Chapter Text
“I CANNOT BELIEVE WE ACTUALLY FOUND IT!!!! After so many compiled days….we finally found a cluster of the legendary mushrooms right next to your hometown!!!!” Jade said excitedly, a terrarium holding four small mushrooms and the soil from the location they were found in. “I must replicate their habitat exactly as quickly as possible to cultivate these treasures!”
“I still feel like it would be illegal to take those, even if you contacted the mayor of our town and even the Queendom’s government to let them know that we found a small cluster of the mushrooms said to have been from the Queen of Heart’s time that could make you grow and shrink.” Trey laughed nervously and adjusted his glasses.
“I like to think of it as ensuring their survival. It is absolutely imperative to ensure they can survive, the fact that they still only exist in that one area means that they have adapted to only those conditions. I simply want to see if there are alternative ways to preserve their precious state.”
Trey sighed at Jade, “You’re not going to let those go.”
“Absolutely not. This is our precious treasure after searching long and hard. It’s only natural to make sure they are preserved and protected.”
“Seriously? Jade dragged Sea Turtle out just to find a mushroom?” Floyd whispered a complaint.
“Does it seriously surprise you? It’s-hey!!” Azul got caught off as Cater shook his shoulder.
“You two need to see these!!” Cater showed off his video footage of Jade setting his terrarium down and kissing Trey.
“What was that for? I honestly can’t tell if-“
“WHAAAAAAATTTT?!?!!?” Jade and Trey looked at one of the pillars and walked over to investigate the shouting.
“Oh my….seems we had an audience.” Jade smirked as the three onlookers looked up at the two Vice Housewardens.
Azul, Jade, and Cater immediately started speaking over each other and Trey raised his hands.
“Alright, alright. Calm down…Look, Floyd…I understand it must be weird but it just kind of happened. We’ve been trying to go at a pace that’s good for us, I promise I have been taking good care of him.”
“Dude, are you for real?!? If we ever get Riddle back he’s absolutely gonna freak that you’re dating Floyd’s brother!!!” Cater replied and Trey paused.
“What do you mean “If we ever get Riddle back?”” He asked.
“That’s how we found out you two were both gone…. I was chasing Goldfishie when he fell into a portal that closed up. Sea Angel said it was a super rare powerful portal and that he could be in a different world entirely.” Floyd said and Jade and Trey gasped.
“Riddle’s….gone?” Trey asked dumbfounded.
“Yeah…Sorry to rain on your date, but Riddle had missed lunch, I didn’t want to lose my head since you were gone, but eventually I had to look for him because it was just too out of character for him. I ran into Azul and Floyd on the way out and they told me what happened. School’s been cancelled and we’re supposed to have everyone stay in the dorms.” Cater explained more.
Jade caught Trey as he temporarily lost balance, the look in Trey’s eyes temporarily blanked as he processed the information.
“Trey!!!” Cater was just as concerned as Jade was as Trey had to now lean on Jade.
“It’s my fault…. I shouldn’t have left today…” Trey started to mumble.
“Huh? Why are you blaming yourself? You weren’t even here. Honestly I wished I could have fallen in too so I would stop getting yelled at.” Floyd said flatly.
“Floyd!!!” Jade shouted sharply at his brother’s remark.
“What? You can’t deny it would have been better to stick with Goldfishie and no one know than to tell the teachers and get yelled at for something that was completely out of my hands. It’s not like I would purposely try to get rid of Goldfish.” Floyd got defensive at his brother.
“No…you’re right…Thank you Floyd, for letting us know…” Trey said weakly and the other three could tell he was taking the news hard.
“The Headmage seemed to task Idia with tracing Riddle’s whereabouts. I’m sure the other teachers will put enough pressure to get the Headmage to get the proper authorities, but I can assure you that steps are being taken to get Riddle back.” Azul said.
“Trey, we should get back to the dorm…. You need to lie down and I’ll tell the dorm about what’s happened.” Cater said and wrapped Trey’s arm around him so he could lean on him instead of Jade.
Jade nodded in agreement, “I’ll come by later to see you.” He said and Trey just nodded as Cater and Trey left.
“While I’m grateful for hearing everything’s that happened, it’s not like you to be so giving of information.” Jade looked at Azul, “What exactly are you wanting?”
