Black Mud Swamp
At the end of their first week, their class had their first lesson with Professor Palladium. Palladium was a young elf and this was his first-year teaching – something that the students had picked up on because a lot of them were happy to giggle and tease him. Onyx hadn't interacted with this professor yet, but he had this feeling about that she wasn't sure if it was related to his species or the man as a person. He felt grounded, peaceful and kind.
Before heading out to the swamp, the class had been given brown hiking boots and long socks, a light brown jackets and shorts, and had been told to wear a full sized sure under the jacket. The girls had had a chance to wear three quarter length trouser, or full-length trousers, but Onyx had been the only one to take that option – everyone else had chosen the shorts, which some of them had rolled up to make shorter. Onyx had also gotten a long-sleeved jacket, instead of the elbow length sleaves everybody else had, the majority of whom rolled it up a time half way. The short sleaves and shorts were because of how humid and hot the swamp was – the only other person who was as covered as Onyx and seemed completely unbothered by the atmosphere was Professor Palladium himself.
"I don't understand how you are so comfortable like that," Stella complained, putting on a hat in an attempt to stop her hair from becoming frizzy.
"I do not under how you can be comfortable so exposed." Onyx returned sardonically. She wasn't feeling completely comfortable considering the fact that she only had a dagger on her person since the bracelet it was disguised as was fine, while the watch (her staff) and ring (her bow) weren't acceptable– she felt under dressed. The lack of black she could live with since she was in a uniform, but the lack of weapons had her paranoia running high.
The dagger was a bracelet, the bow a ring and the staff was a watch
"Welcome class," Palladium greeted happily, bringing the majority of the attention to him. "to Black Mud Swamp to to…." he stuttered as a sneezed built, he tried to continue but wasn't able to as the sneeze caught. "Sorry. As you can sneeze… I mean see, as you can see, I am slightly allergic to the sap from the Igglethord vine." He motioned to said vine which was draped not far from where he was stood. "Now, this is your first field exercise for the Magic of Nature."
"I'm in the wrong class, I'm from an urban realm," the blue haired Dhalia complained.
"A well-rounded education is what Alfea is all about, Dhalia." Palladium returned kindly.
"But a keekbug bit me." She lifted her already short-shorts up enough to reveal the bit mark on the backside of her leg.
Palladium glanced to make sure that it was a keekbug bite, before quickly averting his eyes so he wasn't staring at an inappropriate are on one of his students. "Ah, yes definitely a Keekbug. the quicker we get on with the exercise the quicker you can leave and get any bites gained, treated."
"And what do we treat them with?" Perla, Dhalia's best friend, questioned.
"Well, the most commonly used treatment for keekbug bites – and most other bug bites – is alola cream." Palladium answered before he cleared is throat. "Now, this field exercise is designed to test your natural ability to listen to the always present voice of nature. Each group must navigate through Black Mud Swamp and find the crystal clearing, and here's the catch, you may not use any magic. Only the voice of nature will be your guide, and remember, it's not enough to hear the voice, you must listen to it as well."
"But professor…" Amaryl tried to protest, but Palladium simple disappeared in sparkle of light which wasn't necessary.
Groups formed automatically based on friend ship and dorm groups. Onyx was stood by Bloom, as she always was, which means she ended up being pulled into the group with Stella, Flora, Musa and Tecna.
"No reason to sand around and gab, let's start looking." Flora said in her soft voice.
Onyx fell to the back of the group, with Flora, Bloom and Stella at the front. With Flora taking the lead, Onyx trusted that Bloom would be safe enough because this was an environment in which Flora would notice any dangerous plants or unnatural disturbances.
The Black Mud Swamp was not nearly as dangerous as her home had been, but it was still deadly for the unwary with poisonous plants and reaching vines. There weren't any known dangerous animals living in the area, but it had been known for a group to move in for a short period of time before leaving the area for a home more conductive for their survival.
