Open Console High

[GEN1E]

Discussion Thread: Click Me!

Hammer Brother, a yellow turtle-like humanoid with a green shell, was sitting at the table while reading the newspaper. It was strange for an adolescent to be interested in the news, but it was a habit he picked up from his mom. Besides, he’d rather not use his phone yet, so he won’t get distracted by any notifications.

Besides, it’s super early, so it would hurt my eyes.

“What’cha reading there, son?” His dad, a skeletal Koopa with pale blue gloves and yellow eyes sat at the head of the table. However, the head of his undead father, or rather the skull, was next to the plate, trying to strike up a conversation.

“Nothing much, just some… recent events.” Hammer Brother muttered, but his eyes were fixed on the bold headline. Crazy Koopa King Holds Coup At School Prom. While he wasn’t even there, it still affected him, completely altering the course of his life.

“Hey, I know starting a new year at a new school is difficult, especially without your brothers. But I know that you’ve got what it takes to thrive here, like you did at your old school.” His dad stated in a cheerful tone, even though he had lost his vocal cords, which made him sound dry and croaky.

“Thanks dad.” Hammer Bro coughed out as he set aside his newspaper. It was true, both of his brothers were attending college back in the Mushroom Kingdom, and all his friends were left behind in the move. A part of him wanted to crawl into his shell and wait this whole mess out.

Nah, that’s not who I am.

“So don’t forget to stay calm, and keep your head on straight, son. Trust me, I’ve lost mine more times than I can remember.” His dad chuckled as he picked up his skull, putting it on his neck and twisting it into place like some sort of messed-up screw. It would have been unnerving if it wasn’t a common sight in their household.

“Don’t be a numbskull, pops!” Hammer Bro groaned as he playfully slapped his dad on the shoulder. The pun was definitely bad, but it was a reprieve from his worries and doubts. Soon, he’d have to head out into this great, wild, wacky, world, all on his own two feet.

———

“Alright, two hours ahead of schedule.” Hammer Brother said as he ran down the sidewalk, his green shoes hitting the pavement with reckless abandon. He wanted to scope his new school out before interacting with anyone, and maybe pull a harmless prank to commence the year.

He hadn’t been at the bottom of the food chain for a long time, and it wasn’t a good place to be.

When it comes to athletics, Hammer Bro wasn’t a slouch by any stretch of the imagination. However, unlike the Chargin' Chucks that dominated the gridiron, he’d always felt more at home on a baseball diamond. Running and striking were part of his blood, and a bat wasn’t that much different from a hammer.

Speaking of hammers, the plucky Koopa had brought along his brown pouch, tied around his waist with a worn rope. It was unassuming at first glance, but within the sack was an entire arsenal of hammers at his fingertips, coming in all shapes and sizes. While it was situational, he never left home without it.

It’s my lucky charm, I guess.

The tall metal fence that ran along the sidewalk was geometric and cubic, like pixels on some sort of invisible screen. The foliage on the other side was pristine, and the topiary was in a variety of impressive shapes, including one that was shaped like a game controller. It marked the edge of the campus, of the school that awaited him on the other side.

Console High. It was in the big leagues in terms of education and success, competing with famous schools such as Nintendo High and Sega High. Hammer Bro hadn’t heard much about the place, aside from rumors that a tall slender figure stalked the grounds after dark.

You know what, I’m taking some risks. What’s life without them?

Hammer Brother spotted the entrance, which was still a long distance away from him, marked by a metallic arch with the school’s name. He gripped the fence next to him, before beginning to climb the barrier like those Koopas that hung onto metal grates in his dad’s workplace.

It took some serious effort, but he managed to slip over the fence, and into the bushes beside the main building. While Hammer Brother didn’t see anybody while he was scrambling up the fence, he could have sworn that two rubberhose eyes were watching him from the balcony.

“Man, that was close.” He muttered under his breath as his eyes scanned the area, making sure nobody saw him sneak over the fence. He liked the thrill of stealth, hiding in plain sight and working under everyone’s noses, just as a true prankster would do.

And the first part of pulling pranks is knowing your target audience.

Hammer Brother slipped out of the bushes, but his jacket had caught onto the shrubbery. He managed to break free, but it also ripped some twigs off their trunk. He noticed a crowd of students in front of the central fountain, a bunch of newbies in an unfamiliar ecosystem.

Maybe I’ll stop by and hang out with these guys for a bit. After all, I've got plenty of time to waste.

 

[Inkage]

You have 13 new messages in the 'Phantom' Group chat

-Are we like
-100% sure there's even a palace
-Leave it to Ryuji to ask the dumb questions ._.
-It's not a dumb question
-I'm just saying, what if Morganas wrong
-Morgana's nose can smell the palace.
-Has he ever been wrong before?
-I trust him
-And Ren can always transfer back if it goes wrong!
-#SaveRen, that school looks like a jail
-School sucks there got to be a palace there fs T-T
-Good luck, fearless leader!!! o7
-Get that bastard good, Joker!

...

Ren looked at his phone one last time before silencing it, finally accepting that he had to actually get ready for school. Futaba did have a point- the school was grand and expensive looking- it reminded him of the first Palace he had ever visited.

He wasn't creeped out by it, though. From what Ren had heard, the school needed all the space it could get. It was the most successful school that side of anywhere, after all.

Ren stood vaguely on the steps, staring up at the large, palace-like school with a sense of interest. What secrets was the place hiding beneath it's shiny exterior?

"Are you nervous, Ren?" said a voice from his bag. The voice was that of a cat, which poked it's nose out of the bag and peered at his human companion. Ren was the only one at this school who could talk to this cat, because only those who had visited the Metaverse could talk with Morgana (which was the cat's name).

"I'm not nervous," he said calmly, pushing Morgana lightly to get him back in the bag. "Just thinking."

"Well, look sharp. That Clover kid'll probably appear out of nowhere any minute now." Ren flinched. He had forgotten about Clover.

When Ren was getting all the paperwork done at the school to transfer, the principal had introduced him to a 'buddy' of sorts- Clover. They were a diminutive bundle of positive energy- but Ren also got a 'rule-follower' vibe from them. The silver star that glittered on their chest said 'Hall Monitor' on it- Ren wondered why someone who had such a desire to uphold the law would make a full time job out of showing the new guy around- especially if that new guy had a criminal record. Maybe Clover wanted to keep an eye on him, in case he attacked someone? The thought made Ren smirk. People were so quick to jump the gun, it was funny. At least it was a convenient cover.

"Howdy there- Ren, right? I think you and I'll get along just swell!" Clover had said when they met. Ren didn't know if the greeting was genuine or not.

