Life's a Scream!

by cartuneslover17

Post-MU. A new semester at Monsters University, with the OK gang now back in the Scare Program and Mike and Sulley, despite expulsion, close by them every second of the way, it feels like it'll be a good year. Actually, it becomes interesting: the RENEWED Scare Games. That's not all, when a student transfers from Fear Tech, Squishy's life changes even more. PLEASE FOLLOW REVIEW!

22. Chp 13: An Unforeseen Revelation

It's been a long, LONG time since I last updated. I just realized it's been over a YEAR since I last uploaded. Well, looks like I finished this chapter at a very good time: August 15, 2013 was the day I first published this story, and today marks the third anniversary. :D

I hope you guys didn't lose interest in this story. My Deviantart friend and fellow co-writer victortky has been loyal to the story more than I have, and I'm grateful for his help as well as assisting for future chapters.

Let me be frank that with almost every new movie means possible references and/or stuff that supports the plot (and it's a BIG plot).

PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!
_

Having witnessed Terry's mood sour as the day continued, Mrs. Carlton decided a drive through the city would lift her boys' spirits. Which was why she was at the wheel of her van, husband beside her, and the twins sitting in the back with crutches beneath their feet.

"I just know a treat at the ice cream parlor will do you some good!" she chirped, veering her van through traffic.

The older Perry remained glum, peering out his window toward the sights of Monstropolis, its streets of brightly-colored buildings illuminated by the shining sun of the afternoon. While Terri was grinning excitedly, his own spirits lifted by the thought of having ice cream, Terry instead felt less optimistic than he had been the day they returned to MU.

The latter brother's mind couldn't help contemplating over the Scare Games due to their injury. He knew as much as Terri that while they were healing, progress was slow and they still required their crutches nearly every second of the day. While he had tried his best to walk without the aforementioned artificial aid, Terry still ended up on his front a number of times, each failed result assisted by either his OK brothers or Mike and Sulley. While their assistance was born out of concern, Terry personally felt that it was unnecessary.

He did appreciate their help, but it was undeniably a dent to his pride. Terry had all the extra legs, yet he was unable to attempt them without the aid of his crutches. It was just as painful watching his younger brother try and mobilize in the absence of a second head hovering over him protectively.

Terry wanted more than anything to fix his mistakes, regardless of how many times people have told him none of this was his fault. He had practically costed MU's most proud tradition, let alone Exceeda Zeta's first semester participating in it. The older twin agonized over the belief that he had not only made his brother suffer, but the entire university as well. If only they just gave him a chance...

But there was still the problem of getting permission from the Greek Council as well as Dean Hardscrabble. Not just them, but everyone. They all refused to allow Terry get himself hurt more than he already endured, and that was final, much to his disappointment.

Terri, on the other hand, had his eye-phone tuned in to some beats that Monnie Monstre had lent him, to test them out before she submitted to the MU Campus Radio. For a novice music mixer, he had to admit that the EZ girl definitely had the skill for creating the catchiest music, and the thought of hearing her pieces on the campus radio was pleasant. He continuously tapped a finger against one of his grafted tentacles, peering down at his device with an expression of content.

Much as he couldn't comprehend how the doctors managed them both an equal set of tentacles, in addition extra flesh for their separate torsos, the younger Perry still felt blessed they had survived either way.

Unlike Terry, he had used his crutches whenever possible, despite any form of movement deemed difficult for himself at first. But as the days passed, he succeeded walking smoothly bit by bit, although the steps with his new tentacle legs remained rather jittery and awkward. The twins especially tried to resume their hobbies as two people, yet the magic tricks continuously botched due to the extra arms still weak (which made it even more obvious the deck of cards were being hidden in Terri's sleeve).

The younger twin, however, preserved his positivity, basking in the acknowledgement that they would fully heal in time. Not only that, but also his growing excitement for their combined performance with Katy, the talent show filling him with giddiness. Whether or not they could stand on their own, their voices could still carry them, and in no way would he let their EZ friend down.

His thoughts focused on that aquatic sorority girl even as the van finally wedged into a tight spot, right across from the ice cream parlor.

Don and Mrs. Carlton helped the twins alight from her van, before walking along the street towards the eatery. It was a nice and brightly-colored place, with transparent windows and comfortable seats for patrons to sit down and enjoy the city view. With each tap of their own crutches and the aid from the Carlton couple, the Perry twins made their way into the busy parlor, the cold rush of air-conditioning reaching their faces once the front glass doors parted.

Terry had to admit that the establishment was beginning to lift him from his glum state. The smell of hot fudge and roasted peanuts atop of assorted ice cream flavors intrigued his nostrils, and watching others enjoy their desserts always pleased him.

He reminisced on how this was where one of Oozma Kappa's very first frat meetings had occurred. They were all striving to know each other, and Terry could recall how awkward it had been for him and his brother. After all, they had been strangers at first, and the older twin wasn't exactly zealous when it came to trusting other monsters (for good reasons in the past, of course).

But kindness and conversation with large sundaes had made the twins open up more, solidifying their relationship with the frat they were proud to be part of. Terry smiled at his fonder of memories while Mrs. Carlton and Don carefully helped them sit down. Crutches leaning against their chairs, it didn't take long for them to choose off the long menu of items.

When the waitress arrived, their orders had been descriptive in terms of flavor, drizzle, and especially toppings. Mrs. Carlton and Don settled for shakes instead, and when the waitress returned with their orders, the twins wasted no time digging in.

Although they had been consuming a lot of ice cream at the university lately, having it served at such an uppity establishment felt more engaging. Much like whenever they flagged an ice cream

truck, eating out of glass bowls while classic music played in the background made them feel like children again. Mrs. Carlton and Don smiled at them while savoring their drinks, happy to see their boys forgetting their troubles and enjoying themselves.

"Now doesn't coming here make you all better?" Mrs. Carlton asked sweetly.

"Lots," Terri said while licking his lips that were coated with fudge.

"I'm feeling pretty good now," Terry admitted, nearly forgetting that he was physically dependent.

Just as they were about to continue ravaging their bowls, a voice immediately called out to them. "Excuse me?"

Both twins stopped, confusingly looking straight past Mrs. Carlton and Don. The parents quickly peered over their shoulders, realizing that a female monster was standing before their table.

She appeared to be the same age as the twins, no doubt a college student. A large ovular-shaped body concealed by a pink checkered shirt, two horns protruding from her black hair that was positioned up like a beehive, with strands gracefully waved down their face, and two eyes that bore the color of violet. Terry found himself blushing sheepishly in her presence, noting that he seemed to be doing that a lot in the presence of most girls.

Especially really gorgeous ones such as the individual currently standing before them.

He did notice that the female had a small notepad in one hand, and the other grasping what appeared to be a recorder.

"Hi, I'm Trudy Blotts," she greeted with confidence. "Intern reporter."

The Perry twins glanced at each other, both wondering what a monster like her wanted with them. Unless it had anything to do with their condition.

While the accident in Monsters University had been reported to the public, some important details were left out with respect to them as well as the OK frat. As far as the story went for the public at large, a gas explosion happened on campus, and some students were unfortunately injured but received immediate medical treatment, thus surviving the ordeal.

What the public wasn't aware of, however, was the fact that the twins had nearly died if not for the life-threatening operation that saved them both.

Both twins turned back to regard the intern reporter even as Don and Mrs. Carlton both smiled politely at her.

"Hi, Trudy," the OK mom greeted kindly, "how can we help you?"

The female monster offered a small grin on her face, then looked at the Perry twins rather eagerly. "I was just wondering if I can have an interview with...your sons?" She glanced from them to the woman that appeared to serve as their guardian, as did the man with the glasses next to her.

Terry's cheeks flushed red, shifting his single eye over at Mrs. Carlton, who appeared rather surprised by the request than the assumption itself.

"Oh, the boys?" she said, turning to her husband with uncertainty.

"Huh, didn't expect the boys to be getting any interviews," Don murmured, rubbing his mustache. "But if you don't mind me asking, what exactly is this interview about?"

"Well, my employer said I need to ask some questions about the twins after the stuff that happened," Trudy explained, looking over her notepad. "Especially since you're the most talked about subject in college related news."

Terri's eye widened. "Us? Why are they talking about us?"

Trudy regarded him in confusion. "Did you two not just nearly die from the incident?"

"Wait a minute," Don intervened, turning to the intern with a surprisingly firm expression. "We made sure to keep that sort of thing private. How do you know about this?"

"Fangbook," she responded nonchalantly. "And Instragrowl. And Grumblr. And especially Blitter."

Terry frowned uncomfortably, not exactly keen on the fact people were talking about him and his brother. Especially about how they had to experience their first days accommodating after waking up in separate beds.

He turned to Terri and the older monsters, who were just as perturbed by the fact that even when they wanted things private, that was impossible to keep. They were surprised the twins weren't being hounded by reporters, hungry for a scoop about near-death experiences (no pun intended).

When it came to reporters, the saying went that if one was in the vicinity, there would most likely be a dozen or more close by, waiting for their chance to get information the first reporter was pursuing.

While Terry sincerely expected such a thing occurring, he reasoned that due to their guardians requesting privacy as well as the CDA authorities minimizing the details, he thought none of this would ever reach public news.

But the fact that an intern like Trudy Blotts knew about their situation meant someone must have possibly given the slip of a tongue. And with the proliferation of internet technology, that meant news about their recovery back in campus might have travelled further than any of them have anticipated.

Both Perry twins regarded each other uneasily. Even Mrs Carlton's smile slipped a little, perhaps worrying if the twins would be too shaken to recall the terrifying moments they went through.

"Oh, dear," Don muttered to himself, "None of us wanted a word of this to go out, but I guess something must have slipped."

Mrs. Carlton glanced at the reporter before turning to Don. "Sweetie, I think it's best that we allow the twins to decide for themselves whether they would be fine with the interview. After all, this is about them, and it's their choice."

Don gave a nod of his head. "Of course, hon." He turned to the twins. "So, boys, what do you think?"

