Chapter 37

"Myah... We're only on day one, and I'm already pooped," Grim groaned when we finally got back to our room.

"Now imagine how bad it is for the performers," I said.

"It's all for my tuna bonanza. I gotta make sure they win this thing." Suddenly, I heard singing coming from the window. "Hm? Who's that makin' noise in the yard?"

"I know that voice..." We followed the noise outside, where we found Kalim singing alone.

"Hmmm... I keep missing that note," he said to himself.

"Hey, Kalim!" said Grim. "If you stay out late, Coach Vil is gonna chew our heads off!"

"Whoa!" Kalim said in surprise. "Grim and Ona? Did you hear me from the dorm? Sorry about that!"

"How can you still be going after gettin' worked to the bone today?" said Grim.

"Rest is just as important as practice," I said.

"Ha ha, it's not what you think," said Kalim. "This is the first time I've ever done something like this. I'm...pretty upset that I got passed over for main vocals."

"Huh?" said Grim. "You didn't look upset to me."

"I wasn't, when it first got announced. But when I climbed into bed and closed my eyes, it started nagging at me. I couldn't just lie there working myself up. Figured I'd let off some steam by practicing. I've... never felt this way before."

"Ah-hah. You've had everything handed to you on a silver platter before this, I bet. Guess that's what it's like when you're mega- rich. Must be nice!"

"Ah, well... Yes and no. I don't think that's quite it. I'm always chosen. Always. That's such an obvious truth that I never even consciously processed it. But now I see that was only possible because of Jamil's constant sacrifices. He created that 'truth' in my mind by always holding back. By always letting me win. ...It stings. 'Galling' doesn't even begin to describe it."

Grim crossed his arms. "You wanna talk about galling? Imagine how I feel not even makin' the cut for the audition to start with."

Kalim appeared taken back. "Ah, you're right. My bad! I didn't mean to rub it in. Goodness, there I go again! I'm super sorry, honest."

"Geez, gettin' a sincere apology makes me feel like I kicked a puppy or somethin'," Grim said to me in a low voice. "Ace or Deuce woulda hit me with a comeback..." He cleared his throat. "Look, if that's how you feel, then you'd better win!"

"That's a good way to look at it. I'll keep working hard, so don't give up on me, okay?"

"I know I won't," I said. I paused, hearing movement. Someone else was here, and I had a pretty good idea who. "I kinda get it though. Grim has his own pain, but that doesn't mean yours is any less real."

"Hey!" said Grim.

"I don't mean any offense." I looked at Kalim. "It's not right what Jamil did. How can you learn to grow and improve if you never learn to fail? It's not fair to you. Not that it's his fault. It's how his parents taught him to behave. He didn't know any other way. The culture you two were brought up in... it has nasty effects on you both. But now that you're aware, maybe you can change all of that."

Kalim smiled. "That's exactly what I plan to do. Thanks, Ona. I wouldn't want to disturb the others' sleep, so I'll stop for now and call it a night."

"Tomorrow's another day for all of us." We headed back to the dorm, but I stopped at the door. "Grim, do you mind seeing Kalim back to his room? I have to check on something."

"Why do I have to babysit him?" Grim grumbled.

"Yeah, I'll be fine," said Kalim.

"Even so..." I said. "I wouldn't want Jamil to find out and get mad at me."

"You've got a point," said Grim. "I'll see you back in the room."

"Okay," said Kalim. "Good night, Ona."

"Good night, Kalim," I said with a smile. I stood there, waiting long after Kalim and Grim disappeared into the dorm. Finally, Jamil stepped into view, not looking too pleased to be discovered. "I thought it was you."

"You don't know anything about our lives," he said.

"Hey, I wasn't trying to judge. Did you miss the part where I said it's neither of your faults?"

"I can't change things just like that."

I shrugged. "Maybe not, but you've got to start somewhere."

"What would you know about it?"