Ren was snapped out of his recollection by none other than Clover themself, who called out to him as they pushed their way through a crowd of students. This took about a minute because they kept pausing to say "Excuse me," and "Sorry." Ren waited patiently, thinking it'd be rude to full on leave Clover in the dust. Clover finally reached Ren, and stuck out their hand to shake.

"It's Clover! You remember me, right? No doubt you do! Or maybe you don't. That's alright too!" Clover beamed as Ren shook their hand, and then they pressed on. "You're gonna love it here- I've got so many people to introduce to you! And- I've tried to keep your record on the down low, but I think it spread around somehow. Things like that tend to leak- High-schoolers and all that...!" Clover laughed a bit nervously, clearly feeling sorry for Ren. Ren ignored his sympathy, and instead asked, "...Where is the first class?"

"Oh, you want to head straight to class? That's easy! Let's get on in!"

Clover and Ren walked side by side up the path into the school grounds, and past the wrought iron gates, which led into a beautiful courtyard area just outside the school. The countless topiary lined the pathway, in all sorts of impressive shapes. "This is our main courtyard," Clover said as they rested against a fountain that stood in the very center of the garden. Behind it stretched the wide doors that led into the school.

Ren regarded the area with an appreciative eye. Haru would have loved all the plants and flowers. "It's very nice," Ren replied quietly, and Clover beamed.

"I'm glad you like it- because you'll be seeing this entrance every morning for the rest of the year! Trust me- the inside's just as great," Clover said, taking out their house key and spinning it on their finger.

"We've got some time to waste, though- so why not sit down, and I'll tell you all about this place! We might even see some people I know- I'll introduce ya' if I do!"

Ren sat down at the fountain next to Clover, and listened as they launched into a speech about the school and it's many prestigious services.

Anybody here could be a corrupt enemy. Even you, Clover...I'll act normal for now, but once I find the palace ruler...

It's over for them. No matter who they are.

So I'll listen. Tell me everything you know. Every piece of information is invaluable.

 

[MarcelGalliard790]

In Wilds Beyond they spoke your name with reverence and regret

The Knight looked at the gate, curious about the people they would meet. See if there was a chance for them to help their goal of mastering the void within their being. The Nail they bore clung tightly to their back as they approached the gates. They noticed the regal looking archway, very cubic in design but still rather formal. Reminded them of the gates into the resting grounds.

Such a folly to befall me, I hope Hornet is at least keeping Hallownest in control while I am away.

The Knight looked at the foliage behind the gates and saw how trimmed and controlled it looked. Much more controlled than the queens gardens and Greenpath. There was even a giant controller in the center, symbolizing the academy they were about to go to. The knight looked up and knew that there would be no going back.

The knight began to sprint a bit before using its Mothwing Cloak to even help it dash a bit into the gates and into their new home. The knight turned their shell as they took in the sights before them. More views of the decorated foliage, the campus itself, and the fountain.

The knight however was more curious about the individuals sitting on the fountain’s edge. One appeared to be dressed in a western theme. While the other seemed to have an air of mystery to them. An air that the knight was intrigued about.

I wonder why these two are the way they are.

The Knight slowly approached the two, tilting their head up to look at them.

(@Inkage )

 

[Inkage]

Clover POV

Clover had fought hard for their position. It wasn't easy to become a hall monitor, after all. You needed grit, determination, and a desire to see the rules followed. Clover had all three of those things, to a degree. So they were one.

Clover had put as much effort into his position as possible. He had insisted upon showing one of the new students around, although Clover had wanted to show all of them around. There were just a few too many transfers this year, though, so the principal had limited him to one. This had saddened Clover, but they accepted the fact that looking after all the transfers would've lead to a burnout at some point.

They were currently hanging out with their charge; a young man named Ren who had a quiet disposition. Clover assumed he was shy, and was determined to draw him out of his shell.

Ren was tall and lithe, sort of like a cat. He seemed unassuming, but Clover remembered what they had been told about Ren.

He had been charged with assault. Against a political figure, no less. Clover wondered how a guy like Ren could ever commit a crime like that. Who would have guessed, if they hadn't already been told? Nevertheless, Clover was determined to give him the chance to turn over a new leaf. Everybody deserved another chance at life.

That's why the duo leaned against an ornate fountain, Clover talking about the school as Ren listened.

"-And the teachers can be a bit funny! To be entirely straight with you, the staff is more like the cast of a sitcom! We got teachers who burst into song, janitors that commit assault on a daily basis- stuff like that! They all care, though- although, really, I'm not sure about Gotta Sweep. He can be....eh..."

Clover stopped to take a breath, and also to let Ren ask any questions he might've had. Ren didn't say anything, but he seemed to be drinking in Clover's words. They felt flattered- Ren was very good at listening! Usually Clover was brushed off when he started blasting off like this. As the two sat in a momentary silence, a student approached- one that was somehow even shorter than Clover.

"-Oh! Howdy there, partner!" Clover said, springing up and standing besides the new arrival.

"Ren, this is..." Clover racked their brain.

...Nope. Never seen this guy before in their life. When surprised, improvise.

"This is Ren!" Clover turned, acting is if they planned to introduce Ren the whole time. "He seems a little quiet, but I promise he's cool!"

Ren nodded, and merely said "Hey."

Clover didn't really know how to work with that; he had hoped Ren would start a lively conversation. "Uhm- and I'm Clover! If you ever need a friend, I'm your pal!" He smiled.

Clover analyzed their guest, taking in their tiny stature and mask-like visage. Or was that really a mask? It did have two big, hollow eyes. Clover decided against asking.

"Why don't you have a seat? We've got a bit before class, and I was just talking about the teachers. I can tell you might be curious- you're as new as Ren here, ain't you?" Clover grinned. "What was I saying before...Ren?"

"You were talking about the teachers," Ren replied shortly. "But what about their name?"

"The teacher's name-?" Clover was confused for a second, before it clicked in their mind what Ren was saying. "OHHH! You're right! I forgot to ask our pal what their name is! I'm so sorry about that! I'm awfully frazzled today..."

"What's your name, friend?"

@MarcelGalliard790

 

[RhythmThief]

Dumb & Dumber (feat. Kat)​

"—this is a terrible idea."

Kat's voice echoed softly in the dim faculty storage room as she watched Ezreal rummage through a pile of dusty boxes like a raccoon.

"Correction," Ezreal said, holding up what looked like a manual covered in faded, pixelated symbols. "This is an educational idea. We’re learning about ancient school secrets."

Sora, arms crossed, muttered, "How do we always end up here?"

The room smelled like mothballs and forgotten school projects, its shelves stacked with things the faculty either didn’t know what to do with—or were too afraid to throw away.

Kat narrowed her eyes. "You literally dragged us here saying, ‘guys, trust me, this is gonna make us legends,’ and those words coming out of your mouth always leads to trouble. And my hair getting ruined."

