EHEG (IC/Open/Anime/Slice-of-life)

[Charlia]

Maya enters the room, and instantly is set on edge by some stranger, someone she doesn't know, being so close to the girl she's taken to like a sister.
"Hey, Charlotte, how are things going? And who the hell is this person? I've never seen them on campus before. Are they bothering you?"

Charlotte turned and looked at Maya, and her face transformed from a scowl into a smile. "Maya! Most of it's going fine, except for him... His name's Rowan, and he's a mind reader." The last two words took on a tone of disgust that she normally reserved for the word 'scientist'. "He was bothering me. But I explained some things to him, and I think he won't be bothering me any longer. Thanks for checking, though."

[North Arkana]

Maya enters the room, and instantly is set on edge by some stranger, someone she doesn't know, being so close to the girl she's taken to like a sister.
"Hey, Charlotte, how are things going? And who the hell is this person? I've never seen them on campus before. Are they bothering you?"

Charlotte turned and looked at Maya, and her face transformed from a scowl into a smile. "Maya! Most of it's going fine, except for him... His name's Rowan, and he's a mind reader." The last two words took on a tone of disgust that she normally reserved for the word 'scientist'. "He was bothering me. But I explained some things to him, and I think he won't be bothering me any longer. Thanks for checking, though."

"Doesn't change the fact I've never seen him around here before."
Maya faces the boy.
"So, have you checked in with the school yet? I can't just let you wander around here. I am part of the staff after all."
Maya still carries around all her usual belongings, but she's far less willing to actually use any of them the way she used to now.

[Charlia]

Charlotte turned and looked at Maya, and her face transformed from a scowl into a smile. "Maya! Most of it's going fine, except for him... His name's Rowan, and he's a mind reader." The last two words took on a tone of disgust that she normally reserved for the word 'scientist'. "He was bothering me. But I explained some things to him, and I think he won't be bothering me any longer. Thanks for checking, though."

"Doesn't change the fact I've never seen him around here before."
Maya faces the boy.
"So, have you checked in with the school yet? I can't just let you wander around here. I am part of the staff after all."
Maya still carries around all her usual belongings, but she's far less willing to actually use any of them the way she used to now.

A trade, then.
One's violent tendencies lessened as the other's were bred into her.
One healed as the other broke.
Cosmic playthings, that's what they were, the chew toys of the universe, tossed around and played with until their entertainment value was spent.
She remembered, before Maya had changed, when she had taunted her, tormented her, called her a means to an end for everyone.
It was lonely being that way.
Knowing that she had been tortured for others, died inside for others, been experimented on and turned into a weapon, a murderer, all in the name of science. All in the name of progress.
She was climbing out, though.
Ever so slowly, she was climbing back to the light.
Never letting go, but growing and changing and touching the sky, giving her all for her own dreams instead of the dreams of others.
It was beautiful to know that she could.

[Cruxa]

Rowan taps her on the shoulder. "You never told me what your ability was. And thanks for broadcasting 'PTSD really sucks' for all to hear. Saved me the trouble of having to go in your head again. Thank God, hope I don't get butchered... that is a rather large knife you've got..."

She whirled around, grabbed his arm and flipped him over her shoulder to the floor, then knelt directly on his ribcage and pressed her forearm against his throat, effectively cutting off his ability to breathe.
"I am going to count to five. When I finish, I'd better not be able to see you, because I don't need a weapon to kill you. I am a weapon." She stood up and pointed away scornfully.
"Get out of my sight, mind reader, and go get some morphine or something for the pain. I don't like being pestered, and I like you less and less every time you open your mouth. Don't speak! One more word and you won't need morphine."

"Well, what if I told you I could fix your darkness?" he said, as he braced himself for a fight.

[The GAmeTopians]

Charlotte turned and looked at Maya, and her face transformed from a scowl into a smile. "Maya! Most of it's going fine, except for him... His name's Rowan, and he's a mind reader." The last two words took on a tone of disgust that she normally reserved for the word 'scientist'. "He was bothering me. But I explained some things to him, and I think he won't be bothering me any longer. Thanks for checking, though."

"Doesn't change the fact I've never seen him around here before."
Maya faces the boy.
"So, have you checked in with the school yet? I can't just let you wander around here. I am part of the staff after all."
Maya still carries around all her usual belongings, but she's far less willing to actually use any of them the way she used to now.

Scott looked at them through the cameras and grinned.
"Not checked in? Oh we can't have that," He said, as his voice filled the room. Meanwhile he keyed a couple buttons, and the mania began. As 4A charged 4C, a section of the floor jolted up and tripped them all.
"Easy pickings," he laughed.

[Charlia]

She whirled around, grabbed his arm and flipped him over her shoulder to the floor, then knelt directly on his ribcage and pressed her forearm against his throat, effectively cutting off his ability to breathe.
"I am going to count to five. When I finish, I'd better not be able to see you, because I don't need a weapon to kill you. I am a weapon." She stood up and pointed away scornfully.
"Get out of my sight, mind reader, and go get some morphine or something for the pain. I don't like being pestered, and I like you less and less every time you open your mouth. Don't speak! One more word and you won't need morphine."

