It was the day of parents' night at Hilda and Hilbert's school and the whole family headed to the school, meeting the principal in front of the entrance.
"Ah! Welcome to parents night. I'm Principal Magnusson" said the principal as he stopped decorating the school to greet Johanna and the family. "Thank you for coming! Be sure to stay for the grand finale"
The family stared at the principal in confusion as he began making drum noises as he pretended to play the drums.
Soon, the principal stopped and laughed joyfully for a bit before continuing "The dedication ceremony to our new statue" he gestured towards a statue of the school's founder standing on a troll's head proudly.
"This is nice." Said Hilda with a grimace, feeling a tad uncomfortable at the sight of the statue
"I'd pretend it's not there if i were you" whispered Hilbert absentmindedly as he stared at the statue knowing how miss 'friend of most creatures' felt about it
"Good advice" replied Hilda with a nod
"It is! He is!" Said the principal replying to Hilda's initial reaction "he is one of our city's great founders, 'Edmund the troll slayer Ahlberg'!"
Soon, after saying something about not wanting the spoil a surprise, the principal cheerfully hopped to the entrance and into the school.
The whole family forced smiles as they entered the school, not sure how to react to the principal's actions. Nonetheless, they made it to the room where the event was held and set up the things Hilda and Hilbert brought to show to the parents and the whole class.
_-_-_
"It's my nature collection, nittens." Said Hilda as she and her family stared at the jar filled with mini kittens
"I swear i picked these out of your head myself" said Johanna, staring at the nittens in confusion
"You did" replied Hilda nonchalantly
"I wonder if the elf mayor ever looked for these nittens" said Hilbert raising a brow, causing Hilda to shrug.
"Well, what about your project, Hilbert?" Johanna asked with a smile "you still haven't showed us what it is."
Hilbert laughed nervously as he started fidgeting with his fingers "about that...can't i just share Hilda's instead?"
Hilda and Johanna stared at Hilbert in confusion "Why? You brought here with us and it's quite big" said Johanna raising a brow
"I just...don't think i did a good job with the nature part" said Hilbert with a forced smile
"Are you afraid that they might not like it?" Asked Johanna with a smile and Hilbert nodded with the biggest forced smile he had
"C'mon, David brought rocks and they're pretty good" said Hilda pointing at David who was giving them a them a thumbs up after his parents praised him for the rocks "you don't have to worry."
Under the pressure of encouragement, Hilbert quickly gave up and revealed his project that was in a sealed box.
"..umm, fine" said Hilbert reluctantly before he took the lid off the box that held his project. It was a light microscope, all the tools it might need and some stuff to view using it. "I thought i could show what some normal stuff look like up close without using magic. It'd make me feel like a snob if made something others couldn't get somehow. Is it still too much?...Does this even qualify as natural collection?...Oh no! This is going to be awful!"
Seeing her son's distress, Johanna patted Hilbert on the head to try and calm him down "I'm sure it'll be alright. Your project is plenty good."
"And i think it's pretty neat" added Hilda with a smile as she looked through the microscope
Hilbert shivered at Hilda's words "it feels so weird to get a complement from you"
Hilda looked at her brother with a look that said 'are you serious?' "I take back what i said" she deadpanned
Johanna giggled a bit at her children's interaction "I'm proud of you two" she said as she kneeled to their level "i thought you two might have lot of trouble at school, but it seems like...you're adapting"
The twins smiled at their mother and Hilda spoke "Thanks, Mum" and Hilbert nodded with a happy smile in agreement
Before anything else could happen, Frida appeared and pulled Hilda away. Right after, Vivian also appeared and did the same to the Hilbert.
"Can you please not pull me like that again?" Said Hilbert with a frown. "I mean, look at Frida. She isn't trying to remove Hilda's arm"
Vivian blew a raspberry in response "I'm not doing anything wrong, you're just weak"
"Ouch?"
"Physically not emotionally" deadpanned Vivi causing Hilbert to roll his eyes. After that she became serious "so, this is another episode."
"Yep, and i plan on doing nothing" said Hilbert with a smile, causing Vivi to raise a brow "there isn't anything too dangerous, so i can sit back and focus on my anxiety"
Vivian put a hand on her chin "trolls can think like human so the decisions shouldn't change...you're right, but I'll try to help just in case. Anyway, do you want to see my collection?"
"No" deadpanned Hilbert
"I'll tell you anyways. I found this incredibly beautiful bed of flowers outside the wall and i had to show it off"
Before Hilbert could reply, their teacher Miss Hallgrim made some noise to get everyone's attention before clearing her throat.
"We'd like to begin with a short film about the history of our school." Said Hallgrim calmly before looking at Trevor who was near a window "Trevor."