Ezreal waved a hand dismissively. "Technicalities."

He shoved a few books aside and revealed a pile of strange, purplish blocks stacked neatly in a crate. The moment he touched one, it gave off a faint, ominous hum. Sora leaned over to examine the instruction manual.

"Hey...I think these are for building a portal."

Ezreal’s eyes lit up. "Like a real portal? To another dimension?!"

Kat shook her head rapidly. "Nope. Nope nope nope. Hard pass! Every time we touch something ancient and glowing, something tries to eat us."

Ezreal had already started stacking the blocks. "Counterpoint: What if this one leads to treasure?"

"Counterpoint: What if it leads to death?" Kat shot back.

Ezreal grinned. "Then all we have to do is run faster than death and still get famous!"

The completed Nether Portal loomed before them, swirling ominously with purple energy.

Kat took a wary step back. "Yup. That’s haunted alright."

Sora, rubbing his temples, sighed. "...This is gonna end badly, isn’t it?"

Ezreal tossed the instruction manual aside. "Not if we’re smart about it, my faithful sidekicks."

Silence.

Then, all three simultaneously turned to stare at each other, as if only now realizing they were the least qualified people to handle this situation.

Kat groaned. "Ugh, fine. But how are we even supposed to turn it on—"

Ezreal and Sora both turned their heads at her.

She followed their gaze to Sora’s hand, where he'd already summoned his Keyblade, small embers of fire magic flickering at its crest.

Her eyes widened. "...Oh, absolutely not."

Sora sighed. "Look, I know this is dumb, but I also know Ezreal’s just gonna keep bothering us until we do it."

"You got me," Ezreal grinned, his hands up in mock surrender.

Reluctantly, Sora flicked his Keyblade toward the center of the portal.

"Fire!"

WHOOSH.

The swirling, glowing portal roared to life. All three took a nervous step back.

Ezreal gave an awkward chuckle. "Sooo… who wants to go first?"

Silence.

Then, all three simultaneously lifted their hands.

"Rock...Paper...Scissors!"

Ezreal: Paper.
Sora: Paper.
Kat: Rock.

Kat stared at her hands.

Ezreal and Sora fist-bumped.

Kat shook with rage. "Are you—ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!"

Ezreal patted her on the back. "C’mon, Kat. Think of the history books."

"I AM THINKING ABOUT THE HISTORY BOOKS," Kat shouted, clutching her newly materialized pet cat Dusty like a life raft. "AND I DON’T WANNA BE IN THE SECTION LABELED ‘IDIOCY-INDUCED CASUALTIES’!"

But Ezreal and Sora just gestured at the portal expectantly.

Kat groaned aggressively before taking slow, trembling steps forward. With Dusty held tight, she took a deep breath—

—and stepped into the swirling abyss.

The portal rippled and warped upon making contact with her, before eventually swallowing her whole.

Ezreal dusted off his hands. "Well, that wasn’t so bad."

Sora frowned, folding his arms behind his head. "It’s been almost a minute. Shouldn’t she have come back by now?"

Ezreal waved a hand. "Relax. If there was anything dangerous in there, why would there be such a conveniently placed instruction manual?"

Sora stared at him, unblinking.

Ezreal gave a confident nod. "Exactly. It’s probably, like, an island paradise. All coconuts and sunrays. And hot chicks. Lots of hot chicks."

Sora pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing "Whatever you say, Ez..."

But as the moments stretched on, Sora’s concern deepened. He took a step forward.

"Hey. I think I'm gonna go check on her."

Just then—

The portal shuddered. The air around them froze.

Ezreal’s cocky expression flickered. "...Sooo, that’s normal, right?"

Before they could process it, Kat came screaming out of the portal at full speed, eyes wide in sheer horror.

"RUN! RUN! RUN! RUN!"

Ezreal blinked. "Okay, but, like, why tho—"

A Blaze hovered menacingly through the portal, chucking a fireball straight at Ezreal.

"OH, THAT'S WHY."

BOOM.

Sora instinctively blocked with his Keyblade, reflecting the fireball back at the Blaze—

—but the Blaze ducked at the last second.

Ezreal wiped the sweat off his forehead. "Whew. Close one, huh? Totally had that, but thanks for the-"

Sora, pale, pointed behind him.

Emerging from the portal was a zombie pigman, the fireball headed directly for its face.

BOOM.

The pigman stared at them.

Ezreal raised a finger. "...Okay, technically, that wasn’t my fault-"

More pigmen poked their heads through the portal, all of them looking enraged.

Kat reappeared then, grabbing both of them by the arms. "WE ARE NOT DOING THIS TODAY—RUN!"

The trio sprinted down the hall, Nether creatures pouring out of the faculty room behind them.

Sora: "This is why WE DON'T LISTEN TO EZREAL!"

Ezreal: "OKAY BUT HOW COOL IS THIS?!"

Kat: "NOT COOL, EZ! NOT COOL!"

Sora: "WE NEED CLOVER!"

Ezreal: "OR WE COULD - HEAR ME OUT - JUST KEEP RUNNING FOREVER! I THINK I PREFER THE LATTER OPTION!"

Kat: "WINDOW WINDOW WINDOW!!"

Ezreal turned just in time to see them barreling toward the end of the hallway, a massive window looming ahead.

Eyes wide, he yelped, "Nope—NOPE—NOT GETTING SENT TO KITCHEN DUTY AGAIN!"

At the last second, Ezreal grabbed them both—

Blink!

They teleported away in a blinding flash—just as the pigmen slammed face-first into the window, collapsing in a pink, tangled pile of angry grunts.

Ezreal, Sora, and Kat crashed onto the floor in front of Clover, Ren, and The Knight.

Kat, dazed, pointed behind them, at the school building. "Portal... storage room...monsters....run."

Sora, still breathless: "...Hey, Clover...who are your new friends...?"

Ezreal, at the bottom of the pile, groaning: "...Whatever happens...it wasn’t my fault."

[Interactions: Clover/Ren @Inkage , The Knight @MarcelGalliard790]

 

[MarcelGalliard790]

Ghost of The Abyss
The Knight was going to sit down next to Clover and Ren, before they noticed a handful of people in a panic. The Knight jumped a bit before they looked at the newcomers. One of their stubby hands reached for their nail incase the group were a threat. But stopped when Kat mentioned “Monsters”.

Monsters? Here? Did the infection come to this place too? The Knight pondered to themselves as he took in the trio. Specifically Sora, who wielded a blade himself. The Knight still remained still with it’s stubby hand near its nail.

The Knight then lowered its hand and wrapped their cloak around them. Bowing to the new group as a sort of silent introduction. Before turning to Clover and Ren. The Knight used their nub of a hand to point at their nail, as if silently telling them what they were and what their name is.

