Alistair sneezed out some blood as he continued trudging along the front yard, though he, Sparrow, and a few other students seemed even worse for the wear. Either they were too dazed or simply didn't care as the ghouls skated along the wall following you as you ran.

Y/N: We should do a perimeter check around the campus, see if we can spot either of the ghouls- girls from the outside. If not, I'll head inside and do my own search. We will need to use our resources in case things get messy.

Operetta: I can easily mess up their eardrums for a few moments. Though not sure how great of a help that'd be, their hearing seems poor.

Abbey: Their hunger is still satiated, though who knows how long it will be until stage 4 develops.

Abbey kept in the middle of the line-up.

Abbey: That is specific hunger for living, right?

Y/N: Afraid so. They should be safe from eating one another, but they'll be ten times worse if they ever sense us. Considering how they've been behaving, stage 4 is gonna be a real walloping on us.

Clawdeen: As long as we cure everybody before stage 5, we should be fine. Ugh, I wish Cupid could've given me some kind of scent to track. I could pick it up between all of the death smell.

Operetta: Didn't Cupid mention her roommate being a locksmith or something?

Lagoona: Oh yeah! Blondie's suppose to be wicked good with getting past locks and stuff. Maybe you need to try sniffing out some copper or brass.

Clawdeen: I can try.

Clawdeen skidded to a halt. She let the others halt before she began sniffing the air.

Clawdeen: Ugh, the zombie scent is worse here. And what's with the smell of frogs?

Y/N: Just try and focus on smelling keys.

You rested a hand on Clawdeen's shoulder. You seemed to act as Clawdeen's eyes now.

Abbey humed as she kept an eye on the zombies

Rochelle: What is with the hmm, Abbey? Is something wrong?

Abbey: I don't like the look of that one.

Abbey gestured over towards a zombie, making Operetta and Rochelle look over.

Abbey: Gives me bad feeling.

Her eyes tracked the red-black haired girl stalking around the garden.

Operetta: She just looks like another princess.

Abbey: No. Look at her walk. She is small and dainty, but no limp. No slouch or crawl either. She walks proud and with power. And look, no other zombie is near her. Zombies always walk in hordes.

Rochelle: Abbey is right.

You looked over at the shorter zombie, probably shorter than the others you had seen up to this point. And she was pretty cute, for a zombie.

Rochelle: All of the other zombies walk together. Even the ones by the tower Cupid told us about. None of them walk alone, so why is she?

Lizzie kept wandering the garden, growling to herself as her eyes searched around. She groaned as something caught on her foot. She glared down and saw a stuck-up root of a large tree. She snarled before aiming her arm back in a chop.

Lizzie: OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!

She easily chops the tree like it was nothing. The top wavered and creaked before falling over. She huffed before continuing along.

Operetta: Oh sweet Sunday blues.

Lagoona's eyes were wide when she saw the display of power herself.

Lagoona: Clawdeen, tell us you got a scent.

Clawdeen kept sniffing the air, before she grined.

Clawdeen: Got it. Over on the left side, near some water. Must be a little pond or fountain. There's about-

She pauses to sniff more.

Clawdeen:-3 other zombies around her, but should be fine.

She opened her eyes finding the detroyed tree.

Clawdeen: When did that fall?

Y/N: Not important. We move now.

Abbey nudged Rochelle and Operetta, then quickly skated forward as Lagoona and Clawdeen follow. You stood there for a moment and watched as Lizzie stalked the grounds. You couldn't really explain it, but you felt some kind of connection with her. Have you met her before?

Clawdeen sniffled a bit as she hurried behind the group. She glanced up at the school building, and her eyes widen as she spotted a flash of pink. No way. She thinks to herself, yet she looks forward at the group.

Clawdeen: Ghouls, I think I saw Briar.

Y/N: Where?

Clawdeen: Up there.

Clawdeen pointed to the third-floor of the school.

Clawdeen: She's wearing a lot of pink, not hard to miss.

Rochelle: I see her too.

Two targets, two teams.

Y/N: Lagoona, Operetta, Abbey, can you get Blondie?

Operetta: You got it, hoss.

Operetta skated forward as Abbey and Lagoona follow after.

Y/N: Clawdeen, you'll for us near the school.

Clawdeen: What? You're going to go in there by yourselves?

