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Moonlight filters into the dorm living room, which consists of a burgundy couch packed with age, definitely on the cheaper end, a TV dead center turned, a few minorly used bookshelves, a majority books of the self-help category and finally a few pictures of various cadets. It's late at night at the Academy, the place is mostly quiet, save for the occasional sheep in the distance and the snoring of mythical teenagers.
However, this night, someone couldn't slumber.
A candlelight flickers on from inside the bedroom in the dorm with the sound of light movement, not necessarily walking, as that would require feet touching the ground, but rather the sound of fabric flowing through the air.
The door creaks open as a pale blue figure looks out.
Slowly, she crept into the corridor into the living room with relief, as she was about to turn towards the kitchen when she heard.
“Hurry up and dry…!”
Someone hissed
The pale blue figure then floats up to the couch, hands glowing a faint black like living shadows, her skull companion for once quiet following her like a moon to a sun.
The blue girl then jumped out in front of the couch.
“I caught you! Thief-’Roller Brawl?” The figure paused, powers flickering off awkwardly
“Gah! Look, if you're gonna be Ms. Nightmare, at least make sure your helmet is on!’What are you even doing up anyway hex? “ Roller Brawl asked annoyed clearly spooked but distracted.
“I was going to ask you the same thing…! It's like’ three in the morning like the witch's hour. You're lucky I'm a baby witch because three am is my hour!”
The vampire-like girl laughed, fangs peaking out in a half-smirk
“Your hour?’ Please! I'm like totally nocturnal! I practically RULE the night.”
The two then hear a loud snore reminded of the new kid.
“Keep it down, you are going to wake cynder.”
“Oh' that's what her name is?”
Hex nodded
“But still,' why are you up? We have class in four hours from now.”
“I'm a vampire’ I'm just always up…unfortunately.”
“Roller Brawl, you know you could of just asked me, right? I make a bunch of different types of potions ‘I'm sure one can help you fall asleep easier.”
“Hex i admire the offer but….’you don't necessarily have the highest reliability history for potions”
“That was only one time! Plus trigger was playing with fire with that one he mixed my transformo spell with toad skin what else did he think was going to happen”
“That's the thing’ he doesn't think he just’ does! Like bro has a death wish”
“I'm sure he's probably cheated death at some point he's near fearless” hex remarks “though seriously you should get some rest’ we are training to be skylanders after all”
“That's just it hex, it doesn't really matter because food fight just wakes up at five thirty every morning and wakes me up obnoxiously!”
“I mean he is an ardichoke. “
“What does that have to do with anything?
“Food fight's internal clock is internally wired to follow the sun, actually technically he can stare straight into it all day if he let his natural instinct brain take control. Eventually, he might even plant himself into the ground and-'what?”
“You're doing it again.”
“I'm not doing….anything?”
“Nah, you are. You're doing the over-explaining thing where you just go full nerdy and talk about stuff that most ordinary people like me don't have time for.” Roller Brawl's expression was lost, roller brawl is the type that actually needs to either see it for herself or have a simple explanation.
“Basically in a nutshell food fight's like a sunflower. “
“OOooh!’ OK! Got it’” Roller Brawl nods rapidly.
Hex then sits onto the couch next to her,glancing at Roller brawl's hands.
“Painting your nails?”
“Uh-huh! I figured that if I'm gonna be an insomniac, that I might as well be an insomniac with something to do’ though this' this is taking forever!”
Hex's hands then glows a soft blue and she places her hand above Roller Brawl's and instantly her nails dry up.
“...Perhaps I need to learn witchcraft because that was awesome!”
“...That was just a speed-up spell…it's one of the most rudimentary spells taught.”
“ That was beginner level?!”
Hex nods her head with a newfound pride. She wasn't used to such praise especially from her previous pairs from her old school. Raven feather’ academy for young sorceress, sorcerers, white witches and warlocks
Roller Brawl glances over at an old photo of a young hex maybe eight years at the youngest with her younger brother rider both at the time of that photo alive and not undead, in the photo hex has a pale spring green with dark indigo hair with blue eyes and was wearing a dark blue dress with white lacing.
the two in the picture seemed so cheerful ‘innocent in that way only early childhood could provide.
Roller Brawl holds her braid twirling it nostalgically.
Though a somber feeling soon followed making her look away from the photo in a bittersweet feeling
“ I used to have family photos like that with my brothers.“
She quickly hushed when she realized what she just said
“Roller’ are you okay? I noticed you stared at my elementary school photos hard.”
“Oh!?” Uh’ yeah I'm good' peachy as you fancy people say”
“Roller Brawl’ you never used that word at least so far. That was the worst lying tone i ever heard honestly.” Hex looked at her crossing her arms. “Are you alright? Please be honest this time.”
“Nyynnn…no. There' i said it. Happy now?”
“well not really. I'm not happy unless you are happy RB”
“Seriously that's the nickname you came up with?”
“Would you want to be called “ brawlie?” Rather then?”
“ pft! Hell’ no! The quack kind of name is that?”
