The Winged Child

♥ Chapter 22: Soundly Chastised

***Heartslabyul Dorm - Rose Maze***

C.C. POV:

I watch as the fight ends in only minutes. "I have a bad feeling..." I mumble. "Off With Your Heads!" Riddle yells, effectively ending the fight by collaring Ace and Deuce, who screamed. "Urrrgh... Not again. I didn't even have time to finish my spell!" Ace exclaims upsetly. "He shut us down like it was nothing..." Deuce mumbles. "He was really fast." Bubba says, I nod my head in agreement. "Visualization is key to spell casting. The better you are at accurately visualizing your magic's effects, the stronger and more precise it will be. It would appear Mr. Rosehearts has finely honed his magic." Crowley explains.

"Myah... They didn't stand a chance." Grim says in disappointment. "Nope." Mikey says in agreement. "Hmph. You didn't even last five seconds. That was all you had, and still you thought to challenge me? You must be utterly humiliated. I guess my mother was right. A man who cannot follow rules is a man who cannot achieve anything." Riddle states bluntly. "Mommy issues?" Mikey whispers. "Yeah... bad ones from what little I got out of him." I reply. "Tch... We agree that rules should be followed. But forcing others to follow nonsensical rules like the ones you've enacted is tyranny!" Deuce exclaims. "Then you agree that breaking rules is wrong. And in this dorm, I AM the rules. Therefore, those who cannot abide by my decisions deserve not the heads they use to complain!" Riddle says angrily.

"Riddle, you can't use rules however you please. There is such thing as too many rules." Bubba steps in. "If there were no penalties, no one would follow the rules. I have to wonder what sort of pitiful education left you unable to comprehend so simple a concept. Clearly, you were born to parents with no great magical capability. And as a result...You lack even the basic education necessary to attend a school such as this. It's quite sad." Riddle says coldly while Bubba stays silent. "You little..." Deuce says while trying to contain his anger. "You shut your spoiled little mouth!" Ace yells before punching Riddle. "...I'll go get a medical kit." Mikey says before walking away.

"Wh-what?" Riddle says in shock after stumbling back. "Riddle?!" Cater and Trey say in worry. "Mr. Rosehearts?!" Mama says in shock. "Whoa! He just punched the housewarden...!" I hear a student say in surprise. "Bam! Right cross to the face!" Grim says proudly before getting flicked by Bubba and whining. "A-Ace?!" Deuce says in shock. That's all I can take. Forget Riddle. Forget the duel. I'm done." Ace says angrily. "That hurt! You... p-punched me?!" Riddle says in shock. "Kids aren't trophies for their parents to flaunt. And the accomplishments of a child aren't determined by the worth of their parents. It's not your parents' fault you became a tyrant - or anyone else's. You've been here a year and haven't even made a friend who will tell you you're outta line. And that's on you." Ace says.

"Ace stop-" Bubba tries to intervene. "What are you even talking about?" Riddle asks. Yeah, maybe you had some rigid upbringing from a relentless helicopter-mom. Is that all you are? An extension of her? Can't you think for yourself? You call yourself the "red sovereign"? You're just a baby who's good at magic." Ace continues. "Baby...? Did you just call me a "baby"?! You don't know anything about me! You don't know anything about anything!" Riddle snaps. "Nope, sure don't. And I don't need to. Your attitude tells me all I need to know - that you're nothing but a spoiled brat!" Ace replies. "Ace! Knock it off!" Bubba says loudly. "Shut up, shut up, shut UP! My mother was right! And that means I'm right too!" Riddle screams. "Riddle, calm down. The duel is already over." Trey says giving us a nervous look. "Mr. Clover is correct. The challenger has been disqualified due to physical violence. If you do not cease your conflict now, I'll have you written up for breaking school rules!" Mama adds.

"Ace is right, though! I've had enough of Riddle!" a student says before throwing an egg at Riddle. "....C.C. get you nightmares, and make sure your animatronic is ready....I don;t think were getting out of this unscathed..." Bubba mumbles to me. "Heh heh... Ah ha ha ha! You say YOU'RE fed up?! I'M the one who's fed up with all of YOU! No matter how strict I am, no matter how many heads I remove, you keep breaking the rules! All any of you care about is doing what YOU want to do! If the guilty party won't come forward, then I'll pass judgment on all of you! Clearly, none of you value your heads! Off With Your Heads!" Riddle yells in anger. "Bwaaah! Let's get out of here! Urrrgh..." the students exclaim while escaping.

"Ah ha ha ha! How do you like that, hm? Now no one can do a thing to me! Do you see now? My strict adherence to the rules was clearly the correct path!" Riddle says madly. "He's losing control Bubba..." I mutter. "Cease this improper behavior now, Mr. Rosehearts. I expect better from you!" Mama exclaims. "Trey, if he keeps using his spell... This could get ugly, fast!" Cater says in fear. "Riddle, stop this!" Trey yells. "Wow, way to totally prove me wrong here, pal!

I call you a baby, and you immediately throw a temper tantrum! Ow!-" Ace exlcaims before getting smacked in the back of the head by Yuu. "Retract your comment immediately, or I shall skewer you where you stand!" Riddle screams. "No way. I ain't retractin' squat." Ace says grumpily while rubbing the back of his head where Bubba smacked him, only earning frustrated and angry screams from Riddle.

"Dude, this is bad! You've G-2-G, now!" Cater says fearfully. "The rose trees! They're floating!" Grim points out. I turn my attention away from Riddle and notice that the rose trees were in fact very much floating. "This is some serious magic!" Deuce says in a mix of awe and fear. "Mighty roses, tear this brute to pieces!" Riddle yells. "Cease and desist at once!" Mama yells. "Everyone! Run! Now!" Bubba yells while Ace gasps. I sigh and back up a bit into the shadows, to watch and wait. I know I'll be in this soon.

***Mutilated Mindscrolls***

Gabriel POV:

'It's about time the sun set. It's not like we're even performing anymore. But the rotation is the same. I should go find Cass and check on Afton and the girl.' I walk out of the Freddy animatronic and check up on everyone. Jeremy and Fritz are talking, Suzie is watching over the girls and Afton, and now I only need to find Cass. I walk backstage to where Golden Freddy is supposed to be. She's not there. "Guys Cass is gone!" I yell. I hear everyone rush in and gasp in worry. "But if Cass and C.C. were taken....." I hear Suzie mumble. "We might get taken too." Fritz finishes. "Everyone stay alert and on guard. Cass had a bad feeling before she disappeared. I don't want anyone getting scrapped again." I say sternly. Everyone nods and hesitantly goes back to their other tasks. I just stand in silence before going back to Freddy to think over everything.