Clawdeen grabbed Rochelle's arm.

Clawdeen: You can't do that! You're immune sure, but even with Y/N you guys can get overwhelmed.

Y/N: We can't risk anyone getting infected, and if stage 4 is close to developing, you will be in a lot of danger! I can't have you get hurt.

Clawdeen turned her sharp gaze to you.

Clawdeen: Yeah? And I'm not having you get hurt either! You'll become lunch before you even reach Briar.

Yet she does let go of Rochelle's arm.

Clawdeen: Look, we're a team, on the field or off it, and we don't leave the team behind.

She then turned to you.

Clawdeen: I got your back, and you got mine, right?

She held her hand out towards you.

You hesitated, before taking Clawdeen's hand in yours.

Y/N: And we always cover for one another.

Clawdeen: Right. Now then, I've got an idea on how we can get Briar without getting hurt. We just need to make a quick snack run.

Lagoona slowed down as Abbey and Operetta slow after, with them focusing on the swimming pool on the campus. The three hid behind some bleachers near the track field.

Lagoona: That must be the water, and that, has to be Blondie.

She saw the locksmith stalking around the yard. She was accompanied by Daring, Dexter, and Lilly Bo-Peep.

Lagoona: Cupid's right, her name is spot-on.

Abbey: Though hair is very pretty. Oh, there is bright smile boy too. Did Cedar give any warnings?

Lagoona: No, I don't think so. Just that he's a hotshot.

Operetta: Somehow, that guy still looks good, even as a zombie.

Daring was staring at his reflection in the water. He kept bearing his sharp fangs in a smile, and his flesh wasn't too horribly colored. His hair was still perfect.

Lagoona: Uh, yeah.

Lagoona gave Operetta a cautious look.

Lagoona: Anyways, it doesn't seem like the zombies around Blondie could be any major threat, but if that chopping chick was able to fall a tree with her bare hands, who knows what these guys are capable of. We need to be careful.

Abbey: How do we approach them then?

Lagoona tapped her chin in thought, though she does focus on the length of the pool.

Lagoona: I've got an idea.

Dexter was pawing at his nose, wiping some more dried blood off of his face. It wasn't terribly crooked, though his nose was still red from crashing into the pillar. He snarled as he saw Daring still looking at his reflection. The younger actually nudged the older and off-balanced him.

Daring: Hey!

Dexter: Keep eye out for prey!

Draing: Need to check fangs!

Dexter: Fangs for prey!

A loud whistle caught both of their attention, as well as Lilly and Blondie.

Operetta: Hey, your highnesses! How about you show us how you fight?

Operetta and Abbey sped over towards the pool.

Dexter snarled before roaring, and he started running over as Daring and Lilly do the same. Blondie doesn't move as urgently, since she quirked a brow in seeing the different styles of the two ghouls.

Abbey: Show us your bravado, princes!

Abbey did a sharp turn just past Daring.

Abbey: Woah!

She ducked a swing from Lilly's staff.

Abbey: She's got a weapon! Protect your face!

Operetta: On it!

Operetta snatches the back of Dexter's jacket, yanking it over his head.

Operetta: Come on boys, this all you got? Acting like a bunch of lost toddlers!

Dexter snarled as he fixed his jacket down, though Daring went charging right at Operetta. He swiped at her as she rapidly skated back, before grimacing as some ice was shot in his face. The force knocked him into Dexter, making the two brothers fall over. Dexter groans in worry as his glasses broke on the floor. Daring began pawing the snow off his face before growling as he felt his head.

Abbey: Well-groomed prince! You dropped this.

She swung the crown on her finger. Daring bared his teeth in an angry snarl, and he and Dexter roar in unison before charging over at Abbey. She just chuckled before skating around.

Operetta: You need to clean up your bonnet, missy! You ain't got no bleach in this world?

Operetta skated around Lilly. She was easily dodging every swing from the staff, and Lilly didn't even try scratching or biting.

Operetta: This is as easy as herding snails!

Blondie kept watching the two ghouls bother the zombies, yet her eyes were wide in fascination rather than hunger. Her fingers twitch some, though her left hand reached into her dress pocket and pulls out her MirrorPhone. She struggled to unlock it before smiling as she opened the camera.

Blondie: What a story.

