Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction using characters from Monster High, Ever After High, Disney Descendants, DC Super Hero Girls, and Project MC2 worlds which are trademarked by Mattel, Guru Studio, Disney, Dreamworks Animation's AwesomenessTV and MGA respectively. All characters are created and owned by Mattel, Disney and MGA and I do not claim any ownership over them or their story and it is not purported or believed to be part of the original story canon. This story is for entertainment only.

Episode 15:

Spells in the Hall

-Twyla-

The next morning Twyla blinked weary eyes as she observed her roommates from the shadow. Even as they slept there was a strange tension in the room. She peered up at Billy's bunk. He was invisible but there was a gap of blanket that disappeared at a point so she knew he was there. She cut her eyes towards Darling's bunk. The princess had a sheen of sweat on her brow as she panted in her sleep.

Darling bolted upright, her chest heaving.

Twyla slid from under the bed, "Are you okay?"

Darling gripped her bed as she glared, "I'm fine." She leaned forward and covered her mouth, "Perfectly…" She sprinted into the latrine and puked.

Twyla sighed as she ventured into the latrine. She waited patiently for Darling to brush her teeth before she approached, "Hey, Darling."

Darling glanced at Twyla's reflection in the mirror, "What."

Twyla nodded, steeling herself to speak as she leaned forward, "I… I want to be there for you in the fight. I'll just hang around in your shadow and pop out if things start to go south."

Darling lathered the soap in her hands, "Oh, and why would you do this?"

Twyla pointed towards the toilet, "Darling, I know you like to keep up appearances but you're clearly a nervous wreck. Please just let me help you. I won't be in the way; you won't even notice that I'm there. I'll just stay in your shadow and pop out if you need me. Can't hurt to have someone watch your back."

Darling scrubbed her face, "As long as you don't get in my way."

Twyla nodded as she backed away, keeping her gaze fixed on the trembling princess. Billy what have you done to this girl?

The Saturday morning breakfast didn't disappoint and Twyla ate her fill. She glared at Billy when he finally showed up but he chose not to sit near anyone so she didn't get a chance to confront him about her suspicions. Once breakfast concluded everyone went up to dorm room one to encourage Darling before her fight at eleven.

Frankie beamed, "Good luck in your fight today. It is so awesome how you stood up against those seniors."

Darling smiled, "Defending the helpless and rescuing those in need is what any good Charming would do, but thank you."

Cleo glanced at Blondie and Blondie left the room. Cleo sashayed into the center of the room and held her hands out, "Everyone, your attention please. Our brave and heroic knight in damsel's clothing is participating in a grand battle for the ages and this fight will determine not only her fate, but the fate of our entire class and I wanted to ensure her safe return. Thus, it is with great pleasure that I present to Darling this wonderful…"

She glanced over her shoulder towards the door, "…magnificent…extraordinary…Blondie get in here!"

Blondie opened the door, "Sorry wasn't sure what the cue was."

"It was wonderful, how could you miss the cue…" Cleo smiled brightly, "Ahem. This wonderful…"

Blondie ran into the room with a silver heater shield and long sword.

Cleo took it, "…sword and shield set."

Everyone oohed and awed as Cleo presented it.

Darling gasped as she stood, "Cleo, I don't know what to say."

Cleo held her head high, "But you haven't heard the best part, I magically enchanted these myself. This sword and shield will never break or shatter and it is lightweight so it is easy to handle."

Darling grabbed the shield and flipped it over to view the intricate fleur-de-lis symbol engraved on the front. The sword that was in the forearm straps of the shield had the same design with a blue ribbon wrapped around the pommel. A low hum, emanated from the sword.

Twyla tilted her head as she gazed at it, "It suits you."

Cleo touched her chest, "Doesn't it though? Perfect for countering fairy tricks, I assure you."

Faybelle folded her arms and grumbled, "Only a fairy can counter a fairy, bandaged diva b-."

"Your help is greatly appreciated Cleo," Darling lifted the shield up and down as she bowed, "Thanks to you, I have the perfect counter for evil."

