But I know I can't drag them into every situation I have! Some things just needed to be dealt with personally...I can't have everyone know about my problems....and if I drag them into it, I'll feel like I'm the burden...it happened before, so I can't let it happen again.

......

" 'National Magic School Joint Cultural Festival: Vocal and Dance Championship. On stage performance auditions'?"

.....

"Anyone has the right to try out for the audition. I look forward to see who makes the cut!"

.....

"Epel! Why are you getting off track just to speak with a bunch of pigeons?!"

—————————

"Vil-San!!" The first year whirled around you gave his dorm leader. Who stood there in all his glory.

"That's Vil Schoenheit of Pomefiore! Just seeing him this close up is a once in a lifetime chance!" Deuce awed.

"He's so much taller than you, Charlie!" Grim whispered.

"Yea. Then again, we've always come across tall people..." she murmured back.

"Hmph. New potatoes." Vil eyes the four first years.

"Fggna! Is he talkin about us?!"

"Who else? I apologize but Epel is busy at this time. Less than two months before the VDC arrives. He doesn't have time to speak to potatoes that haven't washed the dirt off them. Leave immediately."

"And what's supposed to mean?" Ace started going on the defensive.

"Yea, Rude much?" Charlie spat back at Vil. "We weren't disturbing him, BTW. Get your facts straight."

"Vil-San! Stop talkin' down t' 'em!! I-It's my doing..." Epel stood before them.

"Epel, I've told you over and over again not to mix up your speaking dialect!" Vil scolded. "Just because you get your feelings worked up and you've failed your practice is out of the question. You'd rather be fitting towards 'crimson red poison apple'. Let's go."

"....BUT I DON'T WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS!!!" The first year shouted, tears springing up in the corners of his eyes.

"Remember your promise." Vil's voice became as sharp as a razor, peering down at Epel like gum on the bottom of his shoe. "We are going back!"

The third year and the first year had a stare off, leaving the air thick with tension. So thick not even a knife would suffice to cut through it. But eventually, Epel crumbled and lowered his head in defeat.

"Hey. We don't give a damn if you're a dorm leader or not. It's obvious he doesn't want this!" Ace stepped in, Grim following.

"Yea! And don't think I'm gonna take that 'potato' remark with a smile, bub!"

"N-No! Guys, we're gonna get in trouble with the headmaster!" Deuce waved his hands to stop them.

"Deuce is right. Just let him go! It's not worth it." Charlie tried to talk them out of it.

"They're right! Both Deuce and Charlie! I'll be okay...." Epel backed them up. But Vil was amused by the first year's bravery.

"You got gall challenging me as refined potatoes. I guess this will suffice for the walk after the meal instead. I'll turn you into mashed potatoes."

The two boys and the creature did their all to throw down with Vil, but it seems that his visage was just a trick of the eyes. Beneath that lithe and lanky form was actually strong muscle. It took him only 30 seconds to overpower the three.

Smack! "Fgyya!"

Thwack! "Agh!"

Punch! "Ngh!"

"Ugh, why did I have to be cursed with such idiot friends?" Charlie sighed as she watched them tumble to the ground.

"Even if your bodies are fast, it's still unsightly. Not a trace of grace in those steps." Vil berated as he watched Charlie help them up. "5 out of 100. Remember to choose your opponents carefully next time."

"You guys okay?" She got Deuce off the floor, as he massaged his shoulder, pain etched onto his face.

"We'll be okay. Damn, he packs a punch...."

Charlie's face morphed from worry to anger in a millisecond as soon as her gaze landed on Vil.

"What the fuck is your problem?!" She shouted at him.

"Oh crap, here we go...." Ace sighed.

"Why bother associating with these potatoes yourself, Charlotte? You can do better than these meager spuds." Vil said. "Listen to your fellow dorm leader and heed my advice."

