Midnight had come as the moon had been at its brightest and seen in the clear sky, not a cloud had been in sight. Asta had been sound asleep softly snoring as half of his body had been off of the body pillow Prism's room had provided. He had been enjoying whatever pleasant dream he had been having as he had been talking in his sleep.
"Marry me Sister Lily…" He groaned happily as he appeared to be hugging himself.
Adrien soon came over to him as he had whimpered. He started to nudge at Asta in an attempt to wake him up, though he only turned on his side as he brushed him off. Adrien soon poked him with his claw causing Asta to--
"OWOWOWOWOW!" He shouted as he sat up, "Adrien that hurts!"
Asta soon noticed the distressed look on Adrien as he had been whimpering and even his own body fidgeted a little. "Hey, what's wrong?" He asked him to get him to hold in place.
Adrien soon pointed over to the bed where Prism slept only instead--She wasn't in it.
"Prism?!"
He scrambled up off the floor as he went over to it as he pulled back the curtain that was provided as he looked around. He could see that the bed sheets looked to be a bit torn; the hakama jacket she wore earlier had been thrown off, since Prism didn't bother to change into her nightgown. Both of the ribbons that had held together her braid had both been off.
He placed his hand on the bed, "It's still warm."
Adrien soon let out a noise as he soon gestured over to the door as Asta was taken back at the sight.
"What the--?!"
Asta was shocked to find that the door looked to have a fresh hole as it had been limping slightly off of the ceiling. Asta climbed down the ladder to get a better look as it had been swinging with a sound of a creak; Adrien had followed him down the ladder. The door looked to have a couple of burn marks like it was blasted.
"What in the world could've done this?" He asked, looking at the raptor.
Adrien soon started to tug on Asta's shirt as he had been pulling him down the hall. "Do you want me to follow you? Do you know where Prism is?"
Adrien seemed to make a noise of agreement as he started to sniff the ground before taking off down the hall. "That's right--" Asta said, "--You can pick up her scent! Wait for me!" He started to follow him down the hall hoping it would lead him to Prism.
They had gone down the stairs towards the kitchen where he could hear the sounds of pots and pans clanging that made him jump. He had taken a lantern before lighting it up so that he could see better before he went towards the room cautiously.
"Prism?" He called out in a low voice, "Are you in there?"
He opened the door just as he saw a bowl roll outside; strangely enough, he saw the metal edes on the bowl looked to be bent slightly as it seemed to have strange puncture marks. When he did, he saw a familiar young silver haired girl had been practically crawling into one of the cabinets before she started to chew on the edge of a pan as her hair had been loose and sat along her shoulders. Her boots shoes had been long since as well as her arm sleeve glove as well as he could see the burn scar along her arm and hand fully; however her opened toed leggings he could've sworn it revealed her toenails looking strangely sharp in the light of his lantern.
The little spirits had been gathered around her, including a familiar lemur of light as most of them looked a bit worried.
"Prism?" Asta said, a bit shocked.
Prism flinched slightly as she looked over in Asta's direction; His eyes widened slightly as he had seen those familiar white eyes, looking at him curiously as she tilted her head letting out a groan of some kind. Asta couldn't help but sigh with relief, "Thank goodness you weren't kidnapped, but--" He set the lantern on the table as he sat on the floor just across from her, "--What the heck are you doing here in the middle of the night?"
She only answered with a groan as she chewed along the edges, in the light of the lantern he could see a set of small fangs like he did before.
"Prism?" Asta said as he waved his hand in front of the hero to get her attention, "You can hear me right?"
Prism's eyes looked to Asta's hand as she tilted her head again; though instead of words Asta had been shocked when she put her head against it. She let out a gleeful little noise as he could've sworn he heard her purr as the spirits looked relaxed as well.
"She really is in that trance again…" He concluded as he found himself petting her hair as he noticed the sensation. His eyes couldn't help but sparkle.
"Whoa--!" He thought, "--It's so much softer then I imagined! It's almost like silk!"
"Asta?"
Asta nearly jumped when the lights in the kitchen came on. Though he calmed himself when he saw it, Feodora who had been at the doorway with Karasu who had been responsible for setting the lights on.
"Everything good here?" Feodora asked.
"Feo, Karasu!" Asta said, as he was startled when Prism dropped the pan as she laid back, using his lap as a pillow, "What are you guys doing here?"
"We heard some loud noises." Feodora said, "It almost sounded like an explosion. We kind of freaked out when we saw you and Prism were gone with Adrien."
"We thought you guys were kidnapped but I sensed you two were still here in the base." Karasu said, "And found you here."
"You sensed us?" Asta said confused, "But neither of us don't have--"
Asta had been cut off when he heard Prism let out a whine, as she fidgeted a little. At first Asta didn't know why until it hit him when he looked at his hand. "Oh, you want me to pet you more?" Asta said, before he started to pet the top of her head again which she looked relaxed by.
"Uh--" Feodora said, noticing how she was acting, "--Why is she acting like that?"
"Is--This one of her trances you told me about?" Karasu asked.
"I guess, but--" Asta said looking at her as she looked to be giving a puppy eyed look, "--It seems different from last time."
"You think?" Feodora said as she went over to her. Prism looked to be happy to see her as she suddenly gave her a hug and nuzzled her cheek with her own, "She really is more docile than before."
Karasu soon went over to her as Prism as she gave him a curious look, "Weird…" Karasu said, "... Doesn't she recognize us?"
"She knows who we are just fine." Asta said, "She didn't seem to know who Adrien was at first. Though she seems okay with him."