She growled as she aimed her device at the skating ghouls. She blinked in surprise as she heard a ripple in the water.

Lagoona: Aaaargh!

Lagoona yelled as she breeched from the water. She quickly tackled Blondie down while having her rope in hand. She easily moved around to dodge Blondie's strikes as well as her floundering limbs, all while looping the rope around the zombie's limbs and torso.

Lagoona: Easy love, let's make this easy for both of us!

She pulled on the rope. Blondie gasped in surprise as her limbs were drawn in, and she could hardly thrash around as the rope circled all around her body. She snarled and snapped her head around with clashing her teeth for emphasis. She yelped as Lagoona smacked a piece of duct tape over her mouth, then another that covered from ear to ear.

Lahoona: And Bob's your uncle.

Lagoona patted Blondie's head.

Lagoona: Abbey, Operetta, I got Blondie! Let's move!

She hoisted Blondie over her shoulder.

Operetta: On it!

Operetta sped away from Lilly. The musician quickly skated over towards the over-side of the pool, and she cleared her throat.

Abbey: Hustle it! Show your speed!

Daring and Dexter chase after her, with Lilly quickly joining. Abbey led the three zombies closer to the pool, and she ducked low as she skided to a halt by the pool.

Abbey: Now!

Operetta let out a high note as the sound carried over the pool, but the shaking volume and force splashed up a decent wave of water over the zombies. Abbey chuckled as she blasted the three with a ray of ice, quickly halting them and covering them in a thin layer of frost. Both girls smirked as they skated after Lagoona.

Lagoona: Nice job ghouls!

Operetta: Should be congratulating you, that was your idea!

Abbey: Hiding in water was very clever.

Though her eyes widen as she spots something.

Abbey: Heads up!
--------
Briar was wandering around her and Ashlynn's dorm, though other zombies kept filtering in and out of her room. She lingered by her nightstand and lowered her head to peer at the photo. It was a framed picture of her, Apple, and Ashlynn as normal girls, cheering their lattes together as they seemed to be celebrating the spring weather. Briar whined and slouched while staring at the photo.

Brair: Friends hurt.

She growled as she reached out, resting her fingers on the glass. She let out another sad groan.

Brair: Apple hurt bad.

BANG BANG BANG!

Briar jolted up to attention, along with every zombie in her room and in the hall. Some already began snarling and growling as they hurried out towards the noise, though Briar moved slower as she lingers by the doorway.

You were currently making a percussionist debut with literal dishpans. You were banging them together, hitting the walls, and made the racket even louder by striking them on your knees and feet.

Y/N: Come on! I know you hate loud noises!

You yelled out while keeping up the racket. More and more zombies growl while glaring at you, before one roars. You quickly shut it up by chucking both pan at their face.

Y/N: Hit me!

You howled into the air as you started to skate away.

The zombies quickly gave chase. Briar gave her own small snarl as she started to follow, though she quickly halts with another sound. Her head turned over to find the sound of the bass-focused club music that was playing nearby. She stops searching when she sees an odd device being held out on the other side of the hallway.

Rochelle: Hello.

Rochelle quietly greets as she poked her out. Clawdeen turned up the sound of her ICoffin and let the music play louder.

Clawdeen: I heard you are an avid fan of this genre of music?

Briar's eyes seem to dilate as she focused on the device, and she idly walked over without so much as a hiss. She kept her claws down as she got closer to Clawdeen.

Brair: New music. Love it.

Rochelle: We can play the whole album for you if you follow us?

Clawdeen held out the device as well as a pair of earbuds.

Briar smiled as she happily took their offerings. The three of you started to walk together as Rochelle had her skates hanging on her belt, but there were no zombies in the stairwell as the music continued playing.
-------
The group of zombies grew larger as you zoomed down the hall. You jumped up before skating on the stair railing, leaning to go with the momentum as you easily reached the ground floor. The zombies left on top struggled to all go down the stairs, and only a few followed after. Those on the ground floor did take up the task as they roar and chased after you. You kept your grin as you sped along, taking a sharp turn before zooming through the castleteria doorways. The space was only barren of zombies for two seconds before the horde follows after.

"Prey!"

"Hunt him!"

"Catch the prey!"

You just sneered as you did a loop around the castleteria, waiting until there were no zombies by the doorways.

Y/N: Catch this!

