———————-

"Man, it's cold as hell down here."

"Yer' tellin me."

The group sat together in the muddled darkness, awkwardly shivering against the metal walls and nursing bruises and cuts from the fall.

They had a grand total of 14 people trapped underground, 5 in this room (that he was aware of), and the only light granted was from their pens.

And the Near-Death Queen had just blinked awake to this.

"I feel like I missed something important."

Just the sound of her voice make him relieved, considering what he had seen upstairs, but unlike him, Deuce would say that.  Ace however, said this:

"Oh yea, welcome to the afterlife, dipshit."

Her followup quip?

"Fucking finally."

That got a mild laugh out of the room, but he could hear Deuce get up and follow the sound of her voice, and the squeaky toy like sound was probably her reaction to getting bear hugged.

"You're ok!"

"I mean, somewhat, yeah. Did something happen? How long was I out?"

"Uh, I don't know...We didn't even know you were down here with us."

A weird pause. Then a brief sigh.

"And...You...kinda got crushed by a pillar. Bad."

"How bad?"

"Thought ya might be a dead man bad. Would explain why this room smells like a rottin' core."

"Yikes. Wait, who the hell was that?"

"Oh, thats my friend, Epel."

Pure Silence. Then a croaked "oh."

Okay, she definitely knew this guy.

Confronting that could wait though, it was ice cold in here.  Plus, playing the long game would probably work alot better when it came to confronting her.

But FUCK! He was cold. Like Ramshackle at Night with no Blanket cold.

While he was thinking, it seemed the conversation was continuing onwards.

"Do you have a fever, or is it just really cold down here?"

"Um, Deuce...You're literally shivering."

"Are you not cold?"

"No? Are you?"

"Freezing. It's actually warmer by you. You're like, a hand warmer, or something."

Thats when Ace remembered how much of a god damn heater that woman is.

So he got the brilliant idea of recreating the reason she had oh' so loving dubbed him a parasite.

"Hey! Ophi!"

"Yea?"

"Mind sharing the warmth with us?"

In the dim light, he saw her process his request two seconds too late before she was tackled straight onto her back.

"ACE!"

Shit, she really was warm.

"Finally, Salvation."

—————————-

𝑵𝑶𝑻 𝑨𝑮𝑨𝑰𝑵!

It would be a gigantic lie to say she actually minded.  If anything, it was nice, for the sake of feeling safe, but she put up about four seconds of struggle to keep face, to no avail.

She awkwardly stared up at Deuce, seeing if he had any input on her predicament.

He looked torn between yelling at Ace, joining in or freezing to death.  With a sigh, she signaled him to join in.

Ace apparently decided this was now a fight for warmth and pulled her to the other side of him.

"What the hell?"

"If you don't join in, then more warmth for me! It's every man for himself in these trying times-Ack!"

It seemed after about four minutes of solid silence, Epel had frosted or whatever he had been doing in the corner enough to be desperate enough to test the Ophelia Heater (Trademarked by Ace Trappola) and pushed his way into the nonsense, causing her to tense up when he randomly hovered a hand over her arm.

"You really are warm!"

This somehow developed into a weird huddle around her, Ace lying across her lap, and Deuce awkwardly squishing himself at her side, while Epel kept more of a distance, but not by much.

Somehow, it was a serene moment.

The stupidity of it all had her randomly chuckling.

"You are all parasites."

"Didn't we establish that five days ago?"

————————

A light jesting smack landed on Aces forehead, courtesy of Ophelia, while Deuce looked up to the void of nothingness above them.

"Five days ago for you two.  It was a week and a half for us."

"Wait then...oh god, whats today?"

"Wednesday the 17h, why?"

A pause passed, giving Ace the obvious answer.

She wanted to plan something for his birthday, and / or remembered the date of it, and NOW wanted to plan something.

Either way, now that he knew she knew, starting tomorrow, he intended to take full advantage of that.

Another smack to the head paused his thoughts.

"Stop."

Ruby met jade as he sent a pouted glare upwards.

"You accusing me of something?"

She rolled her eyes in response, poking his forehead every couple of words.

"You were doing that grin you do when you're scheming. No scheming."

"Too late. Speaking of dates-"

Eyes widening a bit, she jabbed his forehead (again) with her finger.

