Unfortunately, there is little time to react. Riddle sends out magic in a flash and knocks both of them down to the ground. They groan as they struggle up and the teapot tyrant shouts the unfortunate, but obvious ending to this story, "OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!"

It was never a fair fight. I hate to see this, but they are students that have barely gotten into their magic while Riddle has been trained since… who even knows how long. I guess I have these two at my dorm until further notice.

Ace scowls. "Damn it! Doesn't he have something else to do except this fucking magic seal?!"

Deuce groans a little, "We couldn't do anything…"

I barely even saw anything. "That was too fast… I barely saw anything…" I shake my head.

Grim's paralyzed in awe.

"One's magical strength directly comes from the power and creativity of their imagination." Crowley explains. "The stronger the imagined result, the better the results of one's magic. Rosehearts demonstrates his mastery and polishing of his own magical abilities."

Well, uh, then I would be very dangerous indeed. It's a good thing for them I have 0 magic. And there's a big reason why the poor duo lost. They share a brain cell.

"The differences in their magic is so great!" Ah, Grim realizes he doesn't stand a chance.

There's a bit of arrogance on Riddle's face, but, eh. "That didn't even take five seconds. I am surprised you bothered to challenge me at your skill level—embarrassing, isn't it?" Oh, that sinister look. It's—unbecoming.

While now I know his background, I do feel sympathy for his situation and upbringing—but he's been at this college for a year and I imagine it hasn't helped him any due to his position and the fact that someone like Trey hasn't tried to correct his behavior or even really talk to him. So on the other hand—I want to bitch slap him.

"I am right. Anyone who breaks the rules will amount to nothing. It is just as my mother said." And this is where Riddle has gone too far.

"Someone's got mommy issues." Ah well let's hope that ability of mine to get ignored works out here.

"It's true that rules should be enforced, but to enforce every rule to such an extreme is oppressive! Not all rules deserve the same punishment." Deuce is right about this. Like traffic tickets versus murder.

"Every rule should have the same punishment when broke. And I am this dorm's absolute rule. Anyone who breaks the rules has no right to complain!" Riddle is off his rocker.

"That's insane. And—wrong. Absolutely wrong. That's called being a tyrant, not a leader. Having absolute, strict rules creates people that have no tolerance beyond their own mindset. It doesn't help you grow up." Oops.

"No one will follow lenient rules." I am not sure if Riddle heard me with that reply. "What sort of lessons were you taught growing up if you can't even understand something so simple?" Oh, I am about to punch in that little red-head's face. I am an inch taller than him. "You were born from parents without magic. And I can tell you didn't receive proper education before you came to this school." Oh. "You're absolutely pathetic."

"YOU BASTARD!" Deuce shouts before I can even say anything in reply.

"AND DON'T YOU FUCK WITH ME!" Ace calls after.

Are these two… standing… up for me or…

And that is when there is a beautiful punch delivered to Riddle's face.

Oh.

I wanted to do that myself.

"Riddle!" Cater and Trey call.

"Rosehearts!" Crowley shouts in concern. Oh right, he's here.

"Heh." Okay I shouldn't laugh.

"He—he punched the dorm leader!" And a din comes over the students, shocked at the current situation. It was inevitable.

"Nice! Good, clean punch!" Grim cheers.

"Ace!" Deuce is shocked and surprised at this.

I'm not. "That was inevitable."

"I'm tired of this bullshit. I don't care about you or even this duel anymore." Ace comments coldly. Riddle looks—frightened, as he looks up at Ace. I don't think Riddle has ever been punched before in his life. It shows.

"O-ow…" Riddle holds his cheek, he's clearly in some state of shock. "Y-you punched… me?"

"Children aren't their parents trophies, and your parents aren't the ones who get to decide your worth. Now I understand why you're such a horrible person, but it wasn't your parents' fault. You've been at this school for a year, and the one to blame is that bastard you call a friend who's done nothing and ignored everything!" Uh, I wouldn't put 100% of the blame on Trey, Ace.

I think I see tears in Riddle's eyes as I move to stand next to Deuce, if Ace doesn't verbally finish him off, I will.

"W-what are you saying…?" Riddle asks.

"I get that your mom raised you to be like this, but all you're saying is imother this/i and imother that/i. Is that all you can say? Are you not capable of thinking for yourself? Fuck your iRed Ruler/i bullshit—you're just a spoiled baby that happens to have strong magic!" That's a finisher from Ace.

"You're—calling me—a baby?" Riddle looks insulted, and… I can't really fit his expression with one or a couple emotions. It's clearly the first time anyone's properly confronted him about anything in his life. "You know nothing!" Now he's enraged. "You know nothing about me!" Riddle declares for all to hear.

"You're right. I don't know a damn thing." Ace counters, "You think I'd want to know anything about your shit attitude? Are you stupid?"

"SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT YOUR MOUTH!" Riddle screeches in rage. "MOTHER IS RIGHT! That's why I'm ALSO right!"

"Mommy issues." I comment to Deuce, who is transfixed like everyone else on this.

"Riddle, calm down—the duel is over." Trey's interference is too little too late.

"Clover is correct; any magical attacks done outside of the duel will cause you to forfeit." Crowley seems to be attempting to dissuade a next move, but I think we're past that point. "If you continue this any further, you will be violating the rules." I guess Ace got one punch free.

We're about to have a real fight, I think.

