Down the Rabbit Hole... To A Brighter Place

The Dark Mirror

My Pov

"Ah, found you at last. Are you some of the new students? You shouldn't do things like that. Leaving the Gate on your own!" the strange man said. Students? Was this place a school?

"Umm... not sure what you mean, sir." Nagisa said. That's when, what I assumed to be his eyes, widened in surprise.

"Wait... you're all female!" he exclaimed.

"Last time we all checked." Tora said, clearly annoyed.

"Why in the world did the Ebony Carriage bring girls to the school?" the man mumbled. Ebony Carriage? That must have been the carriage that suddenly appeared out of nowhere. "However, you girls have brought a clearly untrained familiar with you, which has broken a number of school rules."

"Familiar? Is... this a school for sorcery?" Fumino asked. Of course my gamer sister would catch that. Before the man could answer her question, Grim interrupted.

"Let me go! I'm not their freakin' familiar!" he spat.

"Sure, sure. The rebellious ones always say things like that. Just quiet down for a moment." The man said, covering Grim's mouth as he struggled to get free. "My goodness. It's unprecedented for a new student to leave the gate on their own." It was?

"In our defense, we were being chased by the rabid, talking raccoon there." Emiko said. This granted a muffled yell from Grim.

"In any case, the entrance ceremony is already well underway. Let's head to the Hall of Mirrors." the man said.

"I'm sorry, new students?" Sayumi asked.

"Yes. The room you all woke up in is where all new students must come through to attend this academy." the man said. Does that mean... we're going to go to school here? "Normally, students wake up only after the door is opened with a special key, but..."

"So, the coffins are doors?" Ran asked.

"Yes. So in the end the culprit appears to be this familiar. If you're going to bring it with you, you have to take responsibility and properly take care of it." the man said. That's when the man glanced at the clock. "Oh my! Now isn't the time long to be winded. The entrance ceremony will soon com to a close. Let's get a move on."

"Just wait a moment. Who are you exactly?" Hikari asked.

"What's this? Are you still dazed?" the man asked. We all shrugged our shoulders. "It appears the teleportation magic has left you all disoriented... Well, it is fine. It happens often enough. I shall give you an explanation as we make our way there. For I am gracious" We all followed this man back outside. I was able to take in the scenery better now that we weren't running.

"Where is this?" Mikan asked. The man then cleared his throat.

"This is Night Raven College." he said. College? Was this a university or was that just the name given to this place? "Those wizards blessed with an aptitude for magic gather from all over the world, here at the most prestigious academy in Twisted Wonderland." Magic? Twisted Wonderland? What the hell? That carriage must have killed us and we're just in some weird dimension of limbo.

"Are you the headmaster?" Yurina asked. The man nodded.

"I am the headmaster, appointed to take care of this academy by the head chairman, Dire Crowley." the man said.

"I'm sorry, did you say wizards? I asked. Crowley nodded.

"Only those wizards seen as worthy by the Dark Mirror can attend this school. Chosen ones use the Gate and are summoned here from around the world." he said. Why were WE brought here then? We have no magic. "An Ebony Carriage carrying a gate should have gone to meet you all as well."

"Oh! That strange carriage from the bridge!" Ran exclaimed.

"Although, it is strange that it brought not one, but twelve girls to an all boys school." Crowley said.

"All BOYS school?!" we all exclaimed. I did not like this. I did not like this at all. We're the only girls in this whole school? That meant that all the teachers were more than likely male too. Crowley nodded again.

"The Ebony Carriage goes to welcome new students chosen by the Dark Mirror. They are special carriages that carry the doors to the academy. The market decided long ago that carriages are used to welcome people of special days." he said.

"So... that carriage brought us here all on its own?" Hikari asked. Crowley nodded again. Grim then started to struggle and protest.

"Muggamm! Muggghh!" I felted kind of bad for him, but he did try to set me and my sisters on fire.

"Come now. We must head to the ceremony." Crowley said. He started to walk and we followed him.

"Hey, when did our clothes change?" Tora asked. That's when we all finally noticed the strange robes we were all wearing.

"Those are your Ceremonial Robes. Every student has a different set of uniform clothing that you'll each depending on the class or occasion." Crowley said. This was going to be interesting.

...

...

...

My trembling had to be obvious to everyone in this room. There had to be at least six or seven hundred boys here! After Crowley finished talking to the boys that were in the center of the chamber, he turned to us.

"You are the only ones not assigned a dormitory. I shall watch over the raccoon, one of you please step in front of the Dark Mirror." Crowley said. I glupped and decided to go first. I slowly walked to the mirror. As soon as I was close enough, a strange face appeared. I nearly jumped back in surprise, but held my composure.

State thy name

Huh? Oh.

"Kokomi. Kokomi Ryou." I said.

Kokomi... The shape of thy soul is... I do not know.

What? What did that mean?

"Come again?" Crowley asked.

I sense no spark of magic from this one... nor from the other eleven with her... The colors, the shapes, are all nothing. Therefore, they are suited for no dormitory.

I heard numerous murmurs around me. I just wanted to crawl into a hole and die there. I felt a hand grab my arm. I looked and saw it was Hikari and Tora. The others gathered around me, all while pulling on the hoods of their robes to keep their faces hidden.

"An Ebony Carriage would absolutely never go to meet someone who can't use magic! Let alone a dozen people!" Crowley exclaimed. This was getting to be too much. "In 100 years there has not been a mistake in student selection. So why in the world..." That's when Grim finally broke from Crowley's hold.

"Then I'll take their place!" Grim exclaimed.

"Stay right there! Raccoon!" Crowley exclaimed. Grim got a cocky smirk on his face.

"Unlike those dumb humans, I can use magic! Let me in the school instead! If you need proof, I'll show you right now!" Grim exclaimed. He suddenly began spewing fire like crazy. This caused a huge commotion as me of the students began piling out of the chamber to escape. The girls and I all pushed and separated. I kept getting pushed back and forth, until I was knocked to the ground. Right when I thought I was about to be trampled-

OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!