"Don't screw with me. I'd rather die than face expulsion!"

.....

"I'm stuck in the middle of nowhere with two dunderheads who can't keep their mouths shut for a single fucking minute! From now on, I'M in charge!UNDERSTOOD?!"

...

"We just have to get it done right? So, what's the plan?"

...

What's the worst that could happen?

————————————

"Hey, beasty! Over here!" Grim shouted.

The monster soon appeared.

"Grrrr....LEEAAAAAAAAAVE!!!"

Then it started moving towards the group.

"Gah! It's coming!"

"We ain't leaving anytime soon!" Charlie shouted, trying to aggravate it. The monster noticed her.

"There...thief....too. Won't give....Mine....Mine!!!!" It struck the ground with a harsh punch as a warning.

Grim yelped. "That punch looks like a knockout if it lands!"

"Get that thing as far away from the tunnel as best as possible!" Charlie shouts, running further ahead.

"Go away...go away!!!" The monster orders.

Once the monster slid forward a few more inches,

"It's pretty far from the tunnel now!" Grim guessed.

"Now!" Charlie yells.

"Okay, I've got this! Let's go: Extra Tempest!" Ace waves his pen.

"With the Great Grim's Fire Special!" Grim backs up.

The monster was trapped in a blazing circle of blue fire, as the winds kept sweeping them higher, creating a wall of flames.

"Yes!" Charlie smiles.

"How 'bout that? I can even fan Grim's shoddy flame into an inferno!" Ace smiles as well.

"It's not shoddy! Ugh, every word that comes out of your mouth pisses me off!" Grim complains.

"Now's our chance! Deuce!" Charlie calls.

Farther away, near the mine entrance, Deuce calmly focuses. He hears Charlie's call.

"Calm now....take aim....the biggest, heaviest....thing I know...." he murmurs, eyes closed.

They open. "Come forth, Cauldron!" He orders.

Swish of the pen. A giant cauldron squishes the monster, as it screams in pain.

"We got him! Great work, guys!" Charlie compliments.

Grim snickers, "Hey look! The monster looks just like Ace did earlier on!"

"Don't bring that up again! Jeez, today's just not my day..." Ace grumbles.

"Let's go get the magic crystal while that thing can't move!" Deuce motions for the others.

They regroup and hurry back into the mine. The monster looks up to see the group leaving.

"WaaaaaaaaaIT!"

———————————

"Aha! There's the crystal!" Deuce spots it as soon as the group gets back from their checkpoint.

It looked just like the one from the chandelier! But more bigger! Deuce plucked it from its spot in the wall.

Outside, the monster senses them approaching the artifact.

"Hands oooooooooooooffff!!"

Suddenly, the flames were diminishing as the monster thrusted one hand out of the circle.

Charlotte gasped, seeing an image of the monster breaking free from the fire wall in her mind.

"Shit! It's pissed now!" Her fear was rising.

Another arm broke the wall.

"Crap! That thing's almost free!" Ace spoke.

"Hey, Deuce! Throw more stuff at it!" Grim piped up.

"More stuff???" Deuce questioned. "C-come forth, cauldron!"

Clatter.

"And, uh...uh...cauldron!"

Another clatter.

"Last one! Cauldron!!!"

Just as the circle of fire vanished, the monster was pushed to the ground again, yelling in pain at the impact.

"You seriously have nothing but cauldrons in your repertoire?!" Ace asked, like it was a joke.

"Shut up! I'm at my wits end!!" Deuce shouted.

"We've got the crystal already! Let's scram!" Grim fired.

"Roger!" Ace saluted. The group ran back for the exit.

Just then, the monster, from the cavern's shadows appeared, the gem long gone.

"That's MiiiiiiiiiiNe?!"

———————————

The group ran as fast as they could through the woods, the monster hot in their tracks.

Suddenly, out anger, it swung its axe, cutting down a handful of trees in its way.