"I agree with the two freshmen! I can't TAKE this anymore!" A purple-haired, heart-faced Heartslabyul member shouts. Probably finally full of what has happened in this dorm.

An object flies from the student's hands and hits him in the face with… an egg.

Trey looks shocked. "An egg—did someone throw that?"

Ohhh yeah they did.

Silence falls over the crowd for a moment as Riddle shouts, "Who threw that egg at me?!" But he starts to laugh; ah, yeah, that doesn't sound good. I think he's on the edge of a breakdown. "Oh—so you've had enough?! I'm the one that's had enough! No matter how many times I've warned all of you, no matter how strict and firm I am with the rules—you keep breaking them! Every single one of you! You're all just idiots who think of nothing except yourselves! FINE! If no one will admit it, then you will all take responsibility! Off with all of your heads!" A swell of power fills the air. "OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!"

The crowd of students soon find themselves collared—they're now scared, as they take off running from the Housewarden's wrath.

A mad laugh comes from Riddle, "There! Now none of you can stand against me!" Oh boy, yep, lost the big flick. "I knew it. I'm the one that's right, because I am the only one that protects the rules."

"Rosehearts, you must stop this! Violating the rules is not like you at all!" Headmaster Crowley is finally stepping in, hands on his hips—and I notice, not a collar on his neck. That's something curious to note.

"This is bad…" Cater, who also doesn't have a collar comments in earshot. "If he uses any more magic, he might…" Might?

Trey looks equally distressed. "Riddle, stop!" And also, collar-less.

"Hey, dumb ass!" Ace calls to Riddle. "Not everything will go how you want it to, you should know that! You're throwing a tantrum like a baby—I was right!" This is not the time to taunt.

"SHUT UP AND TAKE THAT BACK! Do you WANT to get skewered?!" Oh that is a red-faced teapot tyrant and he is pissed.

"Ace—" We've got magic against no magic and that's not going to end well.

"No. Never." The heart-faced dumb ass stands firm.

Riddle lets out a scream of rage.

"This is really bad! You guys NEED to get out of here!" I see the panic on Cater's face and I'm not sure why—besides well, the obvious. But something worse…?

Then it happens.

The ground shakes. A swell of magic goes through us—it's hot, and heavy. Darkness surrounds us, and the sky is a cloudy black. The trees start to rip out of the ground with the swell of power, and much more tears up around the focal point before us: Riddle Rosehearts.

"W-what—the trees are floating?!" Grim shouts in confusion and fear.

"What distorted magic—does he plan on using that on Ace?" Deuce looks horrified, too.

"This got worse." Oh no. This really did get worse.

"Rose trees, tear him to shreds!" Riddle shouts, oh no.

"ACE!" He needs to get out of there, NOW!

"Get out of the way!" Crowley shouts, well, he is the teacher here.

"We have to get out of here now!" I tug at Deuce's sleeve, and look at Grim and Ace. Crowley's right—this is dangerous.

The trees fly at us, and suddenly magic scatters around—turning them into playing cards?

"I'm… alive? What… cards?" Ace is just as confused as the rest of us.

"The roses are now cards—this must be…" Deuce starts.

"Riddle, you need to stop. That's enough!" Trey finally steps to the plate after all of this time. I guess murder is his limit.

"Trey's Doodle Suit—how?!" Cater's confused at its ability to stop Riddle.

"And the magic collars disappeared!" Grim cries in surprise and relief.

"I told you. My Doodle Suit can change any given situation for a short amount of time. So I replaced Riddle's magic with mine." So Trey was being far too humble earlier. This is amazing.

"No way—how is that even possible? It's a cheat, isn't it?" Cater. Really?

Riddle's frustrated, and not seeming to pay attention. "Off—off with your head! I said, off with your head!" He waves his hand, and only playing cards appear. "Why are only cards coming?!"

"Riddle, you need to stop this. You're only hurting yourself. Look at everyone here." He's approaching Riddle now, maybe trying his best to finally end this situation.

"Was he serious about skewering him…?" One of the remaining students ask.

"That's too far." Another comments.

"What a monster." A third.

"Trey… has overwritten my magic…?" Riddle seems to fall into a bit of despair. "Does that mean… his magic is stronger…?"

"That's not true! Riddle, you need to listen to them. You need to calm down and hear what they're saying." Trey's firm, at least.

"What, are you saying that I'm wrong too? Even after I did everything I could to enforce all of these strict rules? E-even after I endured so much! I—I can't believe it! I will never believe it!" Oh, he—now he really looks like he's about to weep, falling into despair. Then rage.

I almost feel bad.

"You mustn't! Rosehearts! Stop!" Crowley calls to the student who has lost it. "If you use any more magic, your jewel will corrupt and be tainted with Blot!" Wait, what's blot?

"Blot?" I ask, to no one's ears.

"I am… I AM ALONE RIGHT! I AM THE ONLY ONE WHO IS ALWAYS RIGHT!" Red-faced rage-induced Riddle returns.

"RIDDLE!" Trey shouts.

And Riddle Rosehearts casts another spell. I see the Jewel he wears, part of his magic wand, his pen, turn black.

Then, a dark power comes forth and washes over the field, over us. There's barely any light that comes through. No, worse—it's the magic itself that cakes over everything. Uncontrolled, and maybe even a little painful. It coats and covers Riddle, and soon it expells leaving…

That's… Riddle?

What happened to him?

Oh my God, what happened to him?