"Well, what if I told you I could fix your darkness?" he said, as he braced himself for a fight.

"I would laugh." And she did. Then she turned around and started walking towards him slowly. "You know, if I weren't what I am, I wouldn't kill you. I wouldn't want to get blood all over the place, not for someone like you.
But you know what?
I can kill you without spilling a single drop of your blood.
At least, not on the outside of your body. Internal bleeding... well... not so much."

"Doesn't change the fact I've never seen him around here before."
Maya faces the boy.
"So, have you checked in with the school yet? I can't just let you wander around here. I am part of the staff after all."
Maya still carries around all her usual belongings, but she's far less willing to actually use any of them the way she used to now.

Scott looked at them through the cameras and grinned.
"Not checked in? Oh we can't have that," He said, as his voice filled the room. Meanwhile he keyed a couple buttons, and the mania began. As 4A charged 4C, a section of the floor jolted up and tripped them all.
"Easy pickings," he laughed.

Charlotte ignored the chaos 4A was experiencing, focusing on Rowan.
In fact, she was about ready to kill him right then and there.
And it scared her.
But her mind... wasn't wholly her own.
Her 'programming' was taking over.
But she was fighting it.
Oh, she was fighting it.

[North Arkana]

Maya grabbed Charlotte's shoulder.
"Oi, settle down. This isn't you, stop letting the scientists make choices for you."
As much as Maya cares what happens to Charlotte, she's also prepared to do what needs to be done if Charlotte succumbs to the conditioning the Feds had used on her.
Using my own conditioning so I can stop her if she goes berserk... I'm a horrible person...
Michael was still in her head. He hadn't said anything for a long time, but she knew he was still there. She still periodically dumped the worst of her thoughts of harm on him, and it seemed like he at least enjoyed those mental images Maya was trying to get rid of.

[Charlia]

Maya grabbed Charlotte's shoulder.
"Oi, settle down. This isn't you, stop letting the scientists make choices for you."
As much as Maya cares what happens to Charlotte, she's also prepared to do what needs to be done if Charlotte succumbs to the conditioning the Feds had used on her.
Using my own conditioning so I can stop her if she goes berserk... I'm a horrible person...
Michael was still in her head. He hadn't said anything for a long time, but she knew he was still there. She still periodically dumped the worst of her thoughts of harm on him, and it seemed like he at least enjoyed those mental images Maya was trying to get rid of.

He did. He really did. He often brought up some of the memories he'd brought with him as well, and enjoyed those too.

---

Charlotte sighed. I'll think for myself, I'll live for myself. I'm not their puppet any longer. When the puppetmaster is dead, then the puppet can be free.

So what does that make me? Pinocchiette?

She nodded glumly. "I know... Thanks."

[Cruxa]

"Well, what if I told you I could fix your darkness?" he said, as he braced himself for a fight.

"I would laugh." And she did. Then she turned around and started walking towards him slowly. "You know, if I weren't what I am, I wouldn't kill you. I wouldn't want to get blood all over the place, not for someone like you.
But you know what?
I can kill you without spilling a single drop of your blood.
At least, not on the outside of your body. Internal bleeding... well... not so much."

Scott looked at them through the cameras and grinned.
"Not checked in? Oh we can't have that," He said, as his voice filled the room. Meanwhile he keyed a couple buttons, and the mania began. As 4A charged 4C, a section of the floor jolted up and tripped them all.
"Easy pickings," he laughed.

Charlotte ignored the chaos 4A was experiencing, focusing on Rowan.
In fact, she was about ready to kill him right then and there.
And it scared her.
But her mind... wasn't wholly her own.
Her 'programming' was taking over.
But she was fighting it.
Oh, she was fighting it.

His face grew deadly serious. "Charlotte Noble, do not let your programming take over. I know you hate me, but you need to LISTEN." He put all of his power into the last word, persuading her with force to knock down a normal human.

[North Arkana]

"I would laugh." And she did. Then she turned around and started walking towards him slowly. "You know, if I weren't what I am, I wouldn't kill you. I wouldn't want to get blood all over the place, not for someone like you.
But you know what?
I can kill you without spilling a single drop of your blood.
At least, not on the outside of your body. Internal bleeding... well... not so much."

Charlotte ignored the chaos 4A was experiencing, focusing on Rowan.
In fact, she was about ready to kill him right then and there.
And it scared her.
But her mind... wasn't wholly her own.
Her 'programming' was taking over.
But she was fighting it.
Oh, she was fighting it.

His face grew deadly serious. "Charlotte Noble, do not let your programming take over. I know you hate me, but you need to LISTEN." He put all of his power into the last word, persuading her with force to knock down a normal human.

Maya decided that, just this once, it was okay to let herself slip, just a little. Her face darkens with anger as she fans out a set of note cards.
"I thought she told you to leave her alone. I suggest you leave. NOW."