The Knight then turned back to the trio of Kat, Sora, and Ezreal and pointed at them. As if silently demanding their names.
(@Inkage Ren/Clover @RhythmThief Kat/Sora/Ezreal)

 

[GEN1E]

Local Hammer Expert

Hammer Brother kept his distance from the crowd, mostly to get a better look at the other students. There was a brown-haired kid who looked like a miniature cowboy, complete with a western hat and fun-size revolver; and a bespectacled dude with black hair, dressed in a classy uniform. The duo seemed to be engaged in banter, mostly about the other teachers and staff of the school.

Ok, something about the guy with the glasses rubs me the wrong way. Like I can’t put my hammer on it.

The turtle crossed his arms, feeling a chill run up his spine, trying to cover up the insignia on his letterman jacket. The symbol meant something to the Koopa, but not in a positive way. It was his first day, so he didn’t want any bad blood from the start.

A small creature approached the pair, like it wanted to join in their discussion. It looked sinister, with the worn sash around its neck, along with its white head adorned with two horns. The eyes, or rather eyeholes, were two black pits that made his shell rattle in caution.

At least I’m not the only freak here. I thought this place would be swarming with humans for sure…

Hammer Brother was building some resolve to actually try talking to them, and he took a deep breath before setting his eyes on the fountain. One of his hands fell to his pouch, and he held it like a child's security blanket. Granted, his pouch did contain an infinite storage space, so it was definitely better than some sentimental piece of cloth for babies.

Normally, he shouldn’t have struggled this much with his confidence, since he was popular back at his old school. He had an entire circle of friends, and every minute was some sort of wacky adventure out of a sitcom. He had even been the right-hand man to a tyrant, and without being a complete suck-up! Without his social skills, who even was he?

No! Dad said keep your head on straight, and that’s what you’ll do!

He inhaled one more time, and let go of the pouch. He exhaled and took one step forward, ready to start from scratch. He wasn’t going to become an introvert just because he was in a different town with new faces. No, he aimed to get to be admired by his classmates, or at least be an average student with some friends. He didn't want to be alone, not now, not ever.

Unfortunately, before Hammer Brother could even introduce himself, or even utter a word, three people appeared from thin air, and crashed onto the ground in front of the little sheriff and his ragtag group of friends. There was a blonde girl in black and gold armor; another brown-haired dude, though he was much taller than the cowboy and had the largest and most impractical key known to mankind; and a guy with sandy hair and the coolest gauntlet he’d ever laid eyes upon.

It might not be a hammer, but that’s still an awesome weapon! Man, the kids here are something else.

But he couldn’t process the unexpected sight, he was knocked over by a large mass slamming into his side. Luckily, as a member of the Koopa race, his shell was able to take the brunt of the force, causing him to only be thrown a short distance. His nose was filled with the smells of fire, brimstone, and sulfur, like his dad’s workplace, a treacherous fortress that was filled with lava and firebars.

“What in the blue shells is going on?” He muttered as he got up to see a massive pig-like creature with a broken tusk. It had a black mohawk for a mane, cold white eyes, and a hide that resembled a football. While Hammer Bro. was panicking on the inside, he was thankful that it hadn’t punched a hole in him. On instinct, he reached for his pouch, but there was a massive problem.

It had been loosened, and the sack was now on the ground, between him and the hog… thing. A golden hilt was poking out of it, and the hog’s eyes seemed to follow the shiny object with a mix of greed and fascination. Usually, any sane human would have screamed and ran in the opposite direction, away from this creature.

But Hammer Brother wasn’t a human, he was a Koopa.

He quickly ran towards the beast, before he took a short leap forward and fell onto his shell. The other tusk was still intact, which meant it was still dangerous. The maneuver caused him to spin like a top in a hurricane, allowing him to pick up his pouch and avoid the incoming attack from the leather-skinned beast. Whatever it was, it seemed to be attracted to metallic items.

He spun in a leftward arc, before he managed to twist himself back on his feet, shaking off the dizziness in his system. He’d been part of many fights at his old school, usually by accident, and he’d learned a thing or two about combat. The hog turned to face him, like it was a mad bull fighting a matador. The Koopa pushed the golden grip back into the pouch, before pulling out a small black hammer tied to a wooden handle with rope. It was his favorite kind, as it was portable, easy to use, and he had loads of them.

“Hey buddy, I d-don’t want any problems… But you come any closer, I’ll make your tusks match, capiche?” Hammer Bro. stuttered, but still confident in his tone. He was met with a bellow from the large hog, and a wail from the school, though it was far away at this point. The Koopa hoped that by engaging with the beast, nobody else would get hurt. Besides, what better way to introduce himself than by taking down… this thing? It looked pretty strong, right?

I just wanted to have a normal conversation with new people…

The Hoglin thrashed its head, like it wanted to squash this pesky turtle without any interference. It bellowed, and the turtle sighed as he raised his hammer in response. Hammer Brother never went down without a fight, and a new school wasn’t going to change that.

A brawl is surely brewing... Now go!



@Inkage (Ren and Clover)

@RhythmThief (Kat, Sora, and Ezreal)

@MarcelGalliard790 (The Knight)

 

[Inkage]

Dumb and Dumber in:
'The Pig and the Promise (Of future Kitchen Duty)
Featuring Kat!
Starring:
Clover Gun-Hat
Ren Amamiya
'The Knight'
Kat
Ezreal
Sora
​

Clover had hoped things would stay peaceful, but they had forgotten his arch-nemeses; the group of Kat, Ezreal, and Sora. Clover found them amusing at times, but mostly the three pushed boundaries and went where they weren't supposed to. Like in this case; the three teleported into the plaza, falling in a pile at Clover's feet. Clover immediately assumed the group needed them to clean up another mess.

Clover crouched down, letting the three speak before replying;

"Well, if it ain't my favorite band of rebel rousers! Did y'all let Ezriel talk y'all into another school-rule-breaking adventure? I thought y'all would've sobered up after last time- I still get the shivers just thinking about it..."

Clover pulled out a pad of yellow notes, and brandished a pen topped with a cowboy hat- the 'tattle pen', as his peers call it. Clover used it to write citations.

"I haven't written a citation for y'all in a week! That's a new record for y'all, but I'm sorry to say that y'all just punctured it like a cactus hugging a balloon. Good thing my trigger fingers have been getting itchy."

Ren leaned off the fountain, crouching down to offer his hand to Kat to help her up. Then, Clover watched as the tiny little guy pointed towards his nail in an introductory sort of way.

"Is that your name? Nail? Lance?"

"Maybe....You do look like a little Knight..."

"That's what your name is? Knight? Then that's what I'll call you!"

"To answer you, Sora; This here is Knight, and the other one is Ren. They're new students, and I'm here to show them the ropes! You know how it is- the buddy system and all that."

