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 31:

Their Soul Cries Out

-Frankie-

"Hold on Cleo, we're almost there!"

It was a mad dash to the infirmary. Abbey opened the door on her way out, "More injured!"

Frankie nodded as she allowed Farrah to pass, "It's really bad."

They entered the infirmary. Farrah lowered the bubble to the floor and it burst, freeing Cleo, Ghoulia and Robecca.

"We have injured," announced Robecca as her leg twitched as she tried to stand.

Montoya peered over a partition where Lagoona lay, "Place them on a bed by the door, I'll be with you shortly."

"That won't be necessary," cooed Delahaye from behind them.

Frankie and everyone stepped aside to make room for her.

Delahaye smirked as she held out a small leather pouch and raised her hand, "I could use the magic of the pharaoh."

Frankie's eyes widened as Cleo and Ghoulia's body became streaks of vapor and rushed into the pouch.

"What the hell!" screamed Crecha.

Delahaye frowned as two beams of light exited the bag and fell into the cracked gem on the floor, "Ah, it would seem that De Nile had her own soul gem."

Montoya held her skirt as she ran over to them, "Jacquotte, what is the meaning of this?"

Delahaye shrugged as she donned a glove, "Well I was trying to augment my magic but it appears," She bent down and grabbed the gem, "This queen was one step ahead of me. I thought the jewel in her cheek was for decoration. Looks like it was what bound her soul to her mummified body."

Frankie trembled, "Cleo is still in there?"

Delahaye cut her eyes towards Frankie and scowled, "Afraid so." She pulled a handkerchief out of her pocket and deposited the gem of Cleo in it, "Here, do whatever you will. I can't do anything with it seeing as it is broken, but I'm sure her sister will find a use for it."

Frankie held out her hand to accept the gem, it hit her palm like a heated weight and pulsed with a calming light. Montoya and Delahaye fussed with each other as her classmates demanded answers but she couldn't hear them over the quiet voices speaking to her.

Cleo's disembodied voice whispered, "Frankie, is that you? Tell Deuce that I love him."

Frankie sobbed a small laugh as tears rolled down her cheeks.

Ghoulia's voice spoke audibly, "Frankie. I implore you. Warn all our friends away from Invisi Billy."

Frankie wiped her face as her bolts sparked, "Billy?"

"Indeed, I observed a shift in the light when Cleo was forced to tumble. Invisi Billy was invisible at the time and his relationship with Twyla may have been his motivation."

"Oh my ghoul…"

Crecha grabbed Frankie by the shoulders and led her out of the infirmary, "This damn school and its crazy teachers. LT Montoya's useless, LT Delahaye is evil. I want to respect Cleo's wishes but we need to get out of here."

Frankie shook her head and leaned close to Crecha, "I can hear them, through the gem. Ghoulia says Billy was the one who shoved Cleo."

Crecha glanced over her shoulder and sped up her walking pace, "What?"

Frankie furrowed her brow when she noticed how far back Farrah, Abbey and Robecca were in the hall, "Ghoulia said to tell everyone Crecha."

"No, we can't trust them," Crecha hissed.

"What? They're in just as much danger as-"

"Danger is ice on a bolt, steam near electricity, dust on a wound. The only way I can keep you safe. Don't talk to them."

"That's a little extreme," Frankie pulled away as they ascended the dorm stairs.

Crecha linked arms with her and pulled her close, "You don't want to end up like Cleo do you?"

"N-no but-"

"Then don't talk to them."

Frankie shivered at the dark gleam in Crecha's eyes. She nodded and focused her gaze on the floor as they approached Petra's room to deliver the bad news.

-Twyla-

Twyla frowned as she stepped onto the second floor of the school offices. The door leading to Delahaye's office was open and the orange light of the setting sun seemed to bleed red on the objects of the room.

Twyla cleared her throat as she knocked, startling Delahaye. Twyla bowed slightly as she entered, "LT Delahaye, is this a good time?"

"Of course, come in, have a seat," Delahaye lifted a dark tome off her bookshelf and nodded, "What can I help you with today?"

Twyla obliged, "Well, actually, I had hoped to use the spell detection skull."

Delahaye leafed through pages as she nodded, "Do you have a jar of dreams? Because if not it won't work."

