Rising Shards

I was still outside the school, but the more I looked at the building itself the more off it was. The roof just kinda trailed off, like someone drawing something forgot to finish the lines of it. It was uncanny in a way that was unsettling and also really annoying. I left Ovie and the others behind, wandering by myself, trying to find Marmalade or anyone else who got stuck in this. The next door I saw into the building I tried to open, but there wasn't a handle, or hinges, it was just like a texture in a game, background that the player wasn't supposed to interact with.

"Eh, we kinda half-assed this one, didn't we?"

I whirled at the familiar voice. Chickadee Girliepop was pushing the ice block I'd put Mantorvel in forward. The imp was still knocked out, but those freaky little kids followed along, kicking at Chickadee's ankles.

"Back off!" Chickadee shouted, sending them fleeing. "Anyways, heyyy."

"I guess I shouldn't be surprised you're in on this imp thing," I said.

"Right? I'm at the forefront of Cani trickery and annoyances," Chickadee said. "Don't try that ice pillar trick on me again, by the way, I'll counter it this time."

I didn't believe her, so I tried my ice pillar trick, one that kept her in place when she was messing with the love trio's table. But for some reason, nothing happened.

"What?" I muttered. I was still sore from getting my ass kicked by Ovie, but I didn't think that would ha

"See?" Chickadee said. "I don't even wanna talk long, but I thought I'd say hi before this one goes back to normal." She took out a small device, holding it above Mantorvel. I fired an ice bolt at her hands, but she dodged it, lifting the little piece of tech up. "Hey, hey! Just let me do this."

"Why should I?" I asked.

"Because it'll take a minute and then we go right back to our little shopping spree," Chickadee said. "If you get into a big fight with me while we're going back to normal, your little secret might get found out. I don't even wanna fight you, by the way. If you don't fight me, I won't blab to everyone about the big monster you can turn into. I've been very good about that so far, and you haven't thanked me once, by the way."

"Ugh," She kind of had me there. We had an agreement after our fight in the camping trip that she, Ana, and Caeda wouldn't tell Octa I stole that Downside junk from the Taramin Lab or that I even was Downside. "How about this, you tell me what you're doing and I'll think about putting you behind less ice this time."

"Not a great threat, because I've shown you I can counter that with my incredible Cani energy prowess," Chickadee said.

"Whatever," I said. "Is that cloaked girl your friend? She told me you're doing something for the greater good or whatever."

"Meh," Chickadee said. "I'm sure that's how it is for her, but I'm in it for the love of the game, I just wanna have fun, you see? Anything like this I just gotta jump on. Get to mess with people, throw them in these weird scenarios, and we get to get away with it all! This has been very fun, and will only get better."

"Who is she, then?" I asked.

"Oh, you don't know?" Chickadee grinned.

"Are you just gonna be vague and annoying about everything?" I asked. "If you're not gonna tell me about that girl, what exactly are you doing? You and the devils using these imps to...get their unique power or whatever...to take over the world or something?"

Chickadee scoffed. "Of course she told you way too much, ugh, knew we should've never invited her."

"This girl a wrench in your big amazing plans?" I said.

"Nah," Chickadee said. "Just annoying blabbing to you of all people. Though I guess what am I doing if not just that?"

This wasn't really going anywhere, and I was concerned the longer we talked the closer I was to falling into some trap.

"If it is some world domination thing, I'm gonna stop you," I said.

"Maybe it's for a school project, you ever think about that?" Chickadee asked.

Well, this girl was in a spying class for Wildfire Hearts, so that wasn't exactly out of the question. Each time Chickadee tried to use the little piece of tech on Mantorvel, I fired an ice blast. She was able to block them with her own powers, but she had to physically move, unlike whatever she did to stop my ice pillar from working. Maybe big attacks were a no go here?

"Can you freaking stop that?" Chickadee asked. "You better be careful, or I'll give the signal and Caeda will frying pan you again. Maybe she's behind you right now..."

I hated that I flinched for even a second, because when I turned just enough, she did whatever she set out to do with Mantorvel, a pleasant beep signifying she did something.

"There we go," Chickadee hopped down from her ice block, kicking it and Mantorvel away. "Bye, bye! Now, where were we?"

"You up to something and not saying what," I said.

"Oh yeah, that and you completely failing to stop me," Chickadee said. "I'm just kidding! And she told you enough already, it's not like you need any more than that, do you? Just sit tight and pick out a cute dress for the prom, don't worry about us."

"That makes me worry more than anything you've said so far," I said. "And I'm getting a tux, not a dress."

"Cute," Chickadee said. "Well, that's all I got. If you do wanna fight me though, I am telling Octa, so...maybe you should just let me leave?" She held out her hands like scales and waddled around as she said that, which was annoying enough that I did consider punching her. "If you stay out of this, that'd be the best for everyone, I think. Just stay out of it, and everything will work out for you."

I suddenly felt helpless, though. I didn't know what Chickadee and that cloaked girl were up to really, but with how confident Chickadee was acting, and her having me bested with the whole "If I really fought her she'd tell everyone about Downside" thing, it was like I already lost before I even started playing.

"Heh, thought so," Chickadee said. "Kay, later!" She kept doing that waddle thing as she left.

I vowed to myself that one way or another, I was gonna stop her. Even if it was just some group project, I'd make sure she'd get an F. And if it was bigger than that, something that threatened everyone, I'd make sure Chickadee and whoever was working with her would get what was coming to them. It was a bitter pill to swallow, and not satisfying especially with all the mysteries, but it lit some kind of spark in me.

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