“We can leave all that talk for later, right now Octavinelle is going to be a big mess because we’re at fault for Heartslaybul’s Housewarden disappearing.” Azul answered and Floyd got angrier.
“Again, it wasn’t my fault!!!! If I keep getting blamed for this I’m going to make my own disappearing act.”
“Absolutely not. You’re my twin for a reason Floyd, you’re not disappearing over this.” Jade said sternly.
“Please stop bickering. It’s nothing more than a waiting game now and given Riddle’s nature there’s no doubt he’ll try to return to his dorm as quickly as possible.” Azul put himself between the two brothers.
Jade sighed and went back to pick up his terrarium, “and today had been so delightful too.”
“I don’t wanna hear about yours and Sea Turtle’s day.” Floyd said curtly as he left to go back to Octavinelle.
“My goodness, am I going to have to put you two in separate rooms to keep the peace? The next several days or however long it takes to get Riddle back is already going to put everyone on edge.” Azul sighed.
“I don’t believe we’re at that point but I will leave these mushrooms in your room just for safety measures. I take it you overheard their value?”
“Yes, yes…You smuggled endangered mushrooms onto campus, you’re lucky no one on campus is going to be concerned about mushrooms when Riddle has disappeared.” Azul and Jade walked back to their dorm as well.
-at Heartslaybul-
“Look, I should really tell them that Riddle’s missing. I am the Vice Housewarden.” Trey protested again as Cater helped him through the lobby.
“Trey, you’re the only one here who grew up with him and it’s super obvious that you’re really hurt by this. You gotta let me handle it and give yourself time to process.” Cater said sternly and Trey chuckled.
“Alright, alright…I can tell you’re serious about this. I’ll head to my room and let you handle it.”
“Good. I really don’t want to find out how many mes it takes to drag you to bed. Now lie down.” Cater let Trey walk on his own so Cater could gather the students.
“Alright everyone, do I have your attention? Super big announcement coming your way.” He declared to the students lounging around on edge.
“Is it something to do with our Housewarden’s no show? It’s super unfair that he holds us to these ridiculous standards and then makes himself late. I say when he comes back we make him stop using his magic.” Ace declared and other scared freshmen nodded in agreement, the juniors and sophomores knew better because they had already been through a year with Housewarden Rosehearts.
“Well, look at our smart little freshman.” Cater said with a tiniest subtle hint of sarcasm. “Yes it has to do with Riddle but our strict housewarden would never make himself late for anything. A natural randomly spawned portal took him somewhere and we are currently going to be under dorm arrest until Headmage says it’s safe to go back on campus.”
The Heartslaybul student body gasped and shouted exclamations of surprise. “Wait, but does that mean Housewarden Rosehearts will be back eventually?” Deuce asked and the students quickly fell silent.
“Yeah, he’s probably already working on a way to contact us to let the Headmage know where to pick him up. We know these rules can feel a little overbearing but I’m sure that Riddle will be super proud if we maintain standards in his absence….that and Trey and I will lose our heads along with everyone else. So please don’t try to break any big rules and we’ll all agree to a little forgetfulness every now and then. Are we all okay with that?”
The students cheered again, happy to be freed from the tyrannical eye of Riddle. The juniors and seniors went to raid the kitchen for anything left over to celebrate Riddle’s temporary leave.
“Oh boy….” Cater sighed, twirling his hair anxiously as he went to check on Trey, second-guessing his choice to outright let the students know they wouldn’t have to follow all the rules now.
——————————————————————————
Trey’s phone rang as he sat in his room, looking at his secret photo Che’nya’s grandfather had taken of him, Riddle, and Che’nya as children. “Hey, I’m glad you picked up. I’m sorry if I interrupted anything.”
“Purrrhaps, you did, and purrrhaps you didn’t. Either way it’s not like you to call like this? Feeling a little stressed about our little Queen playing nice with the card soldiers?” Che’nya cheerily greeted Trey, teasing him playfully.
“Um….actually, it’s more serious than that. I….went back home today with a friend-“
“What?! Our meek little Trey already went home?! I must meet your new little friend that got you to do that!”
“Knock it off Che’nya.” Trey said sternly before sighing, “Anyways…a natural portal broke through the school’s defensive magic and when we came back….” Trey’s voice began to crack and shake the more he talked.
