“Evening everyone, I’m glad to see you joining us, Onnie.” says Rio. “Everyone picks a seat. Onnie, you can sit with the other kids if you like.”

“Kay.” Onnie gets up and peers around the room. “Onnie!” Onnie turns to the direction her name is being called. “Come over here, we saved you a spot!” “Okay, suppose I’ll go over there.” Onnie walks over to the table and sits down. “Hi guys.”

“Alright, now that everyone is seated. Welcome everyone, I’m Mr. Rio and we will start with a meager get to know you sheet. Yes, I know, basic, but it’s good to get to know the surrounding people. Onnie, would you?” Onnie uses magic to pass out the papers. “Thank you. The things magic can do. Alright, get to it.”

“Let’s start with names.” says Onnie.

“Right, I’m Jew-lee but you can call me Jewel.” “Um… my name is… Rosaline, but you can call me Rose.” “I’m Onnie.” “We remember.” Rosaline giggles. “What about you guys?” says Jewel. The girls whisper into each other’s ear and giggle.

“It’s Emily.”

“Becca.”

“Hey, we recognize you. You went to our old school,” says Emily. “Um… ha-ha, what are you saying? I don’t know you.” Rosaline shifts away from the others. “Yeah, we know your sister,” says Becca. “Oh… t-that’s cool to know.” “You know them?” Rosaline avoids Onnie’s question, proceeding to stare at the table. At the front door, linden pops his head in. “Hey, can I see you for a sec?” “Hey Linden, sure. What’s up?” Linden whispers something into his ear. “That sounds fantastic. So, class, it seems like we’ve got some animals for you to see. I’ll be right back. Onnie, watch the class.” Onnie nods to him.

“So, what’s your favorite colors?” “Pink.” says Rosaline. “Oho! Mine’s hot pink.” “Oh, well! Looks like we have things in common.” “Mine’s lavender.” says Onnie. “That’s beautiful.” “What about you guys?” says Jewel. “Hmm, oh colors, that’s boring. Let’s talk about why you gave up on Gallatin Academy, Rose?” asks Emily. “Oh, well… they were not… nice to me.” “Ohhh, seriously?” “Hey, you don’t have to talk about it Rose.” says Onnie. “No, it’s fine.” “Well, Rosie, your sister told me they didn’t want you around anymore. Why is that?”

“We’ve also heard you write in your diary about your weird fantasies.” says Becca. “Oh, why won’t a pretty princess just come and save me?” Emily and Becca snicker. “You’re such a weirdo. In what world would a pretty princess ever want a rectangle eyed, ghost faced freak like you?” “Your so cute pathic people are so cute to me isn’t that right Becca.” “Oh gosh yes!” “Princess, princess, princess!” they both shout. “Oh, goodness, and let’s not forget about your weird obsession with the dead. But I guess we all have hobbies.” “Haha, okay, I get it. You can shut up now.” Rosaline says, almost tearing up. “Hey, what is wrong with you?” Jewel says fuming. “You can’t just say that to someone!”

“It’s not my fault. The only one who loved her is six feet under.” Becca bursts out laughing. “Imagine having mommy and daddy issues!” “You know, since you like the dead so much, you should just go and join your mom. It would make it much easier for everybody. No one would miss you!” Rosaline stands up and slams the table. “Shut up, shut up, shut up! Why won’t you just leave me alone!” Rosaline storms out of the classroom, leaving a trail of tears behind her.

“Jewel, go after her!” says Onnie. “Already on it.” Jewel runs into the hall after Rosaline. “The hell is wrong with you. You can’t go saying that to people.” “Look, witch, that trout needs to end everyone’s suffering. You and that overgrown fly can’t change that,” says Emily. “Oh! So, you think you’re something, huh? Well, I guess I have to teach you how meaningless you two are.”

“Becca!”

