"An elf?" Frida said in confusion

"Are you talking about Alf-"

"No, Hilda, it's not Alfur. He doesn't have the ability to char the projector like that" Hilbert quickly said. "We just need to know why that other mysterious elf is here."

The moment Hilbert said that, Vivi thought about the situation. Why did the situation change? Why did something new happen? Then it hit her and she quickly ran to get something.

"Is that why you stopped me from talking about it?" Asked Hilda raising a brow

"Yes, i didn't want my sister looking insane in front of everyone." Deadpanned Hilbert

"Oh, thanks" said Hilda

David suddenly cleared his throat "Uhm, question. What are elves?" He asked in confusion

"Yeah, I'm also a little confused" added Frida

The twins glanced at each other before Hilda spoke "elves are a race of tiny people that are invisible unless you do the proper-"

"Procedure" Hilbert cut in causing everyone to focus on him "it's a little absurd, so just take our word for it."

"Okay, where did they come from?" Asked Frida raising a brow

Before anyone else could reply, Vivi appeared with her nature collection in hand, a beautiful bed of flowers. "I think i might have an idea."

For David and Frida, nothing seemed out of place. For Hilda and Hilbert this was a cause for distress.

In the middle of the flower bed, stood a small laboratory like building. Luckily?, there wasn't anyone inside.

"By the look on your face, I'm right aren't i?" Said Vivi with an awkward smile

The twins silently nodded causing Vivian's shoulders to drop dejectedly.

"*sigh* alright, me and Vivi will take care of the elf problem; you three deal with the troll rock" said Hilbert with a frown

"Shouldn't i come with you? I'm the only other person who can see elves" asked Hilda raising a brow

"Yes, because everyone here loves to deal with trolls on a daily basis" said Hilbert sarcastically with a frown

Hilda scowled at that comment, but had to agree "fine. We'll take care of the troll."

Hilbert nodded before quickly taking Vivi away from the trio of friends.

Aaaaa

"It seems that the change happened because of me" said Vivi as she scratched her red hair in embarrassment

"It's fine, you couldn't have known" said Hilbert tiredly as he rubbed the bridge of his nose "let's just find the elf without changing the plot, okay."

"Right...how do we do that?"

Hilbert put a hand on his chin and began thinking, only to come up with nothing. "I'm still so bad at planning things"

Suddenly, Vivian got an idea "How about we just flail the house around hoping for the elf to see it?"

Hilbert looked very disturbed by the idea and how crazy they'd look doing it, but alas, they had no other plans and since Vivi couldn't see the house and it could slip from her hands, Hilbert had to endure the humiliation and hold he elf house over his head as Vivian pointed at it.

At first, it was fine...until Miss Hallgrim appeared.

"Hilbert, Vivian, what are you two doing?" She asked with a frown as she crossed her arms.

"Uhh, nothing?" Said Hilbert with a nervous smile while still keeping the elf lab above his head "we're just trying to...ELFIND something?"

"...that was bad" Vivi whispered

Miss Hallgrim looked at Hilbert in confusion. Thankfully, before she could comment on his actions, the troll group made a ruckus of their own.

"We'll talk about this later" said Hallgrim tiredly before walking away.

Hilbert let out a sigh of relief, silently thanking Hilda, David and Frida for whatever they were doing.

"That went well." Said Vivi with a smile

Before Hilbert could reply, he heard an unfamiliar voice coming from below him.

"Excuse me!" It said getting Hilbert's attention. It was a black haired pale white skinned female elf wearing a lab coat and glasses. Hilbert kneeled down, opening his hand for her to hop on it. "Thanks for that. I'm not exactly the tallest elf out there."

"Sure" Hilbert shrugged "i hope that now that you have your home back, you would stop throwing fire balls around."

"What? I never-" said the elf lady before an expression of horror overtook her face "oh no no no no no. This can't be happening!"

Upon seeing that the elf was making too much noise, Vivi interrupted her panic "Shh, calm down, we can't have you be discovered."

