Although the school has organized groups of students, led by teachers, to help assist in the defense of Luna Nova, it still has its challenges.

Sure, those ghosts and ghouls that were summoned are easy enough pickings for most of the students to handle. Even those who have only taken a class or two in destruction magic for nothing more than to meet course requirements, find it little struggle to defend themselves.

However, when in the face of those two followers of Mendacius, Jiang-Shi and Vrykolakas, no student has a hope. Even the most powerful and elder teachers are unable to inflict any damage of any kind to the duo. Wherever those two go, the students and teachers retreat, never fighting them, ensuring that the Luna Novan resistance still holds unbroken.

All this, and Faralda is still missing; their destruction magics teacher, and probably the most valuable asset the school could have in this situation. Wherever she is, she really needs to come soon.

Thankfully, the worst wounds any student seemed to face are a few cuts and bruises, minor damages that the nurse can easily handle.

However, the seemingly invincible invaders do not sway the likes of Ursula and Finnalin, both of them having seen much in their lives, especially during their time in Luna Nova.

Finding Vryokolakas proved to be no challenging feat for the two teachers. All they had to do was go in the direction which the students were fleeing from. If facing this monster is impossible for even the most capable of teachers and staff, then students really can't hope for much either.

"Vrykolakas, we challenge you!" Ursula declares, her gaze fierce, wasting no time with pleasantries.

"You two? An old lady and a young girl? Alone?" He chuckles, a twisted smirk on his face. "What, do you both have a death wish?"

In response to his jab, Ursula fires a small spell towards Vrykolakas. Although the magic is easily repelled by him, the smile disappears, replaced with a look of contempt.

"Well then, I guess we're done talking."

His fat frame tenses, and with surprising agility, charges at the two witches.

Gulping at this, Professor Finnalin quickly turns towards her fellow teacher.

"Now what, Professor Ursula?"

Narrowing her brows at the charging threat, Ursula does not cower, shows no fear, as she declares

"Now, we fight!"

Without any further regard, the younger teacher meets the monster head on in combat.

The entire hallway becomes a flurry of dust and magic. Ursula, being the younger and much more physically active teacher than Finnalin, dances around this way and that, dodging Vrykolakas's savage strikes as they come crashing down. Missing Ursula with a swing of his fist, it crashes into the wall, leaving a giant hole.

Finnalin pauses, impressed and bewildered by the agility of Ursula. For the longest time, the youthful teacher seemed nothing more than one mistake short of an embarrassment. Always covering for Akko, clumsily falling over in the hallway, and yet here she is right now, engaging in combat with another without a moment's hesitation, and actually doing well. Now, it seems as though whatever clumsiness Ursula once had is left at the door, replaced with acrobatics rivaling even that of Amanda.

However, despite Ursula's seeming equality in her clash, it can all be over quickly. One wrong move, one failed dodged, and it would be a quick end to Ursula.

Grabbing hold of one of her legs mid jump, Vrykolakas slams Ursula against a nearby table, the wooden object shattering into pieces, the teacher collapsing to the floor with a loud groan.

As he reaches a large hand towards her, Ursula suddenly twists around with sudden life, a fire spell making contact with Vrykolakas's face. Temporarily stunned by this, Finnalin uses this as an opportunity, firing a beam of destructive magic right at him. Hitting him dead on in the chest, the effects are quite limited, his soft frame only jiggling slightly upon contact.

He turns towards Finnalin, forgetting about Ursula, smirking at her.

"Try again, my little witch."

Angered by such an insult, Finnalin grits her teeth together, firing off an entire barrage of spells of all different colors, all different effects and strengths, all slamming against Vrykolakas for the singular purpose of dispatching him. In the middle of this upset, Ursula uses this time to get out of the way, meeting back with her superior.

However, even under the talented Finnalin's barrage, the same smile still on his face, perhaps it's a little wider.

"My turn."

With that very utterance, Vrykolakas steps forward towards the two witches, slow yet confidence steps. From what the witches just displayed earlier, their magic isn't able to hurt him, it being far to weak to leave even a bruise or scratch on his thick skin.

He doesn't need to run or rush, whatever attacks these two can muster are nothing more than bee stings to him.

"This isn't good, my attacks just aren't going through." Ursula vents to Finnalin. "He can take all the hits he wants, but all I have to do is fail to dodge once, and that's it. That thing has quite the grip."

"Yes, and remember, I'm quite a bit older than you." Finnalin points out. "I just can't hop and spin around like you. Those days are far behind me, not that I was ever able to do that in the first place."

