Nocturnal
"One more to go!" Odd shouts as he walks down the hall. "Tell me about it. June 14th needs to hurry up," Dexter said. "What?" Alexis asks. "The president and vice president agree on something." The boys looked at each other. "Call to a temporary truce," Dexter said. Dawn rushes to Odd and kisses him. "You looked stuffed. Did you eat all of the food?" "No. I left enough for my sisters to get one serving," Odd chuckled. "I see a two-week break did nothing to you, Omar," Dexter scuffs. Sajin kisses Dexter, which causes him to blush. "Maybe this will help you?" Sajin said. "Hey. Hi," Dexter said. Alexis and Odd chuckle. "Leave it to Sajin to tone down, Dexter," Alexis said. Moments later, Ulrich, Yumi, and Brock arrive. "How were your holidays?" Brock asks. "Great. How was yours?" Dawn asks. "Great. My dad made a huge feast," Brock said. "Your dad cooked?" Ulrich asks. "I saw the photos," Yumi said. "The stuffed chicken looked good." "I hope Brock saved me a piece," Ash said. "Ash, your mom, gave Mr. Flint the recipe," Allison said as the pair arrived. "Well, I need to see if he did the recipe justice." "Sorry, Ash. We ate all the food," Brock said. The group chuckled. Jared walks by with a slushie. "Where did you get that?" Yumi asks. "By the Aatma Phavvaara. (Spirit Fountain)" "Race you there," Ulrich told Odd. "Not so fast, Good Buddy!" Odd said as the others followed in pursuit.
Meanwhile, Jeremy is checking on his university applications while eating a cherry slushie. Aelita sits next to him and kisses him with her frozen lips. "Yikes!" Jeremy shouts. "Happy New Year, " Aelita said. "Happy New Year," Jeremy said. "Any word?" "No. Should I be worried?" "No. Allison and Cressila didn't hear anything yet either." "Allison did. She received her letter in the mail. She thought it was a rejection letter because it was small, but boy, she was wrong." "Look. I think it's a few days; you should reach both to them." Jeremy smiles and kisses Aelita. Cressila smiles while Hiroshima giggles. "Awe!" Jeremy gulps when he sees Cressila's letter, which she notices. "How were your holidays?" Cressila asks. "Fine. My cousin Patrick and his parents came, and it was a full house," Jeremy said. "I had a very royal holiday. Allison, Sam, Hiroshima, and I learned how to make pepper pot," Aelita said. "What about the boys?" Cressila asks. "Gary and I learned last year," Ash J said. Moxie runs up and squeezes Ash J. "Help!" Jeremy laughs. "After last fall, Moxie is holding on to you." "I second that," Rocky said. "Moxie, we rode together," Ash J said. "I know. However, I heard you missed my cuddles while trapped in limbo. So, I am making it up," Moxie said. "Sisters," Ash J said. "It was Ash and Gary. They told me." "Gary is a traitor, and I will deal with Ash!" Ash J said as Moxie hugged him more. The group laughed until Daah walked up to pick up her slushie. "Don't stop on my account," she said. Daah has not been the same since the terror of Grand Chaalaak. "Whatever," Daah said as she walked away. "I should check on her soon," Cressila said. "It is my duty as a knight." "Could it be that today is his birthday, and the school is doing a memorial for him," Aelita said. "I forgot about that," Rocky said. "Yeah, that is why we have slushies. It was his favorite," Ash J said.
Daah sits by the Aatma Phavvaara and sighs. "It's not fair. They should have. She should have." Allison walks up to Daah. "Hey," she said. Daah looks up. "Hey, Alicinda." "How was your holiday?" "Good. I played the new Violet Game. I heard you got Scarlet." "I did. It took me a minute, but I beat it." "Why are you talking to me?" "I want to. The last year was rough." "For me. I lost my best friend!" "It was rough for all of us. We all grieved him." "Yeah. Everyone made it seem that Sangharsh died a hero. We know he didn't!" "At least his conscience kicked in." "Look. I don't blame you anymore, but we're not friends." "I know, but I want to try to get along." Daah sighs. "I'll see." Dexter signals Allison to come. "It looks like Dexter needs my help. See you at the memorial." Daah nods. After Allison leaves, Daah takes out a cotton ball. "I picked this from the Shirukukotton tree. I hope this works." She drops the cotton ball into the fountain and walks away. The water changed from a crystal blue to a silvery color, and red bubbles started to foam.