Twyla pulled the jar out of the shadow with her shadow limbs, "I do."

Delahaye paused as she fixed her gaze upon the jar, "It appears that you do…" She kept her eyes on the jar as she reached for the unicorn skull, "I've only ever seen it as a vapor, how did you make it so...solid?"

"Dreams are fairly solid. I just had to jar an object while in one."

Delahaye's mouth hung open as she handed Twyla the skull, "Really?" She shook her head to overcome her shock and balanced her chin on her hands, "Well, it should be fairly easy for you to rub onto the skull. Give it a go."

Twyla placed the skull in her lap as she uncorked the jar and scooped a handful of Blondie's dream. As she applied the sand-like substance to the skull face it shifted from purple to red until it reached a rainbow-colored cotton candy consistency as the entire skull glowed.

"And put it on."

Twyla lifted the skull and positioned it over her face. Her eyes widened as the room burst into various colors. She focused on the book, unreadable words rose off the page and formed a smoky trail that led out the door. She turned towards the shelf and stared at the dagger. A set of unreadable words rose off of it and formed a smoky trail that led to Delahaye.

Delahaye tilted her head, "Are you able to see the spells cast on the objects?"

"It forms words but I can't distinguish it, but I can see the trails leading back to you."

"You can't read the spells? Well, I suppose that makes sense, you aren't a magic-user but, at least you can trace a spell back to its caster. Should come in handy for whatever you wish to get into."

Twyla rose from the chair wearing the skull, "Thank you, LT Delahaye. Is there a time limit?"

"Only a dream limit. Dreams don't last forever, you know. So I highly suggest that you view what it is you wished to view asap. Bring it back when you're done, I'll more than likely still be in my office."

"Thank you, LT Delahaye," Twyla slid into the shadows and spider-crawled towards the stairs.

She spotted a lone figure that leaned against the wall near the office door, glowing in the dark. She lifted the skull. The presence disappeared. She pulled the skull back down. Billy.

She slid out of the shadows by the stairs and took the steps two at a time. When she rounded a corner she glanced over her shoulder to confirm that he had followed. She led him towards the outdoor drill pad and stared at the forest as she waited for him to get closer, "Why are you following me?"

"What are you doing with that thing Twyla?" Billy answered in his invisible state.

"I'm going to see who cast the spell that killed Darling."

"Do you even know where she is buried?"

Twyla silently cursed, "...No."

Billy's glowing form shifted like falling dominoes as he became visible and stopped beside her, "Let's go then."

"Why would you help me?"

Billy sighed, "You wouldn't go through the trouble of getting a magic detecting skull if you had killed her." He shoved his hands in his pockets, "And I need to see for myself, who it was. If it was Mal…"

He lowered his head and growled, "Unforgivable."

Twyla nodded as the sun fell beyond the horizon and they stood in the night, "Lead the way."

They traversed the blood forest and navigated to a waterfall with a path that led behind it. Twyla's eyes widened at the glowing ice coffin of Darling.

Billy's form shifted as he asked, "Can you see through the coffin?"

Twyla stepped closer as purple words rose off of Darling's body and formed the smoke trail back towards the school, "Yes. I see it. I see the trail. Let's go!"

Her heart raced as she followed the winding smoke towards an area with a large chicken coop and fresh produce.

"I guess this school grows its own food," Billy pondered aloud.

Twyla glanced back at his glowing form, "You can return to invisible mode you know, I don't need to see you to follow the trail."

"I am invisible...you can still see me?"

"Oh," She turned towards a set of doors that appeared to lead to a cellar, "I guess this is the fastest way into the school."

"Twyla…"

"What?"

"You can still see me?"

"With this thing on, yes, now let's go. I want to confront whoever this is and move on with my life."

She didn't wait for his reply as she continued into the tunnel. Musty stale air wafted into her nose but she pressed forward and opened the door to the cellar. She walked past several barrels and crates of stored food to climb the steps that led to the kitchen where an irate Ensign Cookie glared at her intrusion.

Twyla politely bowed as she quickly left the chow hall. The smoke trail twisted into a circle then shifted as it formed down the hall, "Where is this leading us?"