“Heh! The quack?”
“...shut up.”
“Sometimes I wonder what could of been…” roller brawl whispers
“What could of been?” Hex asked voice softening
“My brothers…before I joined the academy the five of them and me” Roller Brawl swirls her braid tail in nostalgia. “They were my world. When I was scared as a child they always stood by me' honestly I don't know where I would be without them.”
Hex listens emotionally invested.
“They were my first audience’ my first fans. They inspired me to be Skylands first woman Roller derby athlete, they helped my train and sneak out when my traditional parents were acting like haters.”
Roller Brawl eyes mist up slightly, she turns her face away.
“They made my suit for the big game.”
Roller Brawl holds her glove looking at a hidden stitch in the shape of a heart.
“They seem nice” hex said softly patting Roller brawl's shoulder.
“They were the nicest.”
Roller Brawl shoots over to hex looking at her’ her covered eye slightly revealed
Eyes softening a faint bitter-sweet smile.
Ssssssluuuuuurp…!
Roller Brawl's head turned towards the kitchen nook so fast a faint snap could be heard. Hex turns towards her.
The kitchenette's lights are off’ it's dark but a small shape at the dining table is shown.
Green eyes stare forward wide as if embarrassed
“YOU!” Roller Brawl hissed.
“Uh' sup?” The figure answered back.
Roller brawl's eyes twitched and she looks at hex eyes wide.
“i thought you said he was a sunflower basically.” Roller Brawl's voice came out so raspy it sounded like she just smoked ten cigarettes at once
“ I said “like”.” Hex whispered back.
“Yo! Why you up anyway!?”
“I couldn't sleep dude’ the vibe wasn't right y'know?” The figure argued mumbled with food in his mouth specifically with chow mein.
Roller brawl's nostrils were basically smoking at this point,her face was RED.
“The hell you mean you couldn't sleep !? That's like’ your whole thing you little sh-!” “ keep it down you are going to wake cynder”
Hex lays her hand on Roller brawl's shoulder calming her down.
“...were you listening the whole time?!”
The figure nods slowly
Roller Brawl pinched her nose bridge sigh turning into an outright hiss.
In a blur she closes the distance in a near-choking grip though the figure just looks at her with a silent look of “what are you doing?” There was nothing for Roller Brawl to choke as of the being has the ability to both breathe normally or breathe through his skin though Roller Brawl punches his stomach making him choke on his food which cause them to spit it out straight on her face.
“Seriously?” Roller Brawl wiped the noodles off her face expression even more tense.
“IF You even are even thinking to snitch to trigger happy’ I will personally find a sous chef to turn you into salad and feed your salad remains to the sheep!’ UNDERSTOOD FOOD FIGHT?!”
Food fight's eyes were wide’ wider than hex ever saw them and he rapidly nods so fast it causes a headache making panicked artichoke noises which are basically high-pitched squeaks.
Roller Brawl smirks and let's go dropping him.
Hex sighs covering her face shaking her head while skull her familiar tips over food fight's chow mein box onto his head covering him in noodles.
“Roller’...you have serious anger issues. “
Roller Brawl raised a finger to argue but looks down seeing food fight on his knees hacking up a storm sounding like the equivalent of a dying bird and un-raises it.
She can't argue with that.
Roller Brawl stomps'somehow in her skates over to the couch to check on her nails that are surprisingly untouched considering what she just did.
Hex looks between the two. She floats over to food fight offering a glass of water.
Food fight quickly takes it and drinks it half way’ pauses then lifts the glass pouring it on his headleaves and they soak it up almost instantly.
Hex just stares.
Skull slowly turns to her.
“The sheep???” Her familiar cussed.
Hex was taken in shock rushing to correct his mouth.
Food fight just grabs his food that is half way empty and just sits back down like nothing happened.
Hex finally blanks and let's it go and sees a package by the door and floats over to it. She doesn't have time to ponder how a clothing-less artichoke teenager just drank water through his hair at three am because that would force her to ask why she exist in a school full of vampires, dragons, grimlins,aliens and Ancients know what else and she currently doesn't have the brain-cells nor patience to do that.
Hex opens the box to see cynder's, food fight's and roller brawl's sheep-ball gear. With care she picks up food fight's and roller brawl's.
“Hey there's something here you two might be interested in.”
The two look over curiously and goes over to hex.
“Neat! They came!”
“Finally! I was starting to think trigger happy ate mine!”
Roller Brawl looks over eye brow raised
“Why…why would he eat your- YOU KNOW WHAT? Never mind i don't want to know.”
“You know you guys would look cool wearing this while running around…doing what you do in sheep-ball.”
“Heck yeah! I would totally look in season with this on bro!”
“Yeah this looks sick as the underworld!”
Hex then smirks slyly.
“You know sheep-ball requires teamwork right?”
“Well DUH! that's' like what's sports are about hex!”
Hex then almost unnoticeably inches them closer together smiling like a kid trying to force two dolls to be friends.
