Astro Boy: Core Collision

Episode 6: Marionette's Discovery

As Marionette followed Astro and Cobalt into the school, she noticed everyone's eyes on her. She walked in nervously and tried to avoid the crowd.

Candace ran over to Cobalt and grabbed his arm again, but paused when she noticed everyone else looking at the new girl entering the school. Candace looked over and glared at her.

Marionette looked around to find any place she could enter to avoid everyone, but her eyes suddenly caught a poster on the wall near a classroom. She walked toward it and smiled once she read it.

"Well well well!" Candace said casually. "Are you new here? Because I've never seen you here before." Candace said with a fake smile.

Everyone looked over at Candace, who walked toward Marionette who's focus was on the poster in front of her.

Marionette slowly turned toward the girl standing behind her.

"Oh, hello. I'm Marionette! And yes, I am new here!"

"Oh goodie!" Candace chirped happily. "See everyone? She's new here and she needs someone to help show her the ropes of this school! Isn't that precious?" She clasped her hands together and rested them under her chin.

Marionette looked confused. She was at a loss for words. She looked around and noticed everyone was staring at them both, Astro and Cobalt included.

"Cmon, don't be shy!" Candace urged. "I'll show you all around the school!"

Before Marionette said anything, Candace took her hand and dragged her through the halls with her. Everyone else went toward their classes.

Cobalt looked down at Astro and smiled nervously. "I guess Candace doesn't need me today."

Astro shrugged. "Yeah, it's better that way. Candace is bad news."

"But she was nice to m-"

"I said she's trouble! Just trust me, okay?" Astro interrupted.

Cobalt sighed. "Okay. I trust you little bro."

Astro went into his classroom and Cobalt entered his own classroom down the hall from where Astro was.

Candace dragged Marionette into the girl's bathroom and shoved her onto the floor.

"What was that for?" Marionette asked.

Candace studied the robot doll with her eyes carefully as she walked in circles around her. Marionette looked up at her feeling scared.

"My father told me you'd be back!" Candace hissed.

"Y-your father?"

"Yes! He mentioned your name before. He used to work for you a long time ago."

"Why are you angry at me?" Marionette asked with sadness in her eyes.

"Isn't it obvious? I'M the richest, most powerful person in Metro City! My father is best friends with the president! And now you wanna come back out into the world? For what?"

"I don't want anything. I don't even want any attention!"

Candace grabbed Marionette by the back of her shirt, and dragged her toward the sinks and forcefully dipped her head into a sink.

"I didn't even want to be alive!" Marionette shouted.

Candace turned the water on, causing Marionette to malfunction. The water seeped into her hair and inside her eye sockets.

"Too bad, and stay away from Astro and Cobalt, those two are mine!"

Astro sat at his desk doing his homework in class so he didn't have to do it later when he heard Marionette's distorted screaming.