Chapter 2: A Perplexing Raw Deal

After the little fiasco, Briar and the others continue to wait in line as they buy their lunch. Of course, Birar already has to pay for Grim's as well.

Grim happily cheers, "Ha! Guess who scored the last deluxe grilled cheese sandwich? This guy. That's why they call me Grim the Great! Myahahaha! I also snagged a bear claw AND a cronut!"

Deuce sternly says, "Grim, you need to learn some restraint!"

Then turns to Briar and the others, "I'm really sorry, guys."

Suddenly, Ace walks over and calls out, "Yo, Pops, gimme one of those roast beef sandwiches."

"Hey! You're cutting in line too!" Deuce angrily scolds.

Briar sighs and says, "Come on, let's go grab lunch and find a table."

Deuce sighs and says, Alright.

And so, the group of friends buy their lunches and soon find a table for them to sit. Meanwhile, Ruggie arrives to see he's a little late.

Ruggie notices the sign that many foods are sold out, "Rats. Looks like I'm late for the monthly bakery battle royale. And now they're sold out of the grilled cheese Leona sent me to buy for him."

Ruggie then hears Grim's voice, "Myahahaha! I'm gonna savor the flavor of this victory!"

Ruggie turns to see that Grim has the deluxe cheese sandwich. Ruggie smirks and walks over. Trinket sighs to see Grim getting all crazy about food.

Just then, Ruggie steps forward and says with a grin on his face, "Pardon me, friend. I see you were able to get your hands on the highly-prized deluxe cheese sandwich. Incredible!"

"Hm? Who're you and whaddaya want with my meat?" Grim questions.

"Oh, I'm just a guy who really, really wanted to buy that sandwich you've got there, but arrived a smidge too late. Speaking of which, here's a proposition for you…" Ruggie says.

Then brings out a hot dog bun, "Might you be willing to trade your deluxe grilled cheese for this very exciting hot dog bun?"

Grim cries out, "Whaaat?! You must be outta your mind, dude!"

"Oh, come now. Let's not be like that. Here, have the hot dog bun. I insist," Ruggie says.

And brings his hand forward with the hog dog bun.

Suddenly, Grim feels bunny and his paw lifts up with his sandwich out of nowhere.

Grim panics, "Myah? What in the name of tuna...?! My paws are movin' on their own!"

Before anyone can process what's happening, Grim ends up switching his deluxe grilled cheese sandwich for a hot dog bun. Now Ruggie has the sandwich and Grin has the hot dog bun.

"You're actually going to trade?! It doesn't even have a hot dog in it!" Briar asks, surprised.

Now Ruggie has the sandwich from Grim. Grim is very stunned after this that his sandwich is gone.

"Sounds like we have ourselves a deal! Shyeheehee!" Ruggie says with a grin. "What luck that I found a kind soul willing to trade. You enjoy that hot dog bun, I do hope you can find something to fill it with. Maybe a squirt of ketchup would imitate the real thing? Anyway, nice doing business with you. Toodles!"

Then walks off with the sandwich at hand.

Grim lets out a cry in despair, ""M... M... Myaaaaaaah! My deluxe grilled cheeeeeeese!"

Moments later, Grim is still sulking as he eats the hot dog bun, "Aw, maaan... *sniff* This is *munch* the worst day *munch* of my pathetic life!" And munches on the hot dog bun, "I can barely *munch* choke down my lunch!"

"You just ate three pastries in ten seconds," Ace says.

"And you already ate pasta too," Tanzanite says.

"How can you still eat after sulking?" Jasper asks.

"I still don't get why you even traded at all," Deuce says.

I didn't!" Grim angrily says, "It's like, when he put out his hand, my paw just shot out—like it was copyin' his! It all happened so fast…"

"Like a deer caught in the sandwich-stealing headlights," Ace says.

"Nah, it wasn't like that at all. But I...I don't know how to explain it!" Grim says.