"Don't you do it!"

"Do what?"

"You know what!"

"Tell them why you asked?"

——————-

Looking from Ace to Ophelia, then back to Deuce, he whispered over.

"Are they always like this?"

"Yea, either this or loud bickering."

"Not much different from you and Ace then, huh?"

The other two seemingly paid no attention to their conversation, honed in on their own.

——————

"Why don't you do it then? It's your thing."

"My what? Just say it."

Having enough with Aces shenanigans, she groaned.

"Your birthday, Jackass! September 23rd, right?"

"Aww, you remembered."

"Don't patronize me for thinking of doing something nice for you!"

"Thats not what I'm patronizing you for, and you know it~"

Their banter was stopped mid conversation by a wall movement, followed by a sigh of relief, and then the wall closing, which likely caused the second sigh, one of exasperation.

"Seems we've been forsaken by the walls yet again."

"This Labyrinth is driving me nuts!
Who builds a giant trap filled Labyrinth under a school? Seriously? I have to admit, the mechanics must be pretty good for their time, how old did Lonnie say this place is again?"

Even though barely there, the light reflected a pair of dusty goggles, and she could hear the jingling melody of earrings.

"Vyr? Elephys?"

The formers voice, somewhat still energized, bounced off the walls.

"Ophelia?! What are you doing here?"

"Trapped aswell?"

A certain ginger still occupying her lap-space snickered as she felt Deuce move over to face the direction of their voices.

"You guys too?"

From her time spent with him, she could only assume the Alchemist was counting the different voices out on his fingers, or gloves, whatever.

"Wait, thats....two..three...four- Wow, its cold in here-"

"Might aswell come over here, they've been using me as a portable heater."

"Yup. And Don't forget Apple on whatever list you're making."

"I told you's its Epel!"

"Ok, Apple."

"Final Warnin' , Trappola!"

The new addition duo dashed over, Elephys sliding in carefully, holding out his arms in a manner that could only be described as asking to join in on the hug/huddle pile. She nodded, letting him scoot in closer, looking up at Vyr to see if she needed to make extra room or not.

"Hold on just a second! Lemme-"

She could hear Vyr start fumbling with his bag, likely trying to take out a notepad or some heating invention, but a sickening shatter echoed.

A large amount of some goopy substance landed on her hand, resulting in her panicking and accidentally slapping Ace's forehead with it, who immediately had the grand idea of pushing her arm up so it hit Deuce aswell, then Epel, to her immediate screech in panic of Vils wrath, flailing her hand to get rid of it, a few specks hitting Elephys.

"Um....that doesn't happen to be a lavenderish color, right? Cause I think I put a prototype in that pocket-"

"It does. It kinda matches Epels hair.."

Vyr sheepishly winced, obviously intent on apologizing, but an unknown whirring noise,  a sound similar to a bath bomb, and a strange sweet smell preceded him fully collapsing onto the pile, Onyx beginning to snore—or whatever sleep vibration sound the raccoon was making on his shoulder, before snapping out of it and scurrying off.

It didn't matter anymore, really, because the students had all fallen asleep, the wrecked glass from the prototype potion only inches away from where Aces face slacked as they dozed off.

A pile of idiots. How delightful.

———————————

In full honesty, he never could quite understand how Vanrouge and Hunt were so chipper in this situation.

Atleast Cater attempted to get cell service to call for help, keeping his arm held high as they traveled, device in hand.

They had traversed for some time, tailing after the huntsman as their voted lead, given this fell in the jurisdictions of his expertise.

Riddle had taken to simply memorizing each twist and turn, each sign a trap was nearing, or a wall planned to move. It wasn't all too unfamiliar to the halls of Heartstabyl.

However, this felt eternal, each minute grating on his patience.

Did Hunt sense this, choosing then to query? It was a probability.

"Monsieur's, I am reminded of something!"

Cater looked over with a face of desperation.

"An exit? Please say its an exit."

"Non, Non.  All here but I fought valiantly on both sides of the Bataille de Heartstabyl."

Riddle nearly tripped upon hearing that, breath hitching momentarily whilst the blonde placed a hand on his heart, the telltale that a declaration of what he viewed beautiful was to follow.