Terry glanced up at the aforementioned intern, who smiled hopefully toward him. She had that positive outlook about her, determined to show her capabilities as a future reporter. She was probably still working on her homework, trying to pass herself off as professional. Although she appeared nervous over the twins' deciding, Trudy Blotts, nevertheless, was respectful of whatever the outcome.

Her presence overall exemplified that her spirit had never been broken once, especially by the university she was attending. Her eagerness and can-do attitude reminded Terry so much of what OK stood for. Who was he to deny that?

He glanced at his twin. "Well, I don't really mind. What about you, brother?"

Terri beamed at him. "Well, it was going to happen eventually. Today, interns. Soon, paparazzi."

Mrs. Carlton regarded them, lips pressing in a tight smile. "Are you boys sure you're okay with this?"

The twins glanced at each other, the older sharing his younger's grin.

"Yes," they spoke in unison.

Trudy Blotts nearly exploded with elation as Terry managed to use one of his arms to pull her a seat. She smirked happily, staring at the two faces that would help her assignment. The female monster especially eyed the older twin, and her smile became more coquettish.

"I got to tell you," she crooned in a rather interested tone, "you're even cuter than I thought you'd be."

Terry stiffened, his face becoming as red as the cherry atop his sundae. He shifted his eye toward Terri, who merely shrugged.

"I'm talking about you, inch-taller-one," she whispered teasingly toward the older twin.

Terry gulped, then gave her a nervous smile that produced more like a wince. Whether or not she didn't realize that Don and Mrs. Carlton were watching, Trudy wasn't the least bit embarrassed herself. Nor did the older monsters seem to mind.

In fact, they were practically grinning at the possible opportunity Terry had finally met his special someone! His mother figure was was incredibly hopeful.

"Uh, thanks..." Terry muttered with a chuckle that sounded rather dismayed than charmed.

Trudy winked at him before placing her notepad down in front of her. She set the recorder next to it, gracefully pressing the REC button. Once the device starting working, she turned to them, hands folded atop the table.

"Alright, first question..."
~

While the twins accepted further questioning by the exuberant reporter, across from their table were a certain JOX boy and EZ girl enjoying sundaes together.

While it wasn't exactly a date, Colette liked to believe it was. As she fantasized the moment as a delicate step toward romance between her and George Sanderson, the orange monster himself merely perceived it as two friends having ice cream.

Even as she ate, Colette could not help but gaze adoringly at the large monster next to her. She continuously stared at those amber eyes, that slight overbite that showed his non-sharp teeth, and the tremendously orange fur that complemented his frat jacket.

He was especially a great conversationalist. The evening they first officially met at the twins' homecoming, she learned he loved besides bird-watching were poetry and especially long walks.

He really didn't seem all meaty in the head as compared to his frat brothers, nor even Brock Pearson.

Colette didn't mind. She preferred that kind of guy.

As they made small talk with each other, the fashion major recalled the moments they spent in each other's presence, from the social gatherings in Frat Row to simply crossing paths during breaks at MU. While those meetings had been short, she cherished each one like an individual jewel.

Every night before she went to bed, his sweet face was the last thing she thought of before falling asleep. Having friended each other on social media, she was constantly looking over his latest updates, especially when it involved pictures. Whether he was by himself taking a casual selfie or hanging out with other monsters, Colette made sure to "like" every single one of them. To him that was merely a friend enjoying what he posted, to her every "like" was a kiss being blown.

She couldn't deny the possibility that other girls must have been attracted to George. Colette hoped he wasn't dating some other girl, or possessed an interest for a different type that she obviously was not.

The EZ girl gazed down at his hand on the table, fighting the urge to place her own over it. She just wanted to feel his gorgeous orange fur, and stroke the tip of his adorable horn. Every inch of him intrigued her, especially the way he appeared to have overbite when he smiled. She just loved the way he smiled.

"So," George began, immediately grabbing her attention, "what have you been doing this week?"

She batted her lashes at him sweetly. "Well, I signed up for Homecoming Queen."

She did remember placing her name on the sign-up paper in the Greek Council building, following a small line of girls who were doing the same. While Colette heard that Stephanie Dallmar had already signed up once more to defend her title, the EZ girl knew she would probably stand a chance. Given how what sorority she was in, she believed the title was as good as hers.

"Homecoming Queen?" George asked in surprise. "Wow, you're going to go up against the reigning champ Stephanie Dallmar. You now that, right?"

"Not even worried," Colette spoked confidently. "I'm going to try everything to get her crown."

"I actually don't even know who was Homecoming Queen before she came along," he admitted.

"Well, there's going to be a new name for the crown this year," she told him, determination twinkling from her brown eyes. "And that's going to be me."

The JOX monster couldn't help but smile. "Well, you have my vote."

Colette grinned, cheeks flushing with pride. She intended to win. Not just for the crown and have MU praise her even more as an EZ girl, but for the chance to choose her king especially. Although George remained unaware of the way he made her body quiver, time would tell until something [eventually] happened.

She recalled how she waltzed right into the office run by Claire Wheeler and Brock Pearson. Colette showed no qualms about beating Stephanie as she turned in her form. Chatting it up with the president and vice boosted her confidence, especially since she playfully flirted with the latter. Although she had eyes for George Sanderson, she had to admit Brock was quite a looker as well.

And she couldn't help but notice the odd expressions Claire kept throwing at the both of them. Jealousy? Annoyance? Or doubts? Colette brushed that last one aside, refusing to accept non-believers' presumption she would lose to Stephanie.

After all, her flirty act had earned a promised vote from Brock already.

Colette grinned at George, baring her non-sharp teeth. "Oh, it warms my fur you of all monsters have faith in me...buddy." That last word was a forced utter that sounded more appealing in her head.

She wanted to just call him a cute pet name, like how Mike and Celia did with each other. But she and George were not even remotely close to the relationship those two had. Colette fought the urge to call him baby, honey, or even sweetie, like how Mrs. Carlton referred to a majority of monsters in MU. She didn't want to move fast, even though she would definitely jump him in a heartbeat if she could.

"Well, sure, why wouldn't I?" he said with nonchalance. "Best of luck to you."

Just the way he spoke made her heart flutter. Colette could never get enough of his voice, willing to listen to it for hours. It made her feel even more enamored about him, and equally more determined to win that crown so he could claim his.

"Thank you, Georgie," she told him sweetly, deciding that such a nickname was innocent and 'friend relevant'. "Hearing that from you means a lot to me."
_

Evening had fallen on Frat Row, most students participated around the cul-de-sac after another long day of classes and work. Most monsters came to socialize with each other, especially as it was nearing dinner time.

Percy Boleslaw hurried down the steps into the living room, backpack in tow. Noise blasted from the TV which no one was watching, and the smell of pizza wafted through the fraternity house.

Of course, he had no time to snack on the daily food of the JOX as he reached the door-

"Boleslaw!"

He stopped in his tracks, claws just inches from the knob. Percy mentally cursed himself, having wished he had crept more quietly like they taught in class.

Slowly turning, he was met by the even more bulky figure of his frat captain. Big Red narrowed his blue-eyed stalks at him, hands on his thighs as the JOX leader frowned.

"You're not going bot-fighting again, are you?" Big Red growled.

"What?" Percy retorted casually. "What would make you think that?"

"You came here last week with a bunch of random bot heads and a whole lot of cash," Big Red reminded. "Percy, people who bot-fight are bad news!"

The purple monster lifted his hands defensively, giving his leader a smarmy grin. "Hey, I know about this stuff. That is why I am not going bot-fighting."

"Then where you headed?" the frat president asked suspiciously.

"Arcade at the mall," his frat brother reasoned. "Hoping to catch the next bus."

"What about pizza?" Big Red asked, seemingly believing him.

"Dude, I'll just grab something at the food court," Percy said hurriedly, turning back towards the door.

Before Big Red could say anything, the purple beast already flung it open, racing down the steps. The leader of their frat watched him leave, sighing and shaking his head.
~

As the purple JOX monster merged himself through the array of students, the girls of EZ passed by him, approaching the OK house.

Laura smiled pleasantly, leading her team up the steps. Even as she rang the doorbell, Colette was too busy texting on her phone to notice or pay mind to anything else, a lovesick expression on her face.

Colette: What are you up to now?

George: Having pizza with guys. You eating at OK's?

Colette: Pretty much.

George: Well we got to cut this conversation short then. Have a good night and I'll see you later. Thanks again for helping me out earlier.

Colette: Night. :)

Even after the texting ended, that didn't stop Colette from scrolling over their previous messages. Each one felt like a love letter typed specially for her, and Colette giddied over every word as she read them repeatedly.

The door opened, and the sorority monsters were greeted by the cheerful face of Mrs. Carlton.

"Aw, there you girls are!" the frat mom cooed tenderly as she ushered them into her second house. "I'm so happy you could join us for dinner tonight!"

"Man, I am starving!" Katy grunted, rubbing her back. "Cleaning up that stadium was a huge pain in my-"

"Katy!" Monnie scolded, having to remind her they were in the presence of parental monsters.

However, her disapproval subsided the moment a lizard with purple glasses was spotted at the dinner table. He held that same friendly smile, and Monnie could especially smell the scent of earlier's lunch wafting through the room.

Randall lifted his gaze, and he beamed at her. He gave her a friendly wave with two of his four arms.

"Hey, Monnie," he greeted rather shyly. "Hi, ladies."

The redhead smiled sweetly toward him, sending back a wave as her heart raced.

Sulley suddenly bursted through the kitchen doorway, balancing three different dishes on his arms. He grunted as he hobbled toward the table, the heat of each plate penetrating through his unruly fur. Mike was behind him, balancing a large, beefy pie in his hands as he trekked behind the blue beast.

"Yo!" Sulley grunted toward the female monsters cheerfully, before finally setting the plates down. "Ooh, hot, hot, hot!"

Randall's smile faded into a scowl. "Careful, Sullivan..." he tried not to hiss, "those dishes aren't easy to make."

As usual, the former MU student was completely oblivious to the coldness of Randall's tone. Sulley sent him a sheepish grin, before regarding the entire table with a watering mouth.