"Yea, well, these 'meager spuds' are my friends!" She countered. "And I don't know what the fuck your beef is with them, but they were just standing up for Epel! Can't you see it's obvious he doesn't want this?!" She pointed at the first year, who recoiled away shyly.

"Who asked for opinion!? You're merely just an ugly duckling." Vil's eyes narrowed as he stood in front of Epel. "And don't think I don't know who are, Charlotte Luchessi. I've heard about you and your feats these past several months. And have seen your singing online, thanks to a certain diamond playboy. You may seem like someone who has beauty and strength in your voice, but you can't match up to the measures of the Evil Queen herself! You'd better watch that tongue of yours, if I were you. You never know who might come and sever it off those pretty lips of yours!"

"I don't give a monkey's ass about your threats. And I especially don't give a horse's ass about your popularity, Shoenheit! You may be a triple threat to the fashion industry, and have a cult following for you looking like the next Jeffree Star, but when you mess with my friends, you have to deal with me!" She sneers back. "And I would make anyone in this world, even , my enemy in a heartbeat if you try and tear apart MY family!"

The two fearsome dorm leaders stood their ground, glaring at one another. Amethyst eyes clashed with Amber. If one could look closely, they could see a small strip of electricity running through the space between them, their glares growing harsher.

Epel couldn't help but stare in amazement at the lone female of Night Raven, the girl who had supposedly overthrown the first few dorm leaders when they overblotted, stand up to a fellow dorm leader, his own lead nonetheless, Vil Motherfuckin Schoenheit. He's heard several stories and rumors about her standing up to the likes of Riddle, Leona and Azul, but he never believed them until now...

'Whoa...she's amazing! No wonder many of the students look up yet fear her....but still: I can't risk getting her hurt by Vil's hand!' he strode forward and bowed in apology towards Charlie, his voice fragile and timid. "No, F-Forgive me...it's all my doing...."

Charlie broke her glare and looked at Epel in sadness. "No, stop blaming yourself, it's not good for you." She tried to reassure. But Vil stepped in front of her, making Epel face him instead.

"Oh? So you want to make me look like the monster? It's all your fault, Epel. You were behind during the holiday. To be a finalist for the VDC, this isn't enough! You've got a list of things to conquer. Stop thinking about rising to the top without action. Let's go."

"......okay....." Epel turned and walked off slowly behind his senior, but not without turning around, and saying one last thing towards Charlie and the others that tugged their heartstrings, "I'm so sorry, guys....Charlie-San, please forgive me....." he turned away, as he let a single tear fall.

Charlie felt her heart crack when she heard his voice held so much empathy and sadness, and her eyes landed on Vil's back, her anger resurfaced a smidge. "Yea, you better walk away...Crazy bellimbusto (himbo)..." Charlie mutters to his back with venom as she turns to face her friends.

"Fgnna...in the end we couldn't help him...." Grim whined.

"Tch. Fucking shit. Can't this school have a rule that any unpleasant ones be dorm leader?" Ace scoffed.

"Can't believe we fought another dorm leader..." Deuce sighed. "We're gonna get our heads offed when Riddle finds out..."

Charlie thought back to what Epel said, about wishing for the contest not to happen. She meant to say something else, but her lips got ahead of herself.

"We're not letting him get away with this." She said. "We've got our work cut out for us, and there's still time before the auditions. We need to work our asses to the bone and show Vil that he's wrong about us!"

"Yea, she's right! That narcissistic douche will eat his own words when he sees OUR moves!" Ace jumped up.

"Then, let's head to the gym tomorrow after class. We'll practice at that time." Deuce nods. He turns to leave for class with the others, but when Charlie took a step-

That familiar feeling came back.

She hissed in pain as her eyes became white, head pulsed in pain as her third eye flashes an all too familiar dark puddle forming against purple light.

"...rlie?! Charlie!!"

She gasped as she was ripped from the vision, looking towards the ADeuce duo, their eyes showing worry.