"Sorry, sorry. Just tell me, is my lab perhaps...empty?" Said the elf before Hilbert nodded "oh no, this can't be happening!"

Hilbert and Vivian glanced at each other before Vivi asked

"What's going on?"

"My son! He was in the lab. He must be the one who threw one of my fireballs" the elf alchemist panicked

"Wait, why didn't he leave the lab earlier? I've had the flower bed for a few days. Also, how did you know he's here, Miss...?" Vivian asked in confusion

"Idelle, the elven alchemist, at your service." Idelle replied trying to make a fancy introduction "as for your questions, the answers are i don't know and i have a tracker on my son, since he can barely speak after he drank one of my potions by accident."

"Okay, do you where he is now-"

pop* *pop*

"I think i found him" said Vivian as she pointed at tiny explosions that were happening around the room, scaring some of the parents and children

"As energetic as always" said Idelle tiredly as Hilbert ran alone towards the elf child with her on his ear

Hilbert tried to get the kid, who was above a lightbulb, to stop, but before he could even attempt to do so, the kid began throwing potions at him. After dodging a few tiny bombs, Hilbert was approached by Hallgrim.

"Hilbert!"

"Sorry, Miss Hallgrim..." said Hilbert, thinking of an excuse as the bombs stopped flying "I'm just trying to find out what's causing this"

"Stop! That's dangerous! It could be live wire."

"I know about this stuff...and it stopped...so it's probably not?" Said Hilbert with an awkward

"Doesn't matter. Leave it and the school will call someone for to fix it" said Hallgrim sternly as she signaled for Hilbert to leave.

Hilbert, knowing that he couldn't do anything against his teacher, backed off.

"Looks like that didn't work" said Vivian with a weak smile

"It seems that I'm sorely unprepared for this." Said Idelle as she put a hand on her chin "maybe we could ask for help."

"Absolutely not" Hilbert snapped, making Idelle jump back "sorry, i can't explain it, but we can not tell anyone about this."

'We can't risk changing the plot' Vivian got the message clearly

"Well, not like my dad could help. He's too big for this" Vivi added cheerfully

Hilbert turned to Vivian's dad. He looked like a barbarian capable of wrestling a troll and winning, especially with the scar on his face. Though, he did have a soft look on his face.

"Yup, no." Deadpanned Hilbert "we need to get him to see you, Miss Idelle...Vivian, can you make a distraction."

Vivian looked surprised and confused by the sudden request.

"I'm not good at planning, so just distract...everyone so no one notices Miss Idelle calling for her son. Is it too much or...?"

Vivian put a hand on her chin and thought about it for a few seconds

"Hmm, Miss Hallgrim already knows about my passion for story telling. I don't think she'd mind if entertain these folks for a bit." Said Vivian with a mischievous smile before heading off "see you after the show!"

After a few silent seconds, Vivian began telling a story which grabbed the attention of everyone in the room. Hilbert, wanting to use this opportunity, headed towards the lightbulb where the elf boy hid.

Before any bombs could be thrown, Hilbert held Idelle high above his head. She called for her son who, thankfully, heard despite the show Vivi put on.

The boy hurriedly jumped towards his mother, which was a bad idea in hindsight, considering the height of the fall. Thankfully, the elf boy landed softly in Hilbert's hair without injuries.

The mother-son duo hugged it out almost immediately.

"Ah, still reckless i see" Idelle said softly before her son pulled out a bag filled with papers "my work! Were you trying to keep it safe?"

The boy nodded and Idelle patted him on the head cheerfully.

"Can you please finish your reunion after we get you out of the school?" Said Hilbert with a frown

"Right, just leave us outside the building. We can find our way from there"

And so, Hilbert did just that. He slipped out as Hallgrim stopped Vivi's show and left them outside, and as Hilbert went back to Vivian he felt odd about the situation.

It was too...anticlimactic. no extra trouble, no Miss Hallgrim, no insane thing coming out of nowhere. That was it.

