𝙄𝙣𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚 |. 𝙏𝙒𝙎𝙏 .|

𝟏𝟕

——Ace gasped as a rose bush went flying toward him...well it was a bush. "Nngh?! What just-" Riddle fumed, observing the situation. "Huh? I'm still alive? What's with all these playing cards?"Ace gawked. "All the rose trees turned into cards?" Deuce muttered.

"Riddle, stop this right now!" Trey yelled, his magic wand dimming. He had just used magic. "Wait, is that Trey's "Paint the Roses"?! But... how?!" Cater shrieked. "All the magic-sealin' collars are gone!" Grim happily cheered. "What did I tell you? My magic can overwrite characteristics for a short time. So I used it to make "Riddle's magic" into "my magic."" Trey explained, eyes focused.

"You can do that? That's some kinda loophole!" Cater said with a growing smile. "N-no... Off with their heads! I SAID, off with their heads!" Riddle tried creating more collars...only for them to turn right back into playing cards. "Riddle, stop. Can't you see how you look right now?" Trey begged.

"He...He was really gonna do it!" One student cried. "He is completely out of control." Another scoffed. "He's like some kinda monster!" Another shrieked.

"What? Was my magic overwritten by yours? Does that mean your signature spell is stronger than mine?!" Riddle yelled, eyes filled with desperation. "Of course it doesn't. Riddle, take a deep breath and listen to us." Trey pleaded.

"Are YOU going to tell me that I'm wrong too? After all I've done to protect the rule of law?! Do you know how much I've suffered for this?! I... I refuse to believe this!" Riddle cried.

"Cease immediately, Mr. Rosehearts! Any further attempt to use magic will leave your magestone completely tainted with blot!" Crowley fumed. "You think he FUCKING cares about that right now!?" I screamed. This bird is pissing me off.

"But... I'm right! I'M the one who's right! There is NO! POSSIBLE! ALTERNATIVE!" Riddle screamed, bringing the attention back to him. "Riddle, stop!" Trey warned...it was too late.

Riddle underwent some sort of magical girl transformation, because now he's rocking an ink-themed Queen of Hearts inspired dress.

"Heh heh heh... AH HA HA HA! You are fools to defy me! You are not welcome in my world. In my world, I am the law. I am order made manifest! The only response I will accept from you is "Yes, Housewarden Riddle." All who defy me will lose their heads! Ah ha ha ha ha!" Riddle cackled, rising into the air.

"Dear me, what have I done? I've allowed a student to overblot in my presence!" Crowley panicked. ""Overblot"? What does that mean?!" Grim asked. "Overblot is a dangerous condition that mages must avoid at all costs. At the moment, he is overcome by negative energy, and has lost control of his magic and emotions." Crowley formally explained.

"Okay, sure...but what does that mean?" Grim asked, twice as confused. "Please explain!" Deuce chimed in. "To put it in layman's terms, he's in evil berserker mode!" Cater yelled from across the field. "If he keeps releasing magical energy, we could be looking at a loss of life here - his included." Trey explained simply.

"Uh, WHAT?!" Grim shrieked. "I'm sorry, loss of life!? Just what condition is this place in!?" I shrieked, glaring at Crowley. "The well-being of my students is my top priority. Therefore, I must evacuate them immediately. As for Mr. Rosehearts, we must restore his consciousness before his magical energy runs dry. For as bad as losing him would be, there are scenarios that are far worse...Listen well: I need all of you to seek help from the other housewardens and members of the faculty." Crowley ordered.

"Hiiiyah! Take that!" Ace yelled, tossing a wind spell toward Riddle. "I summon thee, cauldron!" Deuce yelled, joining the fight.

"What do you fools think you're doing?" Riddle exclaimed in shock, hardly dodging the attacks. "Um, hello?! 911? We've got an idiot emergency!" Cater exclaimed in fear. "You DID hear that part about how reeeal bad things are happenin' with him, right?!" Grim yelled.

"That's why we need to stop him now! I don't want that on my conscience!" Deuce exclaimed, firing more attacks. "And I'm not givin' up till I hear him say "I was wrong and I'm sorry."" Ace smirked. Trey longly sighed in response.

"All right, let's do this. I can overwrite his magic for a little longer. In the meantime, do what you can! Headmage, please evacuate the other students!" Trey ordered. "Wait! This is dangerous!" Crowley bickered. "YEAH AND HE COULD DIE!!" I yelled back.

"Are you S-R-S, Trey? You can't beat Riddle!" Cater exclaimed in shock. "So what, you're not even gonna fight unless you KNOW you can win?" Ace gasped toward Cater. "Yeah, he's right. That's weak." Grim added. "This is the only way we can think of to snap him out of this!"

"Yeah... I don't want to lose him. There're too many things I've left unsaid." Trey commented, a sad and guilty look in his eyes. "We just have to do this, whatever it takes!" I yelled.

"Ugh, I do NOT like or subscribe to this, but fine!" Cater dramatically sighed. "Ngh... I'll be back as soon as I've gotten the students to safety. Stand firm until then!" Crowley ordered, running off to the other students. How cowardly.

"Such defiance, from every last one of you! I shall take all of your heads!" Riddle roared. "THATS IMPLYING WE HAVE MULTIPLE!" I taunted, joining into the fight. Riddle got even more mad in response. "Riddle's body can't take much more of this. We need to stop him before it's too late!" Trey exclaimed.

"COME AT ME MOTHERFUCKER!"

A/N: sorry for the wait, writers block punched me in the stomach 😭🫶