You slid by a lunch table and kicking it with all your might. It was a good day to be a werewolf as the lunch table went rocketing forward, crashing in front of one of the doorways. You did this with a couple other tables, waiting until the doorway was fully blockaded before repeating the process with the other doorway. Now a good portion of the horde was blocked off. You snarled with a grin as you turned to face the zombies, and your eyes land on the small but high-up opening in the wall.

Y/N: Thanks for the endurance test, folks, but I gotta go!

Ashlynn tried to tackle you, but you jumped over her, turning it into multiple backflips before launching yourself through the opening. You let out a proud howl as you easily soared through the opening, and tumbled onto the tumbles before standing back up.

Y/N: Woo! That's how we do it!

You boasted as you threw a punch up in the air.

Rochelle: Y/N!

Rochelle peered out of a door by the castleteria's dumpster.

Y/N: Rochelle! Nice, Briar's with you two!

You skated over to the three of them.

Clawdeen: You were right about the music. She never growled at me, and look, she isn't even acting hostile towards you!

Rochelle took her skates back from you, fixing them back onto her own feet.

Briar was growling to herself as she was bopping to the music. She held the ICoffin carefully as the music was audible through the earbuds.

Clawdeen: If there's one thing to transcend worlds, it's good music that any party girl will listen to.

Clawdeen and you fistbumped.

Y/N: Alright, now we just meet up with Lagoona and the others.

Rochelle: Right. They should've gotten Blondie unless there was, a problem- Y/N, the glass!

Y/N: The what?

You looked behind yourself. You gasped as you saw the spiderweb cracked beginning to crawl along the glass. All of the zombies in the castleteria were trying to get to you, putting their weight on the glass and testing its limits.

Y/N: Move, move!

You ran ahead, letting Rochelle drag Briar after her as the zombie growled in surprise. Clawdeen's ears perked up as she saw Lagoona, Operetta, and Abbey skating close by.

Clawdeen: Ghouls, you got Blondie!

Abbey: Heads up!

Y/N: Yeah, we know the- woah!

You narrowly dodged as Lizzie tried chopping your head, though instead making a thick cut on one of the decorative pillars of the school.

Rochelle took notice, and she shoved Briar towards Clawdeen.

Rochelle: I'll be right there!

Clawdeen: Wait, Rochelle!

Though Briar tugged her along when the zombie spotted Blondie.

Rochelle: Hey, over here!

Rochelle yelled out as she stopped by the pillar, waving her arms and getting Lizzie's attention. She eyeed the pillar's line-up and saw how the glass was close to shattering.

Rochelle: Come on, over here!

Lizzie snarled as she lunged forward, swiping her arm in a long chop. Rochelle just ducked out of the way, yet a couple inches of her hair was cut off from the speed of her dodge. She was the only one to notice the stone of the pillar was fully cut through. Rochelle skated away with a look of panic as Lizzie nervously whimpered when the pillar creaked. But it wasn't enough. So, you ran at it at full speed and leaped up, slamming your leg right into it.

The pillar crumbled and fell down with Lizzie leaping out of the way, and the stone landed right as the glass broke. The zombies only collided into the pillar and tried to scramble over it. There was no room between the wall and the pillar's height to let them through.

Rochelle: Mes cieux, that was far too close!

Y/N: We have to move fast, someone could tail us.

Though you noted how Clawdeen was slowed by Briar and the princess only being able to walk.

Clawdeen: Should've brought a spare set.

You sighed and hurried over.

Y/N: You mind if I?

You ended up scooping Briar up in your arms. Briar yelped in surprise, though she sheepishly covered her face as she realized how you didn't even waver.

Y/N: Alright, we're good.

Abbey took the lead, and she noted her creation as the group nears the front of the school.

Abbey: Ice ramp is melted, hold on.

She sped ahead, and she shot up a beam of ice to reinforce the first half as she reached the top. She slid and continued rebuilding the ramp while landing down on the other side.

Abbey: Mission, accomplished.

She turns to face Cupid and Toralei, with the others skating over as well.

Operetta sung a quick note to break the ice bridge, then landed down in a spin.

Operetta: We got the students and not a single scratch!

You and Lagoona carry the two over towards the cart, dropping them in.

Briar didn't seem bothered as she was still listening to the music. Kitty tried to 'look' at the new occupants, and Blondie seemed idle as she was wiggling around in the rope.