I want to kill him... I want to hurt him... just one more time... just a bit more blood on the ground...

[Cruxa]

His face grew deadly serious. "Charlotte Noble, do not let your programming take over. I know you hate me, but you need to LISTEN." He put all of his power into the last word, persuading her with force to knock down a normal human.

Maya decided that, just this once, it was okay to let herself slip, just a little. Her face darkens with anger as she fans out a set of note cards.
"I thought she told you to leave her alone. I suggest you leave. NOW."

I want to kill him... I want to hurt him... just one more time... just a bit more blood on the ground...

"No. NO ONE WILL SUBMIT TO ANGER AND PROGRAMMING," he says forcefully, the full power of his telepathy blowing through their synapses like seven hurricanes and a bomb, destroying what will they had to fight him.

[Charlia]

"I would laugh." And she did. Then she turned around and started walking towards him slowly. "You know, if I weren't what I am, I wouldn't kill you. I wouldn't want to get blood all over the place, not for someone like you.
But you know what?
I can kill you without spilling a single drop of your blood.
At least, not on the outside of your body. Internal bleeding... well... not so much."

Charlotte ignored the chaos 4A was experiencing, focusing on Rowan.
In fact, she was about ready to kill him right then and there.
And it scared her.
But her mind... wasn't wholly her own.
Her 'programming' was taking over.
But she was fighting it.
Oh, she was fighting it.

His face grew deadly serious. "Charlotte Noble, do not let your programming take over. I know you hate me, but you need to LISTEN." He put all of his power into the last word, persuading her with force to knock down a normal human.

Kill. And the images flew through her mind, reminding her exactly how best to do it.
It was so tempting...
NO! I am not your slave! I'm not! I'm free! I'm not your doll! I'll think for myself, I'll live for myself! I WON'T LISTEN TO YOU! I won't kill anyone else...
You're already a killer. Why stop now? Remember how much you enjoyed the last time?
...that... that wasn't me. That was you! I'm not a killer! I'm not, I'm not, I'm not!
Yes, you are. Just ask Jamie.
...Jamie...
We've been over this before.
I live in her name. In her name, I fight you. I will not kill because of Jamie.
And there's my proof that you're just programming.
You're too stupid to ever win.

Maya decided that, just this once, it was okay to let herself slip, just a little. Her face darkens with anger as she fans out a set of note cards.
"I thought she told you to leave her alone. I suggest you leave. NOW."

I want to kill him... I want to hurt him... just one more time... just a bit more blood on the ground...

"No. NO ONE WILL SUBMIT TO ANGER AND PROGRAMMING," he says forcefully, the full power of his telepathy blowing through their synapses like seven hurricanes and a bomb, destroying what will they had to fight him.

Or so he thought. Her will was much stronger than that; it had to be, or else she would have killed him already.

[The GAmeTopians]

Scott
"Oh lord almighty," He groaned. He flicked a few switches on the board o' doom, and three androids were dispatched to the scene, all of whom wielded tasers.
"Telepath, shut your weaselly trap." EdSec ordered.
"Maya, Charlotte, back off. You should know better."

[Cruxa]

His face grew deadly serious. "Charlotte Noble, do not let your programming take over. I know you hate me, but you need to LISTEN." He put all of his power into the last word, persuading her with force to knock down a normal human.

Kill. And the images flew through her mind, reminding her exactly how best to do it.
It was so tempting...
NO! I am not your slave! I'm not! I'm free! I'm not your doll! I'll think for myself, I'll live for myself! I WON'T LISTEN TO YOU! I won't kill anyone else...
You're already a killer. Why stop now? Remember how much you enjoyed the last time?
...that... that wasn't me. That was you! I'm not a killer! I'm not, I'm not, I'm not!
Yes, you are. Just ask Jamie.
...Jamie...
We've been over this before.
I live in her name. In her name, I fight you. I will not kill because of Jamie.
And there's my proof that you're just programming.
You're too stupid to ever win.

"No. NO ONE WILL SUBMIT TO ANGER AND PROGRAMMING," he says forcefully, the full power of his telepathy blowing through their synapses like seven hurricanes and a bomb, destroying what will they had to fight him.

Or so he thought. Her will was much stronger than that; it had to be, or else she would have killed him already.

Accidentally, his rogue mind connected with Charlotte's- and all of her pain, plus his now severely-injured larynx, have put him into the infirmary.

[Charlia]

Scott
"Oh lord almighty," He groaned. He flicked a few switches on the board o' doom, and three androids were dispatched to the scene, all of whom wielded tasers.
"Telepath, shut your weaselly trap." EdSec ordered.
"Maya, Charlotte, back off. You should know better."

She stared at EdSec, taking rapid, shallow breaths, struggling to keep herself calm.
"You know... what I can do. The fact that he's not... dead, or in incredible agony... really ought to tell you... that I'm trying... I try so hard..." I'm just going to keep arranging things.
And she did.
In fact, she channeled her inner darkness into perfectionism(for she was meant to have become as close to perfection as possible, and might have if not for her rescue), and... well, perfected the arrangement.