“Yonk.” Becca steals Onnie’s wand and hands it to Emily. “Haha, witches think they’re all that, but you’re nothing without your wands.” Onnie snorts and laugh so hard she tears up. “Oh, goodness, you’re so funny!” She says, wiping her glasses. “Who said I needed a wand?” “What, um, that’s like your whole thing,” says Emily. “Tisk, tisk you small-minded centaurs, you would say that. Anyway, check out this three-piece combo!”

Onnie snaps and the room goes dark. The centaurs stare in confusion. Onnie writes a Z in the air with her finger. She then points at their hooves and snaps. “Zap.” The room lights up as a tiny lightning bolt shot from Onnie’s finger. “Ow, stop, how can you even do that you’re, you can’t do that!” says Emily. “Right, I thought you were just some basic witch!” says Becca. “Now, why would you think that I literally own this place. And to answer your question, only advanced witches can do this. You stupid little horses could never understand,” says Onnie. “Now, dance for me!”

“Ow, stop! We’re sorry!” Emily says, dropping the wand. “Thank you.” Onnie delicately picks up her wand and pinches the tip, causing a rope to unravel from within. With haste, she swiftly wraps the rope tightly around the two centaurs, securing them in place. “Ugh!” Emily exclaims, her voice filled with frustration. “Okay, now you all may laugh.” The class points and laughs as Onnie commanded.

“Uh, ugh, untie us!” “Now why would I listen to a bunch of wenches?” “You, you witch!” says Emily. “Oh, thank you, I try my hardest.” Onnie says running down the hall to the bathroom. “Yes, I think the kids will like them.” “I hope so. I really want their first day to go well.” “AHHHHH!” Rosaline runs past the professors sobbing.

“Rose, wait!” says Jewel.

“Rio, we’re going to the bathroom!” says Onnie.

“Wait, what happened!?”

Professors dash and as they walk in, the room goes silent. “Okay, who did what?” asks Linden. The entire room points at the tide up centaurs.

Jewel and Onnie catch up with Rosaline in the bathroom. “Rose!” Jewel shouts. Rosaline slams the bathroom door in her face. “Rose, please come out,” says Onnie. Sitting on the cold floor, Jewel leans towards the door. “Rose, come on, don’t listen to those jerks. They don’t know what they’re talking about. I bet you’re a great person.”

“Don’t, you don’t even know me, don’t even pretend like where friends!”

Onnie stares at the wall, not knowing what to say. She looks to Jewel and lets her handle it.

“So, what, so what if I don’t know you… I don’t have to know you to know that you could be a great person. I already know you’re pretty, a little shy, likes pink, and struggles to make friends. We already have so much in common and it would be stupid not to at least try to know you.” Jewel turns to Onnie, and she nods. Jewel continues. “Also… I like princesses too … so don’t feel embarrassed about that.”

“Yeah, I like princesses too, Rose. Who wouldn’t want a princess to run away with?” says Onnie. “So, come out rose and let’s be friends.” Rosaline slowly cracks the door. “You don’t think I’m a dead liking freak, right?” “No,” says Onnie. “Everybody has their thing, and I’m pretty sure we teach that here. So come out Rosaline. Let’s be friends.” Rosaline swings the door open and flops onto Onnie and Jewel’s chests, and they fall into a hug. “I said call me Rose and I’m sorry,” says Rosaline. “About what?” asks Jewel. “Sorry you both had to see that.”

“No, no, we’re sorry you had to go through that. Hey how about we go to the dining hall.” says Onnie. “It would probably make you feel better.” Rosaline wipes her tears and nods.

Rosaline, Onnie, and Jewel walked together to the bustling dining hall. “And that’s when I told him about fog,” says Jewel. The girls laugh. “Aww, your brother is adorable.” says Rosaline. “Yeah, I miss him.” Both the girls say, “aww.” In unison. “Okay, okay. Stop you two.” says Jewel. “Hey, Jewel, Onnie, thank you for making me feel better.”

