at his friend's face. "I know that look! You wanna do more for that girl rather than just let her roam freely around the house and practice her spells, right?" The black furry monstrosity shrugged and nodded. "Camo, what should I do? I've done all I can think for her. What more is there?" Whirlwind made a giant leap onto the dining table and turning herself on, blew a gust of wind into the beast's face. "Uh, hellooo? You sure about that? You could, like, dance with her. The ballroom is getting dusty, you know…" The beast raised an eyebrow. "Whirlwind-wait, what are you thinking about?" Whirlwind started swaying around, mimicking a waltz. Camo, suppressing a smile, hopped onto the table as well and waltzed along with her. "You guys are gonna have so much fun!" He encouraged. "Da da da dum dummmm…" He started humming the tune to 'Blue Danube Waltz'. Camo and Whirlwind continued their silly dance, laughing, until seconds later, when they realised the beast was glaring daggers at them.
"What makes you guys think that Hex would fall in love with ME?!" The beast snarled. Whirlwind cringed in fright. "Beast, we didn't want to anger you. We were just hoping for that so that maybe, she could break the-" "Don't even think about it!" The roar made the house seem to shudder. Whirlwind and Camo's eyes widened in dismay. The beast slammed his fists onto the table, making both objects vibrate and shake with fear. Camo eventually managed to regain his composure, and looked his friend in the eye. The beast was looking down, breathing hard, pain and confusion filling his eyes. "No one would ever love me. Not even her. I have this funny feeling…I can't put my finger on it…" Camo hopped closer and patted the beast's paw with his watering spout. "Fine then. Here's the deal. You'll still dance, but say it's just a typical friend thing. Okay?"
The beast hesitated for a moment. "Are you sure?" Both objects nodded. He sighed. "Alright, it's a deal." Whirlwind jumped up high. "Now that's what I'm talking about!" The two objects turned, leapt off the table, landed neatly on the carpet, and skittered off excitedly. The beast watched them go, rolling his eyes. He already knew what they were going to do.
Later In Hex's room
"No way!" Flameslinger exclaimed. "Yes way!" Camo said, grinning hugely. "We've convinced the beast to finally make a move…but he only thinks of her as a friend, I guess." Chill did something supposedly being a shrug. "There's still time. Only three petals are left, but one looks like it could fall at any minute." "Chill's right!" Bash agreed. "At least we don't have to start from scratch. A set up is pure genius, Camo and Whirlwind!" Camo and Whirlwind smiled at each other. Especially since they've been hanging out a lot these days, Bash thought. How I wish Flashwing would do the same with me… "Ahem, guys." Flashwing snapped, hopping up and down. "Hex has been practicing spells down in the cellar for a long while, and there's only five hours left until bedtime! You know what this means?" Whirlwind caught her friend's eye and smirked. She knew what Flashwing meant. The gem teacup faced herself towards the light, making her gems gleam. "Time for a little fashion expertise!" Whirlwind made whooping noises. "Alright!" Flameslinger, Bash and Camo all just looked at each other blankly, and chill made a grimace of disgust. "Ugh, girls!" "You're a girl too, you know!" Whirlwind teased. Chill narrowed her eyes. "Yeah, but I don't like those girly stuff. They make me wanna throw up! Since my element's water, maybe I should help clean up the ballroom a little. I haven't lost my powers even when I'm in the form of a snow globe!" Flashwing nodded. "Okay. I'll get Hex ready. Whirlwind will go get the beast. Chill will clean up the ballroom. Bash and Camo, pick out a good waltzing tune for the dancing. And Flameslinger-"
"I'll help Chill." Flameslinger cut in. "She'll need some fire to melt the ice for, uh, mopping." Chill stared at him in surprise. "Er…okay. It's settled." Flashwing said. "Now let's move out!"
Flameslinger extinguished the flames on his candle hands and hoisted Chill onto his back. "This might be a bit bumpy so hold on." "Wait-oh no. Flameslinger, please don't-"Too late. Flameslinger burst forth and out of the room towards the ballroom with Chill on his back. "GAHHHHH!" chill shrieked. She was not used to such intense speed. But on the flipside, she was being carried by her crush, which was something that hardly ever happened. They were from opposite elements, but there was a saying that opposites attract. But there was no time to think about that now. Besides, she and Flameslinger had already arrived at the door to the ballroom. Flameslinger set Chill down very slowly. "Sorry. I just felt so excited." Flameslinger said with a shrug. "Yeah, I know. It's alright." She responded. "Let's get started. We don't want those two to fall in love dancing over a dirty floor."