Chapter 07
Goodness Class & The Incident
-(-)-
Sleep came quickly, but the dreams that haunted Ace were not something he had ever experienced. The whole experiences disjointed but had a strange air of familiarity in it, and it was hard to remember everything. But the one thing that remained clear as a bell was him standing over his own body in a large room where a dragon was battling his sister. At the same time, an army of playing cards watched.
He awoke the next morning with a startled jerk, but even that sudden explosion of energy had not shaken the feeling of fatigue that descended on him. Everything this morning was an effort to do getting undressed to shower, brushing his teeth and brushing his hair. Everything was an effort, and it rankled him.
He wasn't sure what the source was, but today he was angry and couldn't shake the mood, it was lingering in him like a poison. He was half tempted to leave his sword in his room, but he wasn't stupid enough to leave himself unarmed in a place filled with people who hated him for the sin of life.
He rolled his eyes as he picked up his class schedule and stuffed it and a pen into his pocket, he refused to take the rucksack that had been providing suspecting that there was probably a listening device or tracker inside it. So, he had opted to empty his duffle bag and take it after thoroughly checking it, it had after all been out of his sight the day before.
According to the class schedule, the first lesson every day would be the remedial goodness class, administered by the Fairy Godmother herself. This apparently doubled as an orientation, introduction to the broader world apart from the history class. A counselling session Ace felt was more of a way to see how indoctrinated they were into their parent's ideals and how they could "reprogram" them for goodness. As if it was something that could be forcibly hammered into them to make them different from what they are, survivors.
Ace was the first of the VK's to make it to the canteen. He was wearing a similar outfit to his usual attire along with his hat. He had made sure that the wide brim protected his eyes from the garish light of day. His eyes were adjusting slowly to the brightness, but it was a slow process that he put down to him, taking more after his father than his mother.
He grabbed a tray and piled on the food scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages, hash browns, black pudding, fried bread, beans and toast. He went to the farthest point that allowed him to see both entrances and exits, as well as the fire-escapes. While at the same time not exposing his back to the HK's that were either outright gawping at him. Some of them had this neat little trick taught to all royals where they go to almost a ridiculous degree to make it not look like they were staring at him while staring at him. He had learned that trick from Cardinal Richelieu at the Etiquette classes taught at the Dragon Hall Academy.
It was all too familiar to him, he waited before eating his food to see observe students who had gotten food just after him from the same trays. He wanted to see them eat before he ate his own. He then waited for a few moments so that whatever they put in it to kick in, but when nothing happened after a minute, he began his own meal. It wasn't long till he was joined by the other VK's eating their own meals.
Once they were full, they began to craft a plan of action. The VK's were going to be divided into separate classes meaning that they couldn't watch each other's backs. So, they would need a means to contact each other that couldn't be readily seen or taken from them, potentially a beacon of some sort that only they could detect. Carlos was told to begin to look into it as he was the most tech-savvy of the group.
In no time at all, the bell rang, and they were forced to get to the next class. The schedule said that they needed to go to the library annexe, Ace was not amused as this room had glass walls at the rear meaning that he had to angle himself to watch for any threats, but of course, they wouldn't allow him to do that so Ace wouldn't be able to concentrate.
As they arrived, they spotted the Fairy Godmother herself in her baby blue dress smiling at them like she wasn't the warden of their hell.
The VK's all sat in the middle of the classroom, Ace sat behind them. He was not amused as every time someone walked or jogged passed his instincts would kick in. He would tense up his eyes, following them for any movements that could translate to an attack until they passed completely.
The Fairy Godmother noticing this tapped the pedestal repeatedly to get his attention. She was standing on an elevated platform with a blackboard behind her, the stained-glass windows casting blue light across the room. She stood heel to heel like a guard on parade and smiled serenely at them.
"students." She said as she tapped her stick on the pulpit to get their attention again. "Welcome to remedial goodness 101." She tapped each word out to the corresponding word stylistically drawn on the board behind her. "I am going to be going through a set of scenarios today just to get a feel for where you all are then we can tailor the course for your own benefit and education."
She explained to the assembled teens.
