AN~This is one of those scenes that would work better as a movie, 'cause we're following people around the room, and pictures would be so helpful. Also, about halfway through this chapter, I got a suggestion to put more action in with the dialogue 'cause it's just people talking to each other, so if you notice a shift partway through, that's why.

Paige: I made Daphne an everafter because I didn't want Sabrina to stay young forever and watch Daphne get old and die. Have I made Sabrina in the wrong in taking care of Daphne? I haven't meant to... Daphne's a brat, in my opinion, I'm trying to tone her down a bit on the brat-level in this. Yeah. I know. I'm sorry. Really I am. The exposition on this is terrible. I would hate to read this if I was browsing fanfiction. I'm actually quite close to building up to some major plot points. Thanks for your helpful review!

Dragonine: Isn't it, though? And thanks!

Purpleflower23: Rapunzel is the person I thought would be the best counterpart for Granny. She hasn't been in the story before this point.

AlcoholicGoldfish: That chapter and this one are non-action-ey things that I need to get in to remind people and myself that the characters have lives other than the war. Right. That teasing thing. Getting on that...

silverwombat: Wow, thank you so much! / I doubt I'm the best author ever, but it's nice that you think so. You should try writing your stories. You'll get better the more you write.

Booklover4ever: Oh, good, as long as it's not dull. :)

ANannyMouse: I like your name. :) Nice play on words. Aww... I discouraged reviews? Dangit. That's not what I was trying to do. I appreciate all reviews, it's just sometimes people review the same thing on every story, and it's like... well... But thank you so much! ^.^

Agd: Glad you liked it! :) Really? The Momma pancakes thing made you laugh? (insert Charlie Sheen here) WINNNING!

(): I assume you're the same () I responded to in the last chapter? I'm not 20-something, though I can direct you to a pair of 20-somethings who write and critique (that is what you mean, not critice?) fanfictions: go look up Ayns and Sky. Also, I have two jobs already and go to college full-time. This is just something I enjoy that I fit in to help me wind down. If I had more of a life, I'd have no time to sleep.

My apologies if I came across as rude, I tend to be shorter with those who are short with me, and nicer to those who ask for things instead of demanding them.

If you don't want to read 74 chapters, why are you still here?

Would you mind telling me what about my style sucks wholeheartedly so that I can fix it? That's much more helpful than just telling me there's an issue.

Please, don't go on. You're making a bit of a fool of yourself with your assumptions, and I'm not going to go cry or anything. You know, I'm honestly surprised that you're one of the first angry reviews I've gotten. I think this is the... third?

Class was remarkably easy for Sabrina. Red's classes (other than art) were all lessons she'd already learned, and the two of them had figured out a system yesterday that worked for them.

Nobody else seemed to have been that lucky, though, and by the time they met up for study group, everyone was exhausted, grumpy, and in no mood to be doing anything useful.

Sabrina sighed and looked helplessly at Red. "I think we're the only ones in any mood to be studying."

"Half of them aren't even on speaking terms with their partners." Red noticed.

"I wish there was something we could do!" Sabrina moaned. "But that's probably against the rules."

"It didn't stop you with Puck and Peter." Red pointed out.

"That was different." Sabrina said. "I just wanted them to shut up."

"Well, Daphne and Bella look like they're getting along, at least." Red said.

"Really?" Sabrina asked, turning. "Wow. You're right. That's great!"

"I wonder what happened with them." Red mused.

"Dunno." Sabrina said. "So... what do you want to do until it's time to-"

"Sabrina!" A shout interrupted her, and Jane, attached to Tiger Lily stalked over, dragging Pinocchio. "You invited this kid here?"

"Maybe..." Sabrina hedged. "Why?"

"He's driving the few of us who are actually trying to do work crazy! Keeps insisting he knows more than we do!"

"It's no fault of mine that you knowledge is lesser than what I possess!" Pinocchio protested. "You ought to be taking complete advantage of the situation, not making cutting remarks."

"And only half of us understand what he's saying." Jane added.

Sabrina sighed. "Guys, could you try to not argue right now? I'm trying to figure out how to get us to actually get something done today."

"Well, figure it out fast, 'cause we need to get our homework done." Jane snapped, stalking off and leaving Pinocchio with Sabrina and Red.

"Say..." Tiger Lily said thoughtfully as they walked off. "I have a way to make Peter's partnership a little less heinous."

"Oh?" Jane asked.

"They both like playing jokes, right?" Tiger Lily asked. "And Pinocchio needs to be dealt with..."

"I see what you're saying." Jane smiled. "And that'll make things much easier on Sabrina, too."

The two girls ran over to Puck and Peter and explained their plan.

Puck stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I think you're on to something here, girls..."

"But you have to work together." Jane stressed. "Be quiet, and no more arguing. Capische?"

Puck and Peter looked at each other, then Peter put out his free hand. "Whatcha say? Throw aside the hatchet?"