Knight pointed at each of the three in the trio in turn, seemingly to ask who they were. Clover launched into his introductions immediately.

"That guy with the key-shaped sword is Sora. He's pretty popular here- but I've heard some people callin' him goofy. I guess Sora can be goofy sometimes- but ain't that a part of his charm? I think he's pretty funny myself; aside from all the trouble he get's into with..."

"Ezriel! That's the other guy- he's a troublemaker for sure. He's alright in his own way- but sometimes he does the darnedest things. You'd think he'd settle down after all the injuries and trouble he's caused, but I guess he's got his own special brand of determination. It's admirable and all, but I think it could be spent better."

"The last one, the lady, is Kat. She's alright- but she gets in as much trouble as the other two all on her own...She's real nice, though! Although I wonder why someone as smart as her keeps getting into such dumb situations."

"That all being said...What did y'all do? What do y'all mean 'monsters'-?" Clover began to ask, but a big pink thing crashed from the bushes in that instance. It was like a hog, but bigger and rougher. Clover's blood froze, as they watched it charge a tough looking turtle with a large jacket. Clover wasn't about to let a student die on their watch.

"OVER HERE, YOU TUB OF LARD!"

Clover ran at top speed, skidding to a stop as they drew their gun. They winced, inwardly beating themselves up for breaking the 'no weapons in the hall' rule. Although maybe the outside didn't count? No- now was not the time to think about that.

"Back up!" They shouted at the other combatant. "I don't want you getting shot now, y'hear? Leave the bacon fat to me and get somewhere safe-!"

The beast snorted, turning towards the new threat. It seemed momentarily confused as to who it should charge at, but that wouldn't last long.

A drop of sweat rolled down Clover's neck. The beast's skin looked tough. It might take a couple shots to down it.

Clover glanced at the turtle- they didn't know him, so Clover assumed he was new.

"Hey- sorry about that! You were supposed to meet ME first, not this...Whatever it is. I'm Clover; hall monitor, sheriff- and bane of bacon now, I guess!"

*You engage The Beast, your gun glinting in your hand. The Beast seems captivated.

It lowered its tusks, charging the scrawnier and shinier Clover. It had never felt what a gun could do to a body, apparently.

*You roll out of the way, shooting a bullet into The Beasts hide. It seems mostly unaffected.

Clover was right; one bullet wouldn't be enough. They hated being right.

*You call out for help.

"Uhm....Actually, if you have some tricks up that shell of yours- I would like the help- if you're capable of course! I'd never ask an unarmed civilian to help-!" Clover said, the Beast snorting with frustration. It would attack again soon.

( @GEN1E ) ( @RhythmThief ) ( @MarcelGalliard790 )

Ren jumped as the pig came out of nowhere. Clover immediately leapt into action, earning a lot of cool points with Ren. He decided to follow their example, turning to the others.

"Hey- let's go get a teacher. Kat- we don't have weapons so we're useless here. We should do it."

"Knight- come cover us. There's probably more in the building."

"And I assume you two are going to go help Clover," he finished, turning towards Sora and Ezriel. "But if one of you wants to come, feel free."

"When you guys are done here, come after us. One weapon might not be enough."

With that, Ren turned mysteriously, not giving them time to object to this plan. He simply walked up the steps and disappeared into the school, with no hesitation whatsoever.

"Typical showing off, Ren," Morgana said, amused. "I should start carrying a knife," Ren replied. For now, he made due with what he could find in his bag; a pair of scissors. The dull kind used for paper.

"There could be enemies on all sides. Be careful," Morgana warned Ren. Ren nodded.

( @RhythmThief ) ( @MarcelGalliard790 )

 

[GEN1E]

Koopa in Pig Wrestling

Before Hammer Brother could brace for impact, he heard the scariest war cry in the history of his entire life. It was one of authority, respect, and sounded like it had a western drawl to it.

"OVER HERE, YOU TUB OF LARD!"

The young cowboy from earlier had joined the ruckus, and they definitely moved like they’ve been in plenty of fights. The turtle backed up so he wouldn’t get away from the showdown at…

Definitely not noon, but the sun was high enough.

The hog-like beast snorted with apprehension, taking their chances with the smaller, scrawnier target. But when it attempted to charge down the little sheriff, they weaved to the left and fired a shot into its side.

“Aren’t you a little young to own an actual firearm? Oh right, introductions! I’m Hammer Brother, and I’m a mallet specialist! Is this normal around here?” The turtle yelled over the confusion as he moved to a better vantage point. He wasn’t getting anywhere near that savage hog until he had a plan.

The creature yelped in pain, as it stomped around in a blind rage, like a crazed bronco. Its leathery hide could take some punishment, since it shrugged off a bullet without some serious damage.

With the metallic gun and the yellow bandana, Clover was still a massive target. Hammer Brother overheard them call for help, and he wasn't going anywhere. It might have been against his better judgement, but he was taking a stand.

I’m not leaving this kid to fight… that monster on his own, especially since it took me out like it was nothing.

Hammer Bro. threw the hammer in his hand directly at the creature’s head, causing it to stumble away from the pint-sized cowpoke. He followed it up by grabbing another standard hammer from his pouch, and running at the beast again.

This time, the Koopa waited for the beast to rear up on its hind legs, and he raised his hammer as he slid under it. The hilt snagged on the tusk that wasn’t broken, and turned into a modified latch once he grabbed the head of the mallet. He pulled with all his might, and with the weight of the hog, the beast fell onto its side.

“It’s wide open! Shoot it before we get knocked aside like bowling pins!” Hammer Bro rolled to shout as he managed to avoid being crushed by the hog-like beast. He had his own helmet, so he wouldn’t get any head injuries from this tussle.

The wailing grew louder from within the building, turning into a shriek that echoed across the courtyard. Whatever was causing the hellish cry, it was getting closer…

@Inkage (Clover)

 

[Inkage]

aClover

*Your call for help was answered.

Clover's head swiveled as the turtle jumped into action, introducing themselves as 'Hammer Bro'.

"I have a permit," Clover said amusedly, laughing despite the severity of their situation. It was such a silly question at the moment- did he expect Clover to go 'Oh, you're right!' and drop their gun? It tickled them.

"It's a pleasure to meet you! If only it was under better circumstances...But no better way to make a new pal, eh?"

Clover was about to try putting another bullet into the thing, but Hammer Bro jumped in, forcing them to wait. What was he doing!?

The Beast seemed to take this as a challenge, and reared on it's hind legs, attempting to slice the tortoise with its huge tusks. But he had moves; sliding under the thing, Hammer Bro stuck a hammer across the Beast's tusk, and tugged it over so that it's belly lay exposed to the air.

*Hammer Bro calls out to you; you know what you have to do.