Adrien had been whimpering a little as they could see that his body was shaking, "Now that I think about it he seems a bit uneasy." Asta said.
Prism soon went over to Karasu as he was taken back when he saw she had started to sniff him. "Okay." Karasu said as he had a look as she had gotten close to him, "This is getting stranger." She suddenly started to nuzzle him with her cheek against his own.
"I guess she likes you." Feodora said.
"What gave it away?" Karasu said sarcastically. He soon noticed what looked to be a set of small fangs as she let out a strange little noise. "Are those… Baby Fangs?" He said a bit shocked.
Asta and Feodora had been taken back at this as they examined her closely. "You're right." Asta said, "I didn't notice those before."
"That doesn't make sense, she's only a year younger then us." Feodora said, "She shouldn't have those in the first place."
Karasu soon looked at the pan as he examined the teeth marks along the edges. "It looks like she's been teething on these." He said.
"How do you know?" Asta asked.
"Yoshi did this kind of thing when he was a puppy." He replied, "Anything he found chewable, he used it to teethe. Drove my aunt crazy."
"Again, she shouldn't be doing that in general." Feodora said.
Asta soon looked over to Prism as he gave her a pat on the head as she let out a purr of some kind, "Strange--It's almost like she's a baby again."
Suddenly, they jumped at the sound of a loud growl; just as they heard the sound, Prism started to whimper and groan as she suddenly curled herself into a ball. "Prism?" Asta said with worry, "What's wrong, are you okay?"
Prism could only answer with a whimper as she fidgeted which only had worried them a bit more as the noise coming from her stomach continued. Finally she started to speak as the spirits turned a familiar red yellow shade, "... Hun...Gry… Hun… Gry…"
"Hungry?" Asta said, "You're hungry Pri?"
"Wait, that's it?" Feodora said, shocked, "She's just hungry? She shouldn't be feeling pain then right?"
"She can if it's hunger pains." Karasu said, "I've seen this kind of thing before."
"Then we just gotta get her food to make her feel better!" Asta said, before he stood, "Let's see if we can find some potatoes!"
"No offense, but that's not filling for her." Feodora said, "Do you hear the sound of her stomach right now?"
Prism continued to groan in agony as she repeated the words. "Well we have to do something." Asta said, "At this rate someones gonna wake up and see her like this with that noise!"
Karasu let out a sigh, "I think I might know just the dish to do it." He soon stood, "Asta, take her to the common room and make sure she stays quiet."
"Got it." Asta said as he picked her up from the floor, before taking her out of the room as Adrien followed behind him.
"What about me?" Feodora asked, "What should I do?"
Karasu soon grabbed an apron nearby and put it on himself, before he had taken a pan out of the cupboard, "How's your cooking?"
***
-A While Later-
Pluck couldn't help but pick up the smell of eggs just as he was finishing reading the last page of his book for his nightly study. He groaned as he said, "Damn it, when will that woman learn to cook at the RIGHT times?!" He turned to his duck as she was in her own woven basket, as he said, "Come on, Addi. Charmy's late night cooking again."
Addeline gave a yawn as she said, "Quack..." she got up on her basket and landed on his shoulder as Pluck got his grimoire out. He opened the door and made his way towards the kitchen as he grumbled. "Why did I join this magic knight squad?"
Pluck soon called out, as he entered the room as he was drowsy, "Hey if you're gonna make a midnight snack at least make it subtle so that no one can--What the?!"
When he entered the kitchen he saw it had been in a bit of a mess as he found egg shells and a couple of eggshells on the table and floor; not to mention he saw a couple of pots and pans that had strange dents. Feodora and Karasu looked a bit worse for wear as Karasu had just finished up what had been egg omelettes. It looked as though it had been a whole tower which made his jaw drop slightly.
"Finally done--" Feodora said as she wiped her forehead after she squeezed ketchup on them, "--I think that should just about do it. This oughta fill her up"
"Okay, I need to address the elephant in the room and I mean this with the utmost respect--How in the hell do YOU mess up a freaking omelette?" Karasu said, "That's like the easiest thing!"
"Not all of us are cooks like you or Sister Lily, so sue me!" Feodora argued.
Pluck had soon gotten their attention, "THAT EXPLAINS WHY THIS LOOKS LIKE THE DUMP!"
Feodora jumped at the sight of Pluck, though Karasu looked surprisingly calm as he shushed him, "You trying to wake the whole damn building?" He said as he had gotten out a tray from the cabinet.
Pluck soon said in a low voice, "I should be asking you that! What are you all doing up so late? Did Charmy put you guys up to this so I wouldn't find out?"
"Do I look mad?" Karasu said as he gave him a look, "Have you seen that woman's stomach? It's like a bottomless pit!"
Pluck said with a nod, "I agree! I'm surprised she's able to maintain her posture with all those carbs!"
"Hey--" Karasu said, "--Get the hell out of my head."
Pluck said, giving him a look, "In all seriousness, what are you guys doing here?"
"Let's just say someone who's NOT Charmy was in the mood for a midnight snack." Feodora said, setting the last of the omelettes on the tray.
Pluck looked at her omelettes as he said, "How did you mess this up? This is a simple dish, even the Triple As and Vandy can do this and he's only twelve!"
"DAMN IT, I'M AN ASSASSIN, NOT A GODDAMN COOK!" Feodora shouted as she had been offended, though she was immediately shushed by Karasu as she smacked both of her hands onto her mouth.
"Sorry." She mouthed.
Pluck immediately said as he raised his hands, "Hey, just being honest. Anyway, who are you feeding these too?"
