Chapter 13: An Urgent Deadline

Briar and the others continue to chase after Grim who is trying to get out of washing the windows. They rush in to catch him, but every time they try to catch him, Grim jumps away from table to table, and soon begins to climb on the wall, with the help of his wings.

Ace angrily says, "Argg! Stop jumping around like that!"

Soon enough, Grim is able to climb up to the large chandelier hanging on the ceiling. It's very large, decorated with yellow orbs with lights inside. Now Grim is above the chandelier and doesn't plan on getting down.

Grim laughs, "Heh heh heh! Catch me if you can!"

Deuce angrily says, "No fair climbing onto the chandelier, you coward!"

"Grim, you can't stay up there, it's dangerous!" Sereia panics.

"She's right. I know you can fly and such, but you have to come down now! You'll get hurt!" Briar calls out.

Deuce then tries to think of a a plan, "I haven't really learned flight magic yet… What could I summo to hold onto him..? Hmmm…"

Deuce thinks as hard as he can to figure out a way to get Grim down.

Suddenly, an idea pops into his head, "Oh! That's it!" and brings out his pen.

"Did you come up with somethi-" Ace asks, but notices Decue is pointing his pen at him.

Ace panics, "Oh, hey! Stop! What are you doing?! Why are you pointing your pen at me?!"

"Because I'm going to launch you!" Deuce answers.

That makes everyone gasp in shock, especially Ace.

"Whaaaa?!" Briar exclaims.

"Are you kidding me?!"Ace panics, but Deuce has caught Ace in his magic.

And begins to lift him off the ground, making Ace freak you, "Bwaaah! Put me down!"

Ace continues to panic, "Seriously, do not launch me! Abort! ABORT!"

But Decue ignores him, "Just make sure to grab him tight."

"I've got him in my sights, and…" Deuce says, aiming Ace towards Grim and the chandelier.

But Briar cries out in a panic, "Wait Decue, I don't think this is a good idea! If you launch Ace up there, then…"

But Decue shouts, "Go!"

"DEUCE NO!" Briar and Sereia cry out.

But Decue launches Ace into the air towards Grim and the chandelier. Ace screams in fright as he is launched into the air. On the chandelier, Grim notices Ace and yelps in fright. Before anyone notices, Ace ends up crashing into the chandelier. That causes the chandelier to break off of the support and wired holding it in place, and Ace, Grim, and the chandelier, falls to the ground with a loud crash, spreading the debris and the dust around the area.

Sereia gasps, "The chandelier!"

"Oh no. They're really done now!"

Ace sits on the ground as he coughs out the debris and dust, "I cannot believe you just did that!"

"Myaaah…" Grim replies, feeling dizzy from the impact and passes out.

"Oh, right!" Deuce says, realizing a mistake. "I probably should have come up with a way to soften your landing after you caught him…"

Furious, Ace stands and viciously glares at Deuce, "You complete and total moron! We got Grim, but we broke the chandelier!"

"Come on guys, we need to clean up this mess! If the headmage finds out about this…" Briar says, trying to stop the fighting.

But a familiar voice asks, "If I find out about… what, dear Briar?"

The group turns their heads in a panic to see Dire Crowley is standing before them with his arms crossed and despite wearing the mask, he has a disapproving and furious expression on his face.

Ace panics, "Ah! Headmage Crowley…!"

But Crowley wakes up to them and angrily scolds them, "YOU. ALL. AGAIN. What have you done this time?!"

"Myaaah… Everything's spinning…" Grim replies, still dizzy from the event.

Crowley continues scolding them, Burning a statue wasn't enough for you? Now you've destroyed a chandelier?! Enough. All of you are expelled."

"Whaaaaaaaaa?!" Ace and Deuce exclaim in shock.

Briar and the girls are stunned to hear the mess that has happened. Now they're going to be expelled from the school.

But Decue panics, "Headmage, please! Give me a second chance! I can't get expelled from this school! I need to be here!"

"Then blame yourself for your own foolish behavior," Crowley says.

Then Deuce says, "I'll pay for the damages! How much it costs!"

"The chandelier is not a light fixture. It is a magical chandelier. It's candles are powered by a magical energy source, enchanted so that they will burn for eternity. It was created for us by a legendary artificer. Possibly their finest creation. It has been here since the school was established, and I imagined it would be here forevermore. Considering its historical value, I would estimate its worth to be no less than a billion thaumarks. And you intend to repay that sum?

"A… A billion marks?!" Deuce says, shocked.

Sereia says, "That's a lot of money."

"A lot of money. Chandeliers are very expensive depending on the craftsmanship. It must be very well made and from what Crowley said, it's very valuable." Briar says to Sereia.

Ace nervously rubs the back of his head, "B-but I'm sure with your magical talent, sir, you would snap your fingers to fix it right up!"

"I don't think it's that simple, Ace," Briar says, shaking her head.

Then she turns to the chandelier, "The chandelier is badly damaged, so I suspect it must take a lot of magic."

"Briar is correct. Even magic has its limits. Furthermore, it's magestone - the figurative heart of any magical artifact - is cracked, " Crowley says.

"A magestone? What's that?" Briar asks.

Crowley then explains, "The magestone is a special stone that has magical qualities. They are used to help light up the candles on the chandeliers and can be used for other methods."

He sighs and adds, "A magestone cannot easily be replaced. I fear the candles of this majestic chandelier will never burn again."

"This is bad…" Ace sadly says.