Cleo waved dismissively as she flipped her hair, "Oh you are welcome. Now, I was so busy getting this together that I forgot to finish my summer homework, so I'm just going to pop into a classroom if anyone wants to join me."

Evie stopped looking in her hand mirror and glanced at the time, "Ooh! I forgot to finish as well. How silly of me, but I'll be in classroom three if anyone wants to study with me."

"That's where-" Cleo rolled her eyes, "You know what, fine, have classroom three," She grabbed her bag and sashayed out the room, "Good luck on your fight today Darling but I know you won't need it."

Blondie, Frankie and Crecha followed Cleo out the room.

Evie snapped her hand mirror closed and turned to Robecca, "We better finish our work too, I do not want to be stuck trying to remember stuff after the summer is done."

Robecca nodded, "Indeed, I'd have to fire all my cylinders trying to remember the material."

Evie giggled and waved, "Toodles! Have a good fight." Evie and Robecca left the dorm.

Farrah turned to Darling but couldn't meet her eyes as she opened her mouth to speak. She lowered her head as she closed her mouth.

Faybelle flipped her loose hair over her shoulder and grabbed Farrah pulling her towards the door, "Farrah says good luck too. Byeeeee."

Abbey raised a brow, "You come do homework before battle?"

Darling shook her head, "No thank you, I…need a moment to mentally prepare."

Abbey nodded, "Say no more. Twyla, Billy, Lagoona we give Darling space now. Let's go."

Billy became visible and stood next to Darling, "I'll be down in a minute. I wish to say a few things."

Abbey rolled her eyes and huffed, "Darling need moment alone, that means without you."

Darling held up her hand, "It's fine Abbey thank you. I'll send him away soon, don't worry."

Abbey nodded and started pushing Lagoona and Twyla out the door.

Lagoona slapped Abbey's hand, "I can walk me self, mate."

Twyla walked ahead of them as she descended. She contemplated asking Abbey and Lagoona what they knew about the Billy and Darling situation but decided it would be best to wait until after everyone's nerves had calmed. She stepped into the hall of windows and had to shield her eyes. The entire floor had a light dusting of silver and indigo fairy dust.

Abbey sneezed and groaned, "Ugh, one thing I hate about spring and summer is allergy. Too much flower and tree happiness."

Lagoona laughed, "Don't let Venus hear you say that mate, she is a flower after all."

"Venus not delicate plant, Venus fierce warrior, feast on blood of the hunt."

"Well Venus's dadis a man-eating flower."

Twyla shook her head as they entered classroom one, "Either way, Venus won't like you talking about flowers that way. But I have to wonder, since Venus is in tune with nature will the binding work on her?"

Abbey sat down at a desk and tapped her chin, "Forest not natural and Venus still have chlorophyll but Rochelle is made of living stone. She may be immune to cuts."

Lagoona nodded, "For her sake I hope so. Still I don't want to go around using Rochelle to escape this place especially since she has her own mates to worry about."

Abbey nodded, "I agree but how we escape school?"

Twyla sighed and pointed to the homework, "Let's just get this done, we have all summer to work together for the common good."

Abbey and Lagoona exchanged a look as they opened their books and started the homework.

Twyla kept track of the time and around ten fifty-eight she closed her book, "I'm going to go watch the fight, support Darling from the shadows, you know."

Lagoona scoffed, "I think you do enough for Darling when you're in the light mate."

Twyla narrowed her eyes, "Don't start with me unless you want to finish."

She ignored Lagoona's response as she stepped into shadows and strolled into the hallway. She stood in the shadow of the giant pillar in front of classroom two so she could watch the entire fight. Mal, Kitty and Cedar were already present.

Mal scowled, "Cedar look, cheating is a time-honored tradition. I know you can't lie but you can at least pretend not to see."

Cedar shook her head, "Umm, Mal truth is, I don't like the idea of this fight at all. What are you trying to prove?"

Kitty folded her arms, "Cedar's right. You're no Freddie, and Charming is an impressive fighter."