It felt weird to Hilbert. 'It shouldn't have been that easy, there should've been more'. He wasn't complaining, it being easy is good.

So why did it feel so odd?

Then it hit him. This world was that of a cartoon, and even though it's now his reality, a part of him that still sees everything as a cartoon continues to linger.

Was that all this world meant to him? A cartoon? He didn't want that to be the truth. Because that'd mean he didn't care about his family...were they HIS family?

Soon, a war waged inside him once more. One side believing that Hilda and Johanna were his family and another that believed they weren't.

His thoughts grew darker and more doubtful as he got back to the room where everyone was.

Vivian approached him immediately "Hey, Hils, how did it go?"

"Fine"

"Why do you look so depressed? Please don't tell me something happened to elves." Said Vivi worriedly

"No no, they're okay. I just need to take a break"

"Uhhm, okay. If you need any help or anyone to talk to about...the thing, just know I'm here, okay. You're still my best friend"

"I'm your only friend." Hilbert retorted with a smile

"Still counts" she replied proudly as she slowly walked away

The moment she left, Hilbert let out a sigh and soon was flooded with dark thoughts once more.

_-_-_

At Miss Hallgrim's office.

It was time for Hallgrim's little...chat about his and Hilda's behavior.

Honestly, Hilbert couldn't care less about what she'd say about him. His mind was preoccupied with other things.

And yet, when they got to him, he was surprised.

"-and she's tracking Frida, David and her brother with her" said Hallgrim calmly "Hilbert can be a model student if we fix his small behavioural problems. He's clearly gifted, he has perfect grades and a clear interest in learning when he wants to. His intelligence is above his age. His problems can be ironed out with time. So i suggest we separate the twins for their own good. We move Hilbert to a higher class where he can use his mind to it's fullest and move Hilda to a small transitional class that can offer more- hm?"

Hallgrim was interrupted by Hilbert suddenly laughing. Hilda, who was looking very dejected at Hallgrim's statements turned to the now laughing Hilbert.

"I'm sorry, Miss Hallgrim, but you're wrong." Suddenly said Hilbert, surprising everyone "I'm not some misguided gifted child and I'm not that different from Hilda. I can be disruptive if given the chance...and i like it, i like doing disruptive things. Like, right now. I'm disrupting this conversation.

"But-" Hallgrim wanted to retort, but Hilbert continued

"And going to a different class would mean that...I'd leave my only friend behind. Unlike Hilda, i can't befriend any creature that i stumble upon. Which is why you should try to trust her more."

The last got Hilda's attention immediately. As for Hilbert, he didn't know what he was saying anymore. He was just blurting out whatever he really felt.

"As much as she is annoying and reckless...and not very smart sometimes, she is not a bad person and she would...never...hurt someone else for fun." Said Hilbert with a small smile, unknowingly giving Hilda an extremely happy smile, but before he could continue, the sound of rumbling through the vents was heard. It was the troll baby.

Soon, things turned back to how they were in the show. The troll left as normal and it was all fine.

So, with a pat on the head and his mother being proud of him, they returned home.

_-_-_

Back at Hilda and Hilbert's home.

"Hey, thanks for standing up for me back there." Said Hilda with a smile as she sat on the couch next to Hilbert.

"Yeah" said Hilbert tiredly.

"Are you okay?" Asked Hilda in concern as she noticed Hilbert dejected tone

"Yeah, I'm just thinking about something." Said Hilbert with a frown as he began walking to his room "don't worry about it."

Hilda didn't inquire any further. Instead, she immediately went in for a hug.

Hilbert was surprised at the sudden hug before she nudged him to hug her too and he did and with the hug, it was as if all his doubts just disappear.

"Better?" Asked Hilda still in the hug

"Yup. Even though it's still weird seeing you acting so soft." Said Hilbert with a smile

"Don't make me regret doing this." Deadpanned Hilda

"Okay...thanks, sis"

_-_-_

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Toodles.