[North Arkana]

Scott
"Oh lord almighty," He groaned. He flicked a few switches on the board o' doom, and three androids were dispatched to the scene, all of whom wielded tasers.
"Telepath, shut your weaselly trap." EdSec ordered.
"Maya, Charlotte, back off. You should know better."

Maya put away her note cards, feeling that she was starting to shake.
"Right... Right... I let myself slip for a moment there. Sorry about that, Scott."
She glares at Rowan.
"You. You need to check in with school security. Having a mind reader no one knows around here is just going to make people agitated, especially when it seems like you have poor control over your ability."
She has nothing more to say to the boy. Instead she takes Charlotte's hand, pausing what she's doing momentarily.
"I know you try hard, Charlotte, and I'm trying hard to be there for you. If there are things you need to talk about, things about the Feds, both Riri and I are willing to listen, okay?"

[Cruxa]

Scott
"Oh lord almighty," He groaned. He flicked a few switches on the board o' doom, and three androids were dispatched to the scene, all of whom wielded tasers.
"Telepath, shut your weaselly trap." EdSec ordered.
"Maya, Charlotte, back off. You should know better."

She stared at EdSec, taking rapid, shallow breaths, struggling to keep herself calm.
"You know... what I can do. The fact that he's not... dead, or in incredible agony... really ought to tell you... that I'm trying... I try so hard..." I'm just going to keep arranging things.
And she did.
In fact, she channeled her inner darkness into perfectionism(for she was meant to have become as close to perfection as possible, and might have if not for her rescue), and... well, perfected the arrangement.

Rowan is going to stop pestering now. Because Cruxa is grumpy. And it feels like trying to kill the Internet right now just to type.

[Charlia]

Scott
"Oh lord almighty," He groaned. He flicked a few switches on the board o' doom, and three androids were dispatched to the scene, all of whom wielded tasers.
"Telepath, shut your weaselly trap." EdSec ordered.
"Maya, Charlotte, back off. You should know better."

Maya put away her note cards, feeling that she was starting to shake.
"Right... Right... I let myself slip for a moment there. Sorry about that, Scott."
She glares at Rowan.
"You. You need to check in with school security. Having a mind reader no one knows around here is just going to make people agitated, especially when it seems like you have poor control over your ability."
She has nothing more to say to the boy. Instead she takes Charlotte's hand, pausing what she's doing momentarily.
"I know you try hard, Charlotte, and I'm trying hard to be there for you. If there are things you need to talk about, things about the Feds, both Riri and I are willing to listen, okay?"

She nodded. "I'm sorry... I really should be better by now, but because I'm not... I know I make things hard for you all. And I'm sorry, and I can't express how grateful I am that I haven't been locked up or sent away or even killed, because I know that's what I deserve. But then... that's what so many of us deserve, isn't it?"
And there was one sign of progress.
She was learning to accept herself.

[Cruxa]

Rowan comes out of his reverie in the infirmary. He is currently hoping that the staff will be able to teach him to control himself. He also wondered what Ellie thought of all this. Contemplating his gift, which seemed so different from all th others, he wished that he could gain the trust of the school.

[The Templar High Council]

At least, that's what Beth thought. Well, that's likely what she thought until she saw the three students, Fritz, Gray, and the ever lovable Hope. Hope had a very fun power. By fun, I mean something that every trouble maker ever wished they had. The power to shatter things. One other thing she had: Hope was captain of the track team. They called her 'Lightning Hope.' And she was in a dead sprint towards the wall. Gray was tailing behind her, using his power of draining opponents sleep to K.O. any interfering 4Cers, and supporting him was Fritz, who was normally a very sociable guy. Not particularly social, rather shy actually, but still he had a nasty power as well.

Put simply, he makes wishes come true. Wishes of the romantic kind. i.e. he became Harriet for Beth. To everyone else, it looks as if he's just regular old Fritz, however, to Beth, it looks as if Harriet was dressed in a bunny costume. And walking towards her nervously.

While Fritz distracted Beth, and Gray provided interdiction, I seemed to have forgotten something: Hope has a blackbelt in Kung Fu.

Yeah.

And with a flying kick, the nine-foot wall shattered, spraying dust everywhere.

"4C! Your reign of terror has come to an end! 4A, to waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar!" She picked up a loaf of French bread, and charged.

"Huh? How did I miss that?" Satoshi turned to see an army of students from another homeroom charging at his class's section of kitchen. To say the least, it got Satoshi's blood pumping. He took off the apron, as well as his sandals and handwraps.

After not totally reacting late to Ellie's existence, he searched around for her before tentatively poking his head around a corner, "Ellie, hey! Something about a ham, and cooking is involved, and I have no idea what's going on" he states skittishly. "So, I really, really need help badly" he finished, throwing his arms out in front of himself.