Puck shook Peter's free hand with his own in an awkward upside-down shake and said, "Sure. For now. You're still an idiot."

"Ditto." Peter said. "Let's get to it!"

The boys flew off, leaving Jane and Tiger Lily behind.

"Maybe we should take a hint from them." Jane said. "Put aside our differences and whatnot."

Tiger Lily smiled. "I've never quite understood why you didn't like me."

"Something about Peter." Jane said. "But I'm over him now, so friends?"

"Friends." Tiger lily smiled.

Across the room, Peaseblossom and Renee watched as Puck and Peter planned something out, and Jane sighed.

Peaseblossom turned to Renee and spoke to her for the first time that day. "All right, girl, you need to stop playing with my brother's emotions."

Renee turned. "What? I've barely even talked to Puck in months! He doesn't like me!"

"Not Puck, you dumbwat!" Peaseblossom rolled her eyes. "He could care less. Which of my brothers do you spend a lot of time with?"

"Must..ar...dseed..." Renee trailed off. "Oh, for the love of-! You can't mean- we're just friends!"

"Does he know that?" Peaseblossom asked. "'Cause you spend a lot of time with him, and he's always been there for you... Honestly, and I don't have favorites, but Mustardseed is the most mature member of the family."

"He's also..." Renee shook her head. "Just no.

"Why not?" Peaseblossom asked. "Give me one good reason to dislike Mustardseed."

"He's... umm..." Renee thought, "He's... he's just so nice!"

"And that's a bad thing?" Peaseblossom asked. "Oh, I get it. You're one of those girls who wants a 'bad boy'. I've never understood that."

"I don't want a bad boy, I just... I don't like Mustardseed like that!" Renee explained. "I don't have a reason, it's not really something I can control! I've honestly never even though of him like that."

Peaseblossom shook her head sadly. "Your loss."

Mustardseed turned away sadly. That was what he got for listening in on other people's conversations.

"Sorry, bud." Wendell looked at him sympathetically.

Mustardseed shrugged, saying, "Well, I should have expected it. She never exibited any signs... but I did hope, that, given enough time..."

"Yeah, I understand." Wendell said. "It's hard to not hope, no matter how stupid it is."

Mustardseed laughed bitterly and asked, "At the risk of sounding unmanly, how do you deal with this? I understand grief, and I understand rational things, and anger, up to a point, but this- this is new, and I don't... how do you cope?"

Wendell shrugged. "I dunno. You just... do. You try to talk yourself into accepting it, and you hope you haven't made too much of a fool of yourself, and you try to move on. But you probably won't, not for a while."

Mustardseed sighed. "So you don't really?"

"Well, remember you're talking to the guy who decided to not talk to his crush for ages after he got burned." Wendell pointed out.

"I don't believe I'll do that." Musardseed said. "Perhaps I'll attempt to act normal around her."

Wendell snorted. "Good luck."

"Thank you for your confidence." Mustardseed said dryly.

"Confidence in what?" Art asked, appearing next to them.

"Nothing important." Mustardseed said. "How are you doing?"

"Terrible." Art said. "I'm stuck to a dude in a wheelchair!"

"You think you have it bad?" Tim complained. "You've been dragging me everywhere!"

"Well, if you'd just admit you don't need it, then we'd be fine!" Art rolled his eyes, muttering "Faker." under his breath.

"I heard that!" Tim called. "And I am not!"

"Sure." Art said. "And I'm a sprite."

"Can't the two of you get along?" Mustardseed asked, sighing in exasperation. "Just for this week? Look, even Puck and Peter are working together." He pointed towards his brother

The two boys looked where Mustardseed was pointing, and saw Pinocchio covered in a pile of paperclips while Puck and Peter high-fived each other.

"That's different." Art said. "They were friends once. It was just a matter of getting them to see past their stupid differences."

"Maybe you two can do the same thing?" Wendell asked hopefully.

The two looked at each other, then in unison shook their heads and said, "No."

They walked away and Mustardseed sighed. "Well, at least they agree on something."

Alice's laugh in his ear surprised him. Attached to a white-haired teenage girl whose name Mustardseed didn't know but fairy tale he did, she had snuck up on him.

"They'll never be friends." Alice smiled. "Even if they get past the 'faker' thing, there's still Daphne."

"Hello." Mustardseed said to the girl. "I don't believe we've met. I'm Mustardseed. And I do believe you're right, Alice."

"Hi." The girl smiled at him. "I know who you are. I honestly don't know my name anymore. Call me Minette."

"From The White Cat, yes?" Mustardseed asked.

She nodded.

"How do you not know your name?" Wendell interrupted. "I'm Wendell, by the way."

"I was a cat for over a hundred years." She explained. "Nobody called me by my name then. The first human I even saw after that just called me minette, so that's my name now."

"Minette seems like a name to me..." Wendell said.

"It means pussy cat in French." Mustardseed explained. "Honestly, Wendell, we've had French class, you ought to know this."