"Yes, Miss Hallgrim." Replied Trevor before making it so no sunlight can enter before the film began to play.
As the film began to play, Hilbert quickly zoned out before noticing movement in the corner of his eye, it wasn't the troll that's for sure as it looked top tiny. He tried to look at it directly only to find nothing. He shrugged and went back to zoning out...that is until a part of David's rock collection knocked the projector over with a bright orange light following it.
Shocked gasps came from everyone in the room. David rushed towards his nature collection and Hilda followed right after. Hilbert just watched from the side.
He was fine with staying and doing nothing...until he noticed that the projector was...charred? It looked as if a tiny firework exploded right on top of it's side. There was no way it was made by the troll.
Before Hilbert could express his frustration, Vivi spoke.
"Looks like the plot's starting" Vivi whispered as she stared at the same thing he was.
"Do you not see the charred part of the projector?" Asked Hilbert angrily in a whisper
Vivian gave Hilbert an odd look "Charred?" She asked in confusion
'Why can't she see it?' Hilbert asked himself before turning to Hilda
"What happened here?" Asked Miss Hallgrim in a serious tone
"Looks like someone threw David's rocks at the projector" replied Hilda before noticing the charred exterior of the projector "and it looks-"
Hilda stopped talking when she saw Hilbert behind Hallgrim, signalling for her to stop talking. Hilda, deciding to listen to her brother, stopped talking, causing Hilbert to go on to stop the only other person in the room who could say anything about the charred projector, his mother. He left his sister to Hallgrim knowing it was all going to turn out well.
"Someone?" Said Hallgrim in a skeptical tone as she stared at Hilda
"Why are you saying like that?" Asked Hilda in confusion before Hallgrim gave an expression that presented her thoughts clearly "*gasp* are you saying i did it?"
"You were the one standing the closest to the rocks, Hilda" said Hallgrim calmly
"But I'd never! I love rocks!" Retorted Hilda as she picked up one of David's rocks. As she held the rock she noticed it's odd shape "wait, this looks like-"
"Looks like it could be dangerous." Said Hallgrim sternly "this could pry an eye out. Let's put these away from whoever did this."
Johanna soon entered the scene "Is everything alright?" She asked calmly with Hilbert next to her
"Actually, i wonder if we could chat...privately...once i get this taken care of" said Hallgrim less than cheerfully. She stared at Hilbert for a few seconds before dealing with the box of rocks in her hands.
It seemed as if she had stuff to say about him too, but unlike Hilda, Hilbert couldn't bring himself to be worried of Hallgrim as he is of the new variable that had entered the equation.
_-_-_
"I didn't do it, i swear" Hilda pleaded to her mother
"She didn't, i can attest to that" added Hilbert
"I'm sure we can straighten this all out when we talk to her" said Johanna with a soft smile
"Your mother can be very persuasive" Alfur added cheerfully
"Huh? Thank you, Alfur" said Johanna with a smile
"But why would Miss Hallgrim blame me? She loves me!" Said Hilda confidently
"Uhh, Hilda? Can we talk for a second?" Said Frida with a forced smile "Hilbert, you too."
Hilbert shrugged before they left Johanna and headed to a corner of the room where Vivi and David sat.
There, Frida decided to give Hilda the truth.
"Uh, Hilda, Miss Hallgrim doesn't really...love you"
"She doesn't?" Asked Hilda looking very hurt by this revelation.
"Uhm, it's just...you're not the best at following the rules" said Frida as she reminded everyone of the time Hilda asked a history question in science class, then the time they were supposed to be doing a troll attack drill, then the time she asked about why the one from the math problem buys so many apples AFTER SCHOOL HAD ENDED!
"I can't believe no one else spoke about the apple thing" said Hilda with a frown
"And you, Hilbert" said Frida causing Vivi to giggle "it's just...weird with you, no offense"
"What? I didn't do anything that might spark trouble" said Hilbert with a scowl as he crossed his arms
Frida took a deep breath before reminding everyone of the numerous times Hilbert fell asleep in class out of boredom. Then of how little he pays attention in class, sometimes even doing some other things entirely to pass the time and sometimes it was pretty disruptive.
Though, when it came to subjects he didn't know about, he acted like the perfect student, and in any subject, when he knew the answer to a question, he was always eager to say it.
"Answering a teacher's question is so satisfying though" said Hilbert with a smile
"It is" said Frida with a nod and a smile "but you still aren't very good at following the rules if you only follow them sometimes."
Vivi could barely hold her laughter at this point
Hilbert was 'home-schooled' before he died and became Hilbert. So he really didn't know what the norm was for this stuff.
"Look, can we talk about this later? We have bigger problems. Inside the school, there's a troll rock and...a rouge elf?"
_-_-_
Tell me how i did. Leave a review.
Toodles.