"What happened?!" Ace asked. "Was it... 'That'?"

She nods frantically. "L-Lets get outta here!" She struggled to her feet, Deuce wraps one arm around her for support and they head off to class, unaware of a pair of eyes peering at them leaving from behind a tree in the courtyard.

"I see now...." he murmured, staring at each person slowly and carefully until his eyes landed on the girl last, staring longer at her than the others.

——————————

I stretched my arms as Deuce prepped the music from a large Speaker and his phone. Decked out in our gym gear, we got the floor.

" 'Even if your bodies are fast, it's still unsightly. Not a trace of grace in those steps'." Ace mocked what Vil said to them yesterday.

" '5 out of 100'....FGYYA! I'm so pissed! I'll show him that my dance and song are as flawless and prove him wrong!" Grim declared.

"You got that right! Hey, Deuce, what kind of incident did you experience that made you change your mind and decide to sign up?"

"I cant stand getting belittled by him. Plus I'm worried about him." Deuce replies.

"You mean Epel?" Charlie asked.

"Yea. He looks like he doesn't want a part of the VDC."

"That's what I deduced as well." the girl nods. "Vil's got something to do with forcing him into this against his will." In her head, she thought, 'and what did he mean by 'promise'? And why's Vil's hanging it over him like blackmail?'

"It must've been why he ran into us in tears....if he's forced into doing something he doesn't wish to partake in, it's my job as an honors to get him out of the mess!" Deuce declared with a clenched fist.

"Keep calling yourself that when you don't even look like it..." Ace rolls his eyes. "But you're right. He looks so weak-willed. He's so tongue-tied if he's being pushed into this thing with no say. And with that, we'll just have to show him up! And get him kicked off! Like you said: 'It's not something we should meddle in if we're not serious', right? If he doesn't want it, the spot's as good as ours!"

"Let's do this thing! Hit the music!" Grim points at Charlie. She taps the button and the music picks up over the speakers.

The Dance was routinely easy towards Ace and Charlie, the latter being a very last learner on dancing, moderately for Grim, whom Ace had doubts on, but Deuce kept having trouble with certain motions and steps.

"Deuce! You couldn't even get a single move correct!" Ace started howling with glee.

"D-Don't blame me! I've never tried dancing before!"

"I gotta reach both hands and my feet out simultaneously..." Grim muttered.

"It just takes several tries of practice!" Charlie reminds them. "But yea, i do agree with Ace: you guys suck. You look like white girls dancing at the club mixed with headless chickens flapping around."

"HEY!!" Deuce shouted, turning away embarrassed.

"Oh yea? Then let's see YOU do your thing!" Ace challenged.

"Challenge Accepted. I'm gonna make you three look lame compared to me!" She snarked and plugged in her phone to work. She taps at a few buttons and waits for the music to kick in.

"Wait. This isn't-"

"Shh! She's starting!"

Charlie felt a rush of adrenaline course through her body as she danced. It's been a while since she had properly danced, due to her school shutting down. She tried all she could to keep at it with as much dedication as possible, despite the limits. Eventually, she found her way around these things and fell into place, as if it were natural.

Ace, Grim and Deuce watched as Charlie bends her body in intricate ways, moving with the grace of a swan and the speed of a ballerina. She finished with a flourish and posed as the song ended.

"Whoa....." the three chorused together....

"Aaaah! That was amazing Charlie!' she turned around to see two familiar faces walking into the gym.

"Kalim! Jamil...." she shied away, unaware that they had been watching her for god knows how long.

"Where'd you learn to dance like that? I bet you had lotsa teachers who helped you, like me!!" Kalim squealed.

"Y-Yea! I did." she nodded.

"That was pretty good." Jamil nods subtly.

"Th-Thanks...how long were you guys watching?"

"Since that last practice run of yours! So you guys are dancing, eh? We can jump in!" Kalim offered.

"Ugh, not the Weird Desert duo, again..." Grim rolled his eyes.