Inside the auditorium, Allison helps Dexter fix the slide show's coding. "Thank you," Dexter said. "No problem," Allison said. Dexter checks his phone and sees that Sangharsh's are close by. "Does Sajin talk about him?" Allison asks. "No. He said that Daah was closer to him," Dexter said. "However, she did stop blaming you." "She was still? I thought I got through to her." "Nope. Hopefully, by graduation, she will chill out." "Did you get any letters?" "I did. Sajin and I are going to the same university. What about you?" " I did. I got into my number one school. I got a scholarship to get my package in the next few days." Headmaster Chidh arrives and greets the students. "Good morning," Headmaster Chidh said. "Good morning, Headmaster Chidh," the students said as they bowed to him. Dean Kathin walks up to Dexter and Allison. "I hope the slide show is ready." "Yes, Dean Kathin," Dexter said. "And I hope the heirs are on their best behavior." Allison glares at him. "He is still an SOB," Allison thought. "Yes, we will, Dean Kathin." "Good Alicinda. You and your brother have to lead by example." "We will." Dean Kathin leaves with the headmaster. "Such a dick," Dexter said. "I know. When is graduation again?" Allison chuckles.
Jeremy takes his seat and worries about his college acceptance letters. "Why didn't I get any letters?" Ms. Shana approaches Jeremy and pulls him aside. "Here," she said. Jeremy opens the letter she gave him and gasps. "I got in?" "Yes. I think the office mixed up your mailing address, and everything was sent here over the break," Ms. Shana explains. "Thank you!" Jeremy said as he bowed to her. "No need, Jeremiah. You did all the work. I made sure everything else went to your house." Jeremy smiles and goes back to his seat. "Is everything okay?" Aelita asks. "I got in." "Better late than never," Ulrich said. "It was a mailing error. My letter was sent to the school," Jeremy said. "It looks like you got the same letter as Allison. Did you get the same scholarship?" Brock asks. "I did." "Good. Then that is one less thing to worry about," Yumi said. "You mean this memorial for a tractor," Hiroshima said. "Shh. We can't say that. We all covered it up, remember?" Alexis said. "I can't forget." "Where are Odd, Ash, and Cressila?" "Odd and Dexter have to give a few words as the heads of the student body. Ash and Cressila are knights," Dawn said. "Right, they have to sit with their fellow knights," Ulrich said. Silver, Sangharsh's sister, walks in with her parents and sits in the front. "She had a glow-up," Yumi said. "Yeah," Hiroki said. "She skipped a grade, and her parents decided to embrace her developing body." "It was like the ending of Metamorphosis. The parents embrace their daughter more after the roach-son dies. Kinda off like a reinvention," Devon said. "Are you still training to be a knight?" Hiroki asks. "I am, but I don't take my exam until June, so I am sitting here. Daah's sister took her already." "Right. I hope Daah doesn't freak out," Ulrich said.
The lights go on, and the screen goes on. Odd and Dexter talk about Sangharsh and his role in the school. Ash talks about what a great knight Sangharsh was. He squeezes a stress ball as he speaks. At the same time, the fountain starts to bubble, and a hand comes out. A senior named, Apin Name Slickbac walks near the fountain. "I need a drink before I head to this dumbass memorial." When he reaches for some water, the hand drags him in, and the lights dimmer. After the memorial, the students leave, and the water is normal. "It was sweet," Allison said. "It was. Now, we can focus on our senior swag list, " Ash said. "Like Takeover Day! I will be making some tacos and souse," Jared said. "I want a game station," Cressila said. "We have time to plan. Now, we should shower with peppermint oil before dinner," Yumi said. "Lobster tails," Odd said. "What an expensive menu," Cressila chuckles.
After dinner, Jeremy chats with the others about his university letter. "Good for you. There was no need to worry," Allison said. "I did. I was wondering where yours was since you submitted it first," Ash said. "Well, now I can enjoy the rest of my senior year,' Jeremy said. Aelita and Odd are sitting by the Aatma Phavvaara. "I mean, it does smell weird, but it is well water," Odd said. "Yeah, but where are the Finneon? They come here all the time." Aelita said. "What are you talking about?" Brock asks. Yumi and Ulrich stopped walking and felt a dark presence near the water. "The water smells weird, and there are no Pokemon," Odd said. Brock touches the water. "It feels fine." Allison looks at Yumi and Ulrich and notices they are lost in a trance. "Are you okay?" "I'm not sure," Yumi said. "I feel like a bad spirit nearby. "A what?" "A Jumbee," Ulrich said. "Where?" "I don't know." Hiroshima takes out her rod and scans the area. "I don't sense anything, so it is not a lost soul." Aelita holds Jeremy's hand. "Maybe we should head to the dorms. I think we have stayed here too long. "I think so, too," Jeremy said. Cressila notices some bubbles in the fountain. "Bubbles?" The fountain bubbles more, water shoots out, and Apin Name Slickbac emerges amid the splash, but he looks pale. "Coming. It's coming!" Moxie and Rosé witness this and scream, and Rosé runs to get the Dean and Headmaster. "Apin?" Odd explains. "What are the chances we will be blamed for this?" Dawn asks. "Yes. Yes, we are," Ulrich said.
The cotton ball attaches itself to the base of the Aatma Phavvaara and begins to grow roots.