Dead and Gone
Ash, Sajin, Cressila, and Jared drive to Shooraveeron Kabristaan, the cemetery for Knights. Cemeteries on Planet Hearts are different than the ones on Earth. Faries are cremated, their ashes are scattered on the ground, and a marker is placed in the pile of ashes. For Knights, their swords are their markers. As the Knights drive to the grounds, Ash speaks with Sajin. "How come you didn't invite Daah?" Ash asks. "Well, she has been weird the past few weeks," Sajin said. "Weird? My girlfriend knocked her out after Sangharsh's service after Daah smacked her. She didn't recover from that." "Besides that. She has been distant, and something is off with her." "Can I be honest?" Cressila asks. "As the only lady in the car," Ash said. "Do you think it would have been wise to invite Daah to Sangharsh's grave? She was in love with him and would not have liked the idea that her late crush might be the reason for Kaante's last-minute enrollment." "I second that. She does not need to know until we have answers," Jared said. Sangharsh looks at Ash and touches him. The touch sends cold chills down Ash's spine, which causes him to swerve off the road momentarily. "Look out," Sajin said. Ash's Hyundai Hybrid activates the automatic braking operation. "Are you okay?" Cressila asks. "Yeah," Ash said as he breathed. Sangharsh laughs, "Can handle me, Leader?" Ash growls and sighs. "I'm okay. Let's go." As they on, Daah follows behind in her Kia Sportage Hybrid. "I won't let them derail the plan. Sangharsh will come back, and I will please her!" "Good, my child," Kaante said. "We need to rattle their cages." "I will," Daah answers with a smile. Mariam is hiding in the truck and trying to hear her sister. "I know that you are hiding something," she said.
Back on campus, the Fairy Soldiers and Rosé are trying to unlock the second DNA from the cotton ball. Ulrichy notices that Allison is reviewing the senior checklist as they work. "Crossing your T's and dotting your I's," Ulrich teases. "No. I am slightly worried about the written exam. My penmanship has improved, but my advisor warned me a few times about it," Allison said. "You'll be fine. The oral exam is what you should be worried about." "I am freaking about it. It is bad enough that I must give a speech at the Royal Presentation." "Focus on our classmates. You will be a kick-ass queen, and the people need to know." Allison laughs at Ulrich's comment. "I will kick some ass if I don't get my way." Meanwhile, Hiroshima and Yumi are trying to pick up any vibes from the plant. "Nothing. It is like there is a firewall or something," Hiroshma said. "We can wait until after the Royal Presentation to do what Ulrich and I did when we found out who killed Mrs. Temp," Yumi said. "Right, we need at least three full moons." "Is there another method in the Golden Storybook?" Dawn asks. "I can check," Allison said. When she opens the book, a message appears inside the book. "The Knights are in trouble." "What?" Rosé asks. "The Knights are in trouble? What does that mean?" "It could be now. The senior Knights visited Sangharsh's grave to see if there was a connection between him and Kaante," Allison said. "I can call Cressila and warn her," Brock said. "Good idea," Odd said. As Odd walks by the cotton ball, his Humanity Rod appears and glows bright red. "Whoa. What is going on?" Odd takes the rod and holds it close to the plant. The rod glows bright red and begins to get hot. "Be careful," Dawn said. "Dawn, can you get your rod as well?" Odd asks. "Yes." Dawn takes out her rod and holds it close to Odd's rod. Both rods connect, and the cotton ball starts to release magic. "What is happening?" Yumi asks. "The cotton ball is draining the magic and sending it somewhere," Dawn said. "Where?" Yumi asks. "To where ever Kaante is," Odd said. "Cressila, be careful," Brock said. "We will," Cressila said.