Since the Swamp-y ground covered the majority of the area they were living in, the group decided to get it cover with and entered the swamp water. This was one of the reasons – beyond being uncomfortable showing flesh – that Onyx had chosen to wear long trousers. By tucking her trousers into her boots, the swamp water and any creatures living in it could reach her skin – the water proof nature of both the clothing and shoes protecting her. For the next lesson, she would have prepared her own Magic of Nature uniform – using the same fabric and style, but with her preferred colour and allowing her to conceal her watch in an inner pocket, and her ring around her neck.
"Ohh, this place is… EW!" Stella complained only two minutes after they entered the Swamp Water. "Something's crawling up my leg!"
"What happened to 'Mud does wonders for my complexion'?" Musa questioned, raising a teasing eyebrow.
"Just so you know, these bubbles could indicate that we're standing on the back of a sub-terranean sludge slug." Tecna started rattling off facts when she noticed the bubbles that were beginning to rise from the ground. "They're not friendly, but don't worry, I'll take care of it. a standby spell ought to do the trick."
"Tecna, don't." Bloom and Onyx cautioned as one, for two different reasons. Bloom, because the lesson was to not use magic so that Palladium could get an understanding of where the class stood on innate natural magic (to better help him in teaching them); and Onyx because she knew that Swamp's like this created a built up of naturally dangerous gasses and if they burst the bubbles, they could be endangering their health.
"We can't use our magic." Bloom continued. "We gotta listen to nature. Just use your senses."
Onyx closed her eyes and reached out to the area around her, instead of sniffing the air like the other girls were. "Medusa Gas!" Onyx announced, her eyes snapping open. "Move, out of the area."
"The trees!" Flora pointed to where some trees were growing on more solid and raised ground compared to what they were standing on. Medusa Gas didn't have a big reach, quickly dispersing through the air and becoming harmless.
"Are you sure it's Medusa Gas?" Musa questioned once they were behind cover.
Onyx just gave her a look but remained silent.
"Here, let's see." Bloom threw a stick that was by her feet and hit one of the bubbles – causing it to pop.
"Onyx is right, that is Medusa Gas." Flora confirmed, peaking around the tree. "That stuff would've turned us to stone."
"I guess my information was incorrect." Tecna frowned sadly.
"It's okay, Tecna." Bloom consoled. "We just gotta be careful."
"That tree's been turned to stone." Flora observed sadly. "Look at ti."
"Turned to stone?" Stella repeated. "Talk about being Statuesque."
Her joke caused the others to laugh, while Onyx simple shook her head. at the pace the girls were going, she had no doubt they would be one of the last to make it to the centre. Flora and Bloom, the most connected to nature, would likely take the lead but with their laid-back attitude that wouldn't mean much – especially if they ended up side-tracked by something or other. Onyx wouldn't take the lead, because this was an aptitude test and it would not help Palladium make an assessment if all he saw was the girls following her lead.
They set to walking, with Flora at the head of the line, while Onyx was once more at the back. as they walked, a frown slowly formed on Onyx's face – something was wrong. There was an evil in the forest.
"Check it out!" Bloom pointed up to the clear sky where a Red Fountain space craft was going down – a black stream trailing out the back. The controller of the craft was trying to set them down safely, slowing them with a downward spiral of decent. "A Red Fountain Craft!"
Bloom led them as they ran towards where the plane was going down.
"Hurry, they might need help!" Bloom called encouragingly the plane went out of sight, and the sound of impact was heard.
They reached the crash site in time to see some very familiar boys climbing to their feet outside of the craft. It was the Specialists who had taken the mountain troll down after it attacked Stella.
"Everybody get out, okay?" Timmy questioned, glancing between the other boys.
"Look who it is." Stella greeted with a smile.
"You guys okay?" Flora questioned.
"We saw your plane crash." Tecna explained their presents.