It rolled along in waves as it bounced up the stairs leading to the second-floor teacher's offices. When it made a sharp right and landed on LT Delahaye, Twyla stood in her office confused.

LT Delahaye tilted her head and smiled, "Back so soon, what did you find out?"

"You cast the spell that killed Darling…"

Delahaye laughed, "Me? Why would I…, Oh that's right, you can't see what spell it is." She flicked her wrist towards the door.

Twyla turned to see a glimmering hand of magic close it, with an invisible Billy standing directly behind her. Twyla removed the skull and placed it on the desk, "So what did you cast?"

Delahaye hopped out of her seat, "Well that hardly matters, I assure you." She picked up the skull, "I'm a bit disappointed, I could have sworn you were going to seek out the apples and learn of those casters but, oh well."

"You can be useful to me in other ways," She turned towards the shelf and gently set down the skull. She reached for something else but Twyla couldn't see it.

"Do you know who killed Darling? Did you see the fight? Were you there?"

Delahaye smiled as the entire room glowed and the door lock clicked, "My dear, everyone was there." She lunged at Twyla with a dagger.

Twyla leaped back, her eyes searched for a shadow.

Delahaye held the dagger out in front of her, "There's no chance of escape for you-"

Billy became visible. He gripped the blade of the dagger in his hand as he growled, "What did you do to Darling?"

LT Delahaye narrowed her eyes as she tried to shake his grip, "You would challenge me!" Her eyes glowed as she raised her other hand, "Unacceptable."

The glow of the room diminished as Delahaye focused a spell orb on Billy.

Billy grabbed her other wrist and twisted it, "Twyla go!"

Twyla slid into the shadows and ran into the hall. Her heart pounding in her chest as a surge of energy shook the floor. She stared at the door as she panted breathlessly, "Billy?"

The silence that followed was agonizing, even the soothing touch of the shadow couldn't calm her inner turmoil.

When the door creaked open she stared, half-tempted to leap out of the shadows but unwilling to risk it. As she stared at the empty space and waited she realized one thing, "Billy."

"Hey I told you to run," Billy scolded as he remained invisible.

Twyla covered her mouth to suppress a fit of nervous laughter, "So you did."

He sighed as he closed the door and became visible, "What am I going to do with you?"

Twyla stepped out of the shadows and pointed towards the door, "What happened to?"

"She sort of blinded and muted herself. I think her spell bounced off my scales since she was in close range." He held out his hand and smiled, "Let's go back to our dorm."

Twyla's heart fluttered as her face warmed. She took his hand and leaned upon him, "Yes, let's."

-Walker-

Walker hummed an old familiar tune as she ascended to the fourth floor with a batch of fresh-baked cookies in hand. The magic of the door parted to grant her entry. She waved a free hand in greeting, "Brought you something, Koda Jo."

Captain Jones cut her eyes towards her, "I don't want it."

"Are you sure," Walker laughed as she tossed the warm tray on the desk, "It's your favorite, blood of the innocent."

Captain Jones lowered her arm and placed the compass where Walker could see, "Cute, but my compass still points southeast." She grabbed one of the red jam-filled sugar cookies and chewed with her mouth open, "Have to kill them."

She sucked on her fingers and smacked her lips, "Kill them all. I do so hate to waste potential but that quartermaster of ours is determined to have her way."

She waggled her finger, "I think I'll kill her too. Make sure it really hurts, so when she gets back up the scar will be a reminder."

Walker folded her arms, "You always assume its Shih."

Captain Jones grabbed another cookie and broke it in half, "Is it not her?"

"No. You should have more faith in her loyalty."

"Ha!" Captain Jones leaned back in her chair and put her feet on the desk, "I don't trust her as far as I can throw her." She tossed half a cookie in her mouth, "I suppose you'll try to convince me otherwise."

"No one can convince you of anything when you've set your mind a certain way."

"Then why are you here bearing gifts," Captain Jones waved over the cookies as she tossed another in her mouth.

Walker chuckled as she sat down, "Because I wanted you to eat poison."

Captain Jones licked her teeth as she squinted, "Did you now?" She reached under her desk and pulled out her revolver, "I find it fascinating that you came here with that very specific purpose. Tell me, before I hand you your punishment, why you would do something so foolish?"