"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, so let's begin shall we." She did a strange smile shrug as she told them and got started. "Ace turn around pleas," she said, but Ace only moved slightly "Ace, please turn around." He did so begrudgingly as another group passed the room. "Number one" she tapped the blackboard "if someone hands you a crying baby do you A) Curse it, B) Lock it in a tower, C) Give it a Bottle or D) Carve out its hart." She made a grasping motion before she called out again "Ace if you are so busy looking behind you, then you must have the answer."
"Depends on who the parent is." He said though the room only heard a mumble
"Ace, please turn around and answer the question." He sighed belligerently
"If someone hands me a baby, I'm assuming it's a situation where I have either ordered it to happen, or I have been entrusted to complete a mission." He said shocking the team "so I can assume it's neither peasant nor merchant nor simple guards' child" he said using his fingers to count off his reasoning. "So, if it's a royal child I can take it and raise it as either a puppet or as someone that can understand my own perspective raising it to be sympathetic to me and a potential ally against any number of foes." The FG was taken aback by this answer. "So, no option you have given me here other than C is applicable. Afterall why waist a potential ally becoming a future foe."
"wait, but that's not what?"
"if the child is a peasant child, then I'm assuming it's an Arthur situation, and he is a future chosen one which again C is the only option you have presented here that is even remotely reasonable. again, Evil not stupid, not even my own mother would kill a baby for no reason, the only difference is that her reason would be entirely unimaginative and petty, which sums up her entire pathetic life really."
"but the Question."
"None of our parents did anything without reason or cause, Jaffar was the power behind Agrabah and wanted to solidify that by marrying the Princess simple enough but then throw in a magic lamp and a street rat and everything went to hell." He said, indicating Jay who nodded "Evil Queen wanted to remain the most beautiful woman in the land, but when her magic mirror identified Snow White, she wanted to get rid of her rival." He pointed to Evie that got her to giggle behind her hands. "Mal's mom was the Queen of a vast kingdom, and as etiquette and tradition dictated, King Philip and his Wife should have paid homage to her by inviting her to the child's celebration. Even if she wasn't going to go, the invite was not only expected but was required as a Woman of her status and station demanded."
"This was not the point of the question."
"no, the point of the question was basically asking us how Evil are you? something that is not only insulting but also displays a type of hubris and ignorance that is to be expected from you mainlanders." The Fairy Godmother jerked back like she had been struck before she found her footing again.
"I am sorry if you feel offended, but this class is not only a part of your time here it also a necessary class for every one of the children that come from the isle." She reasoned, believing that the teen would find her point correct.
"I'm not offended by the class." He fired back at the Fairy who was taken aback by his seeming lack of respect. "I am offended that you don't see the other side, nor do you even attempt to understand what actually happened, these questions just highlight that fact." A small squeak indicated that someone had entered the room he turned fast, and the Girl was startled rushing past as if she was being chased, in her hand was a single document.
The Fairy Godmother turned to Mal.
"Mal, do you know the answer?" Mal was artfully sketching out the wand with a skill rarely displayed on the Island outside of tagging the walls. He was absentmindedly twirling a lock of her purple hair before she gave the answer.
"It would also answer C." the Fairy Godmother was happy that she didn't feel the need to expand on the point and argue like Ace was with every answer he gave. She was quick and to the punch every time.
"that is correct yes." The Fairy Godmother smiled; she was delighted that the Daughter of Maleficent was so well adjusted. The other Villain kids minus Ace turned to her with praise before she told them the secret.
"just do the one that sounds the least fun." She told them loud enough for them to hear but quietly enough so the Fairy couldn't hear them.
"Hello, dear one." Ace could tell that the Fairy welcomed the interruption, "this is my daughter Jane" she indicated to the Girl who practically begged her to stop drawing attention to her, she handed over what was apparently the plans for the coronation. The document needed to be signed as it finalised some of the security arrangements for the wand transfer.
"Everyone remember my daughter Jane." She said oblivious to her daughter's terror Fairy godmother signed it with a smile before handing the document back to her daughter.
"Mom, no," she said as Fairy Godmother pushed her daughter towards the group.
"Jane, this is everyone." She was so terrified by them she was making an almost perfect impression of a turtle without having the shell to retreat into.
