Unfortunately, Epel's temporary respite didn't last very long. Soon it was back to practice and Vil wasn't any more lenient than he had been that morning. To many of the boys, it seemed that each critique was harsher than the last, almost as though Vil was trying to find something to be dissatisfied about. It felt to many of them that he reserved his harshest criticism for Epel, though, and there were times when it was all Deuce and Devon could do not to speak up and defend their friend. Ace warned them that doing so might just end up making things harder for Epel, but as the days passed, it was getting harder and harder not to say anything.
It was only a matter of time before someone reached their breaking point…
Vil pinched the bridge of his nose, unsatisfied yet again with the performance. "Ugh! No, no, no!" He looked over at Devon and Grim. "Stop the music!"
"What's the matter, Vil?" Rook asked as the music cut out, the fact that he was using Vil's proper name as opposed to the nickname he normally insisted on using causing the others some mild concern.
Vil didn't acknowledge Rook's question directly. Instead, he turned and narrowed his eyes at one person in particular. "Epel!"
"Y-Yes?" Epel stammered nervously.
"Looks like it's time for Epel's daily dressing down," Ace whispered as Devon and Grim made their way over to him and Deuce. "I can't help but feel for the guy after watching them play this out every day."
"I get that being one of the main vocalists means that Vil expects a lot out of him, but even so...," Deuce trailed off.
Grim shuddered as he hide behind Devon's legs. "Every time he yells for us to stop the music, it makes me wanna tuck my tail between my legs…"
"Have your ballet lessons taught you nothing?" Vil demanded as he continued to glare at Epel. "I told you to throw out your antiquated notions, not the energy you put into your performance. Don't just sing the words without thinking about what they mean. This song is about more than lip service."
"But I don't know how to sound more "charming" than this…," Epel replied, somehow able to meet Vil's gaze despite the harshness in his eyes. One could only imagine that he was used to it by now.
"Please. There's charming and then there's you. Do you really think you'll be able to take Neige down if you keep on like this?" Vil challenged. "Now, from the top!"
"Nnngh…," Epel growled, his fists clenched at his sides. He dropped his eyes to the floor for a moment before shooting Vil a glare of his own. "I don't…I don't wanna be cute!"
"Excuse me?" Vil replied challengingly.
"I didn't wanna be placed in Pomefiore, y'know! Just like I don't wanna compete in the VDC!" Epel continued to rant. "I came to Night Raven College to get stronger, not to sing and prance around on some stage! I don't wanna be some dainty little flower. I wanna be big and strong and tough!"
Vil didn't look the least bit moved by Epel's outburst. In fact, his expression was closer to that of a disappointed mother. "Unbelievable. You know, most of us grow out of throwing tantrums by the time we turn three. You speak of being "charming" and being "strong" as if the two are mutually exclusive, but both of them are equally valid forms of power. You'll never be a match for me if you can't realize that."
"Oh, get off your high horse! I'm done with this. I'm quittin' the team!" Epel snapped back, causing everyone except Vil and Rook to let out a shocked, "What?!" in response.
Vil let out a derisive sniff as he readied his magical pen. "Is that right? Very well, then. I believe it's time for the usual."
'The usual…?' Devon felt a pit forming in her stomach as she looked on with the others. The ink blots visions had her worried that another Overblot was just around the corner and all the tension and animosity between Epel and Vil was doing nothing to ease her concerns. She crossed her arms over her chest in an attempt to ground herself, her worry causing her to unknowingly dig her fingertips into her skin despite her attempts to keep her expression neutral. She didn't even realize what she was doing until she felt Rook place a comforting hand on her shoulder and saw Jamil take a subtle step closer to her out of the corner of her eye.
"There's no need to worry, Devon. This isn't a fight," Rook assured her, keeping his voice down so as not to attract the attention of the others.
"Are you sure? It looks like the beginnings of one to me," Jamil whispered.
Rook grinned. "Just watch."
"Go on, then. Take out your magical pen, Epel," Vil ordered.
"Today's the day I finally put you in your place!" Epel declared, pulling his pen from his P.E. uniform's breast pocket.
"Uhh, shouldn't someone step in and stop them?!" Deuce exclaimed.