"Well since you're up, and a guy like you can smell a lie coming--" Karasu said, "--You might as well just follow us into the common room."
"Just whatever you do DON'T freak out, Stuck Up." Feodora told him.
Pluck looked confused as he asked, "why would i?"
Pluck soon followed them out of the kitchen and towards the common room, where he could hear the strange sounds of loud stomach growls and the sound of someone whimpering. When he entered the common area he saw Prism had been lying on her side as her head was on Asta's lap.
"It's okay Pri--You're gonna feel better soon, I promise." Asta told her reassuringly as he was patting her shoulder as she let out a cry of agony; he soon held an ice ball, towards her, "Here, you can chew on this to take your mind off of it, kay?"
Prism looked at the ball before she took it as she started to chew on it as she still whimpered.
He could see her eyes were of a white color and she looked to have a set of small fangs as she appeared to be crying. "Oh, hey Pluck!" Asta soon noticed her, "When did you get here?"
Pluck looked to Prism as he saw the way she was acting, even right down to the ball of ice she was chewing with her small baby like fangs.
His mouth opened as he was about to scream--
"Please don't freak out!" Asta, Karasu and Feodora immediately said.
Pluck could only let out a strained scream as his body twitched slightly.
He soon forced a smile, as he was composing himself, "Wha-?! Me freak out? Why would I do that? I mean why would I freak out at the fact Prism is on Asta's lap like a newborn child in tranquility with the exception of those creepy fangs and how long this has been happening for?"
Addeline turned to Prism as she looked at what she was acting, she almost let out a screaming quack until Pluck covered her mouth.
"Well actually that's the thing--" Asta said awkwardly, with a smile, "--This is new to us too. She never did this when we first found her back in Hage."
"WHA--?!" Pluck started to shout before he was shushed by him, Feodora and Karasu.
"--I mean--What?" He whispered before he asked, "What would you call this then?"
"We're calling it the Trance for now." Fedora said, "Basically this started up right before Drama-Llama's spell went berserk and nearly killed us and burned her hands when she tried to absorb it. And Prism doesn't have any recollection of anything that happened while she's like this."
"It doesn't look like she can talk to us either." Asta added as she teethed, "And not to mention, she's teething. The only thing she's telling us is that she's hungry, and she's in pain too."
"Hence why, I made her omelettes." Karasu gestured to the tray, "If anythings gonna fill her up, it's going to be this."
Pluck soon gave it some thought, "It makes sense I guess. Do you know the cause of it?"
Asta shook his head, "The last time she entered this, she only told us that her stomach felt empty."
Pluck's eyes widened slightly, before he started to write down in the notebook, "I think I got it! It must be hunger that triggers the Trance! I remember Prism saying her stomach felt empty before she passed out back in Saussy."
The three of them looked at one another a bit shocked. "Do you really think so?" Asta asked.
Pluck nodded as he replied, "Yeah, and if this is the trigger--"
They jumped at the sound of the growling again, as Prism started to moan in agony again causing her to drop the now half melted ice ball. Adrien and Addeline whimpered with worry as Prism started to fidget again.
"We can hypothesize later." Feodora said, "Let's just get food in her before she ends up waking someone up! AKA--The Captain? Because I for one am NOT about to explain this to him."
"Right!" Karasu said as he set the tray on the table provided, "Here you go, tater-tot! Bon appetit!"
Prism sat up as she looked at the plate of the tower of omelettes looking at it with curious eyes as it had sparkled a little. After taking in the scent, her mouth started to water a little at the sight as she appeared to have let out a groan.
"Hey!" Pluck said soon noticing something was missing, "Where's the fork and knife?"
The three of them looked and saw that the items were missing. "Oh damn it, I forgot to put them on the tray!" Karasu said as he facepalmed himself.
"Hang on!" Asta said, "I'll go back into the kitchen and--"
The four of them jumped when they noticed a set of claws growed on Prism's nails. She suddenly grabbed the omelettes with an aggressive force before she sloppily started to stuff them down her throat making them jump by the sudden action. By the time she was done with it, her face had been a mess as ketchup was splattered onto her cheeks and shirt, as well as some stray pieces of egg. She licked her lips as she smacked them together before she started to clean her fingers.
"Well--" Feodora said with a look as she wiped off a stain of ketchup from her cheek, "--That's mildly concerning."
"Oh man.." Pluck said. "Whatever's causing this, it sure lacks table manners. Let's clean this up after she snaps out of this so that the others won't get on our case."
The trio nodded in reply as they were about to clean up--
GROWL, GROWL--Went her stomach again.
They were taken back by the sound of the loud growling again coming from Prism's stomach as she stopped what she was doing while she groaned again.
"What?!" Asta exclaimed in shock and confusion, "She's still getting hunger pains!?"
"How can that be?!" Feodora said, "That was twenty egg omelettes she just shoved down her throat!"
"Hun… Gry…" Prism groaned as she whimpered, "Hun… Gry…"
Pluck added as he said as he started to write like a man possessed, "man, this trance has no table manners AND a glutton too. I pray we find a solution for this soon."
"That's not making it better Stuck-Up!" Feodora argued.
Pluck retorted, "Well do you have a better idea? Notes are all I can do at this point!"
"Okay, no one panic." Karasu said calmly, "Maybe eggs aren't enough to fill her up. We just need something more to satisfy her than omelettes." He soon snapped his fingers as his brain lit up like a candle.
"Hey!" He said turning to Pluck, "Where does the Cap store his freshly caught fish?"
Pluck replied nervously, "in the fish-" he soon did a double take as he asked "Wait how did you know Yami fishes?"