"hi." She waved with a tense, uneasy jerky hand. "as you were." The nervous wreck of a girl was trying and failing to be casual as she passed the Villain Kids again Jay made a quick jerking motion that caused the Girl to let a squeak of terror she bolted from the room with and as soon as he passed the door ran as fast as her legs would carry her.
The Fairy Godmother sighed happily as she watched her daughter scurry away.
"now, Question 2" Ace sighed, looked up to the heavens and rolled his eyes, he tilted his head forward allowing the hat to cover his eyes again and contemplated finding a secluded place to take a nap. "You find a vile of poison do you A) put it in the Kings drink, B) Paint it on an apple." That got a giggle from both Mal and Evie, "or C) Turn it over to the proper authorities."
This time everyone but Mal and Ace raised their hands. But it was the dynamic dunces causing a scene that she called on.
"Jay?" she asked the larger of the two idiots.
"C Turn it over to the proper authorities." He smiled as Carlos sighed in annoyance
"I was going to answer that." He said whining, Jay pounced on the teen getting him into a noogie and practically dragging the two of them over the desk. So, the dynamic dunces ended up being sent to do physical education classes to burn off their excess energy, for no other reason than that he was there. Ace was also being sent to a separate Physical Education Class because those two idiots were hyper at that moment.
"Ace, please stay." The group stopped as they headed to the doors, turning to the taller teen with wicked smiles they made their way out to their next class, after all, fall behind left behind was the way of the Isle. He turned around and made his way back to the centre of the room.
"there something that you need?" she started to approach Ace at a pace he was very uncomfortable with making him take a step back and raise his arm to shield himself from what he thought was an incoming attack. This sudden defensive posture alarmed the Fairy who slowed to stop and left at least two feet between him and her.
"yes," she said she made a point to move slowly and not make any sudden jerky motions and kept her hands in view. "there was an incident last night at the museum." His face was a stone mask as she continued, "Someone vandalised a statue of your mother, we want you to know that we are very sorry that this happened and we will take the appropriate steps to find the culprit and bring them to justice."
"Why was there a statue of my mother at the museum." He said quietly "I would have thought you would have whitewashed away any mention of the villains" he used air quotes when he said, villains.
"no, no, we don't do that." She said, taking a step forward, causing Ace to mirror her movement but in reverse step for step.
"could have fooled me." She had no argument for that. "is there anything else you wanted."
"no, it just that some of the students saw you with a brochure for the museum and we didn't want you to be upset or shocked that her statue had been vandalised." She said as she kept her usually animated personality under control. "we also wanted to let you know that a place holder statue will be in place if you want to go, I would suggest any time after tomorrow."
"I was interested in seeing the wand." He said, scratching his left jawline with his right hand. "Mal wanted to go sometime as well it's why she was sketching it out so much." He smiled "she wanted to see if the rumours about it were true."
"roomers?" she asked.
"she said that she wanted to see if it did indeed pulsate with power like the heart of a star," he said that made the fairy smile "or something that that effect."
"are you close to Mal?"
"no one is close to anyone on the Isle" he responded, that caused her smile to falter "it all about protection and usefulness," he told her matter-of-factly. "Mal's name and mine offer a lot of protection on the isle, even with us here our protection extends to those who enjoy it as long as they are useful."
"that doesn't seem like a good environment to raise children." She lamented
"it's not," he said, "but that's what happens when you cage up children with the very worst of society who have nothing but their own minds and time." He cleared his throat with a sharp cough "If that's all Headmistress, I have a class to get to."
"oh, before I forget." She handed him a note "for your next class" he nodded, taking the note slowly from her outstretched hand. He then made his way out and to his next class, leaving behind the Fairy Godmother questioning her own choices to follow the plan all those years ago.
(Sports hall: Swords and Shield training area.)
The arena was massive easily as large as the entirety of the Dragon Hall. At its heart was a large octagon lit by a gigantic skylight and accompanied lighting rig. Ace walked around the large area around it. It was nine meters wide it stood six feet above the ground, doing the math in his head he surmised that it was around seven-hundred- and sixty-meters square.
The barriers surrounding it were made of a type of plastic glass connected by padded pillars that were mostly black with one coloured red and another blue. Smiling slyly, Ace picked one of the doors and enters the Octagon, the floor was padded slightly but no to a gigantic extent like a gymnastics mat.