"It wasn't a crash. It was more like an emergency landing." Riven disagreed with the term Tecna had used.
"Do you know what caused your craft to go down?" Onyx questioned Riven, his defensive attitude telling her who was the pilot.
"Mechanical failure probably." Riven grunted.
"What were you doing out here?" Musa questioned, her eyes travelling to Riven shyly before looking away and addressing the others.
"We were transporting a huh-" Sky started but hesitated, looking around for something.
"Transporting a very uh important package to a location uh" Brandon took up. Clearly, they weren't supposed to be telling people about their mission.
"The troll got away!" Sky suddenly emerged from the craft that he had ducked into for a moment.
"Ah! Prince Sky!" Brandon scolded.
"You guys let a toll escape?" Stella was the first to scold, but the others also had something to say to a similar effect.
"I'm getting the feeling that this crash wasn't an accident or mechanical failure," Onyx glanced around the area they were stood in. The plane had crashed in a part of the swamp surrounded by trees, meaning that the troll could have disappeared into the trees before they arrived and the boys climbed out of the craft.
"We had the troll in Adle Shackles," Riven tried to calm the uneasy girls down. "So it's fine."
"Exactly," Brandon agreed as one. "They slow you down like a tranquilizer. He won't get very far."
"Actually," Sky crouched down and picked up a pair of shackles. "it looks like the shackles came loose."
"They came loose?" Tecna, Musa and Stella questioned together, doubtfully.
"What're you guys doing her anyway?" Brandon deflected.
"A field exercise for Nature class." Blooms explained.
"So then, get back to your little exercise girls," Riven turned away and began looking around the swamp for footprints. "And leave this problem to the specialists."
"When are the specialists gonna get here?" Stella questioned snarkly, clearly not liking the dismissive tone that had been used.
"Is this the same troll who attacked Stella? The one you captured when we first met?" Onyx cut in before an argument could start since Riven had whipped round with a glare.
"Yes, that's the one." Brandon agreed at once.
"Then, I think it is best we help you. That troll was sent by a trio of witches who have been targeting Stella. I doubt that this crash was an accident, more likely a prison break. You guys may be enough to stop and re-capture the troll, but if I'm right and the witches are behind this, you're going to need help." Onyx didn't want to say this, but they had tangled with the witches and stopped them twice before – they would be able to do it a third time if necessary. With their entire class in the swamp, she couldn't really turn a blind eye because they would be endangered with a troll loose and possible witches as well. As much as she hated the idea of Bloom being in danger, she knew her friend's heart well enough to know that she would help the specialist no matter what.
"We'll be fine. You lot should get back to your class assignment and let us handle it." Riven disagreed. "We are trained to handle those with magic as well."
"But what if the troll runs into the other girls from our class?" Tecna questioned.
"Just stay out of our way, so we can handle this. We've wasted enough time, as is." Riven was clearly frustrated, and Onyx couldn't really blame him. The longer they stood around here chatting, the further away that troll got. Onyx moved away from the group and began examining the craft to see how it had been brought down.
"Maybe we should go along with them," Bloom tried to talk quietly to the other girls, but Onyx could hear them from where she crouched by the whole in the craft.
"What did you find?" Riven came to crouch next to her, clearly noticing that she had found something.
"This blast pattern," Onyx touched the edge of the whole. "The metal is bent inwards, and the burn residue is outside the haul. Which means, you were shot down. This was definitely the work of an outside force who were breaking out the troll."
"These witches really that dangerous?" Riven questioned.
"For first year specialist who aren't used to working and fighting as a team?" Onyx raised an eyebrow. "Yes, they are seniors. I've managed to beat them back once before, so has Bloom but she only won that fight because our headmistress turned up."
"Alright," Riven stood. "If you're coming, we need to move now. Like I said, we've wasted enough time."
Riven began walking in the direction that the footsteps were heading, with Onyx at his side, only to stop. "Why have the footsteps disappeared when there is still mud?"