"EDMUND! Find the ham, I'll be right back." With that out of the way, Satoshi pulled back his arm and started running to meet a trio of 4A students. The first one was decked by Satoshi's arm, brought to the ground in a clothesline maneuver. The second tried to hit him with a baguette, but Satoshi swung his arm in a flaming arc and cut the bread in half.

The third... his ability seemed to be elasticity. So he swung his arm at Satoshi, and instantly regretted it. Satoshi grabbed the arm by the elbow and flung it over his shoulder, judo-style. Then whipped the boy around, knocking over the girl with the baguette and sending them both into the boy on the ground.

"Oh, you ain't seen nothin' yet." Satoshi clapped his hands together, causing a small wave of fire and heat to emanate from the point of contact. It was time... to get served...

[Atlannia]

Beth maintained an on-guard stance. not a single student would sneak into the lines of 4C. She maintained the boundary lines as if she were watching from an unmanned drone, protecting each spot. Her 9 foot wall of Trump was impregnable, with many layers of traps, alarms, and "confiscated" gadgets. It was a perk of being in the Student Body Government, and it was one she did not let go to waster on T-Day. While stuffing may fly in all directions, not a single speck would pass the laser walls. She knew her stuff, and may have done many illegal things to set this up. She had created, and perfected the modern surveillance state. "Come on out while you can, scumbags!" she chuckled quietly, while materializing her weapons of choice, two desert eagles, "trust me, You won't make it far!"

At least, that's what Beth thought. Well, that's likely what she thought until she saw the three students, Fritz, Gray, and the ever lovable Hope. Hope had a very fun power. By fun, I mean something that every trouble maker ever wished they had. The power to shatter things. One other thing she had: Hope was captain of the track team. They called her 'Lightning Hope.' And she was in a dead sprint towards the wall. Gray was tailing behind her, using his power of draining opponents sleep to K.O. any interfering 4Cers, and supporting him was Fritz, who was normally a very sociable guy. Not particularly social, rather shy actually, but still he had a nasty power as well.

Put simply, he makes wishes come true. Wishes of the romantic kind. i.e. he became Harriet for Beth. To everyone else, it looks as if he's just regular old Fritz, however, to Beth, it looks as if Harriet was dressed in a bunny costume. And walking towards her nervously.

While Fritz distracted Beth, and Gray provided interdiction, I seemed to have forgotten something: Hope has a blackbelt in Kung Fu.

Yeah.

And with a flying kick, the nine-foot wall shattered, spraying dust everywhere.

"4C! Your reign of terror has come to an end! 4A, to waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar!" She picked up a loaf of French bread, and charged.

---

Meanwhile, En was having a shockingly easy time pouring the 'secret sauce' into the dishes of 4B while they fawned over the 'ditzy' Sage. "I so owe you for this..." She said, watching calmly as 4A declared war on 4C, an army of 4A students charging into a holy war against the 4Cers.

"My god. I love this school." En said evilly, emptying a vial of the nasty stuff into a pie.

Well, it was a pie.

Natalia Kyrov

"good grief," sighed Natalia, ducking effortlessly under a wild punch, seizing the rolling pin on the bench and clocking her attacker without turning around before tossing the pin into the air to pick up her bowl of dough and lift it up in time to avoid a student sent sliding across the bench.

Normally I'd be fired up to join in thought Natalia, dumping the dough onto the bench and catching the rolling pin as it fell to start rolling out the dough. But I'm kind of having fun here, who would've thought? she continued stretching the dough out into an even circle, allowing her mind to wander during the repetitive, almost Zen like task. I wonder how Amber's doi-oh oh.

Natalia had turned around to check on the younger girl and noticed several things amiss. In the order that Natalia noticed them, they were:

1. A flying baguette had knocked over some of the bottles on the shelf above Amber's bench, spilling what looked and smelled like soy sauce all over the vegetables she had been working on.

2. Amber's tiny fist was down by her side, clenched and shaking. The traditional calling card of one of her explosive tantrums.

3. The oven was growling.

"Uh..oh," murmured Natalia, flashing back to a few weeks ago...

Everything I animate has to contain a part of myself, an emotion or a thought or something," explained Amber, after Natalia had nagged her into explaining the exact functioning of her ability. "It's not something I have complete control over, sometimes whatever I'm feeling the most will slip into the object and sometimes I can even animate something without meaning to, when I'm really worked up."

"That happened before right?" asked Natalia, snorting as she recalled the details. "You set loose a herd of tables or something."

"Desks," corrected Amber crossly, folding her arms over chest. "And it's not funny, I got in a heap of trouble so I try not to let that sort of thing happen. It hasn't so far... But if get really mad or something..."

"Right," nodded Natalia, stretching and settling her arms behind her head. "I'll look out for it."

"yup," muttered Natalia to herself "That oven looks really mad," as the kitchen appliance in question continued to growl and attempted to wriggle free of its confinement with disturbingly organic movements.

Meanwhile it creator had turned around, stomped her foot on the ground and was addressing the chaotic melee with her hands on her hips.