"Hey, ladies," Mike waved to them as he set the pie down. "Laura, good to see you." He flashed the leader a grin.

The timid EZ president sent him a wave. Part of her wondered if she should have brought Archie along, but she doubted that would be mannerly. And her beloved pig would be fine on his own. She let him out of her dorm so he could have a walk into the night, something he often did since coming to MU.

As the girls entered one by one into the living room, Mrs. Carlton raised one of her brows when she noticed something odd. She counted heads: Laura, Katy, Monnie, and Colette.

"Huh," the frat mom spoke. "Girls, where's Dot?"

Colette lifted her eyes from her phone and turned to Mrs. Carlton apologetically. "She's still at Monstroland, I guess. I've been calling and texting her since I got back to campus. She won't pick up her phone."

The fashionista rolled her eyes over her roommate's frequent absences, having not noticed a pair of furry purple legs descend the stairs.

"I think she's going to be staying late at that amusement park," Colette muttered with a roll of her eyes. "Again."

"Dot's not here tonight?"

Both she and Mrs. Carlton turned to see Art standing before them, arms limp towards the floor like they usually were. He didn't seem shocked, but his expression bore some disappointment.

"Oh, sorry, sweetie," Mrs. Carlton told him in a woeful tone. "I don't think Dottie's going to make it."

The purple monster let out a sigh before approaching the dinner table. As he took his seat next to Colette, who was busy on her phone (her cheeks grew redder combined with her blissful smile), the sound of something hitting the top stair gathered everyone's attention.

"Oh, good, the twins are awake," the frat mom said, all five of her eyes raising toward the second floor.

With everyone already seated at the table, all watched as the formerly conjoined monsters were assisted down the stairs. With their crutches at hand, Don and Squishy serviced them to take one slow step at a time.

"Hey, everyone," Terri greeted, his face brightening for all to see as they finally made it to the floor. "Hey, girls," he nodded toward the sorority, until his eye fell on a certain aquatic. "Hi, Katy..." he said shyly, his cheeks tinting pink.

"S'up?" the EZ girl greeted nonchalantly, leaning back against her seat.

Terri smiled shyly. "How's...how's service going?"

"Oh, it was terrible!" she expressed in a mock cheerful tone. "How's the body working for you?"

"Well, still adjusting," the younger twin said as he and his brother were helped into their seats. "Wanted to talk to you at English, but you were sitting in the back of the class sleeping."

"Oh, yeah, that," she sighed, rolling her eyes. "Service is killing me!" She regarded both twins. "Hey, isn't English more the older one's thing? You guys are separated, you don't have to go to the same class anymore."

That comment brought silence among everyone. Don and the rest of OK glanced worriedly at the twins. Both were quiet, as if deep in thought about Katy's words.

It was bad enough they no longer sat in the same seat... Eyes widening at her insensitive words, the pink aquatic winced.

"Ooh, my bad!" she said quickly. "Okay, forget what I said! Seriously, forget about it! I'm just glad to see you guys again, alright?"

"It's okay," Terri assured her. "We're...glad to see you too, and here for dinner."

"Good!" Mrs. Carlton cut in, trying to lessen the tension. "Let's eat!"

As everyone began helping themselves to the food provided, Squishy leaned back against his seat, his entire body stiffening.

He was sitting next to Laura.

Swallowing, he was fortunate to see that Mike was seated on her other side. At least if Squishy was stuck in mid-sentence, his good coach would save him. For now, the youngest OK member just silently helped food onto his plate, while everyone else was just chatting away.

Mike noticed this, and he frowned. He coughed loudly, making sure only Laura and Squishy could hear him. That immediately got their attention, both glancing at large eyeball.

"So..." he began lightly. "Laura, how's training?"

She paused for a moment. "Well...we're improving." She looked at the girls around her. "I don't want to sound so negative but..."

"It's chaos, ain't it?" Mike asked knowingly. "Huh, been there, done that, Squishy should know. I mean, he fought the odds and look at him!"

As soon as Mike pointed at smaller monster, Squishy's complexion became even paler as Laura turned in his direction. What a pal Wazowski was, but Squishy still felt stuck, his tongue tied at the moment.

"I, uh..." he stuttered.

Behind Laura, Mike was wildly making gestures. He kept mouthing words, anything to get something out of shy Scare student.

"I..." the frat monster began again. "I caught the flag last time."

Laura regarded him in confusion. "Caught the flag...what?"

Mike fought the urge to groan aloud as he rolled his eye. "Yeah, you know what the second event is like, right?"

She turned to him. "The one with the librarian?"

"Yeah, that's the one," the green monster nodded. "Squishy here saved our butts. Seriously, the guy knows stealth! He can pop right behind you and you'd never see him coming! That is terrifying!"

Said monster blushed, and it only worsened when Laura turned back to him. She looked incredibly impressed.

"I know you guys said you dominated that event," she spoke. "But I was never given the full details. You must have been really brave to actually sneak around the librarian like that."

At that moment Squishy felt a little light-headed, his grin becoming more goofy.

"Well, you know..." he said bashfully, averting his five-eyed gaze. "I just...it's all about teamwork...you know..."

Mike grinned to himself. "Yeah, if it wasn't for Squishy, we would have never won that round."

The pale-skinned monster's face flushed brighter, growing more embarrassed with every detail Mike provided. On the other hand, he was grateful his friend was raising the good details about him, which seemed to intrigue Laura Sharp incredibly.

What a pal!

The conversation halted the moment Sullivan let out a massive belch. It nearly had the house rattling, lasting for a few seconds before ceasing. Everyone looked at him, Randall hiding his frown.

"Say excuse me, sweetie," Mrs. Carlton spoke, not the least bit offended by his manners.

"Pardon," the blue behemoth chuckled before picking his teeth with a clawed finger.

"Dude, awesome!" Art chortled. "Hey, let's having a burping contest!"

"Art, no," Squishy protested before glancing over at Laura nervously. "Come on, this is supposed to be a nice, respectful dinner for our EZ friends."

Before the purple monster could rebuff, another burp echoed through the dinner table. This time it was Katy after chugging down a large amount of her beverage.

"'Scuse me," she snickered.

Monnie emitted one as well, although it was small and quick in comparison. "Sorry!" she said sheepishly, fingers placed over her mouth.

This time Colette let one out, although she hadn't even expected herself to. It was a little longer compared to Monnie's, and it resulted in the fashionista's cheeks to redden.

"Ooh, my bad..." she groaned, clutching her belly.

"Ho ho, that was a nice one!" Don laughed.

Art turned to Squishy with a smug grin. The latter just bit his lip, unsure of how to retort. His thoughts were disrupted when another burp bursted out.

Two, actually.

All eyes turned to Laura and Mrs. Carlton. Their mouths hanging low like a couple of hammocks, their combined burps lasted much longer than any of the others, even Sulley's.

Laura slapped a hand over her mouth, eyes widening and ears lowering in shock. Mrs. Carlton blushed, tapping a napkin against her lips.

"Now that," the OK mother commented playfully, grinning at Laura, "was epic."

"Yeah!" Art cheered before reaching across the table.

"High-five, Mrs. C!"

"Up top!" she giggled before slapping her palm against his.

"You guys are just incredible," Terry chuckled, shaking his head.

"You know what's even more incredible?" Don spoke up. "Being all over the media faster than Blitter messaging!"

"No way!" Katy exclaimed, turning to the twins. "What happened earlier? Did you guys get hounded by a dozen reporters or something?"

"No, of course not," Mrs. Carlton answered for them. "They were hounded by just one."

"She's an intern for some network," Don added. "I don't remember which one, but she's very keen on her work. And she was very nice."

"And very sweet," his wife complimented before turning to the twins. "Terry, honey, do you still have the phone number she gave you?"

"Phone number?" Sulley blurted out before shifting his gaze toward the older twin. "You never mentioned a phone number!"

Terry grimaced. "It's just in case she wants another interview..." he muttered.

"That's not how she proposed it," Don said teasingly. "Really, that gal was more interested in you than the story itself!"

The moment Mike and Sulley noticed the older twin frown, they knew immediately what he was thinking. Of course, no one else was aware of what his expression actually meant, only assuming it was out of sheer embarrassment. Terri knew the older twin's true feelings on the matter, gazing at his brother every now and then.

"Well, I'm not interested," Terry muttered.

"Oh, don't be so modest!" Colette piped in. "You got a reporter crushing on you! How awesome is that?"

"You know, she would make a great date for Homecoming," Mrs. Carlton suggested.

As the older twin was bombarded with comments and teases, Laura leaned toward Squishy. This surprised the latter, to which his face grew hot as her lips hovered just above his hat.

"Your family is always so interesting," she told him quietly. "My girls really love being around you guys."

Hoping his blush wasn't detected, Squishy immediately found his voice. "I'm...I'm glad you think that way. Your...your sorority is pretty interesting too."

Laura chuckled softly. "Oh, no, you're just being nice..."

"I mean it," he told her with more confidence. "They're...pretty lucky to have you as their leader. I mean, yeah, you sometimes say it's hard...but you still get them somewhere. That's...that's something..."

The way she smiled at him was something he would surely think about all night. His heart racing, his self-esteem growing, Squishy didn't even notice Mike's smirk as he watched them from beside Laura.

However, the moment was interrupted as soon as loud crackling noises sifted into their ears. Everyone turned toward Art, who was holding a small bag, tiny crystal-like candy pieces poured out and into his glass of soda.

The noise grew more intense, the liquid becoming more frothy. The purple monster's grin widened as he watched his creation unfold. Monnie and Colette leaned back in their seats, growing nervous as the foam began to spill over the cup and onto the table; the latter believing it would create a hole right through it.

"Oh, Art," Mrs. Carlton sighed. "How many times do I have to tell you? Please, do it on a saucer."

"Isn't it kind of dangerous to drink soda and eat Pop Gems at the same time?" Monnie said.

"Please!" Art scoffed. "That's nothing! You should try this while having it upside down! It makes your brain all excited and stuff!"

After the foam had ceased, he grabbed his beverage before chugging it down. The crackling still resumed even as he drank.