"Magic," Onyx stated. "I'll lead the way."
"You doing some kind of magic?" Riven questioned.
"It's a sensing technique. You should be able to learn it to. The men of my people could track as well as any woman." Onyx glanced briefly to her purples haired companion.
Riven had the same loner atmosphere that she did, except he was also carrying a lot of anger around with him – an innate mistrust for people. But she had no doubt that he could be very protective and compassionate towards those he cared for. He put up a hard and confrontational front in order to protect himself, and his competitive attitude helped him get stronger. If Onyx hadn't found and connected to Bloom, she had no doubt that her own personality would match Riven's after being abandoned by her own people for being different and spending her time alone and isolated in a forest on a planet she didn't know. Riven just needed someone he could trust to help balance him out – maybe she could be his Bloom?
"You lot coming?" Onyx called over her shoulder when she noticed that the others weren't following them.
"If I ever say 'Hey let's go hang out in a swamp'. Remind me that I really hate swamps." Musa complained.
"Since when could trolls lev-walk?" Musa questioned.
"The troll must have cast a spell." Flora questioned.
"Except troll can't do that." Tecna pointed out.
Onyx and Riven were at the head of the line leading them through the swamps and plants, with Bloom and Brandon behind them, then Sky and Stella, Tecna and Timmy and finally Musa and Flora bringing up the rear.
"If we aren't following footprints, what are we following?" Timmy was the one to question.
Onyx chose to ignore him as she focused on the feelings around her. It was one thing for her to not lead them when they were just participating in a school exercise, but they were currently hunting a threat and so her battle instincts took over. Living on a planet with only two hours of sunlight, no matter how much time she spent in the caves, meant that she and her people had gotten very good at listening to the Voice Nature and their other senses in order to navigate when sight was lost. She may have been living on earth for the past nine years, but she had continued to practise her skills by training and hunting at night.
"The Voice of Nature, maybe." Bloom was the one to answer when Onyx didn't.
"That's right." Flora's voice was a soft and slightly unfocused. The Voice of Nature. I can hear it, we're heading in the direction she is telling us."
"She's right, through the thicket." Bloom agreed.
"Through the creepy passage," Riven muttered, pulling out his three-point dagger in each hand instead of walking with his sword out. "Why wouldn't the troll go through the easier travelled path?"
"Cause that's the nature of our luck." Onyx smirked in amusement, allowing her bracelet to turn back into a dagger.
"You fight with a dagger?" Riven questioned.
"I'm proficient with many weapons. My primary is a staff which is not conductive to fighting in this environment." Oynx answered, before she paused. "Quietous Carnivorus, they hate noise." Turning around Onyx motioned for silence from the nattering party behind her and pointed to the plant.
"Quietous Carnivorus," Flora identified in a whisper. "They hate noise."
"Really?" Stella questioned at a normal volume. "No. let's see." She whistled loudly. "See? Nothing happened."
In retaliation for the noise, a vine grabbed Stella causing her to scream as she was held upside down. Onyx sighed and pinched the bridge of her noise in frustration.
"Stop screaming Stella." Bloom quietened her as Flora moved to communicate with the plant. After a moment, the plant dropped Stella.
"I told you." Flora stared down at Flora. "No sudden noise, okay?"
"Where are we going now?" Musa questioned quietly, glancing between the three who had shown they could hear the voice of nature.
Onyx silently turned and continued walking, leading them away from the deeper part of the swamp and to more solid ground so they weren't ankle deep in the swamp. There was silence until informed them that they had left the planting ground for the carnivorous plant.
"How was the troll able to get so far ahead of us?" Stella complained as they came to a wide river which was flowing quite fast.
"We'll have to hop our way across." Tecna observed.
"Wait," Onyx tried to caution, but Tecna had already hopped on the closest Clumpaturf.
"Be careful, Tecna." Timmy warned, reaching out to steady Tecna when she wobbled.