"Well, in a way, my family life is the opposite of yours. Or it was, I should say. I was content to stay with them forever, whatever they wanted of me. But they were the ones who told me to go out and expand my world. They didn't want me to be confined with by what I had always known. They wanted me to discover new places and ways of doing things. I always resisted their advice... But they kind of got their wish. This world is very different from mine, but you know what? They were right? Slowly, I've learned how to adapt and change. And now I fully embrace this new life I lead." I smiled at Jamil. "If I can do it, so can you."

Jamil stared at me as if searching for something on my face. Finally, he relaxed. "I will no longer hand everything to Kalim. That is my start."

"Good."

I had another dream. The beautiful, older woman from last time made herself ugly to be more beautiful. She wanted to trick the younger woman so that she would become the most beautiful. How strange.

"Ona..." said a voice. "Hey, Ona. Wake up!"

I opened my eyes to see Grim standing over me. "A queen was transforming in my dream..."

"About time you got up. Follow me and be stealthy about it. Everybody else is sleepin', so stay on your tip-toes!"

"Alright." I was too tired to disagree, so I got up and followed him to the lounge.

"Ah, there you are," said Ace. "C'mon, over here."

"What's up?"

"That dinner we had just wasn't filling. So I was thinkin' about the pastries Trey made for us. The ones sitting in the fridge right now. Wouldn't it be a shame to let perfectly good food go to waste? Trey said we should eat them today, too."

"I'm not here for sweets," said Deuce. "I'm just, uh...thirsty! I want a drink of water."

"Snacks taste a hundred times better when you're sneakin' 'em at night," said Grim. "Gwee hee hee! Throw that fridge door wide, baby!"

Ace opened the fridge door. "I'll grab a piece of the chocolate cake."

"That apple pie's callin' my name!" said Grim.

"I'm not looking," said Deuce. "I don't see any of this."

"Hey, Deuce," said Ace. "Turn this way a sec."

"Hm?" As soon as Deuce looked at him, Ace stuffed something in his mouth. "Mmph! Whaphza big idea?!"

"How's Trey's homemade apple pie? Now that you've had a bite, you're our partner in crime."

"Everything tastes better when it's forbidden!" Grim said, scarfing down the food.

"Well, I can't let the slice go to waste now that I've bitten into it," said Deuce. "If it's just one piece..."

"I think I'll wash this down with some of our confiscated soda," Ace said before chugging the drink.

"My, my," said a new voice. "What have we here? A pack of little rats scurrying through the kitchen under cover of night?" The lights flickered on, and we saw an angry Vil.

"Myah?!" Grim exclaimed. "That's... Vil!"

"Disobedient children require discipline."

"Look, we're growing boys, okay?!" said Ace. "Of course we're gonna get hungry at night."

"Speaking as a Heartslabyul student, I can't possibly ignore Trey's homemade sweets," said Deuce. "That would just be wrong..."

"Any moment now," Vil said to himself.

"Huh?" said Ace. "Whaddaya mean, any—HRK!" He suddenly fell over.

"Mrah?!" said Grim. Then he went over.

"Urgh!" groaned Deuce. Finally, he fell.

"Are you guys okay?!" I exclaimed, worried.

"B-body's...going numb..." said Ace.

"Rrrgh... I can't stand..." said Grim.

"What's going on?" said Deuce.

"Wait... Did you poison the food in the fridge?!" said Ace.

"Heh. It's not poison," said Vil. "It's a curse."

"A curse?" said Deuce. "How do you curse food...?"

"It's my signature spell: Fairest One of All. It gives me the power to place a curse upon anything I touch. A curse so potent, not even I can lift it before its stated conditions are met. I imagine you'd like to know how I've hexed the food I confiscated from you today. Shall I tell you? 'Any fool who partakes of this shall be immobilized until the next sunrise.'"

"Y-you can DO that?!"

"That's even more sinister than poison!" said Ace. "It doesn't even taste any different!"

"I told you to avoid foods loaded with sugars and additives until the SDC show," said Vil. "You clearly aren't taking your roles as ensemble members seriously! You can stay on the hard floor until morning as punishment."

