Special thanks to Gluten-Free-Okami for beta-reader.

Tart Or Not To Tart That Is The Question

Susie looked at Ace stocked, "Ace?! What are you doing here…and what's with a collar?" Before Ace could answer. Grim gasped as he got on Susie's shoulder.

"I'd recognize that collar anywhere. It's the same one that psycho stuck on me at orientation!" He pointed out. Haelth remembered that too. When she caught Grim in the opening ceremony, the small red-haired boy used a spell to put on that collar. She dropped him because she thought the spell would cut off his head. Not a cool thing to do. That dude should have picked a better name for his spell.

"I remember! You couldn't use your fire right?" Haelth recalled right behind them. Grim gave her a look while showing his teeth at the memory.

"Yeah it was awful I couldn't use any spell." He grumbled.

"So how did you take it off?" Oliver asked Grim as he got beside Haelth.

Haelth blinked, she almost forgot when they met again Grim had the collar off.

Grim huffed, "That punk took it off because he said it 'cruel' to let a monster go into the wild without something to protect them." His forked tail lashes out, "What a load of-"

"Guys, can we get back on track?" Susie cut in as she let Ace into their dorm.

"Oh right sorry." Oliver and Haelth apologize for making room for another student.

"Thank you," Ace said, looking around their messy dorm. "Man, this place is a dump."

"Well if you don't like it you can leave. We are trying to make the best of it." Scott pointed out.

Ace shook his head. "I can't go back to Heartslabyul House. I'm joining your dorm. For good." Once he was in the living room, he made a pint by tapping his foot hard on the wooden floor. Everyone looked at him in shock.

"Myah?! Come again?!" Grim exclaimed.

"Why would you want to join our dorm when you bragged about the Queen of Hearts before?" Haelth asked him. He spoke about her with such admiration that she thought he would have leaped for joy joining her dorm. Ace looked at her and then at the ground.

"I ate a tart." He told her flat voice.

Haelth blinked. "You... ate a tart?" she said slowly as if she didn't believe the words she was hearing. But Ace narrowed his eyes at her, and she realized he was serious. "Are you serious?"

"Yeah, that's it! That's all I did! I was a little hungry, so I went to the dorm kitchen and found some tarts in the fridge. Three whole tarts! Big ones, too!" He crossed his arms and tapped his index finger on his arm while doing so. He was mad.

The group all look at each other. Kicking Ace out all because he ate a tart, seems a bit over the top in Haelth's mind. But wait, he said three big tarts. Which means… Maybe it was for a party. But still… they got in late and someone should have told Ace about the tarts or given him something to eat. At least, that's what Haelth thinks should have happened.

"So... The point is you're both terrible?" Grim said, giving Ace a deadpan look.

Ace turned sharply towards him, "You don't think that it's insane for my magic to get sealed away for eating ONE slice of tart?! For a mage, that's like having your arms and legs bound and shackled!" Ace snapped at the monster cat.

Scott huffed and his voice turned mocked, "Oh no we won't know what that was like. But try being in a world that you have no knowledge of and trapped in a school filled with mages that at the drop of a hat throw hands at you. Only this time they have magic that blows you away." He gives him a pointed look.

Ace flinched at that, "Yeah sorry about that." He looks down. Grim looked away too as he also caused that fight.

Haelth huffed, it served them right to shame them for trying to pick a fight with them. However, she forgives Grim because he is so fluffy.

She wasn't biased.

Totally.

"But c'mon, you KNOW this is messed up! There were three whole tarts! THREE! It's not like he could eat 'em all himself!" Ace pointed out. His eyes darted around looking for someone to be on his side. But everyone avoids looking at him.

Well, all but Haelth.

Haelth steps forward, "It does seem a tad extreme."

Ace smiled at her then extended his arms in a way, "See! At least one of you guys gets it!"

Melody shrugs her arms, "I guess...?"

"What kinda wishy-washy answer is that?!" Ace turns to her.

"Yeah, but…I mean, if there were three of 'em, they were probably for a party. Maybe it was someone's birthday or somethin'? Lookit that! I'm, like, a master detective too!" Grim puffed out his chest. Proud of himself for pointing that out.

Haelth couldn't help but find this cute. She rubbed his ears.

"Yes, you are." She coos. Grim purred but then realized what he was doing. He then smacks her hands away from his ear.

"I am not a cat!" He growled at her.

Haelth steps away smiling, "Sure you're not." She giggled as he huffed.

"A birthday party, huh...?" Ace said in a stunned voice.

"That would explain it. Did you even apologize?" Oliver asked him. Digging for more information.

Ace ran a hand through his hair, "Man… I thought you'd be more sympathetic! I'm a victim of the housewarden's tyranny here!" Ace pouted a bit.

"Stealing food is a serious offense. If you did that in my family shop I would call the cops on you." Scott said, crossing his arms.

"You stole food! That ain't cool!" Grim pointed out. The rest of the group (besides Haelth) agreed.