Clover grit their teeth, not knowing if they really had the strength to do what they had to. Clover hated killing.

*Your steel your resolve.

Clover ran right up to the beast, aiming their gun right at its general chest area. Their hands shook slightly, staring at the pink underbelly of the thing.

*The shot rings out clearly. Justice has been delivered.

Clover watched as the Beast keeled over comically, changing color to a deep red and then disappearing, leaving behind only a few slabs of beef. Clover exhaled, dropping to their knees.

"...Rest in peace."

A cry, demonic in it's intensity, rang out. More were on the way.

"Thanks, partner," he said, turning towards Hammer Bro.

He raised his hand for a high five, smiling.

"Alright- we got more work to do."

@GEN1E

 

[MarcelGalliard790]

Abyssal Shrieks
The Knight watched as the hog beast was dealt with by a combination of a Hammer Bro and Clover. The Knight saw the Hammer Bro and its attack reminded them of one of the fools in the Colosseum of Fools. The knight heard the demonic roar and knew they were far from finished.

The Knight noticed a white creature with tentacles coming from the bottom of its body. The creature, known as a Ghast, fired a fireball at The Knight and made it dash out of the way. The Knight leaped up before its cloak flung outwards. Making a pair of wings as it boosted itself up again to be under the creature. The knight then brought its nubs for arms in before opening up and a black and white spell shot up from above the knight. Shrieks were heard as the knight launched the spell.

What was more intriguing was the knight turned a midnight black, the only way to see it’s eyes were the white beading circles on it’s void covered form. The white creature shrieked before crumbling as a red encompassed it. Dropping grey powder and a white tear. The knight landed as its form returned to normal. The knight looked to the others before they stood in front of them and drew it’s nail.

We have more company coming. If it means showing the void…let them come. The knight thought to itself as it looked back at the group before looking forward again.
(@Inkage Clover/Ren @RhythmThief Kat/Ezreal/Sora @GEN1E Hammer Bro)

 

[GEN1E]

Hero in a Full Shell, Turtle Power!

Hammer Brother landed on his back, and watched as Clover took aim with their gun. With a bullet right into its chest, the beast was done for good.

I mean, I figured there was a logical reason why they had a gun. Still, a child having a permit for a firearm was hard to believe, though in a place like this, it was probably the norm.

The beast’s rough hide turned red, before it somehow popped out of existence, leaving only some leather and a couple of beef slabs and pork chops.

That was… weird. This whole place must be weird by default.

“No problem, I’m just glad nobody else got hurt.” He spoke in a confident tone as he completed the high five, feeling pride enter his veins. He definitely still had the strength and skills to hold his own at Console High.

I’m not a washed up nobody, at least not yet.

He turned towards the school with hope, only to see a massive white creature that resembled a jellyfish squeeze out of the doors, before rising into the air like a demented balloon.

This was the source of the shrieking, and it sounded like there was more than one on the way. The crowd of students had all moved away from the entrance, turning the courtyard into a makeshift arena.

“You’ve got to be kidding me! Who’s even responsible for all this?” The turtle said as he ran over to the hammer he threw earlier, which meant he had a pair in his hands.

If this was supposed to be a prank, it was complete overkill. Day 1 is meant for simple and comical gags that don’t get you in too much trouble, it’s basic Pranking 101. And I should know, I’m the expert!

Before either Clover or him could respond to the threat, the unnerving insectoid fellow from before had joined the fray, as it dodged a fireball from the massive flying creature. Unfortunately, the Koopa was right in the middle of the projectile’s target, so he had to roll to the side to avoid being turned into a hot bowl of turtle soup.

Man, this reminds me of the time that I tried to ask Escargoon for driving lessons. We managed to get involved in a street race on Grumble Volcano with a Tempura Wizard…

That was a wild lava-filled evening…

The little bug-like critter faced the demonic jelly, like a knight of some strange order. It leapt into the air, its cloak fluttering in the wind like a pair of wings. Then with some powerful energy, its form turned black, and its eyes glowed like the sun as it launched a monochrome blast of energy at the fiend.

Note to self, little dudes pack big punches. Or in this case, cool weapons.

The ghastly apparition disintegrated from the attack, and similar the hog from earlier, turned red before crumbling to dust. It left a single tear in its wake, and the itsy-bitsy warrior drew a odd sword, before glancing at the doors.

“Woah, what was that? Well, compliments to the chef, that was some smooth moves for… well whatever you are! I’m Hammer Bro, and clearly I missed a thing or two about this place.” He chuckled as he stowed one of his mallets back in the pouch.

But the smell of fire hadn’t left the area, and noises from within the school only seemed to get louder, with the grunting of pigs and the crackling of furious embers…

Yet, Hammer Brother wasn’t deterred by the danger. He’d only need one hammer for this mess, along these two.


@Inkage (Clover)

@MarcelGalliard790 (The Knight)

 

[RhythmThief]

Dimwits, Roll Out!

A collective sigh arose from the trio at Clover’s latest citation remark.

Kat, her eyes downcast for a moment, murmured, “Yeah, saw that one coming...”

Sora grumbled, “Man, another citation?”

Ezreal simply gave a hollow smirk, replaying the events of his last kitchen duty with Cooking Mama.

Indeed, those shiny eyes of hers sequestered a deep darkness only few would ever discover, and Ezreal counted himself lucky to have done so and left in one piece.

He didn't know if she would afford him that same opportunity again.

"...I'm so dead..." He sniffled.

As their voices trailed off into silence, Kat’s gaze shifted, tracing a gentle line from Ren’s outstretched hand back to his face.

Both Ezreal and Sora exchanged mischievous glances at the uncharacteristic surprise and uncertainty played about on Kat's features, wordlessly acknowledging that the sparks of something else were igniting - even if only for a brief heartbeat.

After a lingering pause, Kat reached for Ren’s hand.

“Thanks,” she said softly, “for proving that gentlemen still exist out there somewhere.” Despite her sharp glance at her two partners-in-crime, her words were gentle as she rose to her feet.

Sora, not missing a beat, quipped absentmindedly, “...Hey, why didn’t anyone offer me a hand?”

Ezreal chuckled, “Oh, you sweet summer child.”

Clover was already in full swing with his introductions. His voice trailed off as he introduced Ren and The Knight, all while the trio exchanged knowing smiles. Ezreal and Sora grinned at their own playful descriptions, while Kat’s smile wavered for a moment—her annoyance at being lumped into “dumb situations” softened by the unspoken understanding that she truly was different from the other two - though in truth, how she consistently ended up in these situations was a mystery even to her at this point.

Either that, or she knew the answer and just didn't like it.