"B-but I didn't even take the food!" said Deuce. "Someone else shoved it in my mouth!"

"No excuses! This is collective responsibility." Vil turned to me. "Manager, seeing as you did not partake, I'll let you off this time. But don't start indulging just because you're not going out on stage. Now get back to your room, unless you want to root yourself into the floor with the spuds."

I swallowed hard. It looked like I had no other choice. "Sorry, guys..."

"Myaaah! Ona!" Grim wailed. "Don't leave meee!"

"Cease your yowling!" said Vil ."Hmph... Why must they all act in such an unbecoming manner? I simply cannot fathom why."

I let out a heavy sigh. "Bye.." I did not want to leave them, but I did not see what good I could do them. So, I returned to my room alone. When I got there, I had the thought that I should at least bring them blankets. It was still winter, after all.

"...lo? Hello?" said a voice. "Are you there today?"

I ran to the mirror, seeing a fuzzy image of a mouse. "Mickey! I KNEW I wasn't dreaming!"

"Whoa! You startled me! Your voice is coming through the mirror especially loud and clear today. Can you see me?"

Suddenly, he came into focus. "Yeah, I see you." He looked much friendlier than I was expecting.

"I told some friends of mine about what you said in my last dream... But Donald and Goofy have never heard of Twisted Wonderland, either. Donald even said it was a ghost prank, and that I shouldn't listen!"

"So, you're not a ghost?"

"What? Of course I'm not! I sure hope YOU'RE not one..."

I shook my head. "Not at all."

"That's good. But this is getting stranger and stranger. Just now, those animated cards and dancing gloves said to me, 'Oh, you're back again?' This is definitely no ordinary dream."

"Oh yeah! Mickey, can I take your picture?"

"My picture? Sure, go ahead!"

"Just a second." I ran to grab the ghost. Suddenly, I heard ringing.

"Huh? ...hear...ringing..."

"Mickey, wait!" His image was breaking up, and then he was gone. "I couldn't get that picture..." I remembered when Crowley told me I might come from a different dimension. Did the mirror connect to someplace else...?

"Bonjour, Ona!" Rook sang out to wake me up. "Today is off to a most magnificent start, wouldn't you say? We'll be doing morning practice sessions starting, well...this morning! Come to the Pomefiore ballroom."

"Yeah, okay," I grumbled. I quickly got ready and made my way to the Pomefiore ballroom with my friends.

"Last night was awful..." Deuce said tiredly upon our arrival.

"I'm aching all over after having to sleep on the hard floor," said Ace.

"I ain't even in the ensemble," said Grim. "It ain't fair, I tell ya..."

"I'm sorry that happened," I said. "It was pretty underhanded."

"Guys?" Epel said in concern. "Are you okay?"

"Ah, everyone's here," said Kalim. "Good morning."

"Morning, Kalim," I said.

"I heard a bunch of noise last night and leapt out of bed," said Jamil. "I thought someone was attacking. But no... When I went to see what was going on, I found you guys sprawled out on the ground."

"It wasn't by choice, okay?!" said Ace. "Vil used his signature spell on us."

"Did he really?"

"Yeah," said Grim. "He cursed the grub in the fridge. Is that scary or what?!"

"He put a curse on food?!" Kalim cried, appalled.

"Now I'm gonna be wonderin' if everything I eat between now and the SDC is cursed. It's got me all paranoid."

"I'm pretty careful about poisons, but I'll have to be extra careful if there are curses involved."

"Anything using magic will leave at least some trace behind," said Jamil, "but... Hm."

"Maybe I could identify it if I brush up on my sensory abilities?"

"You're not exactly sensitive to start with, you know. Mastering that seems a bit out of your reach."

Kalim frowned. "Hey, don't say that. You never know until you try!"

"Uh, are we not gonna address the part where Kalim said something about poison?" said Ace.

"Oh yeah, you weren't there during the whole Scarabian episode," I said.