Gasping with content, he wiped his lips across his arm before letting out a long, Earth-rattling burp that nearly shook the table. While some of the guys cheered him, Squishy sighed and palmed his face

"That's a perfect ten, my friend!" Art declared. "Man, I wish Dot was here to see this!"
_

Troll Bridge, Monsters University, Past Midnight

The flawless round shape of the full moon shone down the buildings of Frat Row. A figure carrying a backpack and a small leather-bound book underneath one arm made her way carefully out of the cul-de-sac, sticking to the shadows as she moved.

Keeping clear of the student volunteers who acted as security patrols during the hour, she walked briskly down various alleyways and dark walkways to preserve her presence. After hiding in the corridor between two major buildings and avoiding the illumination of the lampposts, the second-in-command of the goth sorority slipped behind a random student patrol, and made her way to the Troll Bridge.

She had done this many times, and most recently to help her best friend due to Carrie's request, bringing a troll shaman onto the surface of the monster world. What she was doing broke many university rules. However, given the special circumstances of her unusual trip, Nadya knew the secrecy was a small price to pay.

Some secrets had to remain secrets, due to the pledge she made with the supposedly mythical race hidden beneath MU.

After glancing around to make sure no one was following her, Nadya quickly exited the shadows of the School of Engineering towards the Troll Bridge, which connected the two halves of MU.

There, hidden in plain sight of everyone in the university itself, was the secret entrance to a completely different location. One so mystical it wouldn't appear out of place in a fantasy book.

Except that it wasn't fiction, but fully entrenched in reality.

Making her way to the underside of the Troll Bridge, Nadya checked around one last time before walking down to the brickwork of said structure. She ran her clawed hands over the surface tediously.

Despite all the precautions she took, the HSS sister still hadn't been careful enough. She failed to notice someone discreetly watching from a safe distance, having followed her all the way from Frat Row. ~

Carrie snuck out of the PNK sorority house discreetly, noticing the glimmering violet hair of the HSS girl leave her own through the back door. Although Nadya had made herself as quiet as possible, keeping within the shadows, the PNK leader was still able to identify her as she left.

Not wanting to alert the rest of her sorority sisters, Carrie shouldered her own bag and quickly slipped out of her house. She hurried after Nadya, all while keeping her distance to avoid detection.

Just barely two hours ago she had tucked in an exhausted Naomi whose mind was overwhelmed with images of Terry's "future candidates". Taylor had generously volunteered to watch over her for tonight since Crystal had taken up the task previously.

Naomi insisted that she was fine, that there was nothing to fret over. Carrie and the other PNKs, as well as Nadya, knew it was far from the truth. Every day Naomi would stare at the OK frat house before going to class. And during breaks she would watch Terry from afar as he aided some classmates in need of OK advice, especially girls who drank in every word from his mouth. It was a painful sight for Naomi despite her constant assurance she was not jealous or hurt or anything relevant.

Carrie, mixed with her curiosity, wondered that if she followed Nadya long enough, she would discover the rest of her "friends". Just a quickie, and maybe she could try and persuade Nadya to call on Pyapi again. And hopefully the little troll would do something that wouldn't result in nightmares (Carrie was yet to talk about that...).

Watching her friend exit her house, Carrie immediately knew that there was a high possibility she was on her little "trip" again. The PNK girl took a deep breath, knowing she couldn't back out now after she had made her choice. She just prayed to glob she wouldn't upset Nadya or her "friends"...wherever the HSS sister would lead her to.

Knowing what Pyapi was capable of, Carrie only hoped she wouldn't suffer something worse than a nightmare!

Seeing Nadya make her way through the empty pathways of the university, she hid behind whatever cover she could find, all the while keeping the shadowed individual in her sights. The HSS girl had glanced around a few times that Carrie nearly thought she had been discovered, but thankfully it was only a couple of false alarms.

Keeping her hooves silent, Carrie backed into the shadow of a building as she kept close eyes on Nadya. It seemed her route was difficult, and that it must have taken a long time for the HSS girl to memorize it. Of course, the PNK leader was sure Nadya must had some "assistance" during her own experience, but who could tell when no one was there to witness it?

If her suspicions were correct, Nadya was heading towards the Troll Bridge in front of the School of Engineering. The location Nadya was approaching soon became clear to Carrie.

Of course, the name Troll Bridge said it all!

It had to be the secret sanctuary of the trolls, who were the so called "love experts" and masters of mind and spirits. The HSS girl had mentioned that the place was very hard to find, and Carrie scoffed at that thinking the HSS sister's statement was exaggeration.

She didn't expect it to be hidden in plain sight!

Still, it was a clever ruse, and Carrie knew monsters assumed it was just some fancy name to make the bridge sound older than it actually was.

Scanning her surroundings much like Nadya, the PNK leader made sure no other monster, especially the university security patrols, spotted her. And with that, she cautiously followed once more.

Moments later Carrie was carefully crouched behind a large tree a short distance away, straining her eyes as she watched Nadya search the walls of the Troll Bridge, illuminated by the moonlight. She acted like one of those monster archaeologists discovering ancient artifacts in those history films Carrie barely paid attention to in class.

Except the HSS girl was far more careful and cautious, peering back and around every few seconds for anyone that was possibly in her direction. Carrie couldn't blame Nadya for that, because the secret family she had could never be discovered. If so occurred, there would be severe repercussions too horrible to contemplate.

After making sure no one was watching her save for the motionless trees and silent moon, Nadya stood up on her clawed toes and tapped a few loose bricks in the structure of the troll bridge. Her hands worked in a series of quick motions, it was nearly a blur to Carrie's trio of eyes.

The sorority leader memorized as quickly as possible: top left, lower right, middle, upper right, lower left, middle left, top middle, middle right, bottom middle and middle once more.

It appeared like a type of complex code that only Nadya knew, and perhaps there was some kind of troll language engraved on the brickwork in specific places. Most monsters brushed aside them as merely ancient markings, rather than a secret numerical system to reveal some sort of underground passageway.

She was honestly surprised when the brickwork folded upon itself with a whisper and revealed a gleaming small door with otherworldly symbols. Carrie watched the HSS girl gently push and it opened, spilling an ethereal glow of colored light. Nadya slipped in without a sound and the small door slid shut, before the brickwork speedily reassembled itself into its original configuration, as though no one had touched it at all.

Waiting a few seconds to check her surroundings, Carrie quietly crept toward the wall, reciting the pattern in her mind. Her dull claws gently grazed the mythical drawings upon the stones Nadya had focused on before she took a deep breath. Praying to glob she got this right she murmured the pattern to herself.

"Okay, here it goes..." she whispered to herself.

Carefully and cautiously as if she were the HSS girl herself, she tapped each brick.

She entered the same combination on them that protruded out from the brickwork of the troll bridge with faded markings on them. Each was a different symbol that must have never been spoken by any modern monster in thousands of years, save for the most senior of historians.

Carrie remembered that she read somewhere that the trolls race vanished after a series of incidents that lead to the "Great Shattering". They escaped from early civilization and vanished from monster history records forever.

The earliest of monster history was never really taught or even mentioned in MU, or most universities for that matter. It seemed to have been a completely obsolete topic that hardly anyone cared about. All that mattered in teaching students was to basics of a monster world, not its history, because it was all just...well, history.

After Carrie entered the combination, she waited for the glowing doors with symbols to reveal itself again. She waited for a few moments, fearing the door had some kind of magical ward to detect intruders, until the brickwork folded upon itself again and the gleaming door with the same symbols on came to view.

Putting a trembling clawed hand on the somewhat magical door, Carrie felt as though a warm form of energy was flowing through her body. She took a deep breath, and pushed gently, and the

door opened a little, just enough space for her to squeeze through. Slipping in without another sound, Carrie watched as the door closed itself behind her and presumably the brickwork reassembled itself to cover the hidden passageway from the monster world.

It was pitch black in the secret passageway save for the soft glow of crystals, and Carrie thanked glob she had brought along a torchlight. Snapping the switch, she ran the device around her and was astonished by what she saw.

Every inch of surface of the passageway was covered with markings, drawings, and symbols of the troll civilization, kind of like a tunnel of history dedicated to the race. Her trio of eyes widened at the thousands upon thousands of glowing crystals of every color embedded in the ceiling and walls, each probably worth hundreds to thousands, even millions of dollars, each. If she could just pick even one crystal, she would be most likely set for life!

She almost reached a trembling hand toward one lone crystal in particular: big enough to make good finances, small enough to carry to her dorm without suspicion from other monsters. But she fought the temptation, pulling her hand away before she proceeded forward. Perhaps she would grab a souvenir once she was finished with this place. That is, IF she made it out of this place...

Carrie wondered where Nadya had gone, where her special family was. The thought of stumbling upon the race at the worst moment possible terrified her. Not only would the HSS girl despise her for following, a band of rock-solid creatures would be infuriated as well. And to imagine meeting the mentioned Grand Pabble, both angry at them...she couldn't imagine consequences.

She held her tongue in cheek, having almost nearly called out Nadya's name, or even anyone, as she ventured deeper into the cove.

Drops of cooling moisture dripped from the ceiling and was absorbed into the carved drawings on the ground as Carrie trudged through the passageways. There were so many branching tunnels that she has lose count how many times she had walked past any of them. She took the straight route, reasoning with herself that straight routes would take her to the main place soon enough. With a faint light from her torchlight, and the glowing crystals for company, Carrie continued along the path, walking deeper into the constructed tunnels and praying that she had made the right choice.

It was completely silent at first save for soft drops of cooled water from the ceiling, but then Carrie swore she could hear a faint sound in the distance. It sounded like...chanting.

She strained her ears to hear more of the inaudible voices that started getting louder as she proceeded onward. Where there were voices, that meant there were other lives. She was getting closer to the trolls. She only hoped she wouldn't stumble into something like a ritual she saw in one of those intense action-packed historical films on TV. That would be the absolute worse way to "introduce" herself!

But Carrie already knew there would be consequences for following her friend this far. She shuddered at the thought of a troll-shaman entering her mind and mind-wiping all the memories she had to be filled with false ones, but if in the process she managed to get something, anything, from them, she wouldn't give up that easily, be it a spell or a potion.