"You're kidding me?! It's knocked of all that stuff and came after us?!" Ace asked bewildered. Seems like their enemy was a lot stronger than they anticipated.

"Give...it...ba...ck!!" The creature moaned, not slowing down for a second.

"Crap! It's gonna catch up to us!" Deuce seethed.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

"Not if I can help it!" Charlie shouted, and turned tail, running towards the monster instead. The two boys and Grim halted in their tracks.

"Charlie! What are you doing?!" Grim screamed.

"You're gonna get killed!" Ace shouted.

"Stop!" Deuce pleaded.

Charlie didn't listen to them, however. Her adrenaline was spiking and her instincts to act before thinking was overflowing at this point. She kept running tenfold towards the monster, eyes burning.

The monster screeched as it raised its arm, preparing to crush her.

"CHARLIIIIIIIE!" The three screamed.

Suddenly, as if everything was in slo-mo, Charlie looks up at the monsters arm, just in time for it to swing down. She jerked her body to the side, the monster's arm just missing her by a foot. Landing on both feet, she didn't hesitate with her next move: she leapt up high in the air and sent her foot kicking straight up and under towards the monster's head in a High Kick. It's head was thrown up and back, letting out a strangled sound of pain.

Ace, Deuce and Grim were left awestruck at the sudden attack. Who was this girl?! Eyes wide, mouths open, they could only stare at the normal girl turned warrior in front of them.

"Take this, you Freak!" She shrieked. She twisted her body in midair, legs tucked in close to her. Then, at the right moment, she threw out her leg and sent a Flying 360 Roundhouse at the side of her opponent's head. She let out a "Hya?!" As her foot collided with its head, throwing and pushing the monster off to the side. It zipped through the air, smacking into the ground harshly sways from her.

Charlie landed back on her feet, hands raised and in fists, eyes blazing. She breathed as calmly as she could, steadying her beating heart.

"Cmon guys! We gotta take this thing down!" She ordered, out of breath.

Ace, Deuce and Grim snapped out of their shock as she called for them.

"Right! Let's finish it! Don't let me down, Mr. Serious!" Ace growled, readying his wand.

"You too!" Deuce mirrored his actions.

"Yours Truly will show you my TRUE power!" Grim sneered, summoning fire.

Now was the time...for battle!

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

From the cracks in the ground, what looked like thick black slime oozed out, piling on top of one another until it started to form shapes of small people.

Charlie gasped at the sight in front of her. They looked like the Blotlings from Epic Mickey! She backed up slowly until she was a good feet away and right beside the others.

"Gimme the crystal!" She whispered to Deuce.

"What?" He looked at her incredulously.

"I've got an idea! You guys have the better advantage of taking down the bigger one with magic! I'll use what I did just now to take out the younger ones!" She explains.

"But why do you need the crystal?!" Ace whispered.

"I've a higher chance at protecting it than you guys!" She smirked.

"Hey!" They both looked at her, pissed.

"Just gimme the damn crystal!" She seethed. Deuce quickly gave it to her, and Charlie cradled it in her arms like a baby. She wasn't going to let go of the gem. Not on her life!

A small fleet of ink-people, mostly between twelve to fifteen stood in front of the group. And started to charge.

"Here they come!" Grim shouted.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

One jumped towards Charlie. She moved forward as she used her right fist to send a Backhand, hitting the monster away from her. It collided with a nearby tree, splattering into a puddle on the ground, and disappeared in black smoke.

Two lunged next, but Charlie was already ahead. She spun in one full turn, lifting her left leg for a Heel Outside Kick. Balancing on her right, her leg sailed in a high arc, smashing into her two targets and forcing them away. They landed and splattered on the ground and were never seen again.

Ace and Deuce saw bits and pieces of her fighting, while handling the behemoth before them. They had never seen this side of her, despite knowing each other for a few hours. It both frightened yet amazed them.