“He’s gone Che’nya…he’s gone and I don’t know when he’ll be back.” The phone remained silent as Che’nya dropped the playful mood, listening quietly to his friend’s sobs.
Cater reached Trey’s door and paused as he heard Trey crying in his room, he felt bad for the Vice Housewarden as no one downstairs would ever try to understand that someone actually cared so much for the hot-headed rose-red tyrant.
“I shouldn’t have left today…I should have stayed with Riddle…” Trey blamed himself.
“Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum….keep this up and you’ll turn just like someone.” Che’nya’s riddle came unexpectedly, more solemn than he had been speaking before.
Trey pulled out a box of tissues from his storage case in the room and blew his nose, “What are you talking about Che’nya?”
“Aren’t you already taking care of someone who blames his actions on why we stopped playing with him?” Trey froze and looked down, even though Che’nya couldn’t see him…both knowing that hit a sore spot.
“If it was a natural portal Trey, there wasn’t anything you could do….or maybe you could have if you knew what he was doing.” Trey got irritated at Che’nya’s words, but knew deep down, Che’nya was supporting him the best way he could in the way he knew how.
“Thanks Che’nya, I knew I needed to call you.”
Che’nya hummed over the phone, a slight playfulness returning to his voice. “Purrrhaps I should run over and eat more of your stress tarts.”
Trey laughed and rubbed his eyes, the dark cloud over him disappearing a little with his friend’s attitude. “I tell you we had a naturally spawned portal and your first thought is to come over? Riddle would have your head over that.”
Che’nya smiled mischievously over the phone at Trey’s words, his mission to comfort his friend accomplished. “He can’t take my head if I don’t have one, and he can’t lecture me if I’m not around. See you later Trey.”
“See you later Che’nya. Thank you….but ah…. Come after lights out okay? I still have things to do as the Vice Housewarden…especially with him gone….”
Trey still felt regretful, but chuckled when Che’nya hung up without answering to his request. “Same old Che’nya…. I wish I could react so calmly…”
Trey looked up when he heard gentle tapping on the door, quickly hiding the photo that now had teardrops on the glass pane, rubbing his eyes and clearing his throat to sound more relaxed.
“Come in.”
Cater stepped into the room and saw Trey visibly relax from a more tensed position in his chair. “I thought I told you to rest.”
“Haha….sorry Cater, I’m not like that. I promise I am trying to be calm, but I can’t just sit still. I’m going to head downstairs and bake something to take my mind off.”
“Uhhhh….yeah, no. I’m going to veto that, it’s….. not exactly the best condition for you to see right now.” Cater said defensively.
“It can’t be that bad….surely the meals I prepared ahead of time didn’t make a mess.” Trey got up and walked past Cater to leave his room.
“Wait, Trey!!! That’s not what I-ughhhh….what do I do? He’s totally going to flip the script if he finds out that everyone’s throwing a party, but how do I even stop him? If I push too hard, he’s only going to get more stubborn about seeing what’s up.”
Trey heard the sounds of Heartslaybul students having fun and he felt a rage of anger, taking a deep breath to try to bury his feelings as he entered the kitchen where students were bringing out food from the fridge to eat in the lounge.
“Aren’t you going the wrong way? Our dining room is behind you?” He said to the students carrying food.
“Oh! Trey….” The students froze.
“Look, I heard that Riddle’s gone and I’m sorry I wasn’t here to do my duty as your Vice, so if you’re hungry because you missed lunch waiting for Riddle, I’ll let you have dinner early. As long as you eat in the dining area where we’re supposed to eat.”
The students nodded, quickly taking the food to the dining area.
Trey then walked out to the lounge and folded his arms at the students eating and having fun. “I know that some of the Queen’s rules may seem difficult to obey, but I would think that avoiding eating food that would leave crumbs would be considered a common courtesy.” He said sternly.
The students immediately stopped what they were doing, shocked at how angry the mild-mannered Vice Housewarden was.
“We’re sorry Trey.” They apologized.
“I’ll write this off as you being hungry because you all expected Riddle to come back but you should have realized you would have to clean that up.” Trey said and all of the students quickly moved the food to the dining room or got cleaning supplies to clean the lounge area.