In the end, there wasn't any need for anyone to intervene. Rook had been right when he said what was happening wasn't a fight; Epel was knocked flat on his rear in a matter of seconds, not unlike what had happened to Devon and the others when they'd confronted Vil in the main campus' courtyard. The wind was knocked out of him as he was blasted back by Vil's strike and he sputtered and coughed as he struggled to his feet.
"And there we have it. As usual, I win," Vil said. "As things stand now, Epel, you are neither cute nor strong. Just a plain apple, devoid of any poison. You'll never be able to land a hit on me if you don't shape up."
"Dang, that was harsh," Ace commented.
"Sounds like Pomefiore goes even harder than Savanaclaw when it comes to athletics, huh?" Grim added.
"C'mon, Vil. Cut Epel a little slack. He's still a freshman, after all. I doubt there are many people on this campus that could actually take you in a fight," Kalim tried to speak up, only to have Vil's glare turned on him in response.
"Stay out of this, Kalim," Vil warned before turning back to Epel. "Listen to me well, Epel. I told you this the day was met, and I'll say it again now: If you want to do as you please, you need to become both strong and beautiful. Now cease this childishness so we can get back to rehearsal."
Epel glared down at the floor, feeling equal parts frustrated and embarrassed. Losing to Vil was bad enough, but losing with an audience was so much worse. "Dagnabbit… I just… I just…" He could feel his eyes welling up with frustrated tears and he rushed from the room before (he hoped) anyone else noticed them, slamming the ballroom door behind him.
"Epel!" Deuce called out, about to rush out after him.
"Let him go," Vil said coldly. "If that's all it takes to crush his spirit, this team has no use for him."
"Don't you think you're being a bit unfair, sir?" Deuce asked, challenging Vil as politely as he could. "Epel puts a ton of effort into his dancing and singing, but you just keep dismissing him-"
"Please tell me you're not foolish enough to think that hard work will guarantee you a reward!" Vil snapped, causing almost everyone to tense at the harshness in his tone. He took a deep breath to center himself. "Setting that aside, you can't afford be fretting over anyone but yourself right now, Spudling Two. You're far behind the other members in all aspects of your performance. You and Spudling One started at the same level, yet the difference between you two is night and day. You are, in effect, slowing the rest of the team down. Or haven't you noticed?"
Deuce's brow furrowed as he replied, "I…I know, sir."
"Dead weight doesn't get the right to talk back to me," Vil continued bluntly, his tone final.
Deuce held Vil's stare for a moment before visibly deflating and dropping his gaze to the floor. "Right… Sorry."
"Deuce…" It took everything in Devon to fight the protective instincts screaming at her to rip into Vil for the way he was treating her friends. She knew it wouldn't help anything, but she hated to see Deuce look so dejected. She reached out to place a hand on his shoulder. He startled at the contact but offered her a weak but appreciative smile.
Unfortunately, Ace decided that now was the perfect time to offer his unsolicited opinion. "Man, you really set him off. This is why I keep tellin' ya to keep your head down and stop butting into things, man. You're not exactly smart about this kinda stuff, y'know?"
That was the final straw. Deuce rounded on Ace, his blue eyes blazing. "Shut! Up! You think I don't know that already?!"
Ace recoiled, not expecting the outburst. "Geez, dude, what are you snappin' at me for? Take it easy!"
"Someone as naturally talented as you wouldn't understand!" Deuce shouted before turning on his heel and running out of the room.
"Man, what was that about? Moody much?" Ace huffed. He looked to Devon and Grim for affirmation, only to be met by unamused expressions from both of them.
"That was really insensitive of you, Ace. You owe Deuce an apology when he gets back," Devon said.
"Yeah, you really gotta learn to think about other people's feelings before you talk," Grim agreed.
"You're the last person with any right to lecture me about that, Grim," Ace fired back. "Why should I have to walk on eggshells because I've got my act together and Deuce doesn't? We're all doing the same rehearsals. It's not my fault he can't keep up."
"All this arguing is getting us nowhere," Jamil said with a sigh. "We're not going to get any decent practice in like this. Upperclassmen, what would you say to taking a quick break?"
Rook nodded. "I concur. Let's all take a breather, shall we?"
"Yeah! We can all rest for a bit then come back to practice with clear heads!" Kalim agreed.