Really, Finnalin was still very perplexed as to Ursula's sudden display of agility. She would've asked her about it if they were not in a life or death situation.

Gritting her teeth in frustration, Ursula looks around this way and that, as if the answer to defeating this monster were right under her nose.

She would have to think of something fast. Although Ursula could sense that Vrykolakas was the weakest of the three, she still didn't expect the gap between herself and him to be so large. If he was this strong, then what did that mean for the other two?

Pushing these thoughts aside, Ursula's gaze finds itself on a nearby stairwell, the staircase leading to the…

Suddenly coming up with an idea, Ursula snaps towards her superior.

"Into The Labyrinth, Professor Finnalin!"

"Have you gone mad, Ms. Ursula?!" The elder cries. "If we run blindly into The Labyrinth, then we are as good as gone!"

"We have the advantage there." She explains. "We've been taking students down there for years, we know the terrain and what's in there. He doesn't."

"Are you suggesting we run around and attempt to disorient him?"

"That's exactly right." Ursula nods. "And with any luck, maybe the monsters in there will attack him as well."

Gulping at this new prospect, Finnalin's gaze falls towards Vrykolakas, still approaching them at a comfortable pace, a sick smirk on his face, not really paying any heed to their conversation.

What Professor Ursula is saying makes sense. Finnalin really doesn't want to fight Vrykolakas regardless. Despite himself apparently being the weakest of the trio, he really is no slouch. Although the elder teacher prefers not to involve herself in combat, she has seen her fair share of it these last few months. From the dragon to the Titan, and everything in between.

From her days as Chariot Du Nord to Professor Ursula, the young teacher has faced many foes, trials, and tribulations. She thought she had seen it all, until today arrived of course.

Ursula's plan may have raised Finnalin's brow in a different context, but not this one. It wasn't a retreat, or the two teachers fleeing in cowardice, but rather a strategic withdrawl, an exit to better lands that may equal the playing field.

Exchanging a nod was all that the young teacher needs to understand. In a moment, both witches begin to flee the scene, not at full speed, but enough to put a distance between themselves and him.

Vrykolakas doesn't falter by their action, nor is he angered. He is slow and heavy, his bloated body ensuring that his agility left much to be desired, especially compared to that of Ursula, but certainly had the stamina.

He loves a good chase.

"Don't think you can escape me that easily!" He calls out to the witches in a laughing fit, pursing his two targets.

This really isn't good.

One moment I was with Diana and the others, then Mendacius came and fired a spell at Diana. I dove forward to use my body and a shield, and then…

Well that's about all that I remember. I know that I remained conscious for a bit of time afterwards, but those events are fuzzy.

Being sent here was a real shock, I half expected myself to just die but I suppose fate had other plans for me. But even then, I can't say that this fate is great either.

Being around hundreds of individuals who all look exactly like yourself, but all behave so differently, really is unnerving. It's like seeing yourself in a mirror, a different version of you, perhaps someone that you could've been had you chose a different path in life.

Even now, looking through the bars of my isolated cell, and towards the distance, the vast ocean of Theodores, of all different shapes and sizes, still unnerves me to a degree. The jailers, prisoners, prison guards, everyone, we are all Theodore. The good guys and the bad guys, it doesn't matter.

Sighing to myself, I slump back in my bed, folding my arms as I stare at the colorless ceiling. I might be here for awhile, maybe even forever.

A sudden cry erupts from the otherwise bland background of very similar voices.

"Theodore!"

That's really strange, it sounds like a woman's voice! Is there a genderbend Theodore here too?!

Looking in the direction of the noise, in the vast sea of clones, the likes of Akko, Lotte, and Diana stick out like sore thumbs.

Standing up from my sully, all I can do is stare in awe, confusion, perplexed and extremely confused as the three girls run towards me.

"D-Diana?! Lotte?! Akko?!" I gasp. "What are you three doing here?!"

Are they actually Diana, Akko, and Lotte? Or are they the Theodores who look like Diana, Akko, and Lotte? Really, at this point, nothing would surprise me. I also notice another Theodore tagging along behind the three, as if part of their group.

Without hesitation, the three girls run, no, they sprint towards me. As they close the distance, Diana unholsters her wand, and firing a quick destruction spell, completely disintegrates the bars that once confined me. As quickly as they appeared, the girls wrap themselves around me in a not so elegant group hug, bracing myself as they descend upon me. But hey, I'm just happy to see them again.

"Let me kiss your face..." Diana whispers, giving me a few light pecks on the cheek, myself not complaining in the slightest.