"How I wish I could of stood by your side, even simple watch from afar! To witness the moments prior, the fruits of the Mademoiselles labor I've but only heard tales of!  The clash of views that brought upon a glorious fight I am barred to only dream of laying eyes upon! 
Mon dieu! Just to be crushed by the flaming roses of that passion I would see as an honor!"

The sigh that he released one could consider borderline operatic.

"But I weep, for I was not there to witness such beauté. Cursed to know not of all you faced. Should you be willing, I beg you grace this poor hunter with the tale, born from the each of the eyes of those who bore witness."

Lilia, who stood farther ahead of most members of the group, chuckled.

"I wouldn't be opposed of it, but I believe the decision to tell of it should be left to Riddle, hm?"

Once more, silence bellowed as he contemplated this.

The tale of his own failure to those he governed over, so glorified.  He felt much like a passed monarch bearing witness to his kingdoms fall, wondering how its true history would change as the years passed.

Was he truly ready to hear of each pain he caused?  Cater would surely sugarcoat it in fear of angering him, Trey water it down or move around the question, but Lilia and Nevermore did stand as wild cards.

Riddle made a promise to himself, to rule transparently.  This was a chance to hear of what pain he caused, what he needed to make up for.

"I'll allow it. Under the condition you tell the truth, and spare me your sugarcoating.
You have my word anything you may say with not incur my wrath.
Be as blunt as Trappola or Avillion would. If I am to become a better leader, then I should know of the pain I brought upon you.

Gathering courage, he pressed on, ripping the first few words from the chains his pride would normally keep them in. 

"If Ambrose hadn't moved when he did, I would have become a murderer. Taken the life of Elephys Pachydubb without care, without regret.
I fail to see that husk of myself shedding even a tear as his magic, his life force, slowly disappeared.  Once, I would have seen it just.

I truly believed my ruthlessness to be mercy. After all, it was all i'd ever known. 

My rage blinded me entirely in that moment, I was brash, insolent and prideful. That is all I remember of the fights majority.

Troublesome as he may be, Trappola's bluntness is something I've long since needed to hear. Honesty such as that is something I failed to listen to, simply waiting for them to back down and scurry.

If I was to give it an allegory, all the roses planted within are white, but in the name of the rules, the subjects paint their roses red in fear of losing their heads. 

To add on the statement prior to that,
Never once did I deserve Avillion's mercy.  I still fail to see what reason she had to spare me, to show me mercy after meeting who I had become.

After I spilled her blood, burned her skin, impaled her time and time again throughout that battle. Harmed her and one of the friends she held closest so brutally both were declared critical cases by a man who's treated victims of war.

Yet upon meeting again in my subconscious, she all but poured her heart to me, made me a flower crown of all things, and had the AUDACITY to apologize for not making MY overblot painless for m—"

Momentarily, he paused, clearing his throat.

"Nevermind that. I hope that monologue was a sufficient example?"

Perhaps it would be best to keep her true identity to himself for the time being.

Given Trey's expression, it seemed possible he was well aware, but kept silent.

The huntsman did not remain silent, however.

"Merci! Such powerful emotions stirred by regret! To hear of one capable of moving one so known for his ruthlessness, and the true heart of Roi de Roses pierced by a strangers kindness and another's honesty, leading to a vow to better one's self! Beauté!
Alas, my gluttony will not be quelled, even after  such a wonderful display. My heart won't be satisfied until  I hear from other side of the battle."

A blip of silence. Cater and Trey seemed still hesitant to speak up, and Nevermore was just as dead silent as he'd been prior, making him almost think he wasn't even there.

Lilia seemingly chose to start it off, humming slightly as he thought.

"Well, if nobody else shall go, I suppose I'll be the first.....hm?"

With a swift movement, the fae picked something up from the ground.

A stuffed doll that was.....moving on its own? It certainly seemed so, writhing to escape the Diasomnians grasp.

"Now, what do we have here?"

Admittedly, Riddle near shrieked when its button eyes seemed to move around , and its mouth move to the words coming out, voice entirely monotone.

"Seams-I've been captured. How doll-ighful."

He knew that voice, and the horrendous puns that he'd been subjected to by its owner.