"You think I pay attention?" Wendell asked. "I'm too busy trying to get Bella's dad to not be evil."

"So how are you, Minette?" Mustardseed asked.

"All right, I suppose..." Minette said.

"That doesn't sound very all right to me." Wendell said.

"Wendell!" Mustardseed rolled his eyes. "Be polite!"

"It's fine, really." Minette said, a little sadly.

Mustardseed gave her a skeptical look.

"Her husband disappeared." Alice whispered. "It was a while ago, but she's still pretty down about it."

"When?" Wendell asked.

"Two years ago tomorrow." Minette said sadly.

"I'm very sorry, Minette." Mustardseed said.

"Oh, don't be, it's not your fault." Minette said. "I just wish I knew what happened to him!"

"Maybe..." Wendell started tentatively. "Have you ever wondered about... the Scarlet Hand?"

Minette drew herself up, offended. "He wouldn't join them! And if he did, he wouldn't abandon me!"

"Not like that!" Wendell said hurriedly, even though that was what he'd meant, "I mean, like, Sabrina and Daphne's parents were kidnapped, right? So maybe he was, too."

Minette sniffed. "Maybe."

"Wendell, there's this thing called tact." Mustardseed said, sitting down wearily. "You have none. Please get it. Soon."

"How?" Wendell asked. "Is there, like, a class I can take?"

"That would be a good idea, actually!" Alice said in excitement, bouncing a bit.

"Who would teach it, though?" Minette asked, blinking at Alice. "Please stop that, child, you're acting rather immature, and it's annoying."

"Sorry." Alice said, blushing and sitting, too. "I've just got a lot of energy."

Minette sat down, and Wendell, realizing that he was the only one of the group left standing, took a seat at the table, heaving his arm and Mustardseed's onto the table.

"Mother could teach it." Mustardseed said thoughtfully, looking at his arm and Wendell's with a resigned expression. "Though it might take some convincing. It would be wonderfully useful to have a class on diplomacy."

A burst of particularly loud shouting punctuated his words, and the four turned to see Puck and Peter laughing hysterically while Pinocchio shouted at them from behind Sabrina, who was shouting even louder.

"Just a bit." Minette agreed.

"Maybe... maybe we should start trying to do our homework..." Alice suggested, pulling her heavy book bag onto the table with one hand and a grunt.

The others grabbed their bags, too, but Wendell hesitated.

"Going to be hard to concentrate in here..." He said doubtfully.

"True enough, but if we're going to be here, we might as well try to get something done." Mustardseed pointed out, rummaging in his bag for a pencil.

"Do you have any lead?" Alice asked. "For a mechanical pencil?" She shook hers. "I'm out."

"What size?" Mustardseed asked, returning to his bag. "I have... point seven, point five, point nine, maybe point two..."

"Why do you have so many sizes?" Wendell asked, pulling out his math book. "You only really need one."

"In case other people want different sizes." Mustardseed explained. "Will you be wanting help with math?"

"No, I think I've got it today." Wendell said, settling down to work.

The others followed suit, but Minette stopped after about fifteen minutes, dropping her pencil with a sigh. "It's no use." She said. "I just can't concentrate with all this noise."

"Me neither." Alice said angrily, throwing her pencil at Puck, who was flying overhead, laughing with Peter.

Puck stuck his tongue out at her, caught the pencil, and started poking Peter with it.

"What is this?" Peter asked, turning. "Who dares attack the great Pan?"

"I challenge you to a duel, fiendish nag!" Puck cried, brandishing the mechanical pencil.

"Say what?" Peter asked. "Well, then, I rise to your challenge, petty youth! But give me a weapon!"

Puck searched himself for a minute. "Got nothin'. Sorry."

"Puck!" Bella's screech rose over the din. "What did you do?"

"That's our cue to skedaddle." Puck said. "I'll find you a pencil somewhere else. Or maybe even a pen!"

Peter cackled, flying off. "Oooh, a pen! Luxury, that is!"

Sabrina appeared by the foursome a few seconds later, looking harried and pulling an exhausted Red along behind her. "Have you seen Puck?" She asked. "He and Peter have been working together. It's even worse than when they were arguing. I need to make them quit."

"They went that way." Wendell pointed towards the bookshelves. As Sabrina turned to leave, he continued, "Listen, Sabrina- this isn't working. The study group. Not right now, at least."

Sabrina sighed, running a hand down her face, pulling Red's hand after hers. "Yeah, I know. It's just... not working."

"Maybe... maybe we should quit." Alice suggested. "Just for this week."

Sabrina sighed and nodded. "I'll go tell everyone, I guess. It's not like they're doing anything anyway."

She walked off and began talking to people, two by two. They filed out as she left them, and soon the room was almost empty.

"Well, let's go." Sabrina said, looking at the last few people.

They headed out, and downstairs, Curlscat inserted another cliffhanger.