Then Decue sadly says to himself, "What am I going to do?! How am I going to tell my mother…?"

Just then, Trinket begins to talk and motions her hands. She points to the chandelier, and brings out some tools she has in a bag made of leaves.

"Uh what's your fairy friend saying?" Ace asks.

"I think Trinket is saying that she can try to fix the chandelier and the magestone," Briar suspects.

Trinket nods her head.

"That is generous of you, young Tinker Fairy, but I'm afraid it's not an easy fix, especially for one as small as you," Crowley says.

Trinket frowns and puffs her cheeks. Then begins talking. Of course, she speaks in ringing sounds.

"It's okay Trinket. I think what he's saying is that it's too big a job for you to do. It may take you a while to fix it into a perfect condition," Briar clarifies to Trinket.

Trinket lowers her head in disappointment.

"But it's very nice of you that you want to try," Briar says.

Trinket slowly nods her head and shows a small smile.

Briar turns to Crowley, and asks, "Hedmage, Is there any other way for us to get a new one?"

"Hmmm… There may be one way. One tiny sliver of a chance to repair this chandelier," Crowley says.

"There is?!" Ace and Deuce asks, in surprise.

"The magestone that powered this chandelier was mined from the Dwarfs' Mine," Crowley says.

"Dwarfs' Mine?" Sereia says, curious.

Crolwey continues, "If you can acquire a magestone with the same properties, it may be possible to repair it."

This makes everyone relieved.

Deuce volunteers first, "Then I'll go find a magestone! With your permission, sir!"

Crowley says, "I should caution you that I cannot promise there yet remain magestones to find. The mines were closed quite some time ago. It is quite likely that all of the magestones have already been mined."

"I will do anything to avoid expulsion, sir!" Deuce says, determined.

Then Briar says, "Don't worry Deuce, we'll help you find the magestone.

"I agree. We can help you find the stone together," Sereia says.

Trinket nods her head in reply.

"You will?" Decue asks.

"Yeah. We're kind of partly the reason you got caught in this mess, and we can't let you do this alone," Briar says.

"I don't know…" Deuce says, sounding unsure.

Then Sereia says, "We're going with you."

Trinket nods her head.

"Well, I suppose I could use some help. I'll let you help me search for the magestone," Deuce says.

"Glad that we can help," Briar says.

Then turns to Dire Crowley, "That is, if you don't mind."

"Hmmm… Very well, then. I will suspend your expulsion for a single night. But if you fail to turn with magestone by morning, then all of you are expelled," Crowley says.

"I understand, sir. Thank you very much for this opportunity!" Decue says.

Ace sighs, "Fine, then. Let's hurry down there, find a magestone, and get this whole thing done with."

"But how are we going to get to the mine?" Sereia asks.

Crowley answers, "You should be able to reach the Dwarfs' Mine instantly by using one of the gates in the Mirror Chamber."

"Yes sir!" Deuce says.

Suddenly, Grim wakes up, "Myah! Wh-? Where am I?!"

Sereia sternly turns to Grim, "You may end up wishing you'd remained unconscious."

"Now now, Sereia," Briar replies.

Briar then turns to Crolwey, "Uh Headmage, can I ask you something?"

"Hmm… what is it?" Crowley asks.

"Well, um, remember the incident with the Queen of Hearts Statue. I didn't get a chance to tell you before, or if I can fully understand what happened but um… My medallion did something trang. It glowed before Seriea and I were hit by Grim's powers and Ace blew it towards us by accident," Briar says.

"Your medallion?" Crowley asks.

Ace suddenly remembers, "That's right. You and Sereia were almost burned, but when the fire died down, the statue was charred, and yet, you two weren't… and you both were caught in the flames."

"I know it's going to be weird, but I think my medallion is what protects us. It was showing a dim glow when I looked at it after the incident," Briar adds.

Crowley places his fingers on his chin and thinks, "Hmmm…"

Then asks, "Briar, you don't mind I borrow your medallion, until you get back."

"Um, okay…" Briar says, reluctantly.

Then places her hand on her medallion in concern.

"Is there something wrong?" Ace asks.

"Well um, it's a bit hard to explain, but I feel reluctant about letting it out of my sight," Briar says.

"Why? It's just a necklace?" Ace asks.

"Not for me," Briar says, and explains, "You see, when I was found in the woods at age seven and can't remember anything before that. The medallion and well, my name are the only things I have that seem to be the only things I remember."

"I see, so your medallion is important to you, a clue to your past," Deuce says.

"Yes. I never want to lose it," Briar says, looking at her necklace.

Crowley says, "Do not fret Briar, I'll be sure your medallion is safely observed and looked after. Then it will be safely turned to you."

"Okay," Briar says.

She then removes her necklace and gives it to Crowley.

"Thank you for cooperating. I'll be sure it's safely looked after and returned to you when you return," Crolwey says.

"Thank you," Briar says.

Sometime later, the group arrives at the Mirror Chamber to get to the Dwarfs' Mine to find a magestone.

Ace groans with frustration, "Maan… How did I end up in this mess? I swear, I have the worst luck."

"We don't have time to complain. Let's go," Deuce sternly says.

"Well then, if we're ready, let's head to the mines," Briar says.

Deuce turns to the Mirror, "Dark Mirror! Take us to the Dwarfs' Mine!"

With that, the mirror begins to glow and create a vortex on the glass mirror.

"Alright everyone, let's go!" Briar says.

With that, everyone walks into the mirror and they are pulled inside. Now their mission to find the magestone begins.