Unicorn Academy - Honorary Siblings

Chapter 29 - Grim Findings

December 8 - December 9, 2023

Talulah worked on her pigtails as she danced around the room to a song Rory had shown her, before jumping in surprise when she heard something crash in the common room. Talulah opened the door and looked over the balcony to see Valentina and Isabel fighting over a broken vase, and her eyes rolled as she made her way downstairs. Quickly getting between the two, Talulah put her hands on Valentina's shoulders to calm her down, while Layla came over and explained what had happened. Rory comes into the common room rubbing his eyes with his hair still messy, indicating he'd just woken up, but his face brightens when he sees Talulah.

Layla - "They've been at this like cats and dogs!"

Talulah - "Alright, alright, that's enough. Let's all just calm down, okay?"

Isabel - "Not until this spoiled brat apologizes to me for making me fall!"

Valentina - "What?! No way! It's not my fault you can't walk in a straight line!"

Talulah - "Girls, if you—"

Isabel - "I only fell because Valentina pushed me when she was walking by!"

Rory - "Ugh, guys, it's too early for this—Hey, Sis! How's the best little sister in the world doing?"

Talulah - "Well, I will be fine when these two stop arguing with each other—"

At the sound of the bell, Valentina and Isabel agree to make a rocky peace as they headed to breakfast, but Talulah stopped when she realized someone wasn't there. Asking Ava where her roommate was, Talulah watched her face fall when she explained that Sophia was on their balcony, having woke up from a bad nightmare. It's only right now that the Sapphires realize they've never told Talulah about the events they faced before she got to the school, and the group stands in silence as they try to figure out how to tell her. But at the mention that Sophia was upset because of a nightmare, Talulah informed her friends they could tell her whatever was bothering them later, heading straight for Sophia and Ava's room. On the balcony, Sophia had her back turned to the room, and Talulah walked up slowly as to avoid scaring her. Carefully placing her hand on her shoulder, Talulah watched Sophia jump at the sudden contact.

Talulah - "Hey, you doing okay? Ava told us you'd had a nightmare."

Sophia - "Yeah, I—I'm fine. It was just a dream about Ravenzella."

Talulah - "Raven-who?"

Sophia - "Oh...We never told you about the grim magic, did we?"

Talulah - "Grim magic? What's that?"

Sophia - "Okay, this is a long, long story, so I'll give you the short version until we regroup with our friends."

Talulah - "Okay..."

Sophia told a shorter version of how she and the rest of the Sapphires had faced against an evil sorcerer named Ravenzella, the Queen of Grimoria. Explaining how her father had supposedly died after putting Ravenzella in a crystal cell, Sophia started to regret telling Talulah the story, because her eyes were filled with nothing but complete horror and tears. Not even able to get the full story out, Sophia freezes in shock when Talulah pulls her into a strong hug, before her own tears start up again.

Talulah - "I'm so, so sorry..."

Sophia - "Heh, thanks, Talulah. It just bites, you know? Knowing he's out there somewhere and I can't help him..."

Talulah - "...Sophia, I promise that no matter what it takes, I'm going to help you find your father. I don't know what you and I will have to face to make it happen, but we're gonna get your dad back."