The PNK sorority leader normally scoffed at legends and mystics, like most of her friends had, but now she felt as though she was living something akin to a fairytale.

Making her way through the tunnels towards the source of the chanting sounds, Carrie eventually came to a larger tunnel, with flame torches studded along the walls. More elaborate drawings were present on the floor, each depicting trolls going about their lives and performing magic, and one in particular caught her interest: a troll-shaman using his powers to take away nightmares from a sleeping human child in front of a King and Queen with their elder daughter.

How that happened Carrie didn't know, but she thought it might have been a fragment of history lost in the mists of time: undiscovered and yet so important that it couldn't be revealed to the public.

As her hoofed feet clicked against the stone floor, Carrie looked around for any form of primitive security mechanisms, but was relieved to have discovered none.

She was starting to feel fear as she deepened into the cave. The chanting was getting louder, yet she was unsure where it was taking place. Still, she kept going, hoping that maybe she might catch Nadya somewhere. She just hoped it wasn't some other entity that was not Pyapi or things would immediately go downhill before they even began...

Looking left and right around the circumference of the cave, Carrie saw yet more intricate symbols on the wall, although she didn't possess the knowledge to read them. Those words could have meant, "Danger ahead, proceed at own risk" in giant letters and she would still walk into aforementioned danger unknowingly.

Finally deciding on a large tunnel with ethereal light spilling at its end, Carrie hurried towards it, and when she neared that opening she flicked the torchlight shut and peered around the corner. She gasped at what she saw.

The whole room was like a amphitheater built at the bottom of a huge bowl, with perfectly cut steps leading down to the lower levels, and each extension was covered with glowing plants of exotic designs. She literally stumbled into a striving troll colony! A sphere of bright light hung in the mid air, shining its rays down at the center, of which Carrie's trio of eyes witnessed something so remarkable.

Untold numbers of trolls of each size and age, some as small as pebbles, while others as large as small boulders, only about knee high at the most. They have gathered in a large crowd escorting Nadya to the empty stage with a group of guards with absurdly colorful flags. She was being treated like royalty, with a green cloak of pure leaves and moss clinging to her and a "crown" of flowers and golden leaves on her head.

The trolls looked upon the HSS girl with smiling faces of respect, kindness and awe, like a beloved celebrity of Monstropolis. Many tugged at her backpack, and a small troll child was hanging onto Nadya's head as she walked down the aisle towards the stage of the amphitheater. They had certainly gone all out to welcome their cherished visitor, dressing her in what is considered the finest for troll culture.

Nadya Petrov smiled, grateful that despite the overbearing work on campus, she could always return to her "family" for leisure. She loved the makeshift crown and cloaks they would provide her upon welcome. She adored the annoying but loving pinches from the elders who have declared her quite a woman for someone in flesh. And they would admittedly yearn for her when time was up and she needed to return to the monster race.

Although enjoying the coronation-like welcome she was receiving, Nadya couldn't get Carrie's conversation out of her mind. It still pained the HSS girl to realize that even with the aid of Pyapi, nothing improved for her best friend. Nadya was as desperate as Carrie was, and she could only wonder if maybe she could approach Grand Pabble on the matter. Perhaps plead with him. But she couldn't infuriate her father figure; she already went behind his back.

Still, once she was alone with him, she would spill her thoughts, because she was certain Grand Pabble would find out sooner or later. She just hoped he wouldn't blow his pebbled top. Nadya knew he loved her like his own stone child, and she was so glad he gifted her a small troll book on her birthday.

But spells were used only in times of dire need, not for one's selfish purposes. He would know, as he would tell her, and there would be severe consequences if she deviated from his rules. She could tell Grand Pabble was totally serious, because he wasn't the type to lie at all.

Pyapi and her troll-acolytes greeted Nadya graciously like a princess, bowing deeply as the honor guards stood in two neat rows behind her, while hundreds of other trolls chanted troll language of blessings and well-wishes for coming back to visit them. Nadya smiled and took the troll-child from her head gently, and handing it over to one of the troll-shamans.

She allowed a small smile to break across her face as Pyapi regarded her with a gentle smile. "Welcome back, Nadya Petrov. We have missed you."

Easily switching back to the troll language, the HSS girl responded with ease. "I'm always here Pyapi, if not in body, but also in spirit."

The troll-shaman smirked, and gestured with her stony hand. "We noticed. We could feel your presence with us."

The female visitor chuckled. "Please rise, shamans...you do not need to bow so low in front of me." Her words were swiftly complied by the assembled troll-shamans.

Pyapi inclined her head a fraction. "But you are Grand Pabble's adopted daughter. We must treat you with utmost respect as usual." she added with a sly smirk.

Nadya focused her eyes on the troll-shaman in front of her, sighing. "Well, I'm starting to get annoyed by it. As if I didn't get enough of this back in my country."

"Just being polite," the troll-shaman chuckled with a wink. "Anyway, Grand Pabble is on his way."

Nadya sighed, knowing she would need to wait for some time. For now she accepted the compliments about her womanly features as well as being asked about school. She politely responded to each of them, honest but sensitive about schoolwork and mentioning little of the Scare Games.

Speaking in the troll language, she remembered how Grand Pabble first taught her the words. Then soon she could speak like a born-troll, speak as if she was talking with her friends from MU. When they asked about her love life, she would shrug it off. THAT was certainly not going to happen, no matter how many boys she attracted.

But there was more things to deal with at the moment, as the crowd of trolls were nearly breaking the line of honor guards to see, cheer and shake hands with her. She was their troll princess, and they all cheered for her, even knowing her heart of gold within.

Far away and hidden from sight, Carrie felt her trio of eyes widen at the many crystals that were decorated on the necklace through her handy binoculars, which was focused on Nadya. If one was worth thousands of dollars, the necklaces Nadya possessed could probably make her a millionaire!

They were just too precious to give away, Nadya thought as she gazed at the glittering crystals in her claws. Still, she received many necklaces every time she visited, perhaps she could sacrifice just one to better her finances. Although she was sure her Scaring future was a nice paycheck, making quick money off one necklace was almost tempting.

And she loved providing her troll family with gifts from the monster world. The modern world to be exact.

When the females had questioned why her eyes were so exotic and smoky, Nadya introduced them to eye shadow and eyeliner. It became a trend to the female population whenever Nadya brought an excessive amount of it, especially when her sorority had an abundance of cosmetic supplies. Then there was the time she introduced chocolate to the children, and they clamored for more and she was all too willing to bring a few boxes to please them all. When she brought Blort, the mothers immediately requested she bring only a certain amount since the troll kids were practically bouncing around from so much sugar.

When it came to her phone, and she allowed some of the trolls to take "Selfies", and it resulted in a heavy photo gallery. A private gallery as Nadya made sure all their photos were hidden, in case any monster was using her phone.

Still, anything for her troll family. And she felt very honored they treated her with such welcome. She missed them all so much, especially Grand Pabble. If only she could share this discovery with the friends that were also her family above; she wanted other monsters to like them. Hopefully.

Watching Nadya receive gifts and entertaining all the trolls, Carrie watched circumspectly as the chanting slowly lessened until dead silence. That could only mean one thing: Grand Pabble has coming.

Immediately, Pyapi gestured for Nadya to fall on one knee respectfully with her head bowed. All of the trolls, from young to old, did the exact same gesture, prostrating themselves in front of the stage where a large group of troll shamans stood, chanting a song to bring about his arrival.

The troll-shamans sang as they parted, bowing as a rather large boulder, but only tall until Nadya's waist, rolled onto the platform, and sprouted arms and legs. A bearded head popped out of its shoulders and dressed in a cloak that was identical to Nadya's own, with the same type of crown and on his chest were several crystal necklaces.

His eyes were of bright black with white outlines, and he smiled kindly at the bowing Nadya, bearing teeth of brightest white. Stopping a few meters from his adopted monster child, Grand Pabble gestured for Nadya to rise, and she did in a respectful manner, before kneeling down and embracing the master of the trolls close to her leather jacket, like a biological father with his daughter.

Grand Pabble's voice rumbled through the place, and it was filled with warmth. "Welcome back, my child."

Giving a nod in return, Naya replied in the troll's native language. "I'm honored to be back, troll father."

She felt her face break into a smile as she gazed down at the troll who became a second father to her. While she loved her biologically father dearly, Grand Pabble was like something out of her dreams. They shared interests that were dark, magical, and beneficial for their loved ones. He knew she was truly one with what he recalled as the Greek Life, and while he was uncertain that any monster could measure up to Nadya, he respected her when she spoke of her friends.

He grew fascinated over the time she spoke of Oozma Kappa, her conversations about them having grown since Spring. The things his daughter did for these fellows warmed his heart, and he was very proud of her for reaching out. He knew the monsters above were taking care of his daughter while he couldn't always be with her. However, when she spoke of this one known as Johnny Worthington, his doubts still lingered.

Nadya could not fault him for his doubts, because Johnny's behavior most of the time left much to be desired.

And he had the right to do so, since Johnny was ego-driven and had all the power in his head, and was arrogant to boot. Grand Pabble had often vowed to himself that if Johnny so much as touched a single hair on Nadya's head, he wouldn't spare a thought of punishing the ROR leader.

But thankfully he didn't so, Grand Pabble had spared him...for now.

When Nadya told him about what the RORs did to the OK frat that fateful night, he chided her for her rash involvement in something so cruel. Grand Pabble eventually forgave her because he understood she and her friends had no knowledge of what had been going on. It was heartwarming to see Nadya had become a better person since that awful night, and was more open and smiling.

He broke from her embrace, and looked up at her shining trio of eyes, and smiled widely. "So what brings you here, my child?" the grand ruler of the troll civilization queried.

Seeing that he was always straightforward with his questions, Nadya knew she needed to bring up the topic sooner or later. "I'd like to speak to you in private. With Pyapi in attendance."

Glancing at Pyapi, Grand Pabble rubbed his chin for a moment as though in thought. "Come then, we can talk in the Grand Chambers."