Ace took a deep calming breath, and, in his mind's eye, summoned the master's wheel the way he had been taught by the Count. It was a tool used mainly in Spanish rapier styles to easily show asymmetrical attack patterns or how to defend against more than one opponent.
He walked the Octagon, noting how many paces it took to walk from the outside edge to the centre and back going both forwards and backwards. He had been taught to master the ground he was fighting on to master the opponent he was facing.
He was concerned that his class was empty the schedule said that his next class was Swords and Shields and they had given him this area as the location of his class. As he began to feel at home in the cage, he heard the door slam hard, turning to the door he was greeted by five students wearing padded armour each carrying swords with ornate western European styled guard. The top of the guard on four of the swords by the blade there was an ornate blue and silver cross reminiscent of the King of France's Grey Musketeer Guard.
The five were a motley crew in his opinion, there was a large one with thin patchy moustache whose edges he had styled up in a type of handlebar style. This contrasted from his main of long honey brown hair. His cheeks looked like smiling was the natural expression for him, and he had a small wine stain on his lips and armour. There was a glint of menace behind his hazel eyes the whites of which were stained pink.
The next appeared to be the oldest, he held a grim disposition and looked to be the most aggressive of them. His hand grasped the handle of his blade so tightly that his knuckles were turning white. He had shaggy black hair on his head and a black moustache and goatee that were just as shaggy, he was pail and had sad grey-blue eyes rimmed darkly by bags.
The next was handsome with almost feminine features, he had an imperial style moustache with a sharply pointed goatee. He was immaculately dressed in colour coded fashion his long golden blond hair had been held tightly in a top knot he seemed to put a lot of pride in his appearance.
The last of the students carrying a musketeer guard blade was a girl. She was beautiful with grey eyes that shined like the moon rimmed in a deep blue reminiscent of blue holes in the ocean. Her lips were red with rouge lipstick and held a naturally deep pout to them. She was a brunette having tied it up in a ponytail she was around five feet eight hands with the iron in her eyes seemed like the most likely to give Ace a fight. She raised an artfully sculpted eyebrow as his gaze consumed her.
He was tall built strong and read headed, he held a firm triangular shape, a strong, broad shoulders tapering down to a pair of tree trunk legs. His features were strongly Greek, and he was almost as tall as Ace. He had an air of ozone static about him as if as he stood there, a storm could hit at any moment.
Ace grasped the handle of his sword with his off-hand and pushing the blade slightly to show that he had live steel, not a training blade.
"We don't want your kind here." Said the largest of the students. He pointed dramatically with an overemphasised scowl. Ace rolled his eyes in annoyance the naked bravado of the student was almost amusing if he wasn't so disgusted.
"it's is customary my dear friend to introduce once self before exchanging pleasantries." He said, turning himself so that he was online with the one speaking. "this is after all proper etiquette."
"I thought that you would have gone with the rest of the scum to the tourney fields. This is the house of the blade." This time it was the immaculate/effeminate one, who pulled out a nail file and then began to clean his nails with an attachment to it.
"my, my two insults and still no introduction." Ace chastised, he could see some movement up in the stands and wasn't sure who it was, so he began to play to them. "seeing as I am the only gentleman here allow me to introduce myself." He took his cavalier hat off, bearing with the pain of the light, he did an elaborate bow to the Girl and smiled with an easy charm. "I am Ace Hart, the Red Prince of Wonderland the Ace of the pack and leader of the Sword suit on The Isle of The Lost." He placed his cavalier hat back on securely and running his finger and thumb along the brim.
"We don't care who you are we want you gone." This time it was the tired/depressed one, he was less flamboyant than either of the other two and was discreetly edging away from the group. This action was mimicked by the female of the group.
"well, gentlemen unfortunately for you I am here at the request of the King." Ace smiled, taking a few steps back matching the two trying to flank him step for step. The person in the stands hidden by shadow moved to a room, and he saw several small red lights blink on. Was someone really going to record this? He asked himself.
"I have little care over what that fool dose, I am above and beyond him as he is above and beyond you." Said the Greek looking boy, arrogance and stupidity all in one package this he could work with if necessary.