"Thanks," Tecna smiled before jumping go the next stone.
"Why did you want her to wait?" Riven questioned as Musa and Stella also jumped onto a Clumpaturf. His innate cautiousness having him gathering information from someone who had already proven they were highly aware of their surroundings, and who moved like the seniors of Red Fountain did – this fairy was a warrior.
"Whirlpool," Onyx pointed to the way that the Clumpaturf's were moving under the group's feet, and then further down street where a swirling dip of water was beginning to form. "Guys be careful, Whirepool!"
"We'll have to move fast." Tecna told the group.
"After you," Riven motioned to the clumaturf's since they were the only ones who had yet to jump. "We don't want to be left behind."
"Watch your feet." Onyx turned her dagger back into a bracelet before jumping. Riven followed her lead, putt his pronged daggers away, so that they both had hands free for balance.
They were just getting to the end of the crossing, when the jumps started getting longer. Onyx and Riven were the last to make the jump. Onyx jumped and landed on the last clumaturf with one leg and immediately jumped to dry land with everyone else. Turning, she saw Riven make the jump just as the last crumaturf moved, landing him in the water and being pulled towards the whirlpool.
"Riven!" Onyx dived forward and caught his hand, but the ground gave out under her feet and she was pulled into the water too. Tecna grabbed her free forearm and Timmy grabbed Tecna, leaving them as a chain.
"Don't let go," Riven glanced back to the whirlpool as two clumaturfs' crashed together and sank under.
"Not happening." Onyx kicked against the water, helping Tecna and Timmy pull her to shore. once she was on dry land, he was able to help them pull Riven onto land besides her.
"Bet you're glad you teamed up with us girls now, aren't you Riven." Stella smirked.
"Yeah, whatever." Riven got up and brushed himself off, offering a hand to help Onyx to her feet. "Thanks."
"Of course." Onyx accepted his gratitude easily, not making a big deal out of it as the other's would have done.
"Come on, let's get going." Riven glared at the rest of them and marched off.
Onyx ignored the sigh that came from Timmy and Brandon, brushing the dirt and water from her clothing as she moved to catch up with the sullen teen.
They had only just re-entered a clump of trees when they heard a roar.
"That's our boy." Sky smiled.
The group hurried towards the sound. Onyx's and Riven with drew their weapons when they heard screaming, prompting the other specialists to do the same.
"That's Amaryl!" Bloom identified the scream.
"Don't worry, we'll get her outta there." Sky reassured her as they cleared the bushes to find a group of three fairs: Amaryl, Dhalia and Perla.
"They're trapped!" Bloom gasped in horror. "We've gotta do something before he turns those girl's into fairy dust."
"All right everybody. I got a plan. Phase one: the girls distract the troll."
"I hope 'the troll eats the girls isn't phase two." Stella snarked.
"No way, cause Brandon and Timmy'll pin him down, then Riven and I jump in and slip the shackles on him." Sky continued.
"You've been practising your team work, right?" Onyx questioned all of the specialists. A week ago they hadn't been able to fight as a cohesive unit and this plan rely on their ability to work together.
The look Riven gave her moment's before Sky ordered them to move told her quite clearly that they had, in fact, not been able to practise their team work in the last week.
Onyx followed the girls since – as far as she was aware – none of them knew how to fight without their fairy forms. Considering the fact that they were still part of an assessment, the girls probably wouldn't consider using their magic – just as the three trapped fairies hadn't thought to transform and simple fly out of reach.
"Hey there, um, big guy." Bloom shouted to get the Troll's attention. "Remember us?"
"Long time no see." Stella waved.
The trolled roared in anger, turning its back on the three trapped fairies.
"Well, don't be a stranger. Get over here and pass out hugs." Stella smiled.
That got the troll moving, causing it to charge them. just as planned, Timmy and Brandon managed to pin it with ropes causing the troll to fall into the mud.
