Here's the next event happening, guys! The Ghost Wedding! Let's go go go!!!

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Part 1: 'Til Death do us part...

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The stars twinkled above the night sky as glittering diamonds.

I stood there, in something that wasn't my own clothing. A dress of blue, my shoulders caressed by the wind, the sleeves flutter like a butterfly's wing. Jewels dropped from my ears and neck and feet. Cascading waves of dark chocolate locks breezed my upper and lower back.

"Please...Marry me...." I saw Epel standing before me, a shy smile graced his lips as he clapped his hands as if praying.

"Don't look at him! Choose me!" Ace pushed him aside and gave that knowing smile to me as he reached out a hand for me.

"Wouldn't you pick me as your partner?" Riddle emerged from behind, a careful smile on his face as he bowed gently before taking my hand in his.

"Milady de les étoiles, I only wish to be the one of your heart!" Rook swooped in and taking my hand from Riddle, he smiled as he placed a feathery kiss on the back.

I felt my face flush at the action, and couldn't move my lips. Until-

———————-

I woke up with a startle. I looked at my phone, and saw it was 7:30. Oh yea, that's the time I usually wake up.

Oh well. Time to start the day.

Wait....why am I blushing?!

——————-

I slipped my bag over my shoulder as I slipped down the stairs, careful to watch Grim in my arms. And make sure he didn't scratch my uniform.

"Ngh....no! I don't wanna clean floors~!" He whined like a child.

"You lost at 'rock, paper, scissors'. Now stop whining and get to work." I pushed him.

"One more round! Just one more!!" He begged. "And I won't lose to-"

"Hey!" We tensed at the voice.

"Huh?!" Just as we turned around, we were met by three ghosts in white uniforms.

"You! What do you think you're doing here?!" One of them demanded.

"Hey, these aren't the usual ghosts! They're different!"

Uh, Yea captain obvious!

"This estate is the princess' reception hall! Outsiders are forbidden from entering!" Another claimed.

Princess? Reception hall?!

Okay, this is not how I thought today would go....

"Excuse me, we don't know what you're talking about, but if anything, it's our home!" I tried to persuade them.

"Yea! You're the outsiders, not us!!" Grim spat.

"Nonsense. This estate has been property of our country long since you youngsters were born." The third intervened. "If you don't leave, there will be trouble."

Taken aback by the threatening Aura they produced, I held my hands up in surrender and backed away. "Okay! Okay! We'll leave! Just stop with the ghost auras! It's already giving me ptsd from when I first came here!"

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"No way....our dorm got stolen....again!!" Grim was flabbergasted.

"We need to find the headmaster and ask what's up." I decided.

"Yea! And let's have him chase them out!"

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We made it to the Headmaster's office and explained what went down.

"The dorm got taken over by ghosts, you say?"

"Yea! They showed up outta nowhere, and started saying that this was their property! They also mentioned a princess or something...."

"Princess....I see now!" He stood. "The building was unoccupied until last year we were leaving it alone....i guess that time of year has arrived again."

"Okay, what baloney are we enduring now?" I rolled my eyes.

"The ghosts that threw you out are guards to the 'ghost bride'."

Ghost bride?! Okay since when did this turn into the Haunted Mansion?

"What the hell's the 'ghost bride'?!"

"She's the princess of a long-fallen country." Crowley answered. "She had a dream to be married to a prince of her fantasy. But before she got what she wanted, she died too soon. But even in the afterlife, she's never stopped her search for the ideal groom. Around this time of year, she brings her search to the Twisted Wonderland. And the Ramshackle Dorm is to be her base of operations when in our world. Considering how many ruins exist...for ghostly royalty to choose us above all else...it's an honour."

"Excuse you, this is no time to start gloating!! Just get the damn ghosts out!!" Grim screeched.

"That'd actually be harder than you think-I mean! Uh, surely you hold some empathy for them, leave them be. Besides, she's only continuing her search for a Groom that can't be found."