Ace began to calculate a plan as the two on his flanks stopped moving.
"I wouldn't be so sure of that bolt boy." Ace said, startling the boy for a moment whose eyes widened before they narrowed dangerously with naked fury. Ace touched the brim of his hat again. "Why don't you, tonnes of fun and chronic depression really consider what you're about to embark on."
"We already have." Said the Girl firmly, Ace could tell they were all agitated, the longer he drew this out, the more likely they would be to be found out. They had apparently gone off the script; Ace knew that the recording would be used against him should it be handed over, so he elected to do something that he never did.
He was going to have to talk about the duel like some idiot hero. Well if needs must and the talking would make editing any video very difficult.
"really." He smiled as he drew his blade, a wicked smiled on his face. "I was never taught to spare any of my opponents if you draw live steel on me you may not live to regret it." He stated with an artistic flourish of his blade, the runes making the blade glow red and the with its every move came a trail of red light like a ribbon following behind it. He held the sword in his off-hand, he wanted to see how skilled these mainlander swordsmen where.
What he didn't know was that the person in the booth had accidentally gone live with the cameras and the tv feed was playing to a captivated audience of students and teachers. If the Fairy Godmother wasn't with the King in the palace, she would have shut this down.
The large one started charging with a roar his blade raised like a caveman's cudgel. Still, Ace didn't fall into the immediate trap of trying to block the powerful blow instead he used his own blade and strength to guide the blade down harmlessly tip first into the canvas of the Octagon.
"really a high angle strike with a rapier you must be very confident in your ability." Ace said as soon as the large one's blade tip hit the floor, Ace with his free right hand punched him in the face making the larger teen lose his footing momentarily.
As he stumbled back, Ace was forced to retreat as two blades slashed for his face recognising his mistake of allowing himself to be manoeuvred into the centre of the Octagon.
"Come now I'm sure we can all put this behind us and move on." Taking a chance, he grabbed the large one and used him to shield against his friend. In contrast, he defended against the girl's wild attacks as soon as he was in an advantageous position Ace kicked the large one into the feminine looking boy ducking under the sword of the depressed one so he could punch the Girl hard enough to drop her.
"my most sincere apology, my lady." He said as she hit the canvas with a heavy thud, with his newfound prodigious strength, it looked like a love tap. But things began to speed up when someone tried to force the door leading into the arena.
This momentary distraction allowed for the Greek to jump in. he wasn't using a rapier, like his friends, but a Kopis he slashed wildly as the smaller blade moved with more incredible speed.
"are you sure you want to continue this" Ace asked dodged and danced away from the strikes with high practised ease, but as the blade came at an angle, he couldn't block he held off the Greeks blade with his own.
"I won't back down to scum like you no matter what the fool prince says." Ace had to move back again as the strength of the Greek was starting to grow again. Forcing Ace to tap into greater power to survive his eyes erupted in a crimson flame.
"Open this door" the muffled shout came from the shadows around the room. As the heavy impacts on the doors began to become much more frantic.
Ace used his footwork to trick the Greek spinning over his shoulder with a gymnastic jump he then used a dirty grappling technique fish hocking the Greek as he was behind him. Then using the knuckle bow to punch him twice in the temple before he had to dodge another slashing attack that cut the crimson tunic he was wearing. The Greek dropped his head heavily, hitting the canvas with a resounding meaty thud leaving him unconscious and bleeding.
With two taken out of the fight, it was down to three on one. But now all the doors were being hit the hinges screeching as they held their ground.
"come on, put your backs into it." Came the roar from outside the door
Ace smiled as the trio looked more panicked, they were now committed to this action as surely as the Scots Greys as Waterloo and Ace thought that they knew they would be just as doomed.
"Well gentlemen, should we call this a day and go our separate ways." He asked the trio, the large one's nose was bleeding, and the immaculate boy was visibly angry his face turning an interesting shade of puce.
"we'll stop once you're gone." Said the depressed/tired one "you don't belong here, you know it we know it, so why stay."
"I wouldn't expect any of you mainlanders to understand. But once I give my word, I am bound to it." Ace said with an edge of annoyance to him, sometimes he cursed Sid and his silver tong.