One by one, the inklings fell, for Charlotte was too fast in her attacks. And all the while, she never let go of that crystal.

A fire attack. Two earth attacks. And a wind to finish. The two first years switched off their attacks along with Grim to weaken the monster.

The last inkling fell. It was over!

Charlie smiled in victory. She did it!

But not the others. The monster was getting more agitated by the minute, growing more frustrated until it could no longer hold it and let out a raging roar.

It hit both Deuce and Ace, sending them to the ground. They cried out in pain at the attack.

"Argh! Damn it!" Ace hissed.

"That hurt!" Deuce winced. But as soon as he looked up, the monster was looming over them. He gasped in fear, as he scooted over to Ace, preparing to face the worst.

At least Charlie will make it back with the crystal alive.....

Charlie gasped, noticing her friends had fallen. She saw the monster ready to slaughter them.

"Hey, Ugly!" She snarled. The monster halted and turned to see the girl. "Lookin for something?" She teased, wiggling the crystal in her arms. "Leave. Them. Alone!" She widened her stance, ready to throw hands.

Deuce and Ace can only stare in awe at the spectacle.

The monster growled. "gEt HeEEEEEeeeeRr!!"

Three inklings emerged from the shadows and ran towards her.

Charlie gasped at their sudden appearance.

"Stay back!" She threw out her arms, holding the crystal close, hearing it clink against her necklace. Then, the most surprising thing happened.

Her body was glowing in an aura of crystal light, forming a shield around her for protection. The inklings hit the shield and twitched at the sudden shock of power and bursted into splatters around her.

Ace and Deuce gasped in surprise. Even the monster was taken aback at this new power surge.

Charlie opened her eyes, and stared at her hand in shock. "Whoa...did...I just do that?"

What was that just now?!

Grim climbs up on top of a tree stump and mimicked Charlie's fighting skills, punching and kicking the air like he was fighting off bad guys. But one blotling snuck up behind him, preparing to strike. Grim turned his head and suddenly went wide-eyed, whimpering and shaking.

"Hands. Off. Grim! Hya!" Charlie shouted, kicking the blotling away from the cat, almost in the same manner as when she kicked Grim when they met in the Mirror Chamber. It sailed through the air, and splattered against a tree trunk gone in a flash.

Grim got back up and smiled at Charlie. "Ah! You were amazing, Charlie!" Grim smiled. Charlie blushes in embarrassment, looking away.

"Woo! Go Charlie!" Ace cheers.

"I had no idea she was capable of that!" Deuce mused.

The victory was short lived.

The monster roared and lunged at Charlie. She turned, but it was too late. Both her arms were captured and held above her head. She shrieked in fear, being lifted up into the air by the creature.

The crystal dropped from her grip. Grim dove from the stump and managed to catch the crystal before it could shatter. "I got it!" He said in relief. Then, saw Charlie. "Charlie!!!"

"BaD mOvE, gIrlIE!" The monster growled.

"LET ME GO!" Charlie yelled. She let out a piercing cry as her body was surrounded by that same aura of light. The light growing more brighter and brighter every second, circling her body until it shot out like a star, hitting the monster back. The monster let its hold on her go as it fell. Charlie sank to her knees.

The star flew back towards the monster, encircling around it faster and faster and faster till it was a bright ring of white light.

The monster's body started to glow as it cried out in pain, then started screaming for help. The four could only watch in horror as the monster suffered. There was no saving him.

"Hit the deck!" Deuce screamed. He and Ace shielded their eyes, Charlie covered hers with her hands, and Grim curled against the crystal, eyes clenched.

The monsters screams grew more and more agonized as the light shined brighter. It's body was engulfed completely in light. And then-

Like a dying star, it exploded in a shower of light. Shooting off in different directions. Then the light diminished.

The team uncovered their eyes and looked at the place where the monster once stood.

It was gone. Dead.

They were tense, save for their heavy breathing.

Was this what the woman meant by "unleashing the light"...?

