"That guy was a hacker! How'd he see me?" Lonnie asked, as he bit into his apple. The boys were at the stadium, chilling on the seats. "Because Lonnie, you were pretty obvious that it was you behind that wall," Trevor replied.
Lonnie shook his head, then noticed Carl flipping through his math book. "Dude, what are you doing?" Lonnie asks him, leaning over to get a closer look. Carl glanced up and smiled, adjusting his glasses.
"I'm studying. For a spelling bee," he answered. "A spelling bee? Why?" Lonnie asks, confused. "My parents want to keep my brain sharp. It's a math spelling bee. Mainly how to spell math words," he grinned. Lonnie blinked. "Who thought this was a good idea? Who wants to spell Equation of a line formula?" Lonnie asks. Carl laughed. "No. No. Just words. Like Trigonometry, Algebra, 2d and 3d. All that jazz," he explained.
"Oh. I see. You should not be struggling with circle. That's like the easiest word ever. And whoever does....you're an alien," Lonnie said. Scott sat down beside them, placing his bookbag on one of the seats. "Sup," he greets them. "Shalom, my friend. Carl's in a spelling bee competition," Lonnie deadpanned. "Cool, Carl," Scott smiled, patting his shoulder. "Woah. Where was this support when I participated in the hotdog eating competition?" Lonnie asks.
"Lonnie, hotdog eating competitions are risks wrapped in yummy food. Plus you lost," Scott scoffed. Lonnie's face turns red, and he turns away. "My mom said that fifth place isn't so bad. It just means I have try four times to be first next time," he said. Trevor laughed. "Ah, yes. The obligatory copium quote from mommy dearest. Face it man, that's just karma for losing in front of all us, including your own family after bragging it about for weeks," he joked as he bit into his biscuits.
Felix taps the boys' shoulders, interrupting the roast fest. "Who's the chick in the glasses, giving us the death stare?" Felix mumbled, nervously. The boys glance over to see a black haired girl wearing a pleated skirt with a white shirt, a brown waistcoat worn over and white thigh stockings. Her hair is slicked tight into a bun, shinning due to a lot of hair gel. Her brown horned spectacles were adjusted slightly by her as she continued to give the death stare.
Carl gasped and his reddening face in his textbook. "I wasn't aware she came here too," he muttered. "Who is she?" Scott asked, Carl, tapping his shoulder. "That's Sydney Todd. She's one of the smartest girls in my class. She knows more