"Hm?" said Kalim. "Oh, it's just that I've had my food poisoned before."

"WHAT?!" Ace, Deuce, and Epel shouted.

"Yeah, that's why I got brought on as his poison tester during the holidays," said Grim.

"I've had some awful experiences with it," said Kalim. "Before long, I started being suspicious of pretty much everything I was about to eat. But it's exhausting weighing whether or not you can trust whoever cooks your food, let alone whoever sits at your table. It really got in the way of enjoying a nice meal, you know?"

"I can see why," said Deuce.

"If I know a dish isn't poisoned in advance, then I can more fully savor it. And if I figure out it's bad as soon as I take a bite, then I can avert a much worse situation... for myself and the other party both."

"The other party?" said Epel.

"Suppose the food-poisoner sees the error of their ways and realizes they've done something wrong. If I'm already gone, then that wouldn't do them any good, would it? I wouldn't want to deny someone the opportunity to redeem themselves after recognizing the error of their ways. That would just be awful."

Though I sensed Jamil's discomfort, Kalim's explanation warmed my heart. "Kalim, I love you!" I said, throwing my arms around him.

Kalim laughed as he hugged me back. "Where is this coming from?"

Ace and Deuce exchanged odd looks. "You feeling okay?" said Ace. "We're the ones who slept on the floor."

"I don't mean anything weird about it," I said. "I just agree with Kalim's thinking." I smiled at Kalim. "You're a really great person. Don't ever let anyone change you."

Kalim grinned. "Thanks, Ona. I think you're a great person too. But it's not just me. The Land of Scalding Sands has more legends than just those of the Sorcerer of the Sands. There is also a tale of a street thief who became king."

"Whoa," said Grim. "That really happened?"

"Could you tell us about it?" I asked. I could tell this would be good.

"One day, the thief met a princess and fell in love," Kalim began. "He had a change of heart, and he came to regret his life of dishonesty and larceny. After that, he went on to rescue the sultan and princess from the villain who plotted to take over the land! Then he married the princess and became the next sultan, and everybody lived happily ever after!" He smiled. "I just love that story to bits! Everybody trusted that the street thief was changing his ways, and they all gave him a second chance."

"So, the moral of the story is that there's no undoing past wrongs, but what matters is what you do after that?" said Deuce, appearing thoughtful.

"Guess reality's not as simple as 'bad guy gets their just desserts; the end,'" said Ace.

"Nope," I said. "Everyone makes mistakes. If no one every offered forgiveness, we would all end up hating each other for some reason or another, and that would make life pretty miserable, wouldn't it? And if there was no opportunity for redemption, no one would have any incentive to act better. The world would grow increasingly worse. As long as someone is willing to change, I see no reason not to give them that chance."

"Exactly!" said Kalim. "So I consider it very important for me to survive. Though in the end 'studying' just allows me to enjoy fine meals. Aha ha ha!"

"You're laughing, but what you just described sounds really dark..." said Epel.

"I wouldn't say that," said Jamil. "If he can laugh about it, then it's not exactly morbid, is it?"

"Humor is an effective method to get through hard parts of life," I agreed. I glanced at Jamil. "So, there is something you admire about him."

"I never said their wasn't."

I shrugged fair point. "Anyway, while I'm glad to find someone at this school who shares my worldview upfront, it is a bit surprising. How did such an earnest guy end up chosen by the Dark Mirror?"

"Yeah, seriously," said Grim. "He's TOO nice. Makes my hair stand on end."

"Awww, really?" said Kalim. "Do I sound that strange to you?"

"I think it's a good thing," I said. "Of course, everyone thinks I'm strange too."

"It's not that," said Epel. "You're just, er, a bit different from the other people on campus... I think."

"Actually, I transferred to this school two months late," said Kalim. "I wonder if that's got something to do with it."

"What?!" all of us exclaimed.

"You can transfer in here...?" said Epel.

"Is it really that surprising?" said Kalim. "The prefect got a special transfer too, right? And she's pretty different."