"What....was that?!" Ace breathed.

"Charlie..." Deuce looked at her, eyes full of fear. "What did you do?"

"I-I don't know!" She was equally as scared and confused. "I'm just as surprised as you are!"

"Crap...you really are scary when you're mad..." Grim uttered.

She could only nod as she staggered to her feet. Cautiously, she walked over to the spot where the monster was obliterated. Nothing remained but a mess of black ooze.

"Did...we do it?" Ace asked, unsure.

"I think so...." Charlie breathed.

"W-we won...We actually won!" Grim smiled.

"Yes?!" Deuce grinned.

"Hell yeah!" Ace mirrored.

"È finita!" Charlie smiles, twirling around with her hands up in victory.

"High fives all around!" Grim smiled as he jumped into Charlie's arms.

"Seems like the teamwork thing was a success." Charlie hummed. "So...is it ' adversity brings people together' now~?"

"Wha-?! No! It's not like that!" Deuce denied.

"Y-Yea! What he said! And stop saying things like that!" Ace stuttered.

"We won thanks to my genius!" Grim "corrected" her.

Charlie sent them a knowing smirk.

"...I guess making excuses was pretty lame." Ace confessed. "Hate to admit it, but we won thanks to your brilliant plan." He shot a small smile.

"True." Deuce joined. "We got the magic crystal because you gave us well-thought and level-headed instructions. And we can prevent the expulsion now....I'm so relieved."

"Well, at least we're all safe now." She smiled.

"True...true. We're relieved as well. As well as work out and battered. Let's get home." Ace sighed.

"I'm starving from using up so much Magic...." Grim moaned. But then, he noticed something on the ground where the monster was. "Huh..? What's that?"

"Remnants from the monster?" Deuce guessed. Upon closer inspection, "A magic crystal? But I've never seen one pitch black like coal before."

Grim sniffed it. "This thing smells real good."

"Say what?!" Ace stared at him.

"This has to be candy the monster was hiding! Oooh, I can't resist! Itadakimasu!" He popped it in his mouth.

"He did not just eat that thing...." Charlie said dumbfounded.

Grim then froze.

"Ah! You okay?!" Deuce asked.

"That's why you don't eat things off the ground...." Ace rolled his eyes.

"Wow....that's....DELICIOUS!" Grim squealed.

"EH?!"

"Figures...."

"It's full-bodied but also rich, with an aromatic sweetness that blooms in my mouth~! Like a whole field of flowers on my tongue!"

Ace gagged. "Monsters really do have different tastes from us."

Charlie nods.

"True....but also: most people wouldn't even put a mystery object in their mouth without a thought...." Deuce shook his head.

"Unless they're babies." Charlie shrugged. "You sure you're good, Grim?"

"Don't worry! My stomach isn't weak unlike yours!"

"Well, don't come crawling to me if you get sick." Ace told him.

"Anyways, let's get the magic crystal back to the headmaster!" Deuce secured it under his arm. "But Charlie, seriously, what was that back there?"

"I'm not sure either!" She shrugs.

"Well whatever it was, you seriously pack a punch!" Ace laughed.

"Yea...I guess I do."

Our group begins the journey back.

Charlie brings up the rear. But lingers to see a small puddle of the ink still by a tree. She hums as she squats down to look at it. She dips a finger in it.

Suddenly, the feeling came back. Hazy vision, fuzzy mind, dizziness. She clutched her chest in pain, leaning against a tree for support.

Images flashed by her eyes in a blur.

Colored gems.

Then they turned black....

Shadows of people. But they looked....different....with menacing auras.....

The black stone.

A bottle of spilled ink....

And glowing eyes....

She screamed. And landed on her butt, far away from the puddle. Her breathing was heavy after what she had seen. Eyes full of fear.

Someone called her name.

It was Deuce. She smiled as she started whimpering, clinging to him for comfort.

The bluenette was taken back by the girl's actions.