Vil looked like he was about to say no for a moment, but ultimately relented. "Fine. If we must."
Devon didn't waste any time marching toward the ballroom doors as soon as Vil agreed to the break, Grim following along after her.
"Where are you two going?" Ace called after them.
"To check on our friend," Devon called back. "You obviously aren't going to."
Vil looked around to make sure he hadn't been followed before ducking into an alcove in the hallway outside the ballroom, pulling his phone from his pocket. "Mira, Mira. Tell me something."
"Yes. What you like to know?" the AI asked, just like before.
"At this moment, who is the most beautiful of all?" Vil wanted to know.
"One moment," Mira's automated voice replied. "Displaying results for the account with the most comments using the word "beautiful": Neige LeBlanche."
Vil scowled down at the results on his phone screen before letting out a resigned sigh. "The notion that hard work guarantees you a reward is utter nonsense. The stuff of fairytales…"
Devon did her best to keep the concern off of her face as she was hit with another ink blot vision, though she did pick up the pace on her way to Deuce. Something had to be done about the tension on the team before it was too late…
"Vil? Vil!"
Vil let out a startled gasp, his eyes darting up from his phone to see Rook standing in front of him with a look of concern.
"What's the matter, Vil?" Rook asked. "It's not like you to lose focus. Surely that tiny swipe from our adorable little kitty-cat can't have rattled you that much."
Vil fixed Rook with a stern glare. "Please. Just stop."
"Might I suggest providing Monsieur Crabapple with a demonstration? You can make your point by showing him the power of your beauty," Rook urged.
Vil considered the suggestion for a moment before grinning. "…Heh. Now there's an idea."
Deuce sighed and put his head in his hands. He plopped himself down at a table in the small courtyard just outside one of the dorm's side exits after storming out of the ballroom, letting the burbling of a nearby fountain calm him as he tried to sort out his thoughts. Now that he'd had some time to step away, he felt himself growing more ashamed with each passing minute.
"Man, I really blew it, didn't I?" he muttered to himself. "I had no business making such a scene. Some honor student I'm turning out to be… I mean, what kind of moron pops off at someone who's giving them justified criticism? It's beyond lame-ack!"
He jumped when he felt something cold touch the back of his neck. He whipped around in his seat to see Devon and Grim standing behind him, Devon with a tiny smile and Grim with his usual smug smirk. Devon was holding a water bottle out to him.
"There you are. We've been lookin' for you," she said.
"And your kindly manager's taken it upon herself to bring you somethin' to drink!" Grim added as he and Devon sat down next to Deuce.
"Hey, you guys. I'm sorry for running off like that," Deuce said.
"You should be!" Grim replied. "If you guys don't get together and win that prize, I can kiss my tuna can dreams goodbye! You and Epel both need to buck up and get back to it!"
"Heh," Deuce chuckled, smiling for the first time all day. "Sometimes I envy that one-track mind of yours, Grim."
Grim eyed Deuce curiously. "Since it's just us here, I gotta ask: why'd you butt into Vil and Epel's argument, Deuce? I may not be the best at readin' a room, but even I knew that would just be askin' for trouble."
Deuce nodded, the smile still on his face. "Yeah, I agree. Not exactly my brightest move. It's just that I've realized something about Epel ever since we ran into him at the well in the main campus' courtyard. He and I are more alike than I realized."
"Oh yeah? How do you figure?" Grim asked.
"Well, it's kind of hard to put into words but…" Deuce paused as he tried to sort out what he wanted to say. "It's like we both want to change but don't feel like we're able to. Er, no, maybe it's more like not knowing how to change and being left spinning your wheels." He let out a frustrated grunt and shook his head. "Urgh… Ace was right; I'm completely hopeless with this kind of thing. I can't even manage to get my point across. It's beyond frustrating."
"Worry not, Monsieur Spade!" Rook called out as he and Kalim approached the trio, causing them to jump in surprise. "Such frustrations are the bittersweet pain of youth!"
"Come on now, what's the matter? Cheer up!" Kalim added as they sat down.
"Whoa! You guys scared us! What are you doing here?" Deuce asked.
"It's almost time for dance rehearsal to start back up, so we came to check on you," Kalim explained.