"WOULD YOU IDIOTS KNOCK IT OFF!" She yelled, her face turning crimson. "IF I HAVE TO ACTUALLY PARTICIPATE IN THIS STUPID FARCE THEN THE LEAST YOU MORONS CAN DO IS PAY ME THE SMALL CONSIDERATION! OF NOT! RUINING! MY STUPID VEGENTABLES!"

The effect of this tirade on the general chaos engulfing the kitchen was precisely nill.

"URRRGH!" Amber stomped her foot again. "I'M SO MAD I COULD- I COULD-"

"Grrr,"

"EXACTLY!" said Amber, nodding. "I could gro- wait-"

"GRAAARRAAGGH!!" The oven opened its door and let loose a ferocious roar, the door apparently functioning as mouth. "MUST. DESTROY. 4A!" With that and an almighty shake the oven burst free from its fixtures and leaped forward, crashing into the floor and leaping again. In this, somewhat rabbit like fashion the appliance barrelled its way through the mass of brawling students, anyone in its path simply being knocked out of the way by the sheer weight. It bounced itself out of the kitchen, each jump literally shaking the floor and headed down the hallway in the rough direction of 4A's home room, roaring all the way like a wounded lion and picking up a decent head of momentum.

"I...uh...oops," whispered Amber, suddenly quiet and holding her arms behind her back, instinctively trying to minimise her appearance.

"Oh jeez," sighed Natalia, slapping her face with her palm. "Well don't just stand there!" she snapped, grabbing Amber's hand. "We gotta catch it! I haven't gotten the pie in there yet!' Without waiting to hear any objections Natalia took off at a dead sprint, chasing after the rogue oven and dragging the hapless blonde in her wake, last of all was Vivienne, clinging onto Amber's shoulder by a single, porcelain hand.

[The Templar High Council]

"good grief," sighed Natalia, ducking effortlessly under a wild punch, seizing the rolling pin on the bench and clocking her attacker without turning around before tossing the pin into the air to pick up her bowl of dough and lift it up in time to avoid a student sent sliding across the bench.

Normally I'd be fired up to join in thought Natalia, dumping the dough onto the bench and catching the rolling pin as it fell to start rolling out the dough. But I'm kind of having fun here, who would've thought? she continued stretching the dough out into an even circle, allowing her mind to wander during the repetitive, almost Zen like task. I wonder how Amber's doi-oh oh.

Natalia had turned around to check on the younger girl and noticed several things amiss. In the order that Natalia noticed them, they were:

1. A flying baguette had knocked over some of the bottles on the shelf above Amber's bench, spilling what looked and smelled like soy sauce all over the vegetables she had been working on.

2. Amber's tiny fist was down by her side, clenched and shaking. The traditional calling card of one of her explosive tantrums.

3. The oven was growling.

"Uh..oh," murmured Natalia, flashing back to a few weeks ago...

Everything I animate has to contain a part of myself, an emotion or a thought or something," explained Amber, after Natalia had nagged her into explaining the exact functioning of her ability. "It's not something I have complete control over, sometimes whatever I'm feeling the most will slip into the object and sometimes I can even animate something without meaning to, when I'm really worked up."

"That happened before right?" asked Natalia, snorting as she recalled the details. "You set loose a herd of tables or something."

"Desks," corrected Amber crossly, folding her arms over chest. "And it's not funny, I got in a heap of trouble so I try not to let that sort of thing happen. It hasn't so far... But if get really mad or something..."

"Right," nodded Natalia, stretching and settling her arms behind her head. "I'll look out for it."

"yup," muttered Natalia to herself "That oven looks really mad," as the kitchen appliance in question continued to growl and attempted to wriggle free of its confinement with disturbingly organic movements.

Meanwhile it creator had turned around, stomped her foot on the ground and was addressing the chaotic melee with her hands on her hips.

"WOULD YOU IDIOTS KNOCK IT OFF!" She yelled, her face turning crimson. "IF I HAVE TO ACTUALLY PARTICIPATE IN THIS STUPID FARCE THEN THE LEAST YOU MORONS CAN DO IS PAY ME THE SMALL CONSIDERATION! OF NOT! RUINING! MY STUPID VEGENTABLES!"

The effect of this tirade on the general chaos engulfing the kitchen was precisely nill.

"URRRGH!" Amber stomped her foot again. "I'M SO MAD I COULD- I COULD-"

"Grrr,"

"EXACTLY!" said Amber, nodding. "I could gro- wait-"

"GRAAARRAAGGH!!" The oven opened its door and let loose a ferocious roar, the door apparently functioning as mouth. "MUST. DESTROY. 4A!" With that and an almighty shake the oven burst free from its fixtures and leaped forward, crashing into the floor and leaping again. In this, somewhat rabbit like fashion the appliance barrelled its way through the mass of brawling students, anyone in its path simply being knocked out of the way by the sheer weight. It bounced itself out of the kitchen, each jump literally shaking the floor and headed down the hallway in the rough direction of 4A's home room, roaring all the way like a wounded lion and picking up a decent head of momentum.