"you wouldn't understand honour if it jumped out and bit you." The large one spat, Ace, smiled then started laughing exaggeratedly barking laugh that made the three very uncomfortable. "what is so funny?" asked the large one his left hand covering his face with blood pouring down his face.
"because my dear friend, I know something that you do not." Ace adjusted his grip on the blade so that he had threaded his left index finger into the guard to hold it. The three were mesmerised that he would do something so flagrantly dismissive of them.
"what?" asked the large one again.
"I am not left-handed." Ace said as he passed the blade from to his right hand smoothly, he went through several elaborate flourishes and spins with the blade its red ribbon trailing a pattern of pure majesty before he stopped. He tipped his hat to the three individually before he sighed "well, its' been fun, but I have better things to do than dance with you today."
"Alright guys, this time we take him together." Said the depressed/tired one looking to each one the trio charged at him. Making a quick tactical assessment Ace targeting the weakest one of the three that being the large one he parried and deflected two blows from the others and managed to get inside the guard of the large one slicing the back of his thighs.
He screamed in pain before Ace finished it with a knuckle bow strike to the head.
"and then there were two." He smiled at the two swordsmen the depressed one and the effeminate one looked at each other when the effeminate one suddenly jumped at him. Ace deflected three strikes then slashed him on the cheek and lead into an almighty elbow strike he felt the cartilage crush under the blow. The effeminate one dropped, looking less pretty than he had by still very much unconscious.
"and now the circle is complete." Ace said as he stepped over the unconscious teen, the fire in his eyes slowly receding within him. "tell me was all this worth it." He said, indicating to the group around them "throwing yourselves at me like this."
"you wouldn't understand."
"you would be surprised; I understand assassination attempts easily enough." He smiled at the teen "this has been legitimately the first time I have felt like I'm at home. Assassination attempts, backroom deals, battles to the death in the streets." The smile threatened to go past his eyes.
"what?"
"I remember the first assassination attempt on me." He said as if fondly remembering the occasion "he was sent by one of my mother's enemies, and I was not knee-high to a grasshopper." He laughed madly "you always remember your first, of course, no one ever tells you that they expel themselves afterwards. Nothing prepares for that smell, but as the years ticked away, you get used to it." The depressed/tired one took a step back. Ace caught a note of the slight tremor in his hand. "you know, you can tell the character of a man by the enemies he keeps. Mine have toppled mountains and brought whole empires to their knees, what chance do you and your ramshackle collection of idiots have against me."
"I will always stand against evil." He said raising his blade, Ace took his time to systematically dismantle his entire offensive repertoire. He allowed their blades to lock, and he took control of the depressed one's wrist, allowing him to apply pressure enough to force him to his knees.
"and what have I done to be deemed evil." He said, glaring into the depressed one's eyes. The more pressure he put on him, the more he sweats and panted and tried to get away. Ace gave him an opening, and he rolled away.
"you were born, that is enough." The depressed one picked up the Girl's sword and began to charge again slashing wildly with both blades. Ace danced around the wild slashing and thrusting as if it was an elaborate dance though he was quickly becoming bored.
"is it? Because I was born into what you call evil family that makes me evil?" asked as Ace caught his off-hand and stripped the extra blade from the tired/depressed one's hand. "You mainlanders and your hypocritical bigotry." Ace kicked his foe in the arse hard enough to make him stumble and fall. "tell me what evil the Red Queen did?"
"she was a brutal and tyrannical ruler then she tried to kill an innocent girl?" he answered, unsure of himself. He was tired and was having trouble getting enough air.
"one Girl? She ruled a kingdom of magic, and the only thing she did was enforce the laws of her lands, and that is all." Ace walked around his now unarmed opponent keeping his blade pointed at the teen. "Your King did more evil things than her, or shall we forget the food riots your French King started by giving them rotten food." Ace countered as he nudged the teen's blade closer to so that he could take it up again.
"one more push guys come on." Came the last roar as the external door to the area suddenly was hit by something much more potent than before boom echoed through the mostly empty room along with a mighty roar.
"Tell me oh high and mighty fool." Ace placed the tip of his blade under the teen's chin so that he could feel the pointed tip kiss his Adam's apple. "who rules wonderland now?" he asked, through the blade, he felt the teen gulp. "Who rules in the Red Queens stead?"