"Do you feel ready to return to the ballroom?" Rook asked.
Deuce looked between them uncertainly. "C-Can I really go back?"
"Huh?" Kalim exchanged a look with Rook as the smiles dropped off their faces. "Of course you can! Why do you ask?"
Deuce dropped his gaze and fiddled with the label on the water bottle Devon had given him. "It's just…I know Vil was right when he said I was just dead weight to the team. I get what a big deal it is to have been chosen for this team and I've been doing my best, but now I have to wonder if it's even going to be enough-"
"Now is not the time to sell yourself short, Monsieur Spade!" Rook interjected suddenly, giving Deuce a stern look, effectively stopping him in his tracks. "Right now, you are but a chick still inside your egg. Trying to decide your limits before you've even broken through the shell is utterly nonsensical. You will not attain a beautiful warble or plumage for flying by huddling within your shell."
Deuce finally met Rook's gaze. "Rook…"
"Don't worry," Rook continued with an encouraging smile. "I can hear you loud and clear-I've heard each and every one of you pecking, slowly and steadily trying to break out of the shells surrounding you. And while we're on the subject…did you know that unhatched chicks have a hard, pointy, horn-like protrusion on their beaks that allows them to break out of their shells? It's called an egg tooth and it fades away as the chick grows older."
The freshmen exchanged confused looks, not sure where Rook was going with this.
Rook only chuckled at their perplexed faces. "The point I'm making is this: While you may be ensnared in the throes of hatching, bear in mind that each of you has an egg tooth that no one else possesses. You all have a power within you somewhere, a special skill only you are capable of. And I can tell you with absolute certainty that I speak for both myself and for Vil when I say that we are anxiously awaiting the day when all of you break free and stand tall."
"A strength that only I possess, huh…" Deuce wracked his brain to try and work out what his strength might be, only to grow more discouraged when nothing came to him. Finally, he shook his head dejectedly. "Nope. I've got nothin'. The only thing that comes to mind is that I'm kinda quick on my feet. I'm not booksmart and I'm not especially clever… The more I think about it, the more I realize I don't have much going for me at all, really."
"Y'know Deuce, maybe the problem is that you keep trying to think this whole thing through," Kalim suggested.
Deuce blinked in confusion. "Huh?"
"If you know that's not how you're wired, why are you forcing yourself to solve your problems that way?" Kalim challenged. "I've been thinking this since we practiced for the VDC auditions together, but sometimes when I watch you, it's like watching someone try to write with their non-dominant hand and then complain that their handwriting is ugly. You're doing something you know you're bad at and then beating yourself up when it doesn't work out, so of course you're not seeing your strong points."
"Heh heh heh," Rook chuckled. "Ah, Kalim. As usual, your eyes are as clear as the sky after it rains. Such candor. Such luster. That is your strength, Roi d'Or!"
"Hm? Was that a compliment?" Kalim asked before grinning. "Thank you, Rook!"
Rook turned his attention back to Deuce. "Kalim is right, you know. Your true strength does not lie in using your head. You must look for it elsewhere."
Grim snorted a laugh. "I know that's right. Every plan Deuce comes up with is a disaster waiting to happen." He gave Deuce a flat look. "Just like that time you tried to catch me by throwin' Ace into the cafeteria chandelier and ended up breakin' it."
"Why you gotta bring up old stuff?" Deuce groaned with a grimace.
"I'm actually pretty similar, you know. Jamil tells me I'm thoughtless and oblivious all the time," Kalim said. "But that just means that all it takes to get me out of a funk is some food, rest, and dancing. Personally, I think that's a good thing. I guess what I'm trying to say is that sometimes what most people see as a negative can actually be a positive…?" He gave Deuce a sheepish smile. "Sorry, I'm not really sure how to phrase it better."
He quickly caught Devon's eye, hoping she'd be able to help him out. "I…," she began as she tried to gather her thoughts. "I think Kalim's trying to say that sometimes our weaknesses can be strengths too."
"Weaknesses…can be strengths?" Deuce repeated.