Cupid sighed in worry, but she stops herself from reaching out to Blondie.

Cupid: Thanks ghouls. I really wish I could've helped, but I don't have the talent you do.

Toralei: Hey, you said it yourself. You need to be the selector in who we catch.

Y/N: Can't have the expert out of commission. You're helping out plenty, Cupid, don't fret a thing. Besides, this whole ordeal is a lot harder on you than us. We can take the burden.

Cupid: Yeah, it is.

Cupid flinched before plucking out her MirrorPhone.

Cupid: Hold on, Cedar is calling me.

She took the video call.

Cupid: Hey Cedar.

Cedar: Cupid, Cupid! We have a bunch of great news!

Y/N: Really? Like what?

Cedar: Well, for starters-

Robecca: Robecca's back in the game!

Robecca slid into frame, flexing her arms with a large grin.

Cupid: Robecca, you're alright!

Robecca: Deuce brought over my gear and I got my leg fixed right up! I'm all ready to help out on the missions now, and not to mention all that much more energized!

Cedar: Nevermore's also been fed too! Deuce brought food for her and some spare coals for Robecca! Nevermore can actually fly over if you need her to!

Deuce for the absolute win.

Toralei: Oh please, we cannot walk everybody over like this.

Y/N: That's all great, Cedar! Please, do send Nevermore over, but the rest of us will be right over-

Cedar: Wait, there's one more thing!

Y/N: Oh, what?

Robecca and Cedar shared a smile, before moving out of frame as Raven popped up.

Raven: Cupid! Cedar told me more details, and how you've been handling this whole mess!

Raven's eyes were bright and full of cheer as she was basically glowing.

Raven: Are you doing okay? Are you all alright? Is..is that Ozzie?

Cupid just stared in awe as her body was frozen still. Her hands begin to shake as the air in her lungs halts. Tears bud at her eyes as her voice cracks, and she starts to sob while falling down on her knees. She hangs her head, yet she keeps the screen in view as she manages a smile.

Cupid: You're okay.

Raven: I'm okay! Thanks to you.

Cupid continued to sob, and she sobbed harder as you kneeled down by her.
-------
Cupid: I've never been so happy in my life.

Cupid had Raven in a tight bear-hug. She was still crying, though she was smiling as she rocked Raven in her arms.

Cupid: Are you sure you're okay? No, no lingering side effects?

Raven: The change back hurt a lot, but no, I'm perfectly fine. I can't thank you enough for helping to stop this.

Cupid: It's not just me. We've had a lot of help.

Raven chuckled as she does wipe her own tears.

Raven: You're not kidding about that.

Raven looked over to the ghouls.

Robecca: Hold on, I got her, I got her.

Robecca was holding a thrashing, yet still tied-up, Blondie in her grasp. Blondie was sat on a chair as Ghoulia tried to give her the cure. The automaton managed to keep Blondie's head still and push her down on the chair, letting Ghoulia move a piece of rope to put the syringe in Blondie's arm.

Kitty was hissing like a feral animal as Cleo managed to inject her, though her, Frankie, and Toralei stepped back in fear as Kitty began thrashing around like a feral creature.

Toralei: Guess she hates needles as much as I do.

Cleo: I'd hate to be her regular doctor.

Cleo chucked the syringe away, though she eyes the color of Kitty's skin changing to a more pale white.

Cleo: It's working.

Draculaura: There you go.

Draculaura cheerfully injected Briar, who was sitting idly by a tree and still listening to her music. The zombie didn't even flinch, and the vampire tossed the syringe into the waste basket.

Draculaura: Wow, she must really like the music.

Clawdeen: That's Nightmode's newest album for ya.

Clawdeen kneeled by Briar as the zombie goes still.

Clawdeen: And it's kicking in.

She caught Briar when she slumped over.

Clawdeen: Easy ghoul, easy.

She pats Briar's head, with the princess beginning to revert back into her human form.

Nevermore was letting all of the other athletes lounge on her, keeping them shielded from the sun with her wings. The athletes had changed out of their gear, though Clawdeen seemed to be the only one willing to move. Lagoona seemed to already be asleep as Abbey and Operetta were close to joining her. Rochelle was cozying up on Nevermore's foreleg.