"I...uh...oops," whispered Amber, suddenly quiet and holding her arms behind her back, instinctively trying to minimise her appearance.

"Oh jeez," sighed Natalia, slapping her face with her palm. "Well don't just stand there!" she snapped, grabbing Amber's hand. "We gotta catch it! I haven't gotten the pie in there yet!' Without waiting to hear any objections Natalia took off at a dead sprint, chasing after the rogue oven and dragging the hapless blonde in her wake, last of all was Vivienne, clinging onto Amber's shoulder by a single, porcelain hand.

"Pie?" Satoshi said, tying the elastic boy into a knot. Literally. "The pie's not done!?" He dropped Mr. Not-So-Fantastic on top of his friends and started chasing after the two girls, as well as a very angry oven. "Why hasn't the pie been baked yet!? If we don't give it time to set, it won't be ready for judging!"

[Charlia]

"good grief," sighed Natalia, ducking effortlessly under a wild punch, seizing the rolling pin on the bench and clocking her attacker without turning around before tossing the pin into the air to pick up her bowl of dough and lift it up in time to avoid a student sent sliding across the bench.

Normally I'd be fired up to join in thought Natalia, dumping the dough onto the bench and catching the rolling pin as it fell to start rolling out the dough. But I'm kind of having fun here, who would've thought? she continued stretching the dough out into an even circle, allowing her mind to wander during the repetitive, almost Zen like task. I wonder how Amber's doi-oh oh.

Natalia had turned around to check on the younger girl and noticed several things amiss. In the order that Natalia noticed them, they were:

1. A flying baguette had knocked over some of the bottles on the shelf above Amber's bench, spilling what looked and smelled like soy sauce all over the vegetables she had been working on.

2. Amber's tiny fist was down by her side, clenched and shaking. The traditional calling card of one of her explosive tantrums.

3. The oven was growling.

"Uh..oh," murmured Natalia, flashing back to a few weeks ago...

Everything I animate has to contain a part of myself, an emotion or a thought or something," explained Amber, after Natalia had nagged her into explaining the exact functioning of her ability. "It's not something I have complete control over, sometimes whatever I'm feeling the most will slip into the object and sometimes I can even animate something without meaning to, when I'm really worked up."

"That happened before right?" asked Natalia, snorting as she recalled the details. "You set loose a herd of tables or something."

"Desks," corrected Amber crossly, folding her arms over chest. "And it's not funny, I got in a heap of trouble so I try not to let that sort of thing happen. It hasn't so far... But if get really mad or something..."

"Right," nodded Natalia, stretching and settling her arms behind her head. "I'll look out for it."

"yup," muttered Natalia to herself "That oven looks really mad," as the kitchen appliance in question continued to growl and attempted to wriggle free of its confinement with disturbingly organic movements.

Meanwhile it creator had turned around, stomped her foot on the ground and was addressing the chaotic melee with her hands on her hips.

"WOULD YOU IDIOTS KNOCK IT OFF!" She yelled, her face turning crimson. "IF I HAVE TO ACTUALLY PARTICIPATE IN THIS STUPID FARCE THEN THE LEAST YOU MORONS CAN DO IS PAY ME THE SMALL CONSIDERATION! OF NOT! RUINING! MY STUPID VEGENTABLES!"

The effect of this tirade on the general chaos engulfing the kitchen was precisely nill.

"URRRGH!" Amber stomped her foot again. "I'M SO MAD I COULD- I COULD-"

"Grrr,"

"EXACTLY!" said Amber, nodding. "I could gro- wait-"

"GRAAARRAAGGH!!" The oven opened its door and let loose a ferocious roar, the door apparently functioning as mouth. "MUST. DESTROY. 4A!" With that and an almighty shake the oven burst free from its fixtures and leaped forward, crashing into the floor and leaping again. In this, somewhat rabbit like fashion the appliance barrelled its way through the mass of brawling students, anyone in its path simply being knocked out of the way by the sheer weight. It bounced itself out of the kitchen, each jump literally shaking the floor and headed down the hallway in the rough direction of 4A's home room, roaring all the way like a wounded lion and picking up a decent head of momentum.

"I...uh...oops," whispered Amber, suddenly quiet and holding her arms behind her back, instinctively trying to minimise her appearance.

"Oh jeez," sighed Natalia, slapping her face with her palm. "Well don't just stand there!" she snapped, grabbing Amber's hand. "We gotta catch it! I haven't gotten the pie in there yet!' Without waiting to hear any objections Natalia took off at a dead sprint, chasing after the rogue oven and dragging the hapless blonde in her wake, last of all was Vivienne, clinging onto Amber's shoulder by a single, porcelain hand.

"Pie?" Satoshi said, tying the elastic boy into a knot. Literally. "The pie's not done!?" He dropped Mr. Not-So-Fantastic on top of his friends and started chasing after the two girls, as well as a very angry oven. "Why hasn't the pie been baked yet!? If we don't give it time to set, it won't be ready for judging!"