"Have you seen his build?" Was all Karasu answered, making Pluck give an odd look, "Now, where does he keep them?"
Pluck replied, "In the storage, beneath the trapdoor in the kitchen."
"Of course it's a trapdoor." Karasu groaned, "I'm gonna need help." He turned to Asta and Feodora, "You two up for it?"
"If it helps Pri snap out of this, then I'm fine with it!" Asta said.
"Same for me." Feodora said, "We got a promise to keep."
Karasu only nodded as they went back towards the kitchen, "You keep an eye on the tater-tot!" He told Pluck, "Give her something to chew on to take her mind off the pain and to keep her quiet!"
Pluck said as he saluted, "On it!"
Just as he said this he felt something getting tugged. When he turned back he noticed that Prism was pulling on his notebook as she was growling a little; he realized she was trying to chew on it.
"No! Bad Prism!" Pluck exclaimed. "Bad! Notebooks are for taking notes! Not food!"
"Quack!" Addeline shouted as she gave a light tap to her nose, much to her surprise she started to put her mouth on Addeline's Stick as she started to gnaw on it.
"QUACK! QUACK QUACK!" Addeline shouted as she tugged on it.
Pluck yelled as he grabbed Prism by the waist while Adrien started to pull on his shirt to assist him, "Prism no! You'll eat Addi by accident!"
Prism didn't seem to listen as he could feel her start to fight against her. Pluck soon hatched an idea as he noticed a bone where they stored the scraps .
He quickly grabbed it from the bucket before he waved it in front of her, "Here Prism! I got you something!"
Prism stopped for a second as her eyes started to follow the bone as he waved it around; the spirits started to follow her movements. He said in a teasing yet playful tone, "You want this bone, do you? Yes you do! Yes you do!"
Prism let go of the stick causing Addeline to fall back as she took the bone instead; she started to happily chew on it as the spirits soon changed to an orange yellow.
Pluck sighed with relief as he sat back on the couch, "Well now that's over one thing that's bugging me...Why is this happening to Prism? Could it have something to do with her being sealed in the mist?"
Pluck soon looked over to Prism as he saw her happily munching on the bone with a kitten-like smile. Immediately he nearly coughed up his own spit as his face turned red.
"OH NO, SHE'S CUTE!!" Pluck exclaimed as he was biting on the fabric of his shirt, "Why! Oh why! I don't even like Prism like that and she's soooo-ahh damn it!"
"What the heck are you doing?!"
Pluck nearly let out a shriek though immediately covered his mouth; he looked over to the doorway as he saw it had been Noelle in her sleepwear. "Oh it's only you, Stupid Silva."
"Well I'm not the one making all of this racket--" Noelle said as she looked at the mess on the table and couch, and then to Prism who looked happy with what she was doing, "--What is going on? Why is the princess chewing on a bone? And look at her! Her face is a mess!"
Pluck immediately stammered before he grabbed a pillow as he stuffed it in Prism's face causing her to squirm a little. "O-Oh W-w-we were just playing a game with Addeline! We used to do this all the time back home, right Adri?"
Adrien nodded in agreement as he let out a screech. Noelle didn't seemed to have bought the story.
"Really?" Noelle asked, "You're gonna have to do better than that."
Pluck said with a smile trying to casually wave it off, "I-It's nothing you gotta concern yourself with! Just go back to be--"
Prism let out a familiar high pitched shriek causing Pluck to practically fly off of the couch and onto the floor as it broke apart some of the wine bottles. Prism happily started to gnaw on the bone again.
"...ow.." Pluck groaned as Addeline started to fan him. He got up as he went over to Prism before he told her in a low voice, "You can't just do that Prism! We can't have Captain Yami seeing you like this!" Prism only gave Pluck a look as he found himself choking on his spit again.
"Stop being cute damn it!" He told her as his face was red.
"Okay, seriously." Noelle said, "Why is she acting like this?"
"Long story." He told her, "Short version, we don't know EXACTLY what this is."
"Wait, you don't know?" Noelle asked. "I thought you were supposed to be the smart one."
Pluck growled as he said "I have no time to argue with you, Stupid Sliva! Right now I have to keep Pri at Bay until Asta, Feodora and Karasu come back with Yami's fish!"
Noelle sighed as she went over to Prism taking a handkerchief, "Well, you should at least clean up her face." Noelle said as she cupped Prism cheeks before she started to rub the ketchup off of her, as she stopped gnawing on the bone, "A princess shouldn't look like a pig that rolled in its own filth you know."
Pluck said while he stuck his tongue, "Oh here we go again with the commentary. And Feodora calls me the stuck up. If anything she should give that title to you, Silva."
"Excuse me for trying to help!" Noelle said, as she was finishing up, "I'm just saying she shouldn't be this dirty!
Pluck had argued, "Thanks Captain Obvious! Just saying it without your stupid commentary! Here's an idea, how about you take that and shove it right up your--"
The two of them soon jumped when the bone had just hit the floor. Noelle looked up to Prims and jumped by the look in Prism's white eyes. The black pupils had been dilated and large, as something about the look she was giving had been… Unsettling.
"Prism…?" Noelle said as more of a question.
Pluck said with a shudder, "Pri-Prism? Are you oka--?"
Noelle started to back up when Prism moved from the couch and towards her, as she had been staggering as she walked on her legs. What neither of them didn't know was when Prism looked at Noelle with her pure white eyes… All she could see was a blue light like she was on fire. This time… She uttered a different word as the spirits around her changed to an eerily white glow making Pluck and Noelle jump.