"That was kind of a mix-up..." But he did have a point about our connection.

"I thought Night Raven College only admitted folks whose souls were chosen by the Dark Mirror," said Ace.

"You're correct," said Kalim. "But about a month after Jamil left home... I suddenly got a letter of acceptance from the school. I forget if it was an oversight in selection or some special exception or what, but the black carriage came for me right after that."

"So they belatedly recognized the nature of your soul?" Deuce said dubiously.

"Hmph. I'm still skeptical that the Dark Mirror actually selects students based on that," said Jamil. In a quieter voice, he added, "Knowing the headmage, he probably arranged for a backdoor admission so he could get some generous Asim family donations. And just like that, my nice, free campus life went up in smoke."

"Well, I love every day I spend at this school," said Kalim. "And I got to make friends with you all over again, Jamil!"

"I keep telling you, we are NOT friends."

"I'm glad you're here, Kalim," I said, hugging him again.

"I'm happy you're here too," said Kalim. He hugged me back tightly.

"Why don't you entertain him then?" said Jamil.

I grinned. "Gladly."

Vil clapped as he entered the room with Rook. "I see my spuds are all present and accounted for," he said. "Have you all memorized the song?"

"Yes, sir," said Jamil. "Start to finish."

"Y-yes, sir!" said Epel.

"Then it's time to try singing it together," Vil. "Manager, start the music."

"On it," I said. And so, practice began.

I gradually grew used to the daily SDC practices. Everything was a little more complicated when the school week started, so I really had to flex my time management skills. It was not too bad, though. I managed to complete all of my homework, and I enjoyed talking to my friends during short breaks.

During one of the five minute breaks on Wednesday, I checked my phone to find a text from Jade. He had been occasionally texting me for the past few days. I wanted to text Floyd as well, but Jade told me it might make it harder on him to not see me in person. Since I never received a text from Floyd, I left it alone.

Mushroom Eel: Is practice going well?

Ona: Yes. How are you doing?

Mushroom Eel: I am well.

Ona: How's Floyd?

Mushroom Eel: Do you really want to know?

My eyes narrowed at the text, immediately feeling suspicious.

Ona: Tell me. Is something wrong? Is he alright?

Mushroom Eel: He's alright, but...

Ona: JADE!

Mushroom Eel: He's on his way to Pomefiore to demand to spend time with you.

I gaped at my phone.

Ona: What?!

Mushroom Eel: He lasted longer than I expected, to be honest.

Ona: Why didn't you stop him?!

Mushroom Eel: Where would the fun be in that? ;)

"Manager, is something wrong?" Vil said in an icy tone. "It is time to resume."

"I, uh..." I muttered. I had to come up with some sort of excuse. "I need to go take care of something."

"Whatever it is, surely it can wait."

"I have a problem. A... lady problem." The implication was enough to startle even Vil.

"Huh?" said Grim. Ace bent down and whispered something into his ear. "But I don't smell bl-" Ace covered Grim's mouth with his hand.

Vil cleared his throat. "Of course, you may leave. Take your time."

"Thanks," I said before bolting out of the room. Pomefiore's 'bodyguards' should stall Floyd, at least. I did not have to go far down the hallway to realize my assumption was fault. A grinning Floyd skidded to a halt in front of me, a trail of collapsed Pomefiore students (who I assumed had attacked him like they had my group) behind him.

"Hiya, Shrimpy!" he said in loud voice I really hoped the others could not hear. "These Pomefiore guys are really dramatic and funny."

I chuckled nervously. "Yeah, I know. What are you doing here?"

"I came to get you, of course!" Floyd ran at me, scooping me up in a hug. I resisted only for a moment. "I missed you."

"I missed you too," I said, smiling softly.

"Then come hang out with me."

"I - I can't." I tensed when I heard the sound of footsteps. "Oh no, they're coming." I managed to pull away form Floyd, but as soon as I turned, he wrapped his arms around me from behind and nestled his head into my shoulder.