Their moment of introspection was interrupted by the sudden rumble of chaos. Clover’s voice rang out as he darted off to join another student in a battle with a stray piglin, leaving the trio to quickly absorb the weight of their actions. Horrified at the thought that their latest misadventure might now be genuinely endangering others, both Sora and Kat locked eyes in silent agreement. Determination hardened in their expressions; they meant business.

It wasn’t long before Ren’s steady voice cut through the tension, suggesting that they head back into halls and find a teacher before the situation got too out of hand. Not waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and darted into the halls.

“Hm. Good plan." Kat couldn’t help but smile at his certainty, though she teased, winking, "But he really shouldn't judge a book by its cover..!"

Without warning, Kat raised her hand and summoned Dusty. The diaphanous floating black cat, usually a quiet presence at her side, began to glow with an otherworldly red light. Slowly, Dusty transformed into a strange, luminous, heart-like object that seemed to pulse in sync with her own quickening heartbeat. As gravity seemed to relent, Kat found herself lifting from the ground, floating with an ethereal grace, her body pulsing with a red glow.

She turned to Sora, her voice steady yet urgent.

“You go with Ren. Find a teacher. Once you do, take them back to the storage room so we can dismantle that stupid portal! We'll be right behind you."

Sora nodded vigorously. “Leave it to me!” he declared before bolting after the bespectacled student.

Her attention then shifted to Ezreal, who had taken a less-than-subtle approach to evading the danger; tip-toeing away from the chaos like a cat burglar trying to avoid the wrong floor.

“Ezreal!” Kat called out sharply, “What on earth are you doing?”

He grinned sheepishly, “I—uh, thought I’d scope out the perimeter! Looks like you guys have it handled here. I'd hate to, ahem, get in the way and all...”

Kat shook her head in exasperation.

“Leave securing the perimeter to me. I can get around a lot faster with these gravity powers and make sure nobody else enters the halls until this mess - your mess, I might add - is sorted. Hurry up and join Sora's group already!!”

The glare in her eyes and authority in her voice left no room for argument, and Ezreal’s playful protest melted away. Whenever Kat got like this, it was best to do just do whatever she wanted done - a lesson he'd learned the hard way before.

As if any more encouragement was needed, both Kat and Ezreal bore witness to the miniature Knight swiftly dispatch a 'giant flying white ghost squid-thingy' (live narration) with an uncanny mix of abilities that gave the both of them the heebie-jeebies.

"...Deal." Ezreal quickly assented, wide-eyed at what he just witnessed, before promptly dashing toward the halls as Kat vanished up into the skies.

"But tell Clover I better get a reduced sentence for this!!"

Not far off, Sora had caught up with Ren, urging him and leading him to the faculty room.

"Hey, this way! It's right over here!" He cried as he sprinted further into the halls. As Sora confidently moved through the halls, he brandished his Keyblade, swiping through any stray mobs that crossed the path. He kept up his pace, turning corner after corner, rushing forward with a clear sense of purpose. Until—

“Uh…” Sora slowed to a stop, glancing around at the completely unfamiliar hallway. “Hey, this… this doesn’t look right.”

After a few seconds of confusion came recognition. Sora then scratched the back of his head, chuckling sheepishly.

“Hey, don't freak out, okay? B-But I...I think we're lost...heh..."

[Ren - @Inkage ]

Meanwhile, Ezreal had already made it back to the storage room, effortlessly zipping through the hallways and blasting away at any mob that crossed his path. He reached the door and slowed his pace, frowning as he glanced around.

“Huh. Where the heck did Sora and that other guy go?” He gave the area one last scan before shrugging. “Ten Fazcoins says he got lost. Eh, whatever - more glory for me!”

With careful steps, he pushed open the storage room door—and immediately regretted it.

Another monstrous ghast loomed inside, its massive, spectral form hovering over the portal like a grotesque sentinel. It let out a deep, rumbling wail that sent shivers down Ezreal’s spine.

“Oh, come on. Where's that Knight guy when you need him?!”

Before he could react, the ghast inhaled sharply, preparing to launch a fireball. Ezreal dove into a roll just as a blast exploded against the doorway.

“WHOA-KAY! I get it! You’re the final boss! Let’s do this!” He began weaving between the crates, before finding an opening and firing an Arcane Shot so clean he personally regarded it as one of his Top 10, if not Top 5 ever.

Still, once the shot hit the floating beast, it did little more than irritate it.

“Heh...” Ezreal chuckled nervously, his hands fumbling inside a nearby crate until they found something soft and round. He pulled it out, holding it up like a peace offering.

“…Chezburger?” he tried, forcing a grin as he jiggled the slightly squished sandwich in the air.

The ghast let out an ear-piercing wail, eyes narrowing. The fireball it began charging was definitely bigger than the last one.

Ezreal sighed, already regretting every life decision that had led him to this moment.

“Yeah. Thought so.”

He hurled the burger over his shoulder and ducked. This was about to be a very long day.

 

[Inkage]

It's Cl-over
Clover stood up, stretching. They readjusted the grip on their gun, but they weren't fast enough to push Hammer Bro out of the way of a fireball- luckily, Hammer Bro was fast enough to dodge it on his own. Clover breathed with relief.

Clover aimed his gun, listening to Hammer Bro wonder aloud who was responsible for this whole fiasco.

"Those two," Clover said, jerking the thumb on his free hand towards Sora and Ezriel. "They're the school troublemakers- you kind of missed their introduction," They said casually, as if they weren't fighting a giant demonic jellyfish that did not just make it's way through the doors, breathing balls of fire at the combatants.

"They are SO getting a citation. I suggest kitchen duty as punishment-" Clover was interrupted by Knight suddenly jumping up and obliterating the ghost-like jellyfish with a blast of white. Clover shielded their eyes. SO much was happening right now, it was hard to keep track of. Apparently Knight was some sort of creature of the deep, maybe? It frightened Clover slightly- but they were harmless, right?

"That's Knight, Hammer Bro- they're new like you are! I just met them, so I'm as surprised as you!" Their voice sounded mostly joking, but a hint of uncertainty hitched in their voice, making their words waver at the end. Clover was surprised- but also slightly intimidated.

"Speaking of new arrivals," Clover said, frowning as the smell of fire and brimstone filled the air...

"Where'd Ren and the citation trio go!?" Clover ran a hand through their hair, looking around wildly. He did not see them leave, but they must've, because they were nowhere to be seen.

"Darn it- I can't just lose people like that-! Or maybe they got off to safety like I told them to..."

Clover exhaled, calming down a bit. Yeah- that had to be it.

"Okay, okay, okay...Phew...Just worry about the people you can see, Clover. Be in the moment."

Clover raised their gun, aiming at the remaining enemies.

"Knight, Hammer Bro- let me show y'all how it's done at Console High. Think of this as- orientation! Just a fun trainin' exercise."

*The air smells of charred ham.

*You grin to enhearten your allies.