"Ma… Na…"
***
Asta, Feodora and Karasu managed to get the trapdoor open after having removed a table from its place and ventured downward. The minute they had gotten the light on, they were taken back by the jugs and barrels of what they had assumed to be alcohol as well as vegetables and the strong familiar odor.
"Okay--" Feodora said, "--If they're gonna have this many vegetables, they should at least use this for their dishes."
"We can worry about how they cook later." Karasu said, "Let's just grab the fish so we can cook it."
"Right!" Asta said before he realized something, "But--How are we supposed to know which ones are the fish?"
"That's easy--" Karasu said, "--We just have to follow the smell."
Before they could get to work, they were taken back by the sound of a shriek followed by a crashing sound as it made them jump.
"Now what?!" Feodora exclaimed.
"That sounded like Noelle!" Asta said in realization.
The three of them rushed up the ladder and back towards the common room as they nearly tripped on themselves. "Hey Stuck Up!" Feodora said, "What part of keep quiet do you not--?!"
The three of them had a look of horror as they were put in shock. They saw Prism had Noelle pinned to the ground as Noelle herself had been struggling to get free from her. The sharp nails Prism had been dug into her arm as the veins on her very own glowed blue.
Pluck and Adrien had been trying to pull Prism off, though she didn't even budge.
Pluck shouted to Prism as she had refused to move, "PRISM NO! THE STUPID SILVA'S NOT WORTH IT! LET GO!"
"PRISM?!" Asta exclaimed out of confusion.
"What the hell is going on?!" Karasu shouted.
Feodora soon noticed the glow in Prism's veins as her eyes widened. "Wait that's--!" She said in realization
"GET HER OFF OF ME!!" Noelle shouted fearfully, "HURRY!"
Pluck clicked his tongue before he opened his grimoire, "Sword Creation Magic: Frenzy Vines!"
The vines wrapped around Prism as he was able to pull her off. However with a growl her nails sunk into the vines as her veins glowed a silver color. In but a few short moments Pluck saw his own spell had started to wither and turned to dust.
"HOLY--WHAT?!" Pluck shouted as he backed up.
"His spell--Broke apart?!" Noelle said in shock.
Prism growled as she turned her sights back onto Noelle; Noelle herself started to back up as she hit the wall behind her. Prism had gotten low to the ground as she was ready to pounce--
"Sorry about this Shorty!"
Feodora's hand glowed a crystal blue glow before she fired an ice beam towards Prism; it hit her as in an instant she was binded in ice.
"Noelle, this way!" Asta said as he took her hand.
"Hu-Huh?!" Noelle said before she was pulled towards the exit of the common room. Adrien scooped up Addeline as he quickly followed them.
"PLUCK, COME ON!" Karasu yelled to him
Pluck immediately ran as he shouted, "NUUTA HA!"
Prism managed to break apart the ice as the spell seemed to have turned to dust; her veins glowed in the same color as the ice as she soon charged at them.
The teens screamed before Pluck quickly shut the doors as Prism ended up hitting the wood. They could hear her growl from the otherside as Karasu placed a wooden beam to seal it after Pluck locked the door as an extra measure.
"Why is this happening?!" Asta said, "Why did she attack you Noelle?!"
"Did you do something?!" Feodora asked, "Like attack her?!"
"I didn't!" Noelle said, "She's the one that attacked me!"
Pluck added, "For once, I agree! This wasn't her fault!"
"Quack!" Addeline agreed.
"But why?!" Asta said, "Why would she do that?!"
"How should I know, Dorksta?!" She said, "The only thing I do know is that my mana was going into her!"
At this, Asta, Feodora and Karasu looked more confused then they were shocked. "That's not possible!" Karasu said, "Only her scythe can absorb magic, and she didn't say that incantation!"
"Yeah, and her grimoires in her room right now!" Asta added.
The five of them nearly stumbled as they could feel the door move a little, while Adrien jumped back and growled. They could hear Prism's growls getting more aggressive. "Uh--" Noelle said, "--She can't get in here, right?"
Pluck had reassured them with a smile, "One hundred percent! Prism isn't exactly the strongest when it comes to physical strength! And with doors this size, she has no chance!"
Just as this was said, the five of them let out a scream when Prism's fist came through the door, making a fresh hole and breaking the beam in half.
"WHAT IN THE HELL?!" Pluck shouted
"WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT HER NOT BREAKING THROUGH!?" Feodora shouted, as they jumped back when another fist came through; this time it had grabbed Pluck as her veins glowed silver again when her nails dug into his skin. It looked as though she was trying to pull him through the door.
"PLUCK!" Asta exclaimed as he took his other arm.
Pluck shouted at Prism as he tried to break free, "Prism no! This is not appropriate!" He turned to his squadmates, "GET ME THE HELL OUT OF HERE!"
Noelle joined as she held his other hand along with Asta. She shouted at Prism, "This is no way for you to act your highness!"
"DO WE REALLY NEED THAT RIGHT NOW?!" Pluck shouted at her.
Feodora's eyes soon widened as she noticed something about Pluck, "STUCK UP!" She yelled, "YOUR ARM--!"
Pluck wondered what she was talking about, until his own eyes widened in horror; he saw the skin on his arm started to lose color. He screeched as he started to kick at the door, "HOLY CRAP! PRISM! IF YOU CAN HEAR ME NOW WOULD BE A REALLY GOOD TIME TO WAKE UP!"