"I'm not letting you leave me," he mumbled.

I sighed. "Floyd-"

"What is going on here?" Vil said with a stern voice. I swallowed hard at the stern look on his face.

"V-Vil! I've got a problem."

"I can see that."

"Hey, what's going-" Ace started to say as he appeared with the rest of the crew, and then his eyes fell on Floyd. "I should have known."

"You're stealing all of Shrimpy's time, and it's not fair," Floyd whined.

"Stealing who's time?" said Vil.

"He means Ona," said Grim.

"I thought you took care of this problem."

"Well, he was fine with the situation the last time I saw him, but today he clearly is not."

"You can't just take her away," said Deuce. "She's part of our group."

"I'm not going to keep her forever," said Floyd. "That's what I wanted to do, but Jade said I should ask for a compromise."

"A compromise?" said Vil. "Intriguing idea."

"Don't give in," said Ace. "Time away from him will be good for her."

"Hey!" I said indignantly.

"She's clearly trapped," said Jamil. "You must not give into his demands."

"I am not trapped." I tried to move but could not do so. "Okay, maybe I am, but I don't mind it."

"Maybe... we should help her?" Epel suggested.

"I would never hurt Little Shrimpy," Floyd said with an edge to his voice. Oh no. If he got into a bad move, this could go downhill fast.

"It's alright, Floyd," I said softly. I managed to free one of arms, and I brought it to his head to gently ran my hand through his hair. "They don't understand, but it's okay. I know who you are."

"I hope you're right," said Deuce.

"There's no way that's right!" said Ace. "He wants to be the one monopolizing all of her time."

"Hey!" Floyd snapped. "I just want to spend some time with her."

"I don't get what you're all concerned about," said Kalim. "It's sweet how affectionate Floyd is with her."

"That's one way to put it," Ace muttered.

"Ona," said Vil, "are you in distress?"

"Huh?" I said. "Read my body language. Do I look distressed to you?"

Vil stared at me long and hard. "No." His eyes flickered to Floyd and then back to me. "Then what is it you wish? Would you like some time with him?"

"I-" I hesitated. "I know I'm supposed to be helping the group, but if it were up to me..." I took a deep breath. "Yeah, I would love to spend time with Floyd. He is my dear friend." I gave him a hard look, daring him to judge Floyd and our relationship like everyone else had.

Vil gave a slight nod of acknowledgement. "I will give you one hour. From four two five every day."

"You're serious?" said Jamil.

"Ona is not integral to our operations. Grim can easily fill in for her. I would rather not have to deal with Octavinelle right now."

"All right!" Floyd cheered, rubbing his cheek against mine. "Isn't this great, Shrimpy?"

"Y-Yeah," I said. I stared at Vil in awe. "Thank you."

"It is hardly a big deal," said Vil. "I am not unreasonable."

"No, it's not that. It's just-"

"Aw, come on," said Ace. "She's better off with us."

"They don't think Floyd is good for her," Grim explained.

"Really?" said Vil. "Ona is your friend, right? Don't you trust her judgment?"

"Yeah, don't you trust her judgment?" said Floyd.

Deuce sighed. "Let's just drop it."

"It's four thirty right now," said Vil. "I expect you to return in a half hour."

I smiled. "No problem."

"The rest of you, back in the ballroom!"

Floyd finally released me. "Come on, let's go!" he said excitedly. He grabbed my arm and pulled down the hallway. I chuckled softly as a warm feeling filled me. It looked like my days were about to get a whole lot more interesting.

A/N: So, I'm not quite sure where the relationships in this story are going. If you've ready any of my other works, you may know my characters often have minds of their own and do things I did expect. I have a hard time figuring out if characters should have a romantic or strong platonic bond. I do enjoy writing about both. At this point, I will most likely still go with the original plan, but some other possibilities just in case so I don't throw everyone completely for a loop. Any thoughts or feelings about character relationships are greatly appreciated. Thanks. :)