On the grounds, the Knights all place yellow flowers at Sangharsh's grave. "Okay, let's see if we can sense something," Ash said. As the Knights look around, Sajin notices slime near Sangharsh's grave. "Slime? Why?" The slime starts to run down Sajin's hand. "Get off!" The slime sticks to Sajin's face. When he pulls off the slime, he sees a half-lion, half-ox animal that starts to chase after him. "Sajin, where are you going?" Jared asks. He touches the slime and notices the smell. "It smells like chalk," he said. He looks up, sees the creature, and runs. The creature rams its head into Jared, and he is sent flying. Ash and Cressila see that their friends are missing. "Where are they?" Cressila asks. Sangharsh pushes Ash and Cressila to the ground. "SOB," Ash said. "Ouch," Cressila says. Cressila sees arms grabbing her. "Aah!" Ash gets up. "Sangharsh! Where are you?" Ash screams. The ground shakes, and the creature charges at Ash. He takes out his sword and cuts the head off the beast. Ash smiles, but he gulps soon after. "Another is forming!" Ash runs. Sangharsh looks around. "Where did the beast come from?" Daah is using her magic to torment her fellow Knights. "I will please her. I will bring him back!" Daah cranks up the attacks. Sajin starts to feel the slime running up his leg. "Help!" He screams. Jared runs to Sajin but is attacked by some slime, it causes him to gag. Ash runs down the pathway and sees Cressila being dragged by some hands. He runs to her and gets bitten by one of the creatures. "Stop!" Ash screams. Mariam looks and sees the scene. "Where is my sister?" She looks for Daah. Daah sees her. "For fuck's sake. Why is the brat here?" "Get rid of her," Kaante said. "If I do, it will make her more determined. We have to leave. I think we rattled the Knights enough," Daah said. Daahy grabs her bag and leaves, and drops her pencil case. Ash waves his wand. "When in doubt, pray." At the same time, Staravia, the cat, appears next to Ash. "Need help?" He asks. "Yeah," Ash said. Staravia uses the magic from his collar to shock the creatures. Ash closes his eyes and prays. His Winged Heart shines bright blue and stuns the monsters. "Quick, everyone, use your Knight Signature moves," Ash commands. "Yes, Leader," they said in unison. "All four Knights are attacking at once," Mariam said. After the Knights attack, the grounds are calmer.
"That was close," Sajin said. "Let's leave," Jared said. "I agree," said Cressila. "Shorty wants to rest in peace. We can figure out another way to find a connection." Ash agrees and glares at Sangharsh. "I didn't cause the slime nor the animal hybrids," Sangharsh said. "Someone is stealing my game." Mariam appears. "Is everything okay?" "What are you doing here?" Sajin asks. "I wanted to see what you are doing here. My sister loved Sangharsh, and I want to ensure you weren't fucking his name." "We're the ones fucking around. There is a threat, and the admins are not doing anything," Ash said. "Are you sure?" Mariam said. "Mariam. I get it. I am protective of my sister as well. However, please remember that we are senior Knights, and Ashton is our leader. We are not trying to disrespect Sangharsh. All of this jumbie shit started the same day of his memorial," Cressila said. "I didn't know that," Mariam said. "Look, let's leave and dose ourselves in peppermint oil," Jared said. Everyone nods.
"Wait, what happened at the grounds?" Hiroshima asks. "We told you," Ash said. "So, the cotton ball has no more magic, and it is too soon to use read the plant," Sajin said. "My head is going to explode," Brock said. "I think we need to table this until after the Royal presentation," Ash said. "Why?" Dawn asks. "Mariam, right?" Allison asks. "Yeah, she somehow followed us. She asked a lot of questions. "No way. She is working with Hiroki and Devon on their theory about Kaante," Yumi said. Mariam lays down on her bed in her dorm. "Where did my sister go?" Daah is pacing in her room. "Sisters," she said. "I need a new plan. Wait—the Knights Tournament. Everyone is there. I can bring Kaante back then." Kaante smiles in the mirror. "Okay, after the Royal Prensation, we can resume our plan," Allison said. Dean Kathin overhears this. "The children need to know their place!"