Sky and Riven jumped on it's back, trying to wrestle the troll's arms in order to get the shackles on. Onyx moved in front of the girls, standing with her staff ready to use since she could see that Timmy and Brandon were struggling to hold the troll down – the robes already starting to loosen its body and allow it to stand up.
"Come on, quick. Hurry, put the-whoa!" Sky was thrown from the troll's back, allowing it to grab Riven's face.
"Riven," Onyx ran forward, jumping to bring her staff down on the troll's face hard just as the ropes binding it down came loose.
"Thanks" Riven grunted, allowing his three-pronged daggers to form into a sword.
Ignoring the other three specialists – Sky had the shackles and was trying to get to his feet, and Timmy and Brandon who were trying to untangle themselves from the ropes – Riven and Onyx moved in to take down the troll. Riven attacking from the left and Onyx from the right.
With the troll's thick hide, Riven's sword wasn't doing a lot of damage to him – in most issues he wasn't even able to get enough power behind his swings to cut through the skin since he was having to be careful of the troll's flailing arms. Onyx was hitting at the troll's chest, face and legs as often as she could in order to give Riven openings to take advantage off.
"We have to help them." Stella told the other specalisits' helping them to their feet.
"How?" Timmy questioned.
"Riven, Onyx, pull back." Sky called.
"Bad idea." Riven shouted at them, ducking under an arm.
Onyx did a back flip to get out of the way of a rock that had been frown at her. She landed next to one of the abandoned ropes. Returning her staff to watch form, Onyx grabbed the rope and moved forward.
"Riven!" she called in warning as she tossed him one end. He instinctively grabbed the end, and caught on to her plan. Running wide, they charge the troll either side. Passing around the back of the troll, Onyx ducked under the side Riven was holding. Running around the front, Riven was the one to duck low under the rope. "Legs." Onyx ordered once she felt that the arms' were secure enough to stop the troll form pulling free again. Holding the ropes low, they looped around the troll three times before coming to stop in front of it.
"Pull." Riven ordered.
They pulled together, causing the already tight ropes to pull taught and take the troll of its feet. It fell with an almighty crash. Not wanting it to escaping the grip of the rope again, Riven and Onyx both jumped onto the troll's front and kept the ropes pulled tight.
"Are you lot going to help at some point?" Riven looked over to his team. "And maybe put the cuffs on."
"Right." Sky moved forward. He clipped the cuff on one wrist, and with a little bit more manoeuvring managed to get the cuff on the troll's over wrist despite the restraining ropes.
"We should keep the ropes around it, just encase." Brandon observed, as the troll stopped struggling – the sedative effect triggering.
"Well, I'm not going to drag it back to the ship." Riven snorted. "I've done enough."
"Group plans, Prince Sky, require actual training in group formation for future reference." Onyx told the brown-haired specialist who had come up with the original plan.
"Here," Timmy moved forward and activated something on the shackles which caused green bands to appear across the troll's body, adding to the restraints and levitating him. "That will make it easier, because he's weightless."
"Here," Riven handed his rope over to Timmy. Brandon stepped forward and took the over rope from Onyx.
"Onyx, you were awesome." Stella cheered, bouncing forward. "I've never seen anything like it."
"Let's just help the specialists back to their craft and complete our field exercise." Onyx settled on saying.
"You've delayed long enough," Brandon pointed out. "You should go join the rest of your class."
"We've helped you this far," Bloom shook her head. "We'll help you back to the craft."
"Do you remember the way back?" Musa questioned.
"I've memorised the route we took to get here." Tecna informed them. "Although, how are we going to get over the river again? Many of the clumaturf's were destroyed."
"If we go further up river, there should be another place that we can cross." Flora informed them.
"Alright, Tecna, lead the way." Timmy said happily.
Onyx and Riven wondered at the back of the group, not wanting to be part of the joking and teasing conversations that were taking place up ahead as they celebrated a successful recapture.