"The White Queen?" he said as he got to his feet, he was panting heavily, the whole duel had taken what felt like hours, but he was sure that it hadn't.
"Indeed, her sister, and the one she was waging a brutal war of annihilation against. Your King picked a side in that war and through financial and military aide allowed the Side, he favoured, to win." Ace held the blade at the teen's neck, and everything in him was telling him to slash neck. End the threat and move on the burning rage was starting to get worse, but he refused to give in and be used by his own hate. "Then, he packed the Red Queen off to the island with the "villains" because it was convenient." His opponent closed his eyes in preparation and Ace began to draw the blade back the conflict in him was palpable, but Ace just managed to sheathed his sword, his hand shaking as the fury no longer had an outlet. "A political decision that he made to secure his right flank against Maleficent. It was a wise tactical decision, just not a moral one."
The cage doors were blown off their hinges as Royal Guards' teachers and students streamed into the area. One adult amongst the group grabbed Ace by the arm and led him out of the Octagon. The students parting like the red sea.
"Do you know what you have done?" He didn't even try to hide the contempt he held Ace in. "you have no idea the trouble you are in boy." The grip on Ace's arm tightened, and whether he meant it or not Ace acted. Taking a firm hold of the man's wrist, he twisted it brining the taller man to his knees with a scream of pain. Everyone turned to face the scream and saw Ace holding the man with the same ease that a child would hold a balloon string. The teacher dropped to his knee's tears streaming down his face.
"who do you think you are," Ace asked with deadly calm, his blood was up, and he was reaching the edge of the knife the fury was passing the point where he could control it fully. "I was the one attacked here, I was the one facing a group of your students, and I was the one that had to deal with them." He twisted again, and the man screamed.
This drew the attention of everyone, the guards that had been securing the attackers were stunned to see the teen locking wristlock, but the entire group was too shocked to intercede. An uncomfortable silence hung in the air.
"you monster." He screamed again as Ace twisted the arm more viciously. "you should have been drowned at birth you and the rest of their spawn." He screamed again in pain as Ben and Mal's VK crew ran through the ruined doors and closed on Ace. Mal looked worried, and the others were visibly upset.
"what I want to know is who ordered this little demonstration in futility. I believe that you know who did and you will tell me, or the consequences will be dire for you." The man began to cry as the wrist lock turned into an armbar. Ace said as he loomed over the man as he clamped the lockdown even harder. He had gone Red in the face and was clasping at the Teens hand. His eyes bloodshot tears streaming down his cheeks.
"Ace let him go." He looked up and saw Mal, she took a step back in fear. The power rolling off the Crimson clad teen was palpable and visible as a burning red aurora was fading in and out of view as it danced around him.
"I want to know who sent those untalented twits after me and why." He applied more pressure and the man's choking attempts at breath began to unsettle everyone "I think this one knows but won't tell me."
"This is Sir Edgar." Said the Prince, he held out his hand to a calming manner. "He's a part of King Stefan's retinue I have a meeting with him today after school."
"then what is he doing here?" Ace asked a crazed look in his eyes
"I don't know," Ben answered honestly, taking the opportunity to try and calm her fellow Villain Kid down. She moved slowly, not wanting to attract his full attention. The pulses of power he was giving off were unsettlingly powerful, and even the nonmagical were feeling the shockwaves.
"Just let him go he isn't worth it." Said Mal, she was obviously thinking of the plan, but he wanted answers. Turning to look at his half-sister he knew that she held no fear of him at all, her eyes showed a profound worry and a flicker of something he didn't recognise, but he could tell she had no fear of him just what he was doing.
It took him a moment more to release the man who dropped clutching his ruined wrist. The guards grabbed the man and walked him out of the stadium, followed by the students that had instigated the impromptu duel.
"you have my word that I will find out who organised this and bring them to justice." Said Ben as the Fairy Godmother came shuffling in at top speed pink in the face from the extended effort.
"I'm sure you will," Ace said shaking his head he looked at the panting Fairy and asked. "given the ordeal of this could I skip today?" he asked her "I need to balance myself or I may lash out at people who even slightly irritate me."
"yes, I think that's best, would you please accompany me."