"And why's That?" I shook my head.

"The groom she desires...."

Taller than 180 cm, slim with no muscle, skin as fresh as morning dew, elongated eyes, a charming smile, hair that shines from the roots down, and lips that leave one begging for a kiss.....and overall, someone who's handsome above all else.

Wow. I've never been in a relationship before, but this girl already had her dream man down. Dunno whether to applaud her or call her a spoiled whore.

"You could never find a Man that meets those expectations! Even if you searched the entire face of the earth!" Crowley chortled. "The only sacrifice each year is the Ramshackle Dorm. Just wait a few days and they'll give up! It's best if you don't resist, just stay in one of the seven dorms if you can!"

I narrowed my eyes at him. How I wanted to kick him where the light didn't shine so, so badly....

"Grrr....why you-!" Grim started to lunge at Crowley, when the door slammed open.

"Headmaster!!!" Ortho came running in, on the verge of crying.

"Ortho!" I gasped as he ran in. He dove into my arms without a Second thought and I hugged him gently like a mother would to their child.

"The younger Shroud sibling....what happened?" Crowley approached.

"Ortho? What's going on?" I asked gently. He looked up at me.

"Charlie, it's horrible! Nii-San..."

"Your brother? What's happened to Idia?" Crowley asked.

"Is he okay?" I asked in a motherly tone.

"He's....he's been kidnapped by ghosts!!"

I felt all breath escape from my lungs at that claim.

"What do you mean 'kidnapped by ghosts'?" I shook my head. He clutched my hands as a response.

"It's true! Here, I have footage as proof! It's a recording from the cameras, this evening!" He pressed a button on his chest and a hologram screen with static showed up in front of us.

"Now, hang on! Don't go hacking into the security systems like that!" Crowley tried to stop.

"Please! It's starting!" He shushed.

The screen showed Main Street as the skies were dark. A lone Figure was walking down the street.

"Can't believe it....I preordered the newest volume of my manga series. Special edition...and extra mini print attached! But it's launch day and it never came! I'm a disgrace....I didn't snatch it on the first day...but there's no one around....maybe I'll just skip into town and..." Idia was mumbling.

"....you...." a voice breathed.

Idia looked confused as he turned around to see who spoke. "Who was that?"

"I've...found you! My prince!" The voice sounded feminine as a figure materialized before him.

The last thing we heard was Idia screaming as the recording was cut.

Wait....was that-?!

"The ghost bride has found her match!"

"Idia...?!" I asked like it was the most ridiculous thing I've heard since getting up to ghost guards.

"He's not a 'prince'! He's too lanky, it's like he never got touched by sun rays since he's all cooped up in his room, and he's got such a crazy look in his eye! And his smile...." Grim ranted, but shivered after remembering his encounter with Idia in the halls one night....

But Crowley started to list off everything that the ghost bride saw in him....and to be honest, it was scarily accurate....

"My Nii-San is cool no matter how much you look at him. Those ghosts....they've good eyes!" Ortho frowned.

"Yea, I still don't see it..." Grim muttered.

"Either way, the situation has turned very important." But some noise started going on outside. "Well, things suddenly turned noisy...."

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We made it into the hallway to see....chaos.

"What in the world is going on?!" Crowley shouted.

"Headmaster! There you are!! Oh, hey! Charlie! Grim! Good thing you guys are here too!" I looked around. Crowley to see Ace and Deuce.

"So many ghosts popped up outta nowhere! They started, 'claiming this as the wedding venue' and took over! We tried to fight back but no matter how much we fight, they keep getting back up!" Deuce sighed.

Two more people ran up after being chased by a ghost, who had them cornered.

"We thought having a little fun with them by bantering....but to think they'd get this infuriated....narrow-minded idiots..." Lilia shook his head.

"Eh?! They're from Diasomnia! Why'd you let the ghosts chase you all the way here?!" Ace shrieked.

"You dare speak like that to Lilia-Sama?! You will pay!" Sebek intervened.

But now we had ghosts to exterminate...

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Sebek blew one ghost back with his attack.

"Hmph! That the best you've got?!" He taunted.

"Not the time for it!" Ace shouted. "They'll be coming back any second!"

"It won't end well. Everyone, evacuate, now!" Crowley commanded.

—————-

Crowley led Charlie and the others to the fields, out of breath but safe.

"I think this should be good of a Distance..." Crowley nods.

"I'm gonna pass out..." Ace clutched his head.

"Trappola, Spade." Riddle walked you to the group. "You came here for refuge, I assume?"

"Lotte! You're here, safe and sound." Azul approached Charlotte, who nodded mutely. Kalim jogged up to them.

"A herd just showed up in study hall and forced us out! It sucks since we finally got together to study..." Kalim whined.

"I think the term you're looking for is 'helping you' with your studies." Azul corrected.

"Only a few more seconds and he may have gotten an answer." Riddle sighed, joining the cluster. Several more bodies showed up.

"We were in the middle of something and a few ghosts said that 'this was the bride's room' and locked us out." Vil shook his head.

"What a shame! I would've liked to hear more about his lecture~!" Rook sighed dramatically.

"No matter how much we stood our ground, they just kept appearing...." Epel was shaking.

"They threw me out of the lab as soon as they shouted, 'No one's allowed in the family waiting room'!" Cater moaned.

"I was just minding my own business in the halls and some tried fighting me." Leona growled.

"Wow....so everyone was forced out..." Grim sighed.

"They hijacked the entire school!" Deuce murmured.

"What the hell's going on?!" Ace seethed.

Charlie looked down at Ortho, who clung to her side, and ushered him forward with a Gentle smile. He approached the group.

"That's the thing...as of yesterday...." he began.

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"Is that so?" Riddle spoke after a few silent minutes. So the ghost bride has found her ideal husband and that would be Idia...."

No one said anything as they let the info sink into their minds. Then, they started to laugh.

"Idia, an 'ideal prince'! No fucking way!"

"The bride sure has 'taste'!"

"Of all the times for Idia to step out of his room, this is truly hilari- I mean, unfortunate."

The students began laughing like it was the biggest joke in the world.

But Crowley, Ortho, and Grim and Charlie weren't.

The headmaster because of their response, the younger brother because of his older brother's safety, and Grim....

Well, he was scared shitless because of a dark aura coming from a certain female.

And that female was Charlie, whose head hung low, as she clenched her hands into fists, just heard their laughter ringing into the air. It made her sick. And angry. Someone was forced against their will into doing something they have no consent over and here were the others, laughing their asses off. Her aura was growing angrier by the second, and no one sense it until she spat out....

"How dare you...."

Suddenly, the laughing stopped. All eyes turned to her, as most of the students started backing away in fear over the female's angry space.

"Oh shit...." Ace shook.

"She's pissed...." Deuce squeaked.

"HOW DARE YOOOOOOOOOU!" She shrilled. In her rage, she threw her hands forward, unleashing several waves of power that knocked everyone in front of her off their feet and to the ground. They screamed in pain, as Crowley shields Ortho from the blast.

"Miss Luchessi!!"

The power diminished and the guys moaned in pain as they struggled to sit up.

Only to be met with forceful slaps to their faces. They recoiled at the stings, and red hand prints blossomed on their faces. Looking up at the only person that could've done this.

Charlie stood in front of them, her eyes burning with bright light, and her hand glowing a bright yellow at her side.

"I can't believe you dickheads!" She spat in fury. "This is no laughing matter! It's life or death we're talking here! One of the students, a dorm leader no less, is being forced into a marriage against his will, and all of you are laughing at this like it's nothing but a fucking joke!!" Her eyes started flickering back to that same bloody red, making the guys freeze at the sudden change. "I oughta slap all of you into death no less!!" She started charging at them, making a few get up and cower in fear.

"Charlie-Chan, please!" She felt a tug at her sleeve. She turned back to see Ortho with a tearful look in his eyes. "Your stress is getting to a boiling point! Don't do anything you might regret!" He begged.

Suddenly, her dark anger cloud diminished, her eyes went back to amber. She gasped in shock as it waned, and stared at Ortho and the guys in fear. Realizing what she had done and covered her face in shame.

"Oh my god, I did it again...." she moaned. "I let my anger get ahold of me...."

"It's not your fault." Ortho comforted and hugged her, his arms wrapping around her waist..... "It was just unexpected...."

"And what miss Luchessi said about this being life or death is what's at hand! This is no laughing matter!" Crowley, after recovering, seethed. "And you don't know what's at stake if chosen by a ghost bride...."

The atmosphere became thick with darkness.

"Headmaster? What's going on? You're starting to creep us out..." Deuce shook.

"Marrying a ghost....to be entwined into such a fate means being tied to the dead forever. If you're wed to such a ghost....you will die as a result and your soul will be forced into the afterlife!

Charlie and the others gasped in horror at the revelation.

"Having thought there'd be no such person to fit the princess' ideals....I was careless..." Crowley said ashamed.

"No...Nii-San...he'll become a ghost?!" Ortho was shaking as he clung to Charlie for comfort. "I don't want that to happen!!"

"It won't!" Charlie brought his face up to level with hers as they made eye contact. "Ortho, we'll get him back safe and sound. I swear it." She promised firmly.

"Indeed. Should a companion be in danger, we'd be glad to help." Crowley agreed, motioning towards the others.

"No way." They replied simultaneously.

"Assholes." Charlie bites back.

"Huh?! Please! I need you!" Ortho begged.

"Whenever you see us, you turn and flee in the opposite direction. Yet now you start asking us for help when in trouble? Such irony." Vil was smite.

"Besides, he's your bro, right? Take care of it yourself." Leona rolls his eyes. At that claim, Ortho's eyes became cold.

"....Okay. Have it your way. Myself it is then!"

"Wait, hold up, going alone is treacherous!" Kalim tried to stop him.

Ortho shut his eyes, ignoring the second year's plea. Several seconds tick by and his eyes open. Suddenly, his body began to glow in a blue and white aura.

"STOP THAT THIS INSTANT!!!" Crowley shrieked. "Are you that genocidal in turning this school into a crater?! I forbid you from carrying out that plan!"

Ortho stops and turns to Crowley, almost sadly. "It's because they don't wish to help me! You and Charlie are the only ones who's willing! There's no other way..."

"All of you." Crowley turns to the slew of guys. "Are you that fine with leaving a student to die? Turning your back on a schoolmate...."

"Oh please! Blackmail ain't gonna work!" Ace snarks.

" 'There's one now! A student'!"

"Wait....what's he doing??" Ace was confuzzled when the headmaster teleported near him.

" 'We're reporters from TBC news! You're a student of NRC?' "

"W-Well, sure, but-Oi! Too close! That's way too close!!" Ace started to back up once the principal flagged himself in front.

" 'It's been rumored that this school was overrun with ghosts. Tell us: Is that true?! Oh wait, we'll need photos for tomorrow's newspaper, we need pictures'!" Then, as if mimicking an actual reporter, a camera flash started going off in Ace's face.

"Agh! Too bright!"

" 'The poor student who's kidnapped. Can't believe they'd abandon him like that....'"

"I'm from another dorm! I've got nothing to do with this!"

" 'Just because you don't have a bond with him doesn't mean you should turn your back on him! So cold-hearted'! I can see it now: Tragic news: student abducted from prestigious academy'!"

"Hey! Enough with the camera!" Ace thought he was about to go temporarily blind through the multiple flashes. "I SAID STOP!!!" And Crowley did.