"You think those Witches my try and get the troll again?" Riven questioned.
"I don't know. They don't know we're in the woods and are arrogant enough to believe that you wouldn't be able to track and recapture the troll; so, they might just assume that the troll was taken out by one of the dangers in the swamp when it doesn't turn up." Onyx frowned thoughtfully. "But I'd keep your ship scanners active until you reach your destination. And update your headmaster as to what happened. Our headmistress is already aware of the witches, but it wouldn't hurt for your headmaster to be aware as well."
"We'd have to tell Saladin anyway, since we left the craft and have been delayed several hours from our drop off point." Riven muttered. "It's going to be weeks before we're allowed on another solo mission."
"This mission was a failure," Onyx reminded him. "There was no way for you to know you'd be shot down, and you managed to recapture the troll."
"Only because of you…" Riven paused. "I should say the others helped to… put it was mostly you."
"Tecna pulled the both of us from the water, and Flora and Bloom listened to the voice of nature to confirm our direction." Onyx pointed out. "If I hadn't been here, they would have been able to lead you."
Riven was silent until they had crossed the water once more – this time without incident because there was no whirlpool to disrupt or move their stepping points.
"Will you teach me how to track like your people?" Riven requested. "Considering the typical work of a specialist, it would be very useful."
"Of course," Onyx agreed. "As long as you promise too dual with me."
Riven raised an eyebrow at that.
"It's been a long time since I've had a partner to fight against." Onyx explained. "I'd like your assistance practising."
"You don't fight like you haven't had a partner in a long time." Riven blinked in surprise. "I didn't notice any wholes in your form. You're light on your feet and you pack a very powerful punch."
"Thank you." Onyx bowed her head at the compliment to her technique. "I'd still feel better if I got the opportunity to practise against a warrior."
"Alright, we'll set something up around our lessons." Riven conceded. "It will be interesting to fight someone who uses a staff. And perhaps magic?"
"I rarely use my magic – whether in my daily life or a fight, but I could use magic sometimes if you'd like the practise?" Onyx saw the true question he was asking – if she would help him learn how to fight someone who could use magic, like the witches.
"That sounds like a plan. Here, my number," Riven pulled out his contact device and pulled up his number.
Onyx pulled out her own contact device. It only worked on planet (the phrased used when there was only a short radius for contact), but she could connect the device through a computer or on-board system to boost the device. Once she had Riven's number programmed in, she gave him her number.
Once they reached the plane, Timmy and Tecna worked together to patch up the whole, Brandon and Sky secured the troll in the hull and Riven went to the cock-pit in order to check over the system and make sure the plane was still flight ready. Onyx told the girls that they needed to be heading out, but Stella decided that she had enough walking through the swamp for one day, and convinced Sky to give them a lift.
By the time the plane was ready to go, the sun was about to set and Onyx was completely done with people. All she wanted was to get away from everyone for a few hours – especially Stella whose personality naturally grated against her nerves and patience.
"Your group is by far the last to arrive." Paladium greeted the girls. "And so, unfortunately, you receive a zero for punctuality." That announcement caused Bloom, Stella, Flora, Musa and Tecna to gasp in horror, but Onyx had completely accepted that such an outcome was likely since they she had been outvoted and they ended up waiting for the boy's ship to be fixed.
"However, thirty points for generosity, twenty-five for initiative, forty-four courage and fifty for your ability to listen to the Voice of Nature makes your score the highest in the class." Paladium continued, making it clear that he had been well aware of what was happening with the class; something that Onyx had already been aware of since he would have had to react if they encountered anything they were unable to deal with since they hadn't been taught anything in his class yet – like identifying dangerous plant life.
"No fair!" Amaryl complained, looking no worse for wear following her encounter with the troll. "They were the last to get here."
"I never said it was a race." Paladium pointed out. "Sometimes the journey is more important than the destination."