Charlotte grinned. Why chase an oven when you can get in front of it? She used the counter to propel herself into a somersault over the top of the oven, landing on the other side and attempting to block it from going any farther. And she sticks the landing!
Whoa.
I just made an impromptu joke in a... okay, mostly serious situation.
I'm getting better every day!

[Atlannia]

"Pie?" Satoshi said, tying the elastic boy into a knot. Literally. "The pie's not done!?" He dropped Mr. Not-So-Fantastic on top of his friends and started chasing after the two girls, as well as a very angry oven. "Why hasn't the pie been baked yet!? If we don't give it time to set, it won't be ready for judging!"

"I WAS TRYING TO DO AN..UM... CRAP WHAT'S THE WORD? YOU KNOW WITH LIKE, THE VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL STRIPS?" Shot back Natalia as she ran, Amber stumbling after her.

"RAARRRAGH!" Roared the oven, "MY ENEMIES WILL PERISH IN ETERNAL HELLFIRE!" the appliance mastering human speech with alarming efficiency as it bounced down the hallway with deafening crashes.

"Just what part of you did you put it in that thing?" Natalia asked Amber, skidding around a corner in time to see.

Charlotte grinned. Why chase an oven when you can get in front of it? She used the counter to propel herself into a somersault over the top of the oven, landing on the other side and attempting to block it from going any farther. And she sticks the landing!
Whoa.
I just made an impromptu joke in a... okay, mostly serious situation.
I'm getting better every day!

"Ah, Red I wouldn't-"

*Cruuunch!

The oven seemed unperturbed by the sudden appearance in its path of a girl with wings. Which was fair, after all the oven was nearly a hundred kilograms of metal traveling with a good head of momentum, it would probably take half a dozen Charlottes standing in its path to slow it down. As it was the oven simply slammed into her with an unhealthy sounding crunch and kept on going. Laughing maniacally in a deep, gravelly voice.

Natalia winced as she ran and then brightened.

"A latice!" she shouted to no one in particular. "That's the word!"

[Imperial Northern States]

At least, that's what Beth thought. Well, that's likely what she thought until she saw the three students, Fritz, Gray, and the ever lovable Hope. Hope had a very fun power. By fun, I mean something that every trouble maker ever wished they had. The power to shatter things. One other thing she had: Hope was captain of the track team. They called her 'Lightning Hope.' And she was in a dead sprint towards the wall. Gray was tailing behind her, using his power of draining opponents sleep to K.O. any interfering 4Cers, and supporting him was Fritz, who was normally a very sociable guy. Not particularly social, rather shy actually, but still he had a nasty power as well.

Put simply, he makes wishes come true. Wishes of the romantic kind. i.e. he became Harriet for Beth. To everyone else, it looks as if he's just regular old Fritz, however, to Beth, it looks as if Harriet was dressed in a bunny costume. And walking towards her nervously.

While Fritz distracted Beth, and Gray provided interdiction, I seemed to have forgotten something: Hope has a blackbelt in Kung Fu.

Yeah.

And with a flying kick, the nine-foot wall shattered, spraying dust everywhere.

"4C! Your reign of terror has come to an end! 4A, to waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar!" She picked up a loaf of French bread, and charged.

"Huh? How did I miss that?" Satoshi turned to see an army of students from another homeroom charging at his class's section of kitchen. To say the least, it got Satoshi's blood pumping. He took off the apron, as well as his sandals and handwraps.

After not totally reacting late to Ellie's existence, he searched around for her before tentatively poking his head around a corner, "Ellie, hey! Something about a ham, and cooking is involved, and I have no idea what's going on" he states skittishly. "So, I really, really need help badly" he finished, throwing his arms out in front of himself.

"EDMUND! Find the ham, I'll be right back." With that out of the way, Satoshi pulled back his arm and started running to meet a trio of 4A students. The first one was decked by Satoshi's arm, brought to the ground in a clothesline maneuver. The second tried to hit him with a baguette, but Satoshi swung his arm in a flaming arc and cut the bread in half.

The third... his ability seemed to be elasticity. So he swung his arm at Satoshi, and instantly regretted it. Satoshi grabbed the arm by the elbow and flung it over his shoulder, judo-style. Then whipped the boy around, knocking over the girl with the baguette and sending them both into the boy on the ground.

"Oh, you ain't seen nothin' yet." Satoshi clapped his hands together, causing a small wave of fire and heat to emanate from the point of contact. It was time... to get served...

Edmund ran at the sound of his name being called, ran to wherever the ham was stored. He grabbed one, using both of his hands, before running back to where Satoshi was standing, and throwing the ham down into the counter.
He looked at his gloves. It suddenly occurred to him that wearing linen gloves while cooking, probably wasn't a good idea.
What hadn't occurred to him, was that he was miraculously unscathed, despite the chaos raging around him.