"Good to see you again, Ted!" Akko cries out in joy, repeating my thoughts.

"Yes, you had us worried." Lotte says sweetly, her grip on me perhaps as tight as Diana's. "I'm so glad you're alright."

Diana, Lotte, and Akko, the three of them have that warm feeling around them, not just in body heat, but in spirit and energy as well.

Throughout my entire time at Luna Nova, these three girls really have been something else. Sure, I've gotten my fair share of friendship from the likes of Sucy, Amanda, and her group, but the three before me really have shaped me in many ways.

My friendship, and eventual romance, with Diana, flourished from nothing. Nearly a year ago, I knew nothing of her, or any of these girls before me. Although Diana once viewed Akko with a certain amount of contempt, I have received nothing from her but kindness and understanding. The only times I can say that Diana got on my case was either when I clearly deserved it, or when I needed a strong hand to tutor me, and Diana proved to be just that. Not coming from a magic family, and removing myself from my country and usual primary school really threw me for a loop. I don't think I would have survived my new life in Luna Nova without Diana's guidance.

Lotte, well, I can go on and on about Lotte. She's perhaps the sweetest, most understanding and caring sole I have ever encountered in life. My love for Diana has thrived as one of romance, but my love for Lotte can be described as platonic, she's like family to me, the calm and peaceful counterbalance to my two chaotic Italian siblings at home. Our relationship may have been founded on my relationship with her dad who was in the body of a dog, but it has grown far past that.

And Akko, I will admit, my initial thoughts on her did not deviate from the common stereotypes thrown at her; that being of an airheaded, loud mouthed joker with no real sense of direction. However, time and time again she has proved me wrong. And if her forgiveness towards my wrongful reaction of her accidentally getting Diana sick shows anything, it shows that there's much more to her than most other students see. What others may see as bullheaded and reckless self confidence is nothing more than drive, drive to reach her dreams, make everyone happy, and be the best friend she can be. There's not a lot of people like that left in the world, and I'm glad I know her.

"Trust me, I'm glad that all of you are fine too." I response, doing my best to somehow hug all three witches at once. "It got pretty bad back there."

"Theodore, thank you for shielding me from Mendacius." Diana follows up with, recalling the instance which brought me here in the first place. "You didn't need to do that."

"No, I did. After all you've done for me, it's only right that I pay it forward."

Our group hug ending, I ask the three of them

"So, how has everything been at Luna Nova since I've been gone?"

Hopefully things haven't gotten that bad.

"Well, Mendacius managed to summon his evil army of the undead and is currently besieging Luna Nova. So, the situation is normal, captain!" Akko responds with gusto, joking saluting me. "Spiraling helplessly out of control!"

"Yeah, that sounds about right…" I mutter, craning my head to face all three of them. "How did you know where to find me? I didn't even know where I was for awhile. It took me a moment to realize that I was in my own mind."

"It's all thanks to this Theodore." Akko declares, throwing her hands out to present him in a grand fashion. "He helped us find you."

He stands there, unamused and looking downright uninterested in what's happening, perhaps even slightly disgruntled.

Surprisingly, or should I say, unsurprisingly enough, there were a lot of Theodores who really aren't the nicest. Maybe this is the Theodore that wants to help his friends?

I remember Akko telling me about her trip into Sucy's mind. Apparently there was a seemingly sweet and innocent Sucy tagging along with Akko, who eventually turned out to be an absolute monster, almost devouring Akko and destroying that world. Whatever the case may be, it's probably best to try and remain neutral. With all these Theodores running around, it's hard to decipher the good from the bad.

"Thank you." I tell him, eyeing him up and down with slight suspicion. "Thank you for helping them."

Perhaps seeing right through my honeyed words, this Theodore rolls his eyes, almost scoffing as he says

"So, now that we found you, how are we going to beat Mendacius?"

That's a good question.

It's not like my time in an isolated prison cell didn't leave me time to think, but my mind had been racing far too much for cohesive thoughts outside of my present situation. Being captured by two police officers who look exactly like me, being hauled off to jail and told the time of a soon to be execution, that's a lot for a guy to take in all at once.

"I honestly have no idea." I admit, running a stressed hand through my hair. "I was only able to beat him once by chance, all because he had weakened himself, killing the very people who believed in his existence. Soon, it was just himself and I."

Sighing at this, Diana updates me on the current situation.

"Well, considering everyone in Luna Nova, as well as Anchovy, knows of his existence, we're going to have to find another way."