"Makaburini Ndovu?"

"..........Maybe."

From around the corner, a loud sigh preceded the cause of the Savannaclaw students physical predicament approaching, holding two more dolls while using the wall as a handle.

With a fix of his glasses, Trey and Cater seemed to brighten up a bit. Unsurprisingly so, as the incoming had a talent for making things less tense. However, something was off about him.

The two moved, tailed soon by Lilia and Rook, rushed to his side quickly upon watching his leg give out, the Octavinelle student sliding down the wall to stop from crashing.

Rook kneeled at his side, examining the fresh wounds lining his arm from wherever he had come from. A few large gashes, minor burns, and other such.

Lonnie attempted to stand back up, only to falter, and be chided by the huntsman as he pulled out a first aid kit from somewhere unseen.

"Chevalier de Jouets. Not only have you over exerted yourself, but you are injured. Keep still."

He passed a roll of gauze to Trey, who started dressing the wounds on the other side quickly.

"Lonnie, you never walk much without your bringing your cane just incase. What happened?"

Riddle noticed something unusual then, moments before Lonnie pointed in its direction.

A brick lay dormant on the ground before what was once a wall, and now an opened hallway.

"All Crowley asked was for me to make sure everyone in our safe room stayed calm. Turns out that safe room was an old elevator, and something triggered it.
We lost Elephys and Vyr on the way over after they said they heard their friends: I need to make sure those two get out safe."

Summoning a small towel, Lilia wiped off the small bits of blood on the plum haired students face.

"Well, you certainly won't be doing that if you let old injuries flare up, hm?"

"You're right, You're right..."

Makaburini returned from cotton to flesh at the sound of Lonnies fingers snap, revealing mostly healed, but still fresh injuries to which Riddle borrowed the med-kit to clean while the Octavinelle student continued his explanation.

"I'll warn you all now, the next part of the Labyrinth isn't pretty."

Cater passed him a fresh hair tie, grimacing to himself.

"TBH, Lons, none of it is."

"Not what I meant. This side-"

He gestured one hand around.

"-Is just tryin' to play with your perception and throw a few light punches.  Over there, it's trying to shed blood. If any of you can teleport, I'd recommend it. We all got pretty messed up."

In his arms, one of the two dolls began to move itself closer to the other.  They looked strangely familar....

A Seagull like wing on the first doll and the rounded ears on the second told him all he needed to know of their identities, as the two often came as a pair when it came to unplanned chaos.

"Is that why you used your unique magic on Bucchi and Scrooge?"

"Yup. We found them cuddled up together in a locked room, but we made the mistake of splitting up to cover more ground when the two first years vanished. 
Gally, who knows why, had a flare on em' , and Bucchi had stolen it earlier, so he used it after Gal took a bad hit, and the second hit was about to strike both of them dead on. "

"Is it right to assume by the end, you were the last man standing—Ndovu, do NOT fiddle with your bandages!"

Makab blankly stared back at him, dropping the gauze from where he had been pulling.

With a sigh, Lonnie tried again to sit up, only to groan and slide back down, slowly drifting off, for some unseen reason.  Exhaustion, perhaps?

"Guess their shared thievin' habits came in handy this time.  Just..go get the kids out of there."

As he went limp, Rook pulled a hand back from the side of the Octavinelle students neck.

"Ne t'inquiète pas , nous les sauverons dans votre steed. Vos efforts ont porté leurs fruits, alors reposez-vous maintenant, mon ami."

With quick deduction, given the location where the huntsman had been pressing and the odd loss of energy, that the dollmaker had been forced unconscious.

Call it "Interrupting the moment." if you wish, but he WOULD NOT let such a BLATANTLY obvious breach of rules slide—

His eyes were drawn to the plumettes magepen, the periwinkle hue barely visible with how much blot it had accumulated, then to Makabs, which was dotted with large specks of blot, but not nearly as much as the prior.

Lonnie had often been described as being much like Trey. If such held true, it was high likely he'd downplay his own injury to prevent others from worrying.

Rook must of known this....and if Lonnie had been the final one left moving, he had been downplaying or ignoring his own injury severally.

"Unless they bore a good reason for their actions." Riddle had to now take this into account before placing his judgment. By the looks of