Briar thinks for a bit and says, "That's strange. You even told that boy no the first time. Then suddenly switched food with him."

Trinket nods her head.

"Ugh, this stinks. I need to eat my feelings, stat!" Grim says in frustration.

Then turns to Deuce, "Deuce, gimme a bite of your pasta."

But Deuce denies, "No way! You made your 'bread,' now lie in it!"

"Yeah. You're the one who got the bun, now you have to eat it,"

Then Ace remembers and turns to Briar, "Oh, by the way, guys—the headmage said he had something he wanted to tell us after class."

"He does? How come?" Briar asks.

"No clue what it could be, though," Ace answers.

Then Deuce suggests, "It probably has something to do with what happened to Housewarden Rosehearts a few days ago."

When he went all berserker mode on us?" Ace asks.

Then Deuce nods his head.

"Yeah, I bet you're right," Ace replies.

"It's possible," Sereia says.

"Maybe he wants to lavish me with a smorgasbord of succulent fish for all of my hard work that day!" Grim says with pride.

"Yeah, dream on, furball," Ace says in remark.

"I wonder if the headmage did want to talk to us about what happened," Tanzanite replies.

"I think so. And maybe we can tell us more about this Overblot stuff," Jasper says.

"Maybe," Sereia replies.

Sereia turns her head to notice Briar is looking at the direction where Ruggie went off to.

"What's wrong, Briar?" Sereia asks.

Briar says, "Oh sorry about that. I'm just a little curious about that guy. I couldn't help but feel that I've seen him somewhere before."

Sometime later in the school Botanical Garden, Rubbie walks inside with the sandwich in hand. He walks towards the other student, Leona who is sleeping under a tree.

Ruggie walks over and calls out, "Leooona! Lunch is served, my friend!"

Leona soon wakes up, "...Is it noon already?" and still a little tired from his nap.

"Don't tell me you've been asleep all morning! You're going to fail more of your core classes!" Ruggie says, shrugging his shoulders.

Leona suddenly has a scent of something, and says, "Smells like you actually got what I asked ya for!"

Barely! Must you always request the most popular item on bakery day?" Ruggie says, and presents Leona the grilled cheese sandwich, "Anyway, here: one deluxe grilled cheese and an iced tea."

"Are ya braindead?" Leona questions and takes the sandwich to eat it, "The fact that it's hard to get is exactly what makes me want it so bad!"

"Me, I'll eat anything, so long as it isn't moldy," Ruggie says, "But as a prince, I doubt you could relate, Your Highness."

"Hmph," Leona replies.

And says, "It ain't like I'm first in line for succession. I'm second, so I probably won't ever be king. I'm practically a commoner, really."

Then Ruggie says, "That reminds me of the time you mistook a picture of my family's home for a doghouse."

"Did I...really do that?" Leona asks.

"You really did. I wish my perspective was so warped from a life of luxury," Ruggie answers.

But Leona says, "Nah, the royal life stinks, honestly. All that matters is the order of your birth. Hard work and talent basically mean nothin'."

"Hmmm... I guess I could see that being a drag," Ruggie replies and places his hands on his head.

Then says, "Oh, by the way, there's a housewarden meeting after school today about the Spelldrive tournament. Please try to actually show up."

"Ugh. What a headache," Leona says, frustrated and annoyed.

But Ruggie says, "As the housewarden, you get the biggest room in the dorm. You could at least make a token effort to do the corresponding job."

"All right already. Fine. Stop whinin'," Leona says, annoyed.

Soon, Leona finishes his sandwich and says, "Ahhh... Now that my belly's full, I'm ready for another snooze. Wake me after lunch break is over."

"I'm not your alarm clock, Leona! You know I have my own—" Ruggie says, but soon notices Leona is already fast asleep, "Ah, he's already out."

He sighs and says to himself, "Anyway, that weasel in the cafeteria and his freshman friends... Where have I seen them before?"