Raising my brow at this, I can't help but be surprised by this latest development. Not because of his influence spreading, but because of a certain someone joining the fray.

"Wait, Anchovy is there too?"

"Yes, she came due to her tankery match in England. Herself, and the rest of her club, are fighting Mendacius and his forces as we speak."

"We really need to get back soon, then." I tell her with a little more assertiveness. "Don't get me wrong, I love her, and she really does have skill in tank warfare, but she just doesn't know when to quit. She'd rather get hurt than admit defeat, and sometimes that scares me."

"Well then, what are we waiting for?!" Akko enthusiastically shouts. "Let's get out of here and help our friends!"

I nod at her in agreement, it sounds as solid of a move as any.

The three girls and myself begin to make our move, only to be stopped as we hear a voice from behind us.

"The three girls may be leaving, but only one Theodore is joining them."

Turning back to face him, I raise a brow at his words.

"What do you…"

My voice trails off as I see the other Theodore reach into his satchel. Pulling out his wand, he casually points it towards me.

"Only the best Theodore can leave here, the one who is able to do anything to defeat Mendacius and protect his friends."

Driven by what I assume is sheer instinct, Diana unholsters her wand with the speed of a Wild West cowboy, pointing it at him with fierce protection.

I imagine pointing a wand with lethal intent at somebody who looks exactly like me must be difficult for her. I couldn't even imagine what it would be like if I had to do the same to someone who looked just like Diana, or Lotte, or even Akko. I doubt I'd be able to actually pull the trigger, even if I knew full well that it wasn't one of them, but a mere look-a-like. I can't let her go through with this.

"No, Diana." I request, holding a hand out to her. "Let me handle this, please."

After a moment of hesitation, Diana nods, lowering her wand.

Diana can blast at this Theodore all she wants, but I doubt it'll have any long lasting impact. After all, he is a part of me, like it or not, and outside interference won't do much to end this inner conflict.

Turning back towards the other Theodore, I analyze his body language, attempting to gauge anything I can from him.

He's twitching slightly, the tensing of his fingers around the wand, the fidgeting of his brows and eyes, he's clearly pent up about some issue. Considering what he had just been stating earlier, it's not hard to deduce what that might be.

"Why?" I ask the singular question, not taking my eyes off him. "What makes you think I can't look out for my friends?"

As if finding my question amusing, he begins to chuckle to himself.

"You got stuck in your own mind, Theodore." He speaks between his laughter. "Lotte had to put herself in danger and get hurt just to save your sorry self. How can you say you can protect others when you can't even protect yourself?"

Yeah, Lotte getting hurt really doesn't sit right with me. The same can be said with anyone I hold dear, really. However, it's something entirely different with the Finn. It's safe to say that perhaps her, Diana, and Anchovy are the three that I would die for any day of the week. I used to think that Lotte was someone who needed protection, and while at times her heart might be too big for her own good, she isn't helpless. Filicudi proved that to me.

"So this is the answer? Kill me with magic in front of them?" I try to reason with him. "We can't win against Mendacius if we're fighting each other. We need to work together."

"You tried to suppress me, Theodore." He chuckles once again, the business end of his wand still pointed at me. "You spent so long trying to hide and get rid of me, and now you want us to work together? Why? Because it's convenient for you right here and now? Because I have a wand pointed at you? Because otherwise I'm going to blast you away?!"

"Because we're just wasting time. It makes absolutely no sense why we should fight. It's not going to make any of those girls any safer."

Perhaps due to my questioning of his methods, this Theodore sudden goes off, ranting and raving like none other.

"Well, what happened, Theodore?! I thought that you were going to take out Mendacius and keep your friends safe, isn't that what you just said?! Keep them safe from any danger to the best of your abilities?! Here I am, with a wand pointed right at you, right here right now, and you're not going to fight for them?!"

Before I even have a chance to react to his words, he continues, with as much fire and fury as before, perhaps even more.

"I'm better for your friends than you, Theodore! That's because I'm a better Theodore than you, because I can be here, get my hands dirty, and get the job done! But you, you just sit in the background, and let everything get destroyed!"

Narrowing his eyes at me, he speaks in a hushed tone.

"Your friends, your girlfriend, your school, they're all in danger. Everything that you worked so hard to gain may be gone in a matter of hours. You don't have the first clue on how to fix it."

With this rant over, the other Theodore raises his wand towards me once again, his breathing deep, the wand shaking slightly in his grip.

Only two words come to mind, two that I wish I wouldn't have to say, but need to.