Ace deflating, "Aw, you gotta be kiddin' me!"

"I don't know," Haelth said, and everyone turned to her, "Seems a bit extreme." Ace perks up at this. Hunger can make people do crazy things. Plus Ace was new so maybe the housewarden should have gone easier on him.

Scott gives her a look, "Haelth he stole food from someone. He is in the wrong here." He explained to her like she was a kid.

Haelth rolled her eyes at him, "Yeah but someone should have explained to him first before he ate the tart. Or just give him a talking too. He just joined!" She pointed out.

She hates it when Scott gets like this. Being all high and mighty. She gets it when it comes to his family's store and he has to be tough on crooks. But she helps her Mapa run their shop and they are nicer to pickpockets if they notice they're poor.

Haelth remembers those cold nights…

Susie got in the middle of them, "Guys calm down. I'm sure we can figure this out without doing something crazy." She gave both a glare and they both backed off. They don't want to piss off Susie. You won't like it when she gets mad.

She turns to Ace, "If you apologize, I'm sure he'll forgive you." She told Ace.

Grim peeked up from her shoulder, " You don't go messin' with another man's meal…" Then his eyes widened, "Hey, wait a minute! I just realized I never got those cans of tuna the headmage promised me!" He exclaimed, about to run out but Oliver stopped him...

"Grim… You just ate pizza with us." Oliver pointed out to him.

Grim jumps down from Susie's shoulder and stomps his little paws on the wood floor.

"Yeah, but tuna is better!" He told Oliver, glaring up at him. Oliver just shrugged.

Ace sighs, "All right, all right. Fine. I get that I should apologize." He glared at them, "But you all better come with me. This was your idea, after all." He told them.

Susie blinked in surprise, taken aback, "Well I um… Sure?"

"Fair enough." Melody nodded.

"We got this." Oliver gives Ace a thumbs up. "Anyway," Ace said, looking around the dorm. Their messy, dusty dorm that is still being worked on, "You guys got a place for me to crash tonight?" He asked them. Haelth and others snorted thinking… Oh. He was joking! But he didn't laugh with them.

Oh, he was serious!

"You were serious about that?" Grim was taken aback by Ace's wanting to crash into their dorm, "Outside of the bedroom me, Susie, and Haelth usein'. Melody gets the guest room. And Scott and Oliver sleep on the couch. So if you wanna crash, then either sleep with the boys or you better start cleanin'!" Grim explained to Ace. He then started to walk upstairs to his bed.

"Dude, no way! I hate cleaning!" Ace exclaimed.

"Well too bad! Those are the only spots we got cleaned today and if you want another spot then get cleaning. If not then tough luck." Melody pointed out.

"Just let me stay with you, Melody. I'm really slim. I won't take up much space." Ace gave them puppy eyes.

Melody turned around at him with narrowed eyes, "What?" She raised an eyebrow, "I thought a guy would want to have a sleepover with other guys." She questioned.

"Well Haelth and Susie are two different genders and they're sharing a bed." Susie and Haelth look at each other. Wait… He did not know?

"Plus I don't want to be in one crouch between two guys. I just want to sleep in a bed tonight." He begged her.

Before they could answer him Oliver stepped forward and grabbed his hand.

"Come on Ace! Hang out with us! There's more room on the crouch." He said dragging Ace.

"Hey wait!" Ace tried to protest but Oliver dragged him away. Haelth could see he had this smirk on his face and winked at them behind Ace's back.

"What was that about?" Susie questioned as he was dragged away. Then she, Haelth, and Melody went upstairs.

"I think he wants to pull a prank on Ace, but I'm not sure what," Haelth guessed as they all got up on the second floor. Once they reached the top Susie remembered something important.

"Should we have to warn him that Oliver is a cuddler?" Susie asked them. Both girls paused and looked at each other. Oliver was cuddly when he was asleep and grabbed the nearest items and/or person to cuddle with. His grip supposedly is very tight and nothing can wake him up besides a good hit on top of the head.

"Err… He's fine." Haelth said laughing a bit before, yawning, "I'm beaten! I'm going to go to bed." She told others.

"Same." Melody said as she went to her room, "Night guys!"

"Night!" Both Susie and Haelth said as they both went to their bed. Grim was already sleeping, curled up at the foot of the bed. The girls went to the bathroom to change.

"Careful," Susie told Haelth as they got under the cover. Haelth almost rolled her eyes, she knew not to go too fast or they'd wake up Grim. Once tucked in she put her head on the soft pillow and looked at Susie.

"Night Susie." She told her as started to close her eyes. She heard Susie let a small relaxed sigh.

"Night," she said, closing her eyes. Then they heard Ace let out a choking yelp. Susie and Haelth bolted upright in alarm.

"What was that?" Susie asked, in a low hissing voice to not wake up Grim.