"QUACK!" Addeline shouted as she came out and began to whack Prism on the head with her stick. Though this time around the stick glowed teal as she smacked it on Prism's wrist hard, making her shriek with agony. It had forced Prism to release Pluck as he nearly collapsed, but the color in his arm started to return as he could feel his mana coming back to him. She pulled her hand back through as they could hear her give pained whimpers.
Pluck said with a sigh of relief, "Thanks Addeline."
Addeline nodded as she said "Quack!" She looked at Pluck's arm where Prism had struck him as she looked around as she said with a sad tone, "Quack."
"Don't worry Addi." Pluck said. "I'm sure it's just a-"
They heard a familiar shriek as it had blown the doors to smithereens. "CRAP!" Feodora exclaimed, "EVERYBODY RUN!"
Immediately they started to dash down the hall, just as Prism came through the dust cloud, and went in their direction. This time she had been running on all fours as she had been letting out a series of growls.
"Why is this happening?!" Noelle shouted, as she ran, "This has to be some sort of nightmare right?!"
Pluck yelled as he was holding Addeline, "I wish!"
Asta groaned as he ruffled his hair, "But I don't get it, why would she attack you in the first place?!"
Feodora soon gave it thought as they dodged Prism when she charged at them, though she ended up tripping on herself as she hit the wall. It was then she had a thought as she couldn't help but recall Prism's words back in Saussy and to when they first arrived.
"I remember we were nearly hit with water magic, I saw something strange and then my stomach started to hurt a lot. It just felt… Empty."
"This didn't feel like regular hunger. I think… It's hard to say."
"Magic--" Feodora soon said softly, though it had been enough for them to hear it as it had only confused them, "--It's magic!"
"What?!" Pluck said, confused.
"What did you say?!" Asta said.
"It's magic!" Feodora soon clarified, "That's what she's after! Prism wants OUR magic! That's what happened before with Noelle, and why she passed out back in Saussy!"
Prism pounced on them again, though this time the five of them moved on either sides of the wall; though she ended up tumbling and rolling across the stone floor as it had nearly knocked over a vase and cabinet. She recovered however as she started to growl again.
Noelle said, shocked, "Why would she want that in the first place?!"
"It's because it's the only thing that can satisfy her!" Feodora told her, "Earlier, when we first arrived, Prism told me and Asta the last thing she remembered was her stomach felt empty after your spell nearly hit us! She was never craving for food to begin with! She wanted to take your mana to fill her belly!"
Asta's eyes widened in realization, "Then--That's why she didn't fill up on the omelettes earlier!"
Pluck had said "Bime i elena! And that explains why the Stupid Sliva was her first target! She's basically a full course meal of mana!"
"He-Hey!" Noelle said.
"Wait a minute--" Karasu said, "--If that's the case--Why did she make a grab for you instead of breaking down the door in the first place?"
Pluck was about to retort but soon he thought about it "Come to think of it, why me?!"
Prism soon charged at him with full force causing Pluck to shriek as he moved out of harm's way; She ended up crashing into the wall making a fresh hole, though she was able to recover.
Noelle soon gotten out her grimoire as she prepared her new spell, "Water Creation Magic--"
"Wait Noelle!" Asta said, stopping her, "If you guys end up using a spell, she might hurt herself again!"
"He's right!" Feodora said, "Or it could end up killing her if she absorbs too much of it!"
Noelle had a double take as she looked at him just shocked, "What?!"
"Yeah!" Pluck added. "Don't even think about using a spell, Stupid Silva! Unless you want a repeat of last time!"
"Stuck Up, that goes for you too." Feodora told him with a look.
Pluck shouted out of confusion, "HUH?! BUT MY MANA'S IN CONTROL UNLIKE HERS!"
"EXCUSE ME?!" Noelle shouted at him.
"EXACTLY!" Feodora told him, shocking them both, "I'M NOT BLIND YOU KNOW! I'VE SENSED YOUR KIND OF MANA, AND LET ME TELL YOU! I SPEAK FROM EXPERIENCE WHEN I SAY, I KNOW WHEN SOMEONE IS HOLDING BACK THEIR POWER!"
Pluck said just plain shocked at this sort of thing, "SERIOUSLY WHAT KIND OF ASSASSIN ARE--Wait, experience?"
"WATCH OUT!" Asta shouted as he shoved him and Noelle out of the way when Prism went in for an attack as Karasu and Feodora moved with Adrien.
Karasu gritted his teeth before he looked at his hands when Prism set her sights on him and Feodora. "You said we can't use magic on her right?"
"Yes." Feodora said.
"Okay then, if that's the case--" He said as he readied himself.
Most of them had been taken back when Karasu charged at Prism with full speed as Prism herself did the same. "KARASU, WAIT!!" Asta yelled.
"What is he doing?!" Noelle exclaimed out of confusion.
Prism growled as she went to take a swipe at him, though he was quick to move; he slid right underneath her causing her to nearly trip. Just as she was about to turn Karasu soon hit certain parts of her arm to the back of her shoulder causing her to collapse to her knees suddenly as they saw in an instant, her arm had gone limp.
"Who-Whoa!" Asta said in awe as his eyes sparkled.
"Her arm--!" Feodora said.
"--Stopped moving?!" Noelle said, shocked.
Pluck said, shocked, "That's just like--!"
Prism growled aggressively before she attacked Karasu head on; he was able to grab her arm and toss her on her back, making her gag.
"Prism!"Asta exclaimed out of worry when Karasu went to pin her. He grabbed her free arm before she could use it to grab him.
"She's not herself Asta in case you haven't noticed!" Karasu told him.
"But—" Asta started to argue, noticing the expression Prism gave despite her aggressive growls. He even saw how Adrien whimpered at Prism as it had been out of fear and worry.
