Twisted Wonderland Book 2: The Usurper from the Wilds

Chapter 23: A Strategic Stampede

"Then let's get going. The game is going to start soon," Ace says.

Just then, Grim notices one of the stalls that has corn dogs.

Grim is astonished, "Whoa, what's a corn dog?!"

Then grows excited, "I wanna try one! Come to papa, whatever you are!"

"Eat later! We need to go!" Ace says.

"Then let's hurry," Briar says.

Everyone makes a quick dash to the colosseum so they can meet up with Riddle and Cater.

Meanwhile, in front of the Savanaclaw Dorm, Leona, Ruggie, and most of the dorm members are ready to set the plan into motion.

"The players should be reachin' the stadium soon," Leona says.

Then Ruggie says, "Everything's set. We're ready to go whenever.

"Last year's champion will be up first—that's Diasomnia. Hah! My heart's pumping now," Leona says.

Ruggie snickers, "Sha ha ha! Then let's get going!"

Meanwhile, at the side streets, the festival continues to take place.

Soon, the PA system announces, "... Welcome, one and all, to the Night Raven College interdorm Spelldrive tournament! Thank you for your patience. The players will be entering the stadium momentarily!"

The audience cheers, "WOOOOOHOOOOO!"

Then the PA System announces, "First up will be last year's champion. But can lightning really strike thrice? Give it up for the Reigning Light... DIIIIIAAAAASOOOOOMNIIIIIAAAAA!

The audience cheers louder, "WOOOOOOOOO!"

In the stadium, the many Diasomnia students begin to enter the field and the crowd continues to go wild.

Meanwhile, Ruggie hides in a secret spot where the plan is going to be put into motion.

"Ooh, what a crowd! It should be plenty large enough... Sha ha ha!" Ruggie says with a snicker.

He then brings out a bottle that has some kind of liquid inside.

He uncorks it, "First, to drink Azul's potion..."

Then he drinks the potion in the bottle.

However, it leaves a very bad aftertaste, "Urk?! Blech! What IS this?! It's awful! It's like...stew someone aged in gym socks."

He's soon able to get the bad taste out of his system and says, "Urgh... Okay, get it together, Ruggie. Let's go. Time to fire off my signature spell... Let's send the audience running like a stampede of wildebeests! Okay, folks... 'Laugh With Me!'"

And begins to perform his signature spell.

Back at the stadium, some of the audience members notice something wrong.

A man asks, "Huh? What's that sound?"

Suddenly, another man notices something wrong, "What is going on over there? There's a whole bunch of people charging at the players!"

Another man panics, "Wh-whaaaaa?! My body, I can't control— Ah! Out of the way! Out of the way!"

"EEEEEK! Don't push me!" A female screams.

Another audience member screams, "Run! Before you get crushed!"

Many of the people scream, "AAAAAAAAAH!"

And try to run away from being crushed by those who can't control their bodies.

The PA System also saw the trouble, "What?! What's happening?! Spectators are converging in some sort of reckless stampede! Everyone please, calm down! I beg of you!

The audience screams, "WAAAAAAAAAH!"

Still working his magic, "Ruggie says, "Whoa... Azul's potion is insane! Look at how many people I can control at once!" He soon begins panting from using a lot of his strength and magic, "I don't know how many more... I can handle, but this...should be enough!"

Ruggie smirks and says, "Let's see what you do now! Surely you wouldn't use magic against civilians? You're the Prince of the Fae, Malleus. Even if you wanted to, you wouldn't dare! So get squashed instead! Shyeheehee!" and maniacally laughs.

The PA System screams, "The rush of stampeding spectators is headed right for the Diasomnia players...! Everyone, run away! Please, run awaaaaay!

The audience screams as they try to run away from the stampede, "WAAAAAAAAAH!"

At the stadium, many of the Diasomnia are witnessing the event.

A boy with silver hair says, "If they keep coming, we're gonna get crushed!"

Then shouts, "Everyone, protect Malleus!

A boy with green hair quickly turns his head and calls out, "This way, Housewarden!"

But soon notices, "Malleuuus! N-no! We're too late! Oof! We're getting crushed!"

The boy with the silver hair screamed, "AAAAAH! MALLEUS, NOOOOO!"

Seeing what is happening from the sidelines, Ruggie smirks and says, "It worked! Exactly as we planned it!"