Haelth was about a leap into action. Ready to take on whatever is trying to harm them. Ghosts, monsters, monsters made out of pure darkness. Whatever it was, she'll get them. But it was Scott who yelled up an answer in a nonchalant manner to them.

"Oliver just fell asleep and got Ace in a hug. No big deal." He said.

Ace's voice gasps out, "T-the hell man. Help me."

"Nah too tired," Scott replied, shifting the cover hinting that he had gone back to bed.

For once Haelth agreed with him and went to sleep herself. She saw Susie look conflicted but chose to go back to bed too. If Susie wants to help him it's fine. Going too hard with Oliver sleeping like a log but Ace would be fine. Scott survived the night and he turned out alright. Well as much as Scott can be.

That night Haelth dreamt she saw a bunch of cards that were not only human-sized but had arms, legs, and heads. They were all painting the white roses red in a bush maze. Which was weird! Why paint plants? And not plant red roses?

"We're painting the roses red.

We dare not stop

Or waste a drop

So let the paint be spread.

We're painting the roses red.

We're painting the roses red~"

She took a step toward them. They seem friendly. She went to close one, a black card of spades. She is about to tap on their shoulders…

"Wake up!" Something heavy landed on her stomach making her cough.

"The hell?!" She throws off whatever lands on her a dark gray ball of fur thrown to the floor.

"Hey!" Grim growled at her, lashing his fork tail, "I was trying to wake you up!" He huffed, stomping his cute paws.

Haelth forgave him for he was waving his tiny arms in the air. Showing off those beans. Aw yeah. Too bad he won't let her pet him.

One day.

"Sorry, Grim! But next time don't jump on me. You're heavy." She told him as she got out of bed. Grim frowned and followed her.

"Yeah well, next time wake you when I shake you! Then I won't jump on you." He huffed as he left the room, leaving her to get ready and go downstairs. Where everyone was eating pancakes in the kitchen.

Haelth in her seat between Ace and Oliver. Ace was sitting far away from Oliver. Oliver who was looking down in shame. Melody was next to him looking like she was about to burst out laughing.

"What's up?" Haelth asked them, looking back and forth

"Nothing much," Ace answered her before glaring at Oliver. Who had a sheepish expression on his face, "Except someone!" He glared at Oliver, "Tried to choke me in my sleep!" He knocked on the table while locking eyes at Oliver.

Oliver shrugged, "Look dude I said I was sorry." He tried to apologize. But it was only worse when Melody laughed.

Ace huffed, "It's bad enough I have this damn collar on! But I don't need someone choking me when I go to sleep." He sighs as he sits back down in his chair, "Can a man catch a break?" There was a knock on the door and Ace had a tired expression.

"I guess not."

"No break for you," Haelth said cheekily before getting up to open the door. There she meets the familiar eyes of Deuce. "Deuce is here!" Haelth exclaimed. Ace sighed as he got up to follow behind her.

"Ugh. Deuce…" He grimaces as Deuce turns his gaze from Haelth to Ace. His eyes narrowed.

"So, you ate the housewarden's tart." He stated. Ace huffed and looked down. Which made his fellow dorm member sigh, "You really are an idiot, Ace."

Ace slammed his hand on the door frame, making Haelth jump.

"Oh, shut up! Like you're one to talk!" Ace shouted in annoyance before calming down, "Anyway, uh... Is he still mad?" He asked his friend.

Much to Haelth's shock, Deuce shook his head, "Not at all. Maybe a touch irritated if anything. A few of our dormmates overslept this morning… But only three of 'em got your treatment."

"Damn you housewarden don't mess around," Haelth commented. This is what Deuce meant when he said the head warden was better. Man, this guy doesn't mess around.

Ace sighs, "Yeah…You call that 'not at all' mad?! Sounds like he's still on the rampage, to me." He turned Deuce with a huff.

Susie made a face, "Well, maybe we can get a new tart to replace what you took? Maybe then that softens his mood." Everyone looked at her, surprised about her suggestion. Haelth jumped to support her friend. "That's a great idea! Then maybe Ace can start living back in his own house." She adds in. Ace gives her a look but quickly hides it by acting smug.

"Yeah, then I don't have to help out cleaning anymore!" He said, sounding happy but was quickly rebutted by Oliver.

"Welp, that's it for us helping you spend the night when you don't have anywhere to go." He said brushing past him, "Next time this sort of thing happens and you find yourself homeless we know why." Ace froze when Oliver looked down.

"Hey! I didn't mean it like that!" He shouted as he chased after Oliver to explain his case as other boys laughed at him.

The rest of the group followed close behind to buy that tart. Also to help Ace and then get him back to the dorm. Then it is just them and Grim again.

That's a wrap!

Now we are on book 1 and just in time for Twisted Wonderland anime to finally have a date for it's release. Who's ready? And my group on discord definitely going to be watching it when it comes out on Discord. Until then I see Dec.

If want to bug me go to my discord: CKmutXFYGF

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