Pluck had told him, "Asta, I understand how you feel but we don't have a choice, we can't use our spells and Karasu's option is the only one at this point."
"No that's not—" Asta tried to say.
"Hey!" Karasu said, cutting him off, "I can't hold her for long! One of you go and find something to—"
Karasu screamed in agony when he felt a burning sensation on his shoulder. They jumped when they saw it had been a fire spirit as it glowed white flames. He was forced to release Prism as she stood bearing teeth.
"It attacked him?!" Noelle exclaimed.
"I thought they were supposed to be friendly!" Feodora said.
"Oh crap.." Pluck said. "The Spirits have always protected her since she was saved by one....they think Karasu is trying to hurt her! Now it's gonna attack him...and--"
The spirits appeared around them as they froze when a couple of them sparkled white lighting as they glared. "—Us." He finished as he gulped.
"W-well can't we just attack them?!" Noelle asked.
Pluck only shook his head, "If you want them to take you to the other side, be my guest!"
Karasu staggered a little before Prism grabbed him by the strands of his hair, making him groan. They flinched as she tossed him to a pillar hard, nearly breaking it as she staggered over to him.
"Oh no!" Noelle said, "She's going to take his magic!"
Pluck said as he went to get his Grimoire, "Hang o—"
A spirit resembling that of a snake though it possessed two heads instead of one let out a hiss towards him as it's mouth steamed.
"Tch!" Pluck said as he told the spirits, "Please snap out of it! Prism's about to hurt her friend! You don't want that right?! We're only trying to help her!"
Karasu froze up as Prism stepped on his shoulder, nearly breaking it. Her breathing had been labeled as she had been drooling profoundly. She lifted her hand over her head as she had gotten her claws ready.
Adrien had whimpered towards Prism as he let out a noise to try to get her to snap out of it, though couldn't move forward as a water spirit threatened him in his path; Addeline had tried to take at least a step forward but she couldn't as an earth spirit growled.
"Prism!" Noelle callee out, "Prism you have to wake up!!"
"Short Stack! I know you're in there!" Feodora yelled, "You gotta pull it together!"
Pluck had pleaded, "Please Prism! Don't hurt him!"
Prism swung her hand down as Karasu braced himself and—
"PRISM, STOP IT!!" Asta shouted.
The claws had been only centimeters from Karasu's face as he could only look with wide eyes as did the others. They were even more surprised when Prism pulled her hand back from him and turned looking to Asta in particular as they saw the look in her eyes had been different; she had been docile again.
"Wait—" Asta said shocked, "—Did you just—"
Just then a familiar hand hit her right in the neck causing her to fall to the floor on her side shocking them again; the spirits had reverted back into their natural state as they looked docile again. They saw Yami had stepped out from behind the corner as their jaws dropped.
"Captain Yami!?" Asta said.
"Seriously, if you kids wanted a midnight snack, couldn't you be more discreet?" Yami asked them.
"Uh—" Feodora said awkwardly.
"That's rich coming from the guy that puts booby traps near the storage room!" Pluck thought.
"Di-Did you seriously just hit her!?" Noelle exclaimed, "You know she's the princess right!?"
"That's your main concern!?" Feodora said, shocked.
"Ignoring the Stupid Silva's comment." Pluck said. "Captain! That was too hard even for you! She could have a concussion after that!"
Yami told him with a wave of his hand, "Don't worry, Sword Boy. I just knocked her out, no big deal."
"IT'S A HUGE DEAL!!" Pluck shouted before Yami shushed him.
He told him, "You know how your mom and dad are when you shout like that" Pluck grumbled as he crossed his hands.
"Wait a second—" Fedora said, "—Why are you even here?!"
Yami replied, "Why else, I had a midnight battle to take care of."
"A what!?" Feodora and Noelle said, confused.
Pluck just told them as he almost gagged, "You really don't want to know. I'm telling you right now."
Asta soon went over to Karasu as he helped him on his feet. "You okay?" He asked him.
"I've dealt with worse." Karasu said before he looked at the damage on his now white tattered shirt, "Damn it and I liked this one too."
"Don't worry, we'll go shopping." Yami told him, much to his dismay. He soon pointed over to Prism, "Now—Would someone care to explain why she tried to attack you just now?" At this the group paled as Yami possessed a threatening aura to him, "And why does the base look like a raging animal ravaged it?!"
At this the teens couldn't help but pull on their collars a little as they let out an awkward groan. Asta soon let out a sigh as he stepped forward, "Actually Captain… There's something we gotta tell you."
Yami had only raised his eyebrow at this as he wondered what they had to say.
***
-One Explanation Later-
The group had been back in what was now the ruined common area as Asta and Fedora had told Yami what had happened prior and about the events that had just occurred with Pluck, Noelle, and Karasu vouching for their story. The two of them were a bit surprised at how patient he was as they went into details about how Prism behaved and what had been the last thing she could recall. Though they supposed there could've been a worse reaction.
"—So basically we weren't sure what this was in the first place and kept quiet about it." Asta said, sounding a bit nervous, "After we talked with Prism she thought it would be best to tell you since you might be able to help. We were going to tell you in the morning, when this happened."
"In short, we're not sure what this is but all we know is when she enters the Trance, she'll try to take someone's magic to satisfy her hunger, which is also a trigger. Plus she acts differently when in that state of mind." Feodora finished, "So now you know."
Yami took in this information as he took a puff from his cigarette as he looked to Prism who had been asleep on the couch as Adrien rested his head at her bedside letting out a worrisome whimper while a sand spirit had soothed her in her sleep..