Devon nodded, starting to hit her stride. "Yeah. Like…using myself as an example, the biggest weakness I have in this world is that I can't use magic. I have my blessing, but that's a very specific ability and it's not something that really helps all that much when it comes to classes or fights." She glanced over at Kalim. "I didn't have the Wisps with me during most of that mess over the holiday break, so I was more or less helpless. Same thing with what happened with Octavinelle; I had to put Ramshackle on the line since the only magic I had wasn't something I was about to let fall into Azul's hands. I won't lie, it sometimes bothers me that I can't do what you guys can, but my lack of magic means I have to get more creative when I try to solve problems."
Kalim nodded with a smile. "Mmhmm! If you and Grim hadn't used my magic carpet to get out of Scarabia, nobody would've clued the Octavinelle boys in on what was happening and Jamil wouldn't have been found out. And that's not even mentioning the way you kept Jamil's attention on you so he wouldn't notice us sneaking back into the dorm. For the record, I'm positive that would still work on him so long as it's you."
Devon tossed her hair confidently over her shoulder in hopes that nobody would pick up on her rapidly warming cheeks. "Heh. Don't I know it."
Deuce nodded. "Now that you mention it, that plan you came up with to destroy Azul's contracts was pretty amazing, especially considering you got Leona and Ruggie to help out too. Guess the headmaster wasn't kidding when he said you had a talent for getting people to work together…" His eyes widened as he began to put the pieces together. "Oooh! I think I get it!" He smiled. "Thank you so much, guys. I think I understand things a little better now."
Kalim beamed and reached out to pat Deuce on the shoulder. "Really? Well, I'm glad we were able to help.
"Oh, but…may I ask a question?" Deuce asked, focusing on Rook and Kalim.
Rook nodded. "Oui. We will be happy to answer if we can."
"There's something I'd like to borrow," Deuce told them.
"Oh?" Rook and Kalim replied as everyone looked at Deuce questioningly.
Meanwhile, Epel had made it back to Ramshackle and took a seat on the front steps as he vented to Regina and a few of the Wisps who had floated out to see him. He'd had every intension of waiting until he could get Devon or one of the other freshmen alone for a moment to rant, but he knew Vil would likely be keeping everyone on an even shorter leash now that he'd stormed off. Part of him felt guilty for making things harder for the others, but he couldn't just stand there and be torn down anymore.
"And now everything's a real doozy of a mess, huh? Why'd the Dark Mirror have to go and plunk me into Pomefiore, anyway?" he muttered. Vil's speech about beauty and strength being equal forms of power echoed in Epel's mind, but he still wasn't able to make any sense of it. "I don't understand none o' that mess he was spoutin'. What am Ah even s'pposed to do with that?" He felt the pulse of Regina's power through the ground, comforting and reassuring him as the other Wisps danced in the air around him to try and cheer him up. He smiled despite himself, grateful for their support regardless of whether or not they could communicate with him the way they could with Devon.
A loud vrooming sound suddenly cut through the peaceful silence, causing Epel to jump to his feet.
"That's the sound of an engine!" he exclaimed. "I'd know it anywhere…but this campus is so small. I can't imagine someone needing to drive anywhere."
The sound grew louder with each passing moment and, soon enough, Deuce rolled up just outside the Ramshackle gates on a sleek Magical Wheel with a blue and black paintjob. He grinned when he caught sight of Epel. "There you are, Epel. I've been looking for you."
"Deuce?! What are you doing with that Magical Wheel?" Epel asked as he rushed down the steps.
"I begged the guys in Ignihyde to let me borrow this. They're gonna use it in one of their presentations," Deuce explained. He gestured to the space behind him. "Now hop on. We're going on a ride."
Ending Notes: I don't know about the rest of you, but I for one am glad to get that big confrontation scene out of the way. Scenes like that make me anxious even when it's just between fictional characters. The next chapter will be at least part of Deuce and Epel's heart-to-heart at the beach-I might have to split it into two parts depending on how long it ends up being. I also plan on writing Ace and Devon having a little chat of their own while their fellow freshies are AWOL. I love Ace to death, but he needs to be called out.
Once the band gets back together and we have a filler chapter or two as they finally find their groove, it'll be time for the Beanfest interlude! I'm planning on covering both versions of the event so we'll be able to see what everyone's up to instead of just focusing on Devon and Grim's crew.
Thank you all so much for reading! As always, feedback and constructive criticism are welcome. Geekinthepink, out!