Robecca: Easy there.

Robecca kept Blondie up as the reporter slumped, yet she let out a pained groan that was far more human. As she came to consciousness, she looked at her state in surprise and began to move around while Robecca untied her.

She let out mumbled of surprise before Robecca quickly pried the tape off.

Blondie: Ow! Why am I tied up? Wait, did I become one of those monsters- woah!

Ghoulia: Uhhuh.

Ghoulia meekly waved.

Kitty groaned as Toralei unraveled the jacket, and she let out a small hiss as her eyes adjust to the light.

Kitty: What in the world? Ugh, my body hurts. Why do I feel like I've been turned inside out?

Frankie: Technically, you're not wrong.

Frankie flinched back as Kitty shrieked.

Frankie: Right, no simulacrums here.

Brair: Ughh, my head.

Briar's skin shifted back to its natural dark hue.  Her eyes were forced shut from the light as the earbuds were pulled from her ears.

Brair: What?

Clawdeen: Hey. You doing alright?

Briar stared up at Clawdeen with wide eyes, though the small amount of blush creeping up on her face was visible.

Brair: I- yeah, I'm, I'm fine.

Clawdeen: My name is Clawdeen.

Brair: I'm, Briar.

Draculaura turned away to hide a squeal as she held her hands to her face. She simply scurried over towards Cupid, Cedar, and Cedar as Cupid was now calmed down.

Draculaura: The cure's a success all around!

Cupid: And that's perfect. Now we just need to cure everybody.

Y/N: Ghoulia's already started making another batch, but there's still enough for about 20 cures right now.

You approched the smaller group after talking to Deuce, really thanking him for all that he's done. Everyone's been pulling their weight.

Y/N: The orchard should be able to hold everybody. It's just going to be a struggle trying to collect everybody and bring them over. Our rescue team is already tuckered out from one trip. Who knows how many trips they'll need to make.

Cupid: Especially since we need to restrict all of the students to get them here in the first place. It doesn't help that they're in multiple areas either.

Draculaura: And I- I hate to bring the mood down after a victory or three, but Cupid, stage 4 is going to be setting in at any point. Possibly even stage 5.

Raven and Cedar noticed the new fear in Cupid's eyes.

Raven: What's stage 5?

Cupid: Nothing that we need to worry about if we act fast. We just... need to adapt.

She lets her eyes wander to the assembly table.

Cupid: Syringes aren't going to cut it anymore. It takes too long.

Cedar: Then how are we going to get everyone cured?

Cupid hesitated as she looked at her right where you were standing

Y/N: We need to get new gear.
---------
Blondie grimaced at Kitty's sobs, yet she just leans on Cedar while patting Kitty's arm.

Blondie: I don't think anybody will ever stop talking about this event.

Raven was quietly watching the three, yet her focus moved as Briar slides down to sit next to her.

Brair: Hex of a day, huh?

Raven: Hex of a weekend.

She seemed to slack before resting her head on Briar's shoulder.

Raven: And to think my mom started this whole mess.

Brair: She likes to make issues and have you fix them. It's going to be okay. We always save the day.

Raven: No, Ozzie always saves the day, but he isn't here.

Brair looked over to where you were standing. The same question was on her mind.

Brair: I think he might me. That guy over there, the one who's been ordering the others, he kinda looks like them, right?

Raven nodded.

Raven: Maybe he's a cousin? The only other logical explanation is that he's their brother, but they only had one and he was younger. He looks the same age.

Brair: He does. But, he also feels familiar somehow.

Nevermore whimpered as she looked over the five girls. She skittered out from Kitty's side and enlarged herself, then curling around the girls and the tree. She lightly snorted as she rested her head by Raven. She does smile as she received a scratch on her snout, yet the dragon merely moved her tail to tap Kitty's leg in comfort.

Who ever you were, they were trusting you to make things right.

Cupid: Y/N.

You turned to her.

Cupid: I think we should finish talking about....

Y/N: No. We shouldn't. Not until this is all over.

Cupid frowned. You weren't the boy she remembered meeting a while back. The one she had a date with. You had changed. Something about you was sharper. Your attitude was more serious and you held more confidence. But, she also saw the burden you carried.

You were both the sword and shield of Monster High. Always defending, always fighting.

How heavy was the weight? And how much longer could you carry it?