The gang had boarded the endearing, but decidedly dodgy looking, ship and after watching the mesmerising sunset they all retired to their rooms. All members of the team were tired after what seemed like weeks worth of events inexplicably taking place in a single day, and yet all but one of them were awake. As the ferry silently ploughed through the ebony waves, and a storm gathered to the East, a smaller boat drifted closer to the group's transport. A grappling line shot from the secondary craft, and one by one figures ascended the rope and boarded the ferry. Most carried weapons, and the skills to use them.

Sakura polished her daisho set, and kissed her Kyon-kun dakimakura for luck. She didn't wear her normal outfit of a school uniform made of fabrics and silk. No, she wore her 'Dai nana bushi no hoshi no sentō-fuku', which was virtually identical in appearance but was actually armoured, however as her skirt came about 5 inches down her thigh her lower body was essentially unarmoured, as were her neck, face, and forearms. If you questioned her about it, she would reply "Cuteness is a form of defence in itself!" She knew what was coming, it was so obvious. The boat was named 'Not Another Test, We Swear' for God's sake. What idiot wouldn't be able to tell that this was a seriously dangerous trap!?

MEANWHILE IN THE ROOM OF ONE SUCH IDIOT

Dawkins lay under the covers of the single bed, which barely contained his form. In his arms he cradled his fedora Elizabeth, whispering sweet nothings into her and nuzzling her gently with his neckbeard. He gently moaned in his sleep something related to his current dream. "No Pinkie Pie, I'm not ready...". What a disgusting slab of manchild he was.

MEANWHILE IN THE ROOM OF A MUCH MORE PERCEPTIVE IDIOT

The room was in a state of sensory deprivation, save for three things: wild tapping on a laptop's keyboard, a dim blue glow from the screen, and an unmistakable stench. The reeking odour of sweat, triggers, and red hair dye. Room 203 was Banita's, and even she could tell that this was a time to get prepared for what could be any kind of trial. She did this by getting herself to her ultimate final form: Banita's 100% Full Trigger Mode, a form no living person has seen. However this form requires a heavy payment: She must scroll through thousands upon thousands of kilobytes of images and blogs that trigger her. She was nearing realisation of her true power, and her short scarlet hair was beginning to stand on end as it radiated with power. There are ancient legends about those with a similar power. Whispers passed from the lips of frightful villagers talking about the Big Red Trigglypuff. She was ready to deal with any mansplainers she came across.

MEANWHILE IN THE ROOM OF A WOMAN WHO HAS INCREDIBLE PYROKINETIC POWER AND YET IS SOMEHOW OUR MOST NORMAL CHARACTER

Delia was perched on the edge of her bed, her eyes tired and sunken in from the day's long events. Solemnly she readied herself for the obvious trial that faced them all, but she mostly did this by drinking whatever was in the room's mini-fridge, alcoholic or no. With an empty expression she took off her glasses, and a strand of hair fell across her slender face. She laid back in her bed and stared at the ceiling. Really she stared beyond the ceiling, through the ships' deck and into the night sky. Around her she pictured stars and galaxies, and slowly she felt the world around her turn into a breezy night on a secluded hill, just like the one she went to all those years ago. Her fantasy spoke to her, "Sweetie?" the male voice in her head said, and instantly she was gone from the hill and back in the humid room. She reached around her neck and grabbed the golden chain hidden under her shirt, and lifted it up and over her head until she held it in her palms. She focused on the locket and after a brief pause clicked the button on top, opening it. She gazed with dead eyes at her past self, from roughly five years ago. Slowly she panned her eyes over to see him. Both of them smiled like they hadn't a care in the world as long as they were in each other's arms, and that was the truth. She felt tears build up in her eyes, as they always did when she looked at him, but all that came out was more of the same cold expression she gave everyone. She would give anything to be able to cry about it again, but she had no tears left to cry it seemed.

Then, at once, on every door of every room that contained one of our protagonists, came a knocking from the hardest challenge they have ever faced.

(Shorter chapter yes, but it's kinda like a bridging between one trial and the next. Apologies for slow update, writer's block and starting Sixth Form has slowed things down slightly. In any case the next few chapters should be decent so why not stick around? Thank you as always for reading, have a great day ladies and gents).