"You're right…"

Hearing this, Diana immediately comes to my defense, glancing at me.

"Theodore, you're-"

"No, he's right-" I pause, knowing full well that this isn't just some random version of myself, but rather a personification of one thought or another.

My doubt in protecting my friends, pulling my own weight, rising above the toxic behavior which was once encouraged by my family, it's all true.

"I'm right." I come to the conclusion.

Turning back to the other Theodore, his wand still pointed at me, I find it hard to disagree with him.

I don't have a plan on how to defeat Mendacius, honestly I had the idea that I would never see him again, but I guess that's too much to ask. I just hoped that life would return to normal after that, or at least as normal as life can get in an all girls magic school. Life was anything but normal though. I participated in a parade that resulted in the summoning of The Titan, fell in love with a classmate, took her on a Christmas tour of Rome, and even went to an Italian island full of monsters as if it were some sort of treasure island. Yeah, definitely not something that was included in Luna Nova's brochure.

"I don't have the first clue on how to fix it." I continue, trying to push these thoughts aside. "But I know that I can't stop him on my own, nor can you. We need everybody to stop him. You, me, the three girls here, and everyone at Luna Nova. We can't waste our time feuding between ourselves when our friends are in danger."

"Don't you start telling me that!" He shouts towards me, lowering his wand to point at me with a finger in accusation. "The way the world is now, a fool like you is just as big of a threat as Mendacius! The only reason why I agreed to set you free was to teach you a lesson! Why would I let someone as incompetent as you fight for our friends?! You're just dead weight!"

"To beat Mendacius, we need to work together. There's no other way around it. Like it or not, whether you see me as incapable or not, I'm here now for them, and I intend to keep it that way. You are too. We don't need to fight each other when we share a common goal."

Lotte takes a step forwards, staring at the other Theodore with those big eyes of her's, slightly teary.

Poor Lotte, having two Theodores fight in front of her must be tough to watch.

"Please, stop fighting."

That simple request, those few words, is enough to discard the other Theodore's rage, his face softening. Biting his lip, his brow furrows downwards, as if trying to suppress some emotion.

Without uttering a word, the other Theodore holsters his wand, shaking his head and turning his back towards us. It seems like Lotte must've touched a nerve.

If there's anything that all us Theodores have in common, it's that we bend a knee to Lotte, always.

"Theodore, we have to stop this infighting." Diana states to him. "For the good of Luna Nova, and all of us which you seem to care for."

"Why do you think I'm walking away?" He states, still turned away from us. "I'm leaving."

His simple statement silences us all. After all his talk, threats, and boasts, him wishing to leave is certainly an unexpected result. Based on his actions, I would of thought he'd at least stick around a little bit longer to ensure Lotte's safety, or give us directions on where to go from here. It comes as a surprise to be sure, but a bittersweet welcome one.

Even Diana, the normally confident one, always having an answer to any question life can throw out, can only respond with

"Leaving?"

"Gone for good." He nods towards Diana. "Since I seem to be the one causing issues, then I'll just slip away. If you and the others want to try and beat Mendacius, have a nice ride. I just can't be around you four right now."

"Can you at least show us the way back?" Lotte requests, looking up at him with those big eyes of her's,

The other Theodore shakes his head, looking towards her.

"You don't have to go back. Those other three fools can do what they want, but if you stay here, at least there's a good chance you'll be safe from Mendacius."

Physically taken aback by this proposal, Lotte instinctively shakes her head wildly, the very thought of leaving her friends behind being too much to bear.

"But Luna Nova and all the friends that are waiting for us won't be." Lotte tries to reason with him. "They're are friends, and we won't abandon them. How can you turn your back on them?"

"Look, with the god of deception and lies on the loose, in command of an evil undead army, hell bent on Luna Nova's downfall. It's a dangerous situation. You really are the only one I care about, so I apologize if I seem uncaring about the needs of others."

"How can you say that you want to keep us safe and yet neglect everyone else?!" Lotte suddenly explodes, catching all of us off guard. "Even if you have a different personality, you are still Theodore! You know about the friends he's made this past year! Sucy, Amanda, Constanze, Jasminka, Faralda! Even Hannah has warmed up to him! And now you're telling us that you're willing to throw all that away?!"

The other Theodore can't even respond to her.

Poor guy. I've heard of Lotte losing her temper twice, once when Akko tore up her family music scroll, and the second time I witnessed firsthand, when she pleaded with Finnalin and Holbrooke to let her go to Filicudi. Even as just a bystander, seeing the usual calm and cheerful Lotte in such a state sent shivers down my spine, and I feel exactly the same way now.