Nadya nodded her head, but paused as a troll guard rushed up to Grand Pabble and whispered some urgent words. She caught a few fragments of it, something regarding an intruder and the danger of the troll tunnels possibly being discovered. Grand Pabble held up a stony hand to stall her questions, and listened to the report from his guards with a poker face.

She swallowed nervously, knowing that someone must have entered the troll tunnel along with her. How that monster knew of the secret tunnel within the Monster University campus, Nadya felt something akin to fear seep into her heart. However, despite her careful nature to conceal the secret of the trolls, someone still managed to enter the secret troll tunnels.

She nearly flinched as Grand Pabble gave orders to the assembled troll guardians and then turned his head to glare at her with his own black eyes, narrowing them dangerously.

"My child, you have some serious explaining to do."

Knowing that she was definitely in trouble and no way to deny what she had done without asking Grand Pabble's permission, Nadya kept silent and simply nodded her head in reply.
~

Nearby...

Carrie had immediately stowed her binoculars and retreated down the nearest tunnel when she saw the increase in troll activity within the a crowd. Despite her awe at discovering another race which was supposed to be thought extinct, she knew that overstaying her unwanted welcome would undoubtedly result in her being discovered.

She also chided herself for not bringing a camera along, because what she had seen would not be believed by anyone else unless she had concrete proof to be shown. However, Nadya must have had her reasons not to reveal the existence of the trolls to anyone, and the PNK leader herself wouldn't want to betray her fellow Greek neighbor's trust in. She knew she was already in trouble following Nadya this far.

Having seen too much for her own good, Carrie made for the main tunnel. What she had seen tonight had inadvertently thrown everything she knew in history books clear out the window. She needed to get out the troll passages as quickly as possible. She wasn't sure how long she had walked in the past few hours, only that her hooves were aching like they had been on hot coal. She wiped the sleep from her eyes, missing her warm bed, as she angled her torchlight around the cave.

She gasped in alarm when the sound of what might have been sharp-ringing bells echoed through the cavern, and suddenly the many vibrant colors of crystals studding the wall alcoves began to intensity. She heard voices in what presumably was troll language. Carrie realize with horror that what she heard was the troll version of the intruder alarm.

Her trio of eyes widened as far as they could go, and she gasped to herself in alarm. "Oh, glob!"

Ignoring the pain in her hoofed legs, she dashed as straight forward as she could, panting heavily as if she feared someone would chase her. Terrified tears streaked her cheeks in a gallant rush as she neared what may have been the main tunnel. Unsure of where it would lead, she decided to go for it anyway. Although she was sure Nadya was fully-aware she was in the same place with her, the HSS girl was nowhere to be seen and Carrie wasn't sure if she was truly alone now. She cried out when she heard the sound of stones clinking against the ground and kept running.

The sounds of stones tapping on the tunnel floor grew nearer and nearer as Carrie ran non-stop through the largest one in the whole place, trying to find an exit. She prayed that they are in a good mood today, because even with their primitive weapons, she was sure that they would kill even if necessary.

She screeched to a halt when she suddenly saw there was a dead end marked with more troll symbols and hieroglyphics in front of her, this time of the trolls using their magic against a huge dark red-scaled being with several horns. She swallowed in fear when she heard shouting in troll language as they neared closer and closer to her current location.

There was nothing she could use as weapons save for her flashlight, and she doubted the crystals would be of any use against them. Carrie started to regret that she had made the decision to follow Nadya, and she should have waited until the HSS member returned before taking any action. She chided herself for hoping the best when she was already in the deepest trouble possible for making the wrong choice.

She immediately turned on her heels just as a group of small shadows barely even knee-high rounded the corner. Although she couldn't see the trolls, Carrie heard stony legs running across the ground and then followed by a blue glow of ethereal energies.

Frost crept across the ground, and suddenly the PNK leader couldn't feel her limbs as she froze against her will.

The flashlight dropped from her numb fingers, clattering on the stone floor and rolling to the side, illuminating a small section of the cavern wall which showed yet more hieroglyphics. The small shadows moved closer, revealing eyes of varying colors, and suddenly Carrie fell forward onto her face, unable to move as she felt herself grow cold.

There was nothing she could do but realize that the trolls must have used some kind of supernatural power to freeze her in place. She wanted to scream but found her lips unable to move too. The last thing she saw was the glowing hieroglyphics around her and the groups of small shadows with different colored eyes moving towards her with their small stony hands aglow with blue nimbuses.

Then she blacked out.
~

Throne Room of the Trolls

Nadya held her head high, much like a princess or recently-crowned queen as she awaited with her father figure and Pyapi. The latter had given her greatest sympathies, complimenting that Nadya had good friends from what she had observed. As kind and soothing as that was, it did little to comfort the HSS girl in nature's royal garb. She dared not make eye contact with Grand Pabble, sensing the immense disappointment in him.

She, of course, was immensely disappointed with Carrie, who undoubtedly must have followed her despite promising she wouldn't. Still, the HSS sister couldn't be completely angry with her. After all, it could have been less about curiosity and more about Naomi. Nadya knew she would have done the same in Carrie's place.

With her clawed hands clasped together, shoulders posed and lowered gracefully, Nadya kept her own trio of eyes forward as she awaited the arrival of her friend.

She only hoped Carrie was spared...

Grand Pabble steepled his fingers as he glared at Nadya and Pyapi, his adopted daughter and his most favored confidant, with an expression that bore a mixture of emotions across his stony facade. He sat on a throne made of crystals and fine stones, awaiting the capture of the intruder.

Nadya could only wonder what was going through his mind right now. From the clipped and icy tone he adopted once Carrie's presence had been discovered, she knew he was refraining himself from exploding in fury.

Trust from him was incredibly hard to earn, and Nadya knew from her past encounters with the ruler of the trolls. Grand Pabble had already dismissed all unnecessary trolls, other than two troll honor guards that stood sentinel at the main stone doors to his private chambers, ordering them back to their homes until further notice.

There was obvious intent that he wanted to keep the knowledge of the unwanted intrusion to as little attention as possible.

Wanting to break the silence that penetrated the entire throne room, Nadya queried in a concern tone. "Father, if I may speak..."

A deep growl laced with hurt and a little anger came rumbling back from the troll ruler. "You may not, and speak when only I have given you permission to speak."

Knowing that she wouldn't be doing herself any good even if she spoke up now, Nadya closed her mouth and resolved to bid her time to consider another attempt. She watched as his black beady eyes glittered with light from the baskets of flames floating around the circumference of the throne room, and guessed that he might be thinking of what he should do with the intruder to the trolls' sanctuary.

There was a knock on the large ornate stone doors, which were inlaid with precious gemstones and gorgeous carvings of past troll achievements.

Grand Pabble remarked with a commanding voice. "Enter."

Defying her royal posture, Nadya gathered her cloak and rushed toward the doors where the guards uniformly entered. They were carrying something on a stretcher made of sticks and vines with a leafy padding for cloth. Her eyes widened in horror as she stared at who laid in it.

Carrie looked as if she had suffered the first Scare Games event all over again. Her trio of eyes closed, her expression was a mix of fear and terror, her hair was frizzed as if she hadn't brushed it in days. Her sweater was mildly dirty, covered with tiny leaves and twigs. Nadya stifled her gasped, slapping her hands over her mouth to keep from crying out in distraught. The guards carefully laid the body down before the adopted royal and she knelt down before Carrie's unconscious figure.

Nearly in tears, she reached a trembling hand to caress the slightly dirt-ridden expression of her friend. "Oh, glob...Carrie..."

There was the sound of stone grinding against stone even as Grand Pabble stood up from his throne behind her. With a flick of his stony fingers he dismissed the troll guards, who bowed respectfully and pulled the large doors shut immediately behind them as they left.

Meanwhile, at Carrie's side Pyapi climbed up to her head and checked for any signs of damage. After a few moments, she regarded Nadya with an assuring smile.

"Your friend will be fine. She was only hit with a restraining spell and knocked out. She's suffered no harm from the acolytes."

"If she had tried to escape..." came Grand Pabble's voice from behind them both "...she would have been more than just hurt."

Nadya's head swerved quickly to the side as she shot the troll ruler a glare. "You could have just let me find her and bring her to you!"

Pointing a single stony finger at Nadya as though he was giving out a proclamation, Grand Pabble tried to keep his temper in check. "And what if she refused? Would you have let her go then?"

Nadya hated to argue with him, but the sight of Carrie's body had made her nearly lose it. Still, she tried to maintain herself despite trying to fight away her tears. "Of course! Carrie is my friend! She would have understood completely!"

Grand Pabble glared down at Nadya and gestured with his hand at the unconscious Carrie. "You haven't been honest with me, my child. I would like you to explain how this friend of yours found her way into our most secret sanctuary, which has always been hidden from the monster world?"

The seriousness in his tone caused Pyapi to look at Nadya in her trio of eyes. "Grand Pabble's right. I'm afraid you would need to explain yourself."

Nadya glanced back at Carrie's prone form, pursing her lips. No use keeping it a secret anymore...

She sighed, looked at Pyapi, who gave a nod in return. "Grand Pabble..." she began uneasily. "I...I used troll magic in the presence of a monster."

There was a considerable pause as she watched, wincing despite her stoic poker face, that Grand Pabble's eyes became the size of dinner plates, his jaw falling open in horror.

"You did what?" he demanded. "Nadya, how could you do such a thing?"

The HSS sister swallowed. "One of my friends was in trouble..." She snuck a glance at Pyapi, who motioned for her to continue, "and I needed someone to help her sort out feelings and stuff."

Grand Pabble heaved a sigh before he pinched his temple. He closed his eyes and shook his head slightly.

"And you didn't seek to consult me first before you used troll magic on a monster in the world above?" He gestured quickly with his fingers. "Didn't I remind you that troll magic can have disastrous consequences if misused?"

Nadya remembered the few examples he had shared with her in the past as cautionary tales. In contrast, oblivion seemed too kind a word to be used to describe the endings of them.