"Because I leaked the information to the students," She leaned back in the chair and relaxed, "I just didn't get the results I wanted."

Captain Jones hopped out of her seat and stalked around the desk, "Oh Addy. I know that's not what you really want. You don't want to leave me." She pivoted on her foot and smiled, "We've had far too many memories for that."

"Oh yes, memories upon memories of murdered children. I'm sure Davy would be proud of how you've ruined his school." Walker didn't even blink when the barrel pressed against her temple.

"How dare you," Captain Jones trembled, "I've kept his dream alive. You remember how it was after 1887. No one wanted to be here. I did what had to be done."

"By kidnapping babies-"

"They were just villains and monsters, their life was deprived without my gift. I changed their life for the better, I provided them an education, you more than anyone else knows how important an education is."

"You dragged them from their homes and bound them to eight years of slavery."

Captain Jones coughed into the crook of her arm.

Walker smirked, "Looks like the poison is taking effect."

Captain Jones's eyes widened, "You really poisoned me?"

Walker gazed at her incredulously, "Did you fool yourself into thinking I was lying? Why would I lie to you about that? I poisoned you, just as I leaked the information to the students."

"That little treasure hunt of yours…"

"Yep, for that exact purpose."

Captain Jones put her finger on the trigger and time slowed, "Don't lie to me."

Walker watched and waited. The bullet left the chamber in an explosion of sound and burrowed into her chest. She sighed in annoyance, "You put a hole in my favorite coat."

"That's not your favorite coat, otherwise you wouldn't have worn it to come and get shot." She waved with her gun hand, "Get out of my office, I know you're covering for Shih."

Walker rolled her eyes as she got up, "Want me to take the cookies?"

"Nah leave them here, the poison makes it taste better anyways."

"Aww, you don't like them?"

"You know I hate sugar cookies, and this jam tastes awful what flavor is it?"

"I already told you."

Captain Jones squinted at the cookies. Her eyes widened with dawning comprehension and then she scoffed, "Addy go to your room, this behavior is intolerable."

Walker shrugged as she headed out the door, "Enjoy your early nap, Koda Jo."

"Huh?" Captain Jones replied around a mouthful of cookie.

Walker heard a thump from above as she descended the stairs. She paused on the third-floor landing and glanced at her watch in annoyance, "Four-minutes? I'll need to fine-tune the recipe."

She glanced across the hall and squinted, "Why is my bedroom door open?"

She lengthened her stride and took light steps before she peered inside. She relaxed her shoulders and smiled as she entered and watched Ching scurry about doing various chores.

Ching's long silky hair was loose, held away from her face by a simple headband. A breeze from the open window along the far wall twirled her obsidian locks as she tucked the sheets of Walker's bed.

"Stress cleaning are we?"

Ching jumped to her feet and wiped her palms, "I…" Her eyes darted about as she gestured towards the room, "I saw that your room was a bit dusty."

"Mm-hmm," Walker stepped closer.

"You take on so much and silently endure," Ching wiped the sweat from her brow with a handkerchief, "Plus you're so busy, with grading papers and giving lessons."

"Not to mention," Her eyes brimmed with tears as she stepped forward, "You work so hard, day in and day out." She forced a smile but it quickly fell as she lowered her head, "And I know how much you like clean linens."

"Well, thank you. I appreciate it," Walker sat down on the chair of her vanity and removed her jacket.

Ching stepped closer and took it, "I wasn't sure when you'd come in," She visibly swallowed as she squeezed the material, "but I have oolong. It will only take a few minutes…" She frowned as blood smeered her fingers, "Addy, are you bleeding?"

Walker shrugged, "Our dear captain was a bit trigger happy today." She reached for the jacket, "I've got to patch it up before I wash it."

Ching gripped the jacket and held it close to her heaving chest, "I'll take care of it." A single tear rolled down her cheek, "Please."

Walker lowered her hand and glanced around the freshly tidied room. She lowered her head and chuckled, "Alright, I'll allow you to mend it."

Ching's shoulders relaxed as her tears flowed freely, "I...thank you."

Walker tilted Ching's chin up with her finger as she gazed into her eyes, "So how will we tend the wound?"