Mal clenched her fist, "I can't lose to Freddie. She was a minor villain, a nobody on Isle of the Lost. Now everyone fears and respects her! If I'm going to be the next big baddie of this school, I'll need some major street cred."

Twyla narrowed her eyes as she leaned closer. Street cred?

Cedar rolled her eyes, "The fact that you said street cred means you have none."

Mal threw her head back, "I know! Now help me win so we, the seniors, will all come out on top."

Kitty scrunched her nose, "You're lying, what's the real reason you want to be so bad?"

Cedar folded her arms, "Yeah. Why do you always have to be bigger and badder than Freddie? Freddie is a terrible person."

Mal growled, "Uhhh, you just don't get it. Now ignore my cheating and let us win!"

Cedar closed her eyes, "Nope, cheating is not very nice."

Mal tapped her chin with her finger, "I might be in a mood to give you strings."

Cedar's eyes widened as she gasped, "Mal! How could you say that?"

Mal held out her hands and waggled her fingers, "Maybe if you have strings you could lie."

Cedar glowered, "Rude."

Heel steps echoed around the hall when Darling entered, her platinum blonde hair flowed in a non-existent breeze as she stood tall in her silver chest plate, gauntlets and boots. Her sky-blue ensemble complimented her sword and shield.

Mal strolled towards the middle of the hall, the light from the windows casting long shadows, "Hey Charming, dressed for battle I see."

Darling gripped her sword tighter as she stepped closer, "Do you expect to defeat me in those rags, Thorn?"

Mal raised her hands above her head and flames rolled down her palms, "Doesn't matter, the results will be the same." She smirked as the fire pooled at her feet and roared around her, when the flames dispersed, Mal wore shimmering dark lavender robes.

Cedar moved to stand between them, "Ummm, so I'm your mediator. I want a good clean fight, no cheating from either side, got it?"

She gave Mal a pointed look, Mal chuckled and inspected her nails. Cedar scowled as she raised her arm and chopped the air, "All right, fight!"

She hopped back and the battle began.

Darling's eyes scanned the floor as she raised her shield.

Mal laughed, "Cowering already. That's a good look," She held out her hand and a dark orb formed in her palm, "You should try groveling."

The orb crashed into the floor at Darling's feet. Darling side-jumped and held her sword at low-ready as she charged. Vines burst from the floor. Its rapid growth blocked out the sun. Twyla scanned the shadow for Darling and leapt to her.

Darling, her body aglow, sprinted through the vines, "I see through your petty illusions!"

A fireball hurtled towards her. She batted it. It dispersed. Twyla's eyes widened as Darling ran through the vines. She sprinted in the shadow to follow.

Walls morphed and twisted forming a labyrinth of mirrors. Mal's cackle echoed all around, "Hack and slash all you want Charming, you'll just wear yourself out."

Darling kicked through a wall with a smirk as it dispelled, "I can run around mountains in my sleep, question in how long can you cast spells before you grow weary."

The wall reformed behind her as she stood still. She tilted her head, her eyes frantically scanning about. Twyla watched her with a frown.

She's sweating. She must still be tired.

A wall of flame roared to life and Darling rolled forward through it. As she rose, she stiffened and readied her sword.

Twyla glanced ahead and spotted Faybelle sitting in the vines with her back to Darling. She seemed invested with something on the ground.

Darling inched forward. Sweat dripped from her brow. She started to raise her sword arm but paused and mumbled, "Billy go away, I don't need your help."

Faybelle remained with her back turned as if she hadn't heard. Twyla glanced around. She didn't see Billy but Darling had stopped moving. Her breath was haggard as the image of Faybelle shifted to make an opening in the vines where a smirking Mal stood.

Twyla hopped out of shadow, "Darling?"

Darling coughed and fell backwards as the wall of mirrors and vines collapsed into vapors and dispersed like a flutter of wings. Twyla's eyes widened as she caught her smoking form. She used her hand as a fan but it didn't seem to help as a few drops of blood escaped Darling's lips.

Darling's eyes glazed as she glanced towards a pillar and rasped out, "Why?"

Twyla's eyes widened as Darling's chest stopped moving and Mal screamed.