Finally he spoke, "Huh, well now it all makes sense."
Asta soon bowed his head, "We're really sorry we didn't tell you sooner! We just didn't know what to do!"
"And Feo might've said that she had a hard time trusting you guys." Karasu added.
"Wha—Don't tell him that!" Feodora told him.
"Hey, someone had to say it—You'll thank me later." Karasu said, raising his hands.
"Well for starters, you kids made the right choice." Yami said as he took a puff
"Huh?" Asta and Feodora both said they were confused.
"I mean if you waited till it got even worse, I would have killed you on the spot." Yami said to them, making them flinch, "She is the future of Clover after all and I am under orders from the Wizard King to keep her safe."
"So—" Asta said, "—You're not mad?"
Pluck said as he raised his hand awkwardly, "You'll let us go right?"
"HA!" Yami laughed before he told them with a cold hard look, "No."
The teens gulped at his aura as Yami added, "no one is sleeping until this mess is cleaned from top to bottom, Start cleaning...NOW."
"EH?! They shouted.
"But I'm an injured man here!" Karasu gestured to his bandaged shoulder that was bandaged, "And it's still dark out!!"
Noelle argued"AND I'M ROY-"
"WOULD YOU SHUT UP ABOUT YOUR ROYALTY CRAP?!" Pluck shouted as he bonked her on the head hard causing her to flinch, "NO ONE CARES!" Pluck soon turned over to Yami as he said, "BUT SERIOUSLY THOUGH, I WASN'T EVEN A PART OF THE FIRST BIT!!"
"One don't care, two don't care, three—REALLY don't care." Yami said to their responses, making their jaws drop.
"WHAT THE HELL KIND OF A CAPTAIN ARE YOU?!" Karasu yelled.
Pluck shouted, "SERIOUSLY! EVEN ASKING AN INJURED MAN TO CLEAN IS CRUEL EVEN FOR YOU!"
"QUACK!" Addeline said in agreement.
"The kind that expects his base to be clean or I'll have 5 vanccant spots open for new members." Yami threatened.
The teens jumped at this as Karasu said, "Maybe we should start cleaning."
"Agreed." Pluck said.
"Hm-Hmph!" Noelle said, trying to regain her composure, "I was just gonna do that anyway!"
Pluck said with a forced smile, "Yeah, sure. Typical Silva."
They were soon taken back by a soft whimper, as they looked over to the couch. They saw that Prism had opened her eyes and tried to sit herself up, but couldn't as all she could do was rest on her elbows. "Prism!" Asta said relieved, "You're awa—"
He was just about to run over to her, but stopped himself from doing so as he saw her eyes had still been a familiar color of white as she looked at them with a tired expression.
"I don't believe it—" Feodora said shocked, "—After all that, she's still not back?"
"Well, this is new." Yami said, "I'm gonna have to contact the Wizard King about this first thing in the morning. Until this phase dies down, no one, not even the raptor and duck can see her."
"What?!" The group said, shocked.
"You mean to say she's in quarantine?!" Karasu said.
"Captain! Reconsider!" Pluck said
"Y-Yeah, Y-You can't lock down the pr-" Before Noelle could say Pluck raised his hand causing her to flinch. "I mean you can't lockdown Prism!"
"Wait Yami!" Asta said as Yami went over to examine her, "Is that really necessary?! Maybe we can change her back to normal before everyone else wakes up!"
Yami picked Prism up as instinctively she put her head against his shoulder as she let out a tired groan as he told Asta, "Something like this doesn't just magically go away in just one night. This is not a fairytale, shorty."
"She's still a person!" Feodora argued, "You can't just go and lock her in her room!"
Pluck added, "Yeah! That's not right!"
"Who said anything about locking her in HER room?" Yami said.
"Wait what?" Asta said confused, "What does that mean?"
Yami merely replied, as he went to walk out of the common room, "Take a guess, what one of the few rooms you kids CAN'T go in."
"Well there's that guy and---" Pluck said before his eyes widened in realization. "Wait, are you serious?! You're putting her in THAT room?!"
"Huh, hey Stuck up. What's he talking about?" Feodora asked
"Yeah Barbados." Noelle added. "What room?"
Yami told the teens as he gave a wave, "I expect the base to be spotless by the time the sun rises. If not then it's double chore duty in the morning."
Pluck shouted as he grabbed his leg, "Don't take her there! Anywhere but there!!"
"Okay, I'm confused." Karasu said "What's with you and that room?"
Yami kicked Pluck off as he told him, "Hey genius, my leg isn't the floor your brats are supposed to clean—GET TO IT."
Thus he left the room carrying Prism out as Adrien went and followed him along with a few spirits. Pluck said with a worrisome whimper, "Damn it, why?! Why is fate so cruel?!"
"Hey Pluck." Asta said "What room is Captain Yami talking about anyway?"
***
Yami had soon been in front of a familiar door with a bull skull hanging off of it as he allowed it to yawn open with a nudge of his foot. Prism let out another groan as he noticed her hands shook.
He told her, "Relax Lizard Girl. We'll get through this together."
Adrien only nudged him slightly as he let out a worrisome groan. Yami had only nudged him away with his knee before telling him, "Hey, I said you and the duck can't come either." Adrien only repeated the gesture before he told him more firmly, "What part of no one can see her do you not get? Go sleep in her room."
With that being said Yami entered his own room with Prism in tow as he shut the door behind him. Adrien scratched the door as he whimpered and let out a bellow. He then circled in place before he sat himself on the floor curling his body into a ball before he drifted off to sleep.