“Oh, Rose, don’t mention it and I assure you those two are getting expelled,” says Onnie. “Yeah Rose, we’re your new friends now. We will always lookout for you.” “Oh, also I’ll talk to the teachers to get you into a magic class so you can study necromancy. I’m happy you told me about that it’s a fun thing to study.” “Thank you, Onnie.”

“So, where are you two wanting to si-” “ROOOSSSSSSE, COME HERE!” Onnie turns her head, startled by the piercing screams of a boy echoing in the distance. “So, why is a big blue shark screaming for you?” asks Jewel. “Mortimer!” Rosaline shouts.

“Who?”

“Hi Rose! Come, there’s room for everyone.” “Rose, who’s this?” asks Jewel. “Oh, right, we haven’t met. I’m Mortimer, this is Naga, and this is Jasper.”

“Hi” says Naga.

“Hello.” says Jasper.

“So, how’d you all meet?” asks Jewel. “Well, I have known Naga since forever and I just met Jasper today in a bush,” says Mortimer. “Hey, look, let me explain. I was in the bush because I did not know people would like me.” The girls say “aww,” again and smile. “Yeah, I guess I was being silly, huh?”

“Where are you all from?” says Jewel. “I’m from Atlantis.” says Mortimer. “I’m from the forest surrounding the beach of Atlantis.” says Naga. “I’m from the Mushroom Forest on Fairy Plateau.” “Back of the Kingdom or front?” asks Naga. “Front.” says Jewel “Mmm.” “I’m from Sunflower Meadows.” says Rosaline. “My treehouse is somewhere around here.” says Onnie. “What about you Jasper?” “Oh me, um. I’m from the Nether Realm.” A long silence surrounds the table. Onnie breaks the silences and says, “So, you’re a demon?”

“Mhm.”

“Cool.”

“Wait, you don’t care?” asks Jasper.

“Nope, I don’t judge,” says Onnie.

“We all don’t Jasper, you seem nice and that’s all that,” says Rosaline.

“Oh.”

“Besides, no one around here has ever even met a demon. They could be the nicest around I don’t know,” says Onnie. “You’re fine. Go get some food. Kahlo’s food is the best in the land.” “Um, you were in there when the cauldron exploded, right?” says Jasper. “You were in there?” says Onnie. “Is that why I heard that colossal explosion?” asks Mortimer. “To be honest, many things went off today.” “Question, does anybody notice Ms. Kahlo is green? Because I thought witches being green was a meth,” says Jasper.

 “Hmm, oh, it is, but for her, it’s normal. She’s been like that since she was a child. Think an accident happened. I don’t really know.” says Onnie. “Any other weird things you’ve noticed, Jasper?” asks Naga. “Yes, why is coach alpha so damn strong?” “You mean Alphonse?” “Yeah, I wrestled him today, and he almost destroyed me. He’s like the size of a dwarf. How does he do that?” “Yeah, he tends to do stuff like that. Don’t take it personally, though.” says Onnie. “Also, I just notice that’s a beautiful locket, Rose.” “Thank you.” “Okay, I need less talking, and more getting food,” says Naga. “Yay food!” Jewel shouts.

***

Later that day, when all the students were in their dorms, Ravena calls everybody in the gym to have the talk. “I am exhausted today, so I’m just gonna get to the point.” Ravena paces around the group and says, “So, how many things exploded today?” Silence fills the room; the teachers look at each other waiting for someone to say something. “You all act like children today. Necho, you broke a window. Alphonse, you tried to drop kick a child. Who was bigger than you? I don’t even know how you thought that was going to work. Stella, you almost had a child drop to their death. And Beatrice, you almost killed Onnie.” says Ravena.

Ravena takes a second to breathe then says, “Even though so many things went wrong today. The kids loved it.” The teacher shouts “yay” and starts cheering. “But as your punishment, the only thing you have to do is clean the entire academy. Alright, get to work.” When the realization hit that they have to clean the entire building, the teachers weep and crying and in unison scream “NOOOOOOOOO!”