"You act like you're strong, that you're not scared of anything! Half of the time we were with you, you were only antagonistic to us! Now that you're met with an actual challenge, all you can do is cower in fear and hide?! You're not brave, you're just being a coward! We're going to get out of here, and we're going to save our friends whether you like it or not!"

Even Akko, known for often having a mouth bigger than her brain, is speechless. Despite the two being dorm mates, and spending much of their time together, I take it that Lotte rarely loses her good nature, and almost never turns towards actual rage.

I really don't know what's scarier, Mendacius returning, a disgruntled Diana, or an enraged and yelling Lotte. Either option really doesn't sit well with me.

Unable to meet her intense gaze with his own, the other Theodore looks towards the ground, muttering

"Well, good luck with that. Just stay safe, please…"

And with that, the other Theodore walks away, not looking back, not even giving as much as a goodbye. Leaving the scene, this Theodore blends into the hundreds of other Theodores, just becoming another figure in the vast sea of clones.

"Well, now what?" Akko shrugs, her question being on my mind as well.

Honestly, I'd like to give her an answer right now, but I can't. Part of me is still a little shaken by Lotte's performance, even if it wasn't directed at me. Even if I wasn't, I still wouldn't have an answer for Akko. Now that they found me, just how do we get out of here?

"We don't need someone so detestable." Diana scowls, her gaze directed in the other Theodore's general direction. "He may look like Theodore, and he may call himself Theodore, but he is not the Theodore that I've come to love."

I cast my gaze towards Diana, a smile on my face, commenting

"Well, I'm glad that I'm that Theodore."

"We can still find our way out of here." Lotte suggests, trying to keep our spirits up. "All we have to do is retrace our steps."

It's good to see that Lotte has returned to her normal state. Her face may be a bit redder than usual, her breathing a little heavy after all the shouting, but at least she's found her center once again. If the situation weren't so dire, I'd really like to knock that other Theodore upside the head for putting Lotte in such a negative state of mind.

Smiling at her good nature, I open my mouth to speak but pause, hearing a faint noise in the distance. The three girls stop the conversation as well, the sound only growing louder and louder, as if it's approaching us. It sounds just like police cars.

"Ugh, not this again?!" Akko groans. "Can't we just catch a break?!"

In a few short moments, a single car approaches us, red and blue lights still flashing as it comes to a stop, two figures emerging.

They look just like me, except both wearing cop uniforms. A scowl on the face of each of them, their bronze badges glowing in the sunlight, it's very easy to tell who these Theodores represent.

Oh boy…

The two of them immediately descend upon us, and with an almost cartoon-like speed, put all four of us in handcuffs. We never even had a chance.

"If you're Roman, you have the right to remain silent!" One of them yells. "If you're Roman, you also have the right to an attorney!"

"But if you're not a Roman, then you don't have any rights!" The other one speaks in a similarly gruffy tone.

"Yeah, deal with it, barbarians!" The first cop adds.

"I'm getting a serious case of déjà vu right now…" Akko mumbles, being more annoyed than scared by this latest development.

Yeah, this has definitely happened to her before.

Diana cocks a gaze towards her.

"This happened when you were inside of Sucy's mind?"

"Yeah, and we were taken to court and sentenced to death by beheading, but I got out." Akko casually explains, completely glossing over the beheading bit.

"I can't get arrested!" Lotte cries as we're all moved into their police car. "My mom would kill me!"

"Hey, look on the bright side, Lotte!" Akko cheerfully suggests, patting her back with a smile with a foolishness only Akko can possess. "If they behead us, your mom can't kill you!"

This message from Akko, surely meant to ease Lotte's nerves, has the exact opposite effect. Seemingly losing all control of her body, Lotte's face and eyes bear a shade of gray, herself slumping lifelessly into her seat, as if someone just burned a complete limited edition collection of Nightfall right in front of her.

Sighing to myself, I lean back in the cold leather seat, realizing that I can't really do much handcuffed in the back of a police car.

"Girls…" I run a hand through my hair. "I'm sorry for how crazy my mind is. After this is over, I'll get therapy."

Author's Note: And there we go, both chapters up on the same day. I hope you all got some entertainment out of it. Let's hope the next chapter won't take so long.

Did you know that the Diakko extremists demonize every chapter I make, because they're haters? It's crazy, I know. But do you know how you can support the story? By following and favoriting, and leaving a comment. Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, and I'll see you in the next one.