She bit her lower lip and continued. "Look, I know I disobeyed you, I know. But my best friend needed help and what other options did I have?"

Grand Pabble looked at Pyapi and raised an eyebrow, and the latter confirmed his query by giving a nod of her head.

"I was afraid it was getting worse, so I jumped at the chance! And knowing you wouldn't allow it, I took matters into my own hands." She looked back at Carrie's form and gently kneeled before it once more. Draping a hand over her friend's forehead, Nadya sighed. "These monsters are also my family, Grand Pabble. Up there in the monster world, in the community I'm part of. I would do anything to help any of them as best I could."

She watched as Grand Pabble fixed her with a stern glare as though he was searching her facial expression for the real truth. After a long moment that seemed to stretch forth almost an eternity, he took a deep breath once more and sighed, clasping his hands behind his back. He aimlessly stared at the patterns craved on the stone floor of the throne room, his personal crystal necklaces clinking like tiny musical bells. Then he looked up at Nadya.

"Tell me, did you perform magic on any monster of the surface world?" he asked sternly. "Don't lie to me, my child."

Nadya fixed the leader of the trolls with a equally stern glare. "No, Grand Pabble, just my friend."

The troll ruler tilted his head a little and pointed a finger of authority at her.

"Then what did you do?" he demanded.

Nadya snuck another glance at Pyapi, who wiped her forehead nervously. "I...I brought Pyapi to the outside world" the HSS girl confessed. "I needed her to soothe my friend's head." As she spoke, Nadya could see Grand Pabble glaring at Pyapi, who was anxiously wringing her own stony hands.

The troll shaman gulped, having expected to be exposed to the situation. However, she didn't regret the actions she had taken to help Nadya's monster friend.

The monster world was as lovely as it was described to be. Other than the fact she had only witnessed a little of the university's campus so far, she had gained the knowledge that the monsters who were Nadya's friends were fairly interesting in addition to being truly kind.

Personally, Pyapi had been skeptical when Nadya came to her to request for her assistance, but she gave in after being given reason. If the life of a friend of Nadya's was on the line, so be it. However, her only regret was being unable to placate the problem as she had hoped. As well as the inability to provide a cure for these pair of monster twins Nadya had recently spoken of to her.

The anger was barely concealed in Grand Pabble's voice as he turned his baleful glare from Nayda to Pyapi. "You disregarded your own assigned duties and went behind my back as well?"

Before the troll-shaman could speak, Nadya quickly rose to her defense. "No, it's not her fault. I begged Pyapi for her assistance. As in insanely, and she agreed."

Holding out her own hands as though to implore the troll lord, Pyapi managed to speak. "I could have refused Nayda's request, but I couldn't. I made this choice at my own free will, and it was the least I could do to help her."

While the troll shaman spoke to the current ruler of the trolls, Nadya turned back to the unconscious form of Carrie. It was supposed to be a quick visit without the knowledge of what she had done, but the PNK leader had blown everything out of the water. And right now she had two friends who were in danger, one that was beside her right now, and the other back in Frat Row, her mind patched up temporarily by magic which wouldn't be believed by anyone else in the monster world.

However, she did notice the slightly exasperated expression on Grand Pabble's face even as he continued to look in Pyapi's direction.

"Pyapi," he began steadily, "I don't think I have to tell you that this is a serious matter! You should have come and consulted me before you went to the monster world!" He sighed again and rubbed a stone hand across his features. "Tell me everything. Where did you go and what did you do?"

The troll-shaman cast her black eyes to the mosaic-covered stone floor of the throne room for a few moments, before returning them to meet Grand Pabble's.

"During Nadya's last visit, she told me everything about her friend. Because of her friend's conditions, she was planning to risk everything. I was touched and I agreed, sneaking out of the troll sanctuary in her backpack. She brought me to her friend's house and I performed my healing skills on her friend's mind. We kept it our little secret until tonight, however."

Nadya watched on, Pyapi hacing left out the detail that she apparently infiltrated all her Greek friends' houses and caused a whole nightmarish suffering. It was best not to mention that to Grand Pabble, at least not right now.

"I was the one who begged her to save my friend from her emotional problems," Nadya pleaded. "It was all my idea, I swear"

Grand Pabble gazed at her carefully, upset yet quite touched by her persistence. For as long as he had known Nadya, she was a woman of her word. Strong, bold, courageous, and defiant for the right reasons. She would gladly risk chaos than to allow any of her own race suffer. Maybe that was why Pyapi had willingly offered her aid, just as Nadya had done so for the sake of her friend.

Before he could utter a word, they all heard a painful groan. He turned his boulder eyes toward the one known as Carrie laid. Her arms twitched and her trio of eyes tightened as if she was suffering a bad dream. Nadya gasped, immediately rushing to her side. He watched as she rested a hand upon the other girl's forehead, Nadya's expression a mix of concern and relief. She placed her other hand on the girl's arm, as if coaxing her to release unconsciousness.

"Come on Carrie..." she murmured to her friend. "Wake up...you can do it...I'm here for you..."

For the first time since before he was informed of the intruder, his eyes softened just a minuscule portion. As firm as he was, Grand Pabble was also fair. And once more he was in awe by the selflessness his adopted monster daughter showed, especially toward another of her kind.

The sound of another female monster's voice broke the silence which dominated the throne room. This voice was slightly higher in pitch and tone, and was slightly pained.

"My head, ow..." Carrie moaned. "Dang..."

Carrie's head throbbed as is she had been knocked from behind. Her vision was darkened but she could see Nadya and Pyapi beside her. As her sight slowly began to return, a massive throne room, and a rather large troll who was dressed in royal garb, was staring back at her.

Soon as her vision cleared, she was met with the concerned faces who hovered over her. Finally reunited with her strength, Carrie groaned before slowly raising her upper body. Her eyes slowly widened as she drank in the sight of Nadya, her royal garb slightly out of place with her usual wear but nevertheless quite mesmerizing.

"Nayda, is that really you?" she asked the HSS girl in disbelief.

"Yeah," the other murmured, stifling a relieved chuckle.

The PNK girl, in an act of relief, reached toward the other trembling form. Soon, they were drowning in an embrace as if they hadn't seen each other in years. Carrie whimpered, feeling scared and confused while Nadya consoled her, stroking her head.

"Relax, alright? You're safe now."

And while they shared the mutual feeling of remembrance, both monsters had a fleeting thought that this was how they both tried to comfort Naomi. Meanwhile Pyapi as well as Grand Pabble watched, the latter astonished by the bond his daughter shared with the intruder who was repeatedly insisted to be her friend.

It was a long moment later before Carrie saw where she was. She was in another huge room, not as large as the central one she witnessed, but pretty close. Crystals of every size and color ringed the walls of the throne room, in addition to even more elaborate drawings and engravings of the troll civilization. Every form and shape, and everything they did from construction of their homes to tending to the dreams of children and adults. Including human children and adults. Although a few did depict their interactions with monsters, but those appeared like ancient monsters, wearing olden clothes that seemed out of place in the modern monster world.

Carrie's widened as she saw what was above them at the moment. A massive white crystal that glowed with light, huge enough to be a giant glittering sphere, hanging above them and illuminating the throne room.

Giving a polite cough to get both monster's attention, Pyapi tilted her head a gesture towards Grand Pabble. "Nadya...I think it's time you explain what else had happened after you brought me to your friend's home."

Carrie then turned in the direction of Pyapi. She gasped at the intimidating sight of Grand Pabble, his expression a mix of uncertainty, slight anger, and a little curiosity. The PNK girl deepened herself into the arms of Nadya, who soothed her gently and cradled her like a newborn. The HSS girl sighed to herself before turning back to her other friend as well as the troll leader.

"This is Carrie Williams, the sorority leader of my friend Naomi, father. We both were desperate to help her, and I was the one brought up the idea of troll magic in the first place."

"And unfortunately, I was considered the last resort..." Pyapi murmured.

The troll leader sighed again as he tapped two thumbs on his temple, murmuring some words in troll language to himself.

"My child, do you know how dangerous the consequences are when our race is revealed to the outside world?" he asked. "Interacting with even one monster could mean trouble for us."

"I know that," Nadya insisted. "I mean, I took every precaution there was before I did anything."

She immediately held her tongue, realizing what she just uttered. Carrie stared at her in confusion, but the bewilderment passed quickly.

Grand Pabble's gaze was searing as he fixed Nadya with a careful stare. "Then did you wipe the memories of those who have seen Pyapi?"

His face hardened a little, as Nadya had expected, when she replied that she didn't.

"Then how many monsters have seen her in the stone?"

To this question Carrie answered for Nadya. "Just two other friends. Crystal and Sephira."

"And who's this Sephira?" An eyebrow was raised on Grand Pabble's face as the sides of his mouth twitched in irritation.

This time Pyapi stepped forward and answered, "A student just like them. She helped me establish a connection to Naomi's mind and aided with the mind-linking."

Grand Pabble raised his eyes in surprise. It had been a while since he had performed a mind link upon a creature of flesh. Of course, he had done so with humans, but that was a very long time ago. But for his daughter to allow it between a troll and a monster was incredibly new.

Carrie leaned more into Nadya's embrace, wondering what was going to happen to her. Despite the beauty and serenity surrounding her, she feared she would suffer beyond horror.

"And this took place at the monster dwelling Pypai mentioned?" came another question from the troll ruler.

Pyapi gave a nod and twiddled her fingers a little, a trait in which Nadya noticed the former always did when she was nervous.

"I take it that the mind healing didn't go exactly as planned, didn't it?" Grand Pabble alleged, and both Pyapi and Nadya visibly swallowed.

"During the mind healing, Pyapi and Sephira accidentally triggered an emotional overspill from Naomi. She has something a little like telepathic abilities. I forgot to mention that before we started the process..." Nadya replied speedily, only for Grand Pabble to gesture for her to stop.

Grand Pabble raised a stony finger to prove his point. "An emotional overspill? That's one of the worst mishaps to happen when you enter someone's else mind. By accidentally triggering a flood of memories, the host and the magic user are both in danger, and so are the surrounding monsters. That kind of mind-link can go both ways, Nadya. Severe damage can be wrought to the minds involved . Only because I am seeing you here right now means that you have managed to cut the mind-link, before your friend suffered more than just memory loss."