“Mm-hmm'yes exactly but no fights can happen meaning TEAMMATES have to’ GET.ALONG.” her teeth grind together slightly at the last bit.
Food fight and roller brawl both look at hex in sync finally seeing at what she's getting at and step away from each other roller brawl even dusting off the shoulder food fight's shoulder touched.
“No way in HELL. I RATHER eat dirt than even high-five that weirdo!”
“Yeah’ no same here dude! Knowing my luck she'll use me as an emergency blood smoothie!”
“Don't tempt me.”
“See!? This is why me and her will never get along! She's like my sleep paralysis demon except she's real!”
“Why thank you. I aim to make myself the least welcoming as possible.” Roller Brawl hissed semi-sarcastically.
“It helps keep lazy,weirdos like you away.”
Food fight's leaves flare and sharpen.
“Gee, no wonder everyone avoids you. You're so not cool to be around.
Hex looks at the two both slightly sad and concerned but anyhow she plasters a smile on her face and floats up to them to try to calm them down.
“Now both of you chill out,no need to say anything rash. After all we are all a bit….strange here in our own way I mean as a child I used to eat glue like it was candy!...heh clearly I no longer do that….at least not a lot.”
Hex tucks a glue bottle behind her back guilty.
“I am not strange…” roller brawl mumbled as if trying to convince herself.
“But before we light our torches and pick up our pitchforks’ metaphorically…hopefully’ let's at least start to get to know each other after all maybe you two have something in common that you guys can bond with and hopefully not beat each other up tomorrow when we are all wide awake and full of energy.”
“So you're taking his side now!?” Roller Brawl asked temper flaring right back up.
“No’ all I'm saying is we are all going to be real Skylanders one day and I would like for you two to exist in the same room without everything going to crap.” Hex raises her hands in defense.
“ but food fight what makes Roller Brawl look so’ unwelcoming to you?”
Food fight looked at hex like she just asked what color the sky is.
“Well there's like a million things but mainly it's her hissing and glaring! Like I'm trying to sleep at night and all i see in my closet is glowing pink eyes staring into my soul!
Hex looks over to roller brawl only to see her glaring and food fight looks at her and then back at hex crossing his arms fake awkward coughing.
“Roller Brawl can you stop staring? Please.” Hex asked
Roller Brawl begrudgingly stops and huffs.
“Now why exactly don't you like food fight?” Hex asks.
“He for one has only two moods: hyperactive and lazy, like if he isn't on the ceiling he is melting in his hammock watching cheesy horror movies while we are out training!”
“So what do you want me to be?! Moody and brooding like you!? I can't just be basically a bully all day and push innocent cadets out the way all because they are having a social life!”
“I don't have a problem with normal people talking to their friends.”
“What's a normal person to you? Because no one here is!”
“Oh I don't know, maybe people who don't run around shooting tomatoes at people all day' smiling like they are still a child!”
“Well your not normal either dude! Always being a mood killer and the fun police!”
“I AM NORMAL!”
“NO NORMAL PERSON PUSHES A NEW STUDENT DOWN A DECK OF STAIRS FOR SAYING SORRY THAT SHE RAN INTO YOU!” Food fight's voice cracks with unexpected anger.
"How do you hate someone you haven't even met yet?”
“Well you're not any better! Who puts slime under someone's door on their first day!?”
“I didn't know she was the sensitive type! I was in the wrong for that! There i said it!”
“Hex isn't his agreement crap!?”
Hex looks at roller brawl. “Well actually he's right… that was a bit unhinged of you to do that’ not saying that you are crazy…”
Roller Brawl looked at hex in betrayal and disbelief and her expression soon started to bleed into anger.
“ I knew it! You're taking his side!”
“Roller Brawl’ please it's not like that i-” “stop talking! You already said what you meant!”
“You think I'm crazy!”
“What! No!?”
“Save it!” Roller Brawl skates toward the door hands shaking “just when I thought someone understood…!”
Roller Brawl skates off into the hallway slamming the door.
The two stood next to each other concerned. Food fight's anger melted away in an instant guilt replacing it,leaves drooping slightly losing their sharp edge.
Hex sighs
Though skull clearly mood death turns to both
“Well that went to crap.”
Food fight looked at him.
“Dude what the heck?....”
“Skull go lay down.”
“But-” “NOW!”
Hex's voice snapped uncharacteristically.
Skull floats into the bedroom leaving the two alone.
Food fight looks at the glove roller brawl left behind on the couch.
“That was my bad….”
“ don't start blaming yourself.”
“But if i minded my own business this would of never happened.”
“ it was inevitable we share a dorm eventually you would have heard it anyway. What we need to do is learn to live with each other or else this could get us killed one day.”
“Where do you think she went?”
“Probably downtown to the skating ring’ she had the keys to the place.”
“Should we go down to see if she's ok or…”
“Not “we” it's late, get some rest, I'll check on her.”
Food fight nods and awkwardly goes to the bedroom as hex stares at the door and soon leaves.
The dorm soon became quiet again with the faint sound of snoring now but one thing was clear-
Things had to change.