"This slippery sidewinder won't know what hit 'em!"

@GEN1E
@MarcelGalliard790

Ren was quickly accompanied by the guy with the spiky brown hair and overlarge key- Sora. Sora offered to show the way, which Ren appreciated. He nodded, making a soft sound that was his way of saying thanks. Readjusting the grip on his safety scissors, Ren ran after Sora, dashing through the halls towards their destination.

...Or so Ren thought. But after several encounters with different beings, and long corridors full of nothing, Ren started to doubt his guide's knowledge.

"We could've done it faster if this guy wasn't leading us in circles!" Morgana hissed, as they took a break to lean against some lockers and get their bearings.

“Uh…” Sora glanced around the hallway as if he was just about as familiar with it as Ren was. “Hey, this… this doesn’t look right.”

Ren looked down at Morgana, who looked smug but also defeated. He was right in Sora being lost, but that meant that he and Ren were also lost.

“Hey, don't freak out, okay? B-But I...I think we're lost...heh..."

Ren did not freak out, in case you were wondering. He smirked, finding this situation funny. After his amusement faded, he scratched his chin. "You've gone here how many years?" He asked. Though his words were accusatory, his tone was light and sarcastic, as if he were merely poking fun at a friend forgetting the answer on a test question. Ren was not overly concerned.

"...Sora, right?" Ren asked. He leaned off of the lockers, thinking. He didn't know what to do here- it's not like HE know where they were going.

Ren looked at Morgana, silently asking him for his thoughts. Morgana curled around Ren's leg, staring at Sora. Finally Morgana said,

"There's got to be a map somewhere- but of course, we'd have to know where the map is from here. And Mr. Mouse-shoes here led us so badly even he's lost. So that's a dead end. The only thing left is where we are now. Look around."

Ren nodded at him, looking at Sora as if he could understand Morgana (Which he wouldn't). Sora had never been to the Metaverse, after all.

"Let's look around. There's got to be something to tell us where we are."

Ren looked around, spotting a set of double doors. Ren faintly smelt dirty socks and sweat, and from this he deduced that the room had to be a gym.

"Do you think the gym teachers are in-?" Before Ren could finish the question, the door banged open as a tall, skeletal figure pushed it from the inside. It was beaming, wearing a suit of what looked like plastic armor. A whistle hung from his neck, swinging with the same enthusiasm it's owner had.

"SANS! SANS- LOOK! I THINK IT'S MORE STUDENTS!" The skeleton beckoned behind him, but something was walking towards them all from down the hall. "Ren- look sharp!" Morgana warned. Ren turned instantly, and instinctively threw his safety scissors. They stopped mid-air, as a soft blue light leaked from the newcomers left eye.

"that's no way to greet a new pal," he remarked casually, the scissors dropping from the air and clattering on the floor. "i actually think these are humans, paps. and isn't that the kid with the key...thing?" Papyrus frowned. "YOU WERE JUST BEHIND ME. HOW DID YOU GET OVER- ACTUALLY, NEVERMIND! HUMANS ARE STUDENTS, TOO! AND IT IS SORA! GREETINGS! I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR CLASS TO START! ALL THE STRANGE NEW STUDENTS AROUND HERE DIDN'T WANT TO TRAIN AT ALL- THEY WERE SO RUDE!"

"uh, i don't think those were students, paps. they were pigs."

"DON'T BE SO JUDGEMENTAL, SANS! STUDENTS COME IN ALL SORTS OF PACKAGES!"

"sorry."

Ren didn't really understand why the two were arguing at a time like this, or why 'sans' didn't seem to be taking any of it seriously. Ren cleared his throat, and said, "There's monsters in the school."

"OH, MONSTERS AREN'T SO BAD! SANS AND I ARE MONSTERS!"

Ren blinked, truly disconcerted for the first time today. "i think he means the killing kind," sans added helpfully.

"OH. WELL THEN THAT WOULD EXPLAIN A LOT! WAIT- NO THAT DOESN'T! HOW DID THEY GET IN?!"

Ren explained the situation in as few words as possible. Finally, 'paps' understood and said, "WELL THEN! WE HAVE TO GET ON IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! BUT HOW DID YOU END UP OVER HERE? THAT ROOM IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BUILDING!"

"they probably used one of my shortcuts," Sans joked. "i'll help them get over there quick."

Sans led the way down the hall, until the party stood in front of a door, labeled 'Janitor's closet'. Ren didn't know how a janitor would help, but kept his mouth shut. Sans's grin didn't stretch, but it almost seemed to intensify as he said, "quickest way to get anywhere."

"SANS, I DON'T THINK THIS IS A VERY 'PAPYRUS' IDEA- WHICH IS THE WORST KIND OF IDEA TO HAVE!"

"nah- it'll work. it's the only way to get there as fast as they need to; it's not like they know any of my trusty shortcuts. stand in front of the door, kiddos."

Once the two were positioned in front of the door, Sans stood to the right of it and simply said- "man, paps, there sure is a lot of trash and dust in front of the storage room-"

Instantly, the door boomed open and out came a broom that skittered so fast that it swerved, spinning end over bristles to a stop over at the other end of the hall.

"hey, gotta sweep. i think the room is actually the other way," he said, pointing back towards the students and down the hall. The janitor, who apparently was a broom, swiveled to turn their way.

"we'll be right behind you. sorry about this."

"WE BELIEVE IN YOU, STUDENTS!"

"GOTTA. SWEEP. IT'S...SWEEPIN' TIME!"

It's voice boomed through the hallway as it sped down, a fierce wind blowing and picking up dust all over the hall in a fierce wave.

"cleanup on isle six," Sans remarked finally, as him and Papyrus hid behind the janitor door. It banged shut as the wind reached it, and Ren only had time to question the legality of this plan for half a second before the wind hit the group, pushing them along as if an army of brooms were standing in file along the hall.

Ren had to admit it was fast- but the amount of dust gathering was annoying. What's more, they rushed down another hall full of black skeletons and pig demons- and the enemies were swept up with them. Luckily, they seemed too dazed by the impact to attack Ren or Sora.

The whole hoard was dislodged as Gotta Sweep sped in circles in front of the storage room door, eradicating any dust they could find. Piglins bashed through lockers, skeletons fell to pieces as they were dashed against drinking fountains- and a hoglin toppled through a window, disappearing onto the school grounds. Ren was thrown onto the floor, right next to a garbage can, which Morgana was thrown into, hissing.

The hated broom seemed satisfied with the carnage, for it stopped spinning and sped down the way it came, screaming one last chorus of "GOTTAA SWEEP SWEEP SWEEP!"

Ren had endured worse. But it still hurt. He sighed, not allowing himself to groan aloud, and looked around.

"...Sora? You alright?"

@RhythmThief