"There are worse things than just headaches from the mind-healing stuff?" Carrie piped up before she could stop herself.

''I won't say much, but I will say that the last time that happened...it was not a happy ending for anyone," Grand Pabble replied gravely, and Carrie felt a chill run down her spine at those words.

There was a long pregnant pause as Grand Pabble turned away from the two monsters and troll shaman, deep in his thoughts as he considered all the details he had just heard. To Carrie and Nadya, it might as well have been an eternity, the air slightly more heavy as they waited.

However, it was becoming abundantly clear that he was very disappointed, keeping his anger in check though. Grand Pabble's eyes haven't undone their narrowed forms on his face, and the expression he was the strict look of a parent who was told his child did something very wrong.

The silence stretched to uncomfortable limits until Grand Pabble finally spoke again.

"I will meditate on your actions as well as those of Pyapi before deciding on your penance..." he spoke indifferently. "In the meantime, Nadya, please take your friend," he said with bitter emphasis, "away from here and do away with her."

The blood drained from both female monsters' faces at his words. Nadya's face breaking into horror for the most severe punishment she thought Grand Pabble was possibly suggesting. Pyapi showed some obvious discomfort at those words, but she kept her silence.

"Father, you can't just give the order to kill -" Nadya cried but stopped when the leader of the trolls fixed her with an impatient glare.

"I didn't mean it like that," he sighed with exasperation. "Just...get her out of my sight."

He turned and looked at Pyapi. "Meanwhile, you and I are going to have a long, excruciating talk."

The troll shaman did not protest, giving a stiff, defeated nod in response.

"Dismissed." Grand Pabble declared.

Soon the marble doors opened, and a few guards entered and escorted the monster girls out of the aforementioned room. Pyapi gave a small encouraging smile to the HSS monster, even as she left with her friend and the doors closed behind them, leaving the troll-shaman with her ruler.

She remained silent as she watched Grand Pabble draw a series of blue glyphs in the air around him. Tiny sparks of magic bled from the edge of his fingers, before curling them to make the glyphs into a message which glowed brightly, then vanishing into the thin air.

"I have sent a message to your mentor Oligivi, Pyapi. I will ask for his counsel before I decide on your own way of penance. Consider this me showing you mercy."

Pyapi breathed calmly for the first time since arriving to his throne room.

"I...thank you for that, my lord." She bowed respectfully and Grand Pabble dismissed her with another wave of his hand.

"Return to your duties, Pyapi," he ordered, "I will summon you again when Oligivi returns from his herb gathering duty. Just...leave me to my meditation."

"As you command, sir." Pyapi bowed again and left the throne room quietly, leaving Grand Pabble alone with his thoughts.

The leader of the trolls sat down on his onyx throne, and began to contemplate in silence.
_

Before they were to be escorted toward the tunnel exiting out of the troll domain, Nadya requested that they make a temporary stop in her bedroom. At the mention of her HSS friend having a second living space besides the one on Frat Row, Carrie found herself what curious Nadya's room was like. Having released from the tensions of earlier, the PNK girl almost assumed Nadya's troll-given space was a bed made of grass and walls of stone drawings.

However, the moment the doors of the bedroom opened to her, Carrie's jaw hit the marble- covered floor.

Nadya's bedroom was practically bigger than the HSS residence itself (and it was one of the bigger houses on Frat Row)! The bed was, of course, made of grass, but with the addition of stone, wood, and crystals that produced into a queen-sized mat. Hand-woven drapes that surrounded it glistened with tinier crystals like the fanciest glitter, as if the trolls' magic was strong enough to grab a sheet of actual stars in the night sky.

There was a large vanity with a table that included cosmetics Nadya had brought from the world above the trolls. She had made this place as her second home, Carrie noticing a stone-carved desk and chair, where a large crystal laid on it for light source. Clothes she recognized were draped over a nearby crafted couch, followed by a coffee table made of wood, and a tea set of clay on top.

While the guards waited outside the doors for them, Nadya led Carrie toward her couch. The HSS girl began removing the garb presented to her earlier, shedding until she was back in her trademark attire. Carelessly tossing them onto the couch and table, she turned to Carrie with an expression as disappointed as her troll father's.

"You lied to me," she said, not with anger, but as if she had expected Carrie to do such a thing.

Guilt clenched the PNK girl's heart like a clawed fist as she swallowed. "I know, and I'm SO sorry!"

"You're just lucky my troll dad didn't erase your mind!" Nadya scolded.

"He's done that?" Carrie asked frightfully.

"I think once," the goth monster scoffed as she began to sort out the necklaces she received from her homecoming. "But that was like hundreds of years ago or whatever. I don't think he would do it now even if he wanted to."

The PNK monster gulped. "Look, I don't blame you if you never trust me again with this kind of stuff. But, I was just curious, and thought maybe your...um, dad...could help out with Naomi or something."

Nadya sighed as the last necklace was placed on the table. Carrie's eyes drank in the flawless sparkles of each one, unable to believe Nadya had been carrying million dollars' worth of jewelry this whole time. Of course, Nadya was born to a wealthy family, the items she had only made it more obvious of her status. Even the makeup she wore practically costed more than Carrie's car!

The HSS girl turned to her. "No one else knows about this?"

"Of course not," the PNK girl promised. "I kept my word. I never told anyone, not even Crystal or Sephira."

"Good," Nadya murmured. "Look, I'm not exactly peeved, but I'm still pretty upset with you."

"I can't blame you," Carrie muttered, defeat in her tone. "But I'll make it up to you somehow."

"Well, you can start by treating me over at The Growl," the HSS girl huffed. "Tomorrow."

Carrie gave her a weary smile. "Sure."

"And..." Nadya began.

She almost assumed the HSS girl was going to demand Carrie buy her a frappuccino before every class. However, she didn't know what to think when Nadya held out one of the necklaces out to her. The crystals were light pink, which matched with Carrie's sorority uniform.

"Don't tell anyone where exactly you got this," the goth monster ordered.

Taking Carrie's hand in her own, Nadya placed the necklace in her palm. The sorority leader was a loss for words, especially as her friend closed her fingers over the gift.

"Wha...?" she said in confusion, her trio of eyes meeting the other's.

Nadya chuckled. "I saw you staring at them earlier. I know how much you want one. And I got plenty. If you want another, you can just ask."

Carrie's guilt began to melt, awe taking its place as she gazed at Nadya. The latter smiled, before hooking her bag around her shoulders.

"Come on," she said as she led them out of the bedroom. "We got to get back to the surface."

The PNK girl obeyed. She took one last look at the glamorous bedroom behind her before the doors closed. Soon the guards were leading them toward the tunnel that ensured their exit.
_

Carrie wrapped her arms around herself, she and Nadya watching the entrance behind them close off. The same wall where their fingers had to decipher a code reverted back to that same bricked appearance, as if it held nothing special to begin with. The female monsters slowly emerged from the bridge, inhaling the fresh air of the surface.

Although a bit shaken from the encounter, Carrie admittedly thought that was an interesting experience. And Grand Pabble seemed like a pretty good guy...

"Wow," the PNK girl muttered to break the awkward silence, "sure is late."

"Yeah, and I got a test tomorrow," Nadya sighed as they strolled through campus.

"You study for it?" Carrie asked while fighting off a yawn.

"Duh," the HSS girl responded.

The two made sure to avoid any security that were possibly in their path. They kept their voices low, not wanting to wake any students who had their dorm windows open. Talking in hush whispers, Carrie expressed how much she was blown away by the troll race. Nadya couldn't agree more, grateful that her friend promised not to mention the details with anyone. This was their little secret.

"So why do you keep calling that king troll your dad?" Carrie questioned. "I mean, you already have a dad, right?"

Nadya smiled to herself, reflecting on a fond memory. "Well, when I discovered the trolls, we started bonding. Soon he took me in as his adopted monster daughter. Don't get me wrong, I love my real dad too, but Grand Pabble is like a dad I'm able to meet on campus."

"Aww!" Carried couldn't help but gush.

Just as they two were heading in the direction of Frat Row, they heard a thud. Followed by a groan. Both gasped, Nadya holding her hand out protectively in front of Carrie while the latter's knees shook with fear.

Fiddling with her backpack, the HSS girl quickly drew out her torchlight and flashed it in front of them. They nearly screamed when a tall being suddenly came into view, however, it was short-lived.

"Dot?" Nadya exclaimed, squinting her trio of eyes at the monster.

The EZ girl, shaken herself, waved a teardrop-shaped hand at them. She was still dressed in the same coat and hat from earlier, before she had left campus for her own interests. She appeared rather nervous, her body trembling as if she had been running through campus.

"Uh, hi..." Dot murmured sheepishly, her cheeks flushed red.

"Oh, Dot," Carrie greeted, noticing how frightened the taller girl had been, "did you just come back? It's super late!"

"I kind of had a really late outing at Monstroland," the Freshman admitted.

"But that park closes at 12," Nadya stated.

"Hung around the shopping places after," Dot explained. "But I'm okay. I'll, um, see you guys later?"

Just as she was about to leave, unsure of the direction she needed to go, Carrie immediately reached a hand toward her. "Wait! Dot, are you lost? Do you need help finding your dorm building?"

The sherbet-colored monster slowly turned to them, her green eyes glistening as if she was afraid to go by herself again. She was still pretty nervous from the looks of it as well.

"Yeah..." she confessed shamefully, sounding like a child who made a mistake in her arts and crafts.

"We can help you," Nadya offered. "We'll take you to your room."

"Yeah!" Carrie agreed cheerfully.

Dot bit her lip, as if uncertain. She nearly jumped when she heard a bird coo somewhere, and realized she couldn't deny them.

"O...okay..." she said with a nod. "Great!" Carrie said as she stood at Dot's side, Nadya on the other.

As they kept close by their Greek neighbor, the Art student kept to herself. She continued peering at the ground as they escorted her, more glum than grateful.
_