"Will you stop with the names? We're not that weird." Jamil rebuffed.

"You both trying out for the VDC?" Ace asked.

"Well it's a festival, no? Of course I'm gonna dance!" Kalim smiled. "Jamil and I are a double threat! Right?!"

"Not to draw any attention or something but....yea." he agreed.

"Like I said to Charlie, we were watching for a while. Excluding her, you guys are terrible. You three looked like elephants panicking when they see mice! HAHA! It's pretty unsteady, and you gotta sing as well. You guys need us, don't you?"

The three felt a dark cloud looming over them at the blunt remarks from Scarabia's dorm lead. "He said all that with a smile. I know he didn't mean to offend us, but i still feel attacked..."

"Oh yea, I remember. You taught Floyd to dance during one of our basketball meetups, right?" Ace asked Jamil. "You did say you dance for a hobby, so...give us a few pointers?"

"Of course!" Kalim answered before Jamil could. "He's got a keen eye for this thing!"

"Don't just answer for me! Ugh..." Jamil tried to intervene but it was too late. "Well...I can revise the moves while giving the lesson. Okay then: first off, as an amateur, you guys need to give each other enough space. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart." He moves to space them out, giving directions while doing so.

After a few more minutes, he watched what they've gotten down so far and corrected them on their mistakes.

"Deuce, stop being stiff. If you move your shoulder and neck at the same time, the whole move looks awkward." Jamil forced his shoulders to remain slack.

"T-Then how do I move them like different entities?! And I still miss the beat when i try and do this..." Deuce ran a hand through his hair.

"Stop using your mind when it comes to this. It's better to feel the beat with your body." Charlie threw out there, and Jamil nodded with what she said.

But then the bell rang, signaling the start of the second round of class.

"Well, that's our cue to get moving. We can stop here for the day." Jamil said.

"Aww, already? Time flies by when you're dancing." Kalim sighed.

"Viper-senpai, Asim-senpai, thanks for your help!" Deuce nods stiffly.

"As expected from you, Jamil. Seems you're used to teaching someone the ropes like usual." Ace teased. "Deuce's moves improved by a fraction in ten minutes.

"Aside from your lack of sensing rhythm, you're a dedicated learner. Just keep up with the practice and you'll dance well with zero problems." Jamil assured the bluenette.

"YESSIR!" Deuce shouted.

"I'm not sure how to judge whether Grim has improved or not, His movement is fluid, though...." Jamil's eyebrows furrowed.

"This was fun! I'll show you my changes better tomorrow!"

"But if you focus on one thing too much, the other won't be as improved." he reminds the cat. "We're gonna have to teach you how to balance both your dance and singing skills."

"Yea, I've got more than I thought!" Deuce muttered when he heard him.

"Ooh! Maybe tomorrow, we can all practice together!" Kalim offered.

"Jamil's got a good voice! He can help with that as well!"

"Again with the decision making..." Jamil sighed.

"Why not? It's better if more people take part in the festival."

"We'll be at your beck and call!" the three replied.

"That's the spirit, guys!" Kalim cheers.

"Geez, you people don't know when to quit..." Jamil sighed.

"They're just that excited to get into this thing." Charlie giggled as she stood by him.

"Well, okay....Just don't expect me to go easy on you three. Charlotte can handle herself when it comes to her dancing and singing, but you three are my next obstacle."

"We'll be fine! We're practically used to the harsh tongue. I mean, have you seen OUR leader?"

"Do your worst!"

"Good. Before we leave, we need to clean up. Get some mops from the storage room."

"HAI!" ADeuce and Kalim scamper off. Charlie and Grim state behind as the former gathered her things.

"Kalim, I didn't mean you as well-ugh..." he sighed watching him go.

"Ah, there you are. I've been looking for you, Jamil." a voice said behind and the three turn to see Azul.

"Azul?" Carlie perked up in confusion.