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 26:

For Want of a Pinch

-Frankie-

Frankie awoke to the sound of glass shattering at a ground-shaking shriek. She sat up trembling, "Oh my ghoul, that's Cleo's scream!"

Crecha leaped out of bed and ran out of the dorm, followed shortly by Blondie, Evie, and Faybelle.

Frankie started tp run but paused as she stopped to help a twitching Robecca, "Need a hand?"

Robecca's eyelids blinked separately as her head repeated a turn and return motion, "Go, go, go-"

Ghoulia waved Frankie away as she shuffled over to Robecca.

Frankie dashed into the hallway just in time to see Billy carry a bleeding Twyla down the stairs, "Oh my ghoul, what happened?"

Cleo thrust her finger in Blondie's face as she leaned back, "I demand an explanation for your actions."

Blondie held up her hands, "I didn't think I hurt her that bad, I just punched her so I could get away."

"There is blood all over the carpet! A permanent stain on the lives of those who reside with me."

"I swear Cleo I don't know what happened to her."

"You are officially dismissed. I no longer require your acquisition services. You clearly are unable to be discreet and careful."

Blondie clutched her chest as her eyes watered, "Dismissed?"

"Is not so funny," Abbey growled low in her throat, "Twyla say she see Blondie, you not believe her, now is morning and you know Blondie was here. What other lies do you speak?"

Cleo grit her teeth, "While I normally relish being the focus of everyone's thoughts, I don't appreciate the implications, Abbey."

Lagoona folded her arms, "You'd be in the know if you had come to a meeting Abbey."

Faybelle tilted her head and grinned, "So why don't you like, tell us all about your secret little meetings."

Cleo hissed, "I've had enough of your meddling Faybelle."

Frankie grimaced, "Hey, now's not the time to tear each other apart. We should talk to each other."

Lagoona gave Frankie a soft smile, "We would, love, but some of us here are a bit too stubborn to listen."

Abbey narrowed her eyes, "You refer to me, but I'm right here. Speak your words directly to me."

Lagoona scoffed, "You've made it abundantly clear that trying to convince you of anything is pointless. I'm better off punching a brick wall."

"Why you speak such lies to me?"

"You knew about Darling's state before she died and yet you still raced her."

"To boost her spirits, she was upset."

"Because Twyla was sleeping with her man! Which by the way, nice going taking Twyla's side on things. Twyla's been ragging on every plan we ever had for escape. I don't know why you stuck with her."

Frankie stepped forward, "Come on ghouls, you don't mean that. Yeah, Twyla's been a little bit more standoffish than normal but she's a shadow ghoul-"

"And shadow ghouls will always be shady," Lagoona interrupted.

Abbey stepped forward and towered over her, "You are like mountain goat, you bleat and bleat but there is no point to the sound."

Lagoona's eyes widened as she stepped back, "That's a bit uncalled for mate. I'm just saying, you were mighty quick to take her side."

"I believe in hearing both sides, not this foolish picking and choosing. You declare her guilty without hearing her side. You worse than mountain troll at least they despise all equally."

Lagoona turned on her heel and returned to her dorm. Abbey huffed as she followed.

Frankie furrowed her brow as her classmates dispersed, "I don't understand, why is everyone like this."

"This is what happens in this school Frankie," Crecha warned behind her.

Frankie turned towards her, "No, I refuse to believe it. These are our friends. I know Darling's death came as quite a shock to all of us-"

She gasped and turned as shouts accompanied the clatter of furniture from dorm room one.

Crecha gently took her by the shoulders and steered her away from the fighting, "Poor Frankie. I know you want to see the best in people, but this school brings out their worst. Trust me, big sister knows best."

Frankie rolled her eyes, "Crecha, you were made ten days before I was."

Crecha held her close as she whispered, "Doesn't make it any less true. Now let's try and get some rest before PTV. I don't want you to get your bolts wet because you were too tired to put your seal on properly."

Later that evening Frankie clutched her books as she ascended the stairs towards the chess club room. Farrah and Crecha accompanied her, carrying more books than normal.

The door was thrown open as Cleo stomped her foot and pointed, "Not today, Blondie. I don't even want to look at you."

Blondie's lip trembled as she ran down the stairs.

Billy sighed as he chased after her.

Cleo arched a brow and motioned to be followed, "Well what are you standing around for, come in."

Frankie sighed as she slipped inside, "Cleo…"

"It's a necessary evil," Crecha chuckled, "It's good to have a queen that's willing to get things done."

Cleo frowned as Glimmer attached the ghost chains to their waist, "To be perfectly honest I'm more than a little disappointed in Blondie. It makes me question if continuing our search will be worth it. Was she so desperate to leave that she was willing to harm a classmate?"

Petra scoffed, "Well I hope you call that Blondie back, my team was on a roll with all the stuff she found and I intend to win the treasure hunt. It will earn me several points on the leaderboard."

Cleo scowled, "One of my classmates was just hospitalized and you're worried about your stupid competition?"

"Remember sister, that was part of our arrangement, your team helps my team win and I grant you access to the areas of the school you wouldn't be able to get to otherwise."

"If your team did more you would still win. Don't think I didn't notice your-"

The walls flashed bright yellow and Glimmer rushed them into the hall of memories before the door to the clubroom opened and Delahaye entered her office.

Frankie let out a breath of relief when she landed in the familiar black and white gardens of Glimmer's living memory, "That was too close for comfort."

Farrah rubbed her arms as she sat down, "I've still got goosebumps. If LT Delahaye had caught us there-"

Ghoulia groaned as she opened her notebook and shuffled towards the table. Frankie nodded, "Beyond a disaster for sure. She wouldn't have any reason to hold back."

Cleo placed her hands on the table and closed her eyes as she sat down, "This year has been one tragedy after the other."

Deuce wrapped an arm around her shoulders, "I know that if there's one ghoul that can get everyone through it all, it's you."

Cleo gazed at him and smiled, "Thank you." She took a piece of paper out of her pocket and tossed it to Ghoulia, "This is what Blondie brought me last night. I have no idea what she did to get it but I don't want us searching anymore."

Apple's eyes widened, "What? Why?"

Cleo held her head high, "Because the risk does not seem to be worth the reward. I, more than anyone, wish to escape this place but if it means half our friends die in the process, then I say we put our search on hold. Wait until tempers cool and everyone is more relaxed."

Deuce nodded and his snakes mimicked the motion, "Solid plan. We'll escape next year." He took her hand in his, "Together."

Ghoulia groaned and slid the translation towards them. Robecca read in a droning ominous tone, "I'm all that remains of a once great time, my past is forgotten, my purpose divine. A fatherly gift from before he departed, I lie on the surface of where it all started."

Frankie shook her head, "There goes more vague time imagery."

Farrah nodded as she pulled books out of her bag, "I thought so too and grabbed a few things from the library." She held up a copper notebook and opened it to reveal its pages, "This was the most suspicious of all. It seems to be written in some type of code."

Petra rolled her eyes and filed her nails, "Oh goody, more riddles, just what I needed."

Cleo scowled, "Everything was probably written in code because the students were trying to escape. Can't escape if the jailers know what you're doing."

Ghoulia accepted the notebook and stared at the pages.

Frankie sighed, "I hope Twyla's okay."

Robecca twitched as she recited all the riddles, "Alive beneath your feet and guarding every door, they fit right in and hide within the floor. When you go after the four, you'll be marked and caught. They know when you know about things you should not."

Cleo squinted as she leaned closer, "We already moved on from that riddle. Those are the specially marked tiles in front of most of the teacher's offices. are you alright?"

"The golden face is always bright. It knows the students' plight, day or night," continued Robecca.

Crecha held up her hand and created a spark. She touched Robecca's elbow, "You're running kind of slow, need a boost?"

Robecca rubbed her lips together as though chewing on her words, "A normal map will tell you treasure lies beneath, but when the map is treasure it's guarded by sharp teeth. This map you should savor, four treasures are sweet but air there is never, you might become meat."

Lagoona leaned forward, "That's the map only a ghost can get to."

Glimmer shook her head, "It was drawn in ghost ink, waterproof but it can't be seen without the moonlight and since the map is in an underwater alcove…"

"Lirienne left without a Trace. She died in search of the face. If she'd searched not to find, oh pain and regret. She would have seen the George Margetts."

Farrah sighed, "That one is the most puzzling. How do you look for something without trying to find it?"

"The smile on my face is all gone cold, I can't feel my hands, I'm drowning in gold. Here I rest behind a locked rock door, I'm first of the pieces of the four."

Crecha leaned close to Robecca and knocked on her head, "Ummm? Is your hearing broken? Why are you repeating this stuff?"

"The raven wants to fly through this door, the minute it tocks, nevermore, this is the third of the four."

Cleo sighed as she leaned on her hand, "Ghoulia, let's put these puzzles away for now. Robecca clearly needs our help."

Ghoulia tossed the notebook and the decoder ring on the table as she tended to Robecca.

Frankie grabbed the items and stared at the page. Ghoulia had already cracked the code and had translated the first few lines. Frankie tilted her head, "Agents, sign if you acknowledge this form of communication."

Farrah read over her shoulder, "Agents? These are some weird names. Blue Baya Weaver, Black Athena, Magenta Macaw, Rosa Spoonbill, Purple Peacock, and Green Mockingbird?"

Frankie shrugged, "I guess all kinds of people have tried escaping this school." She watched Robecca cover a steaming compartment with her hand as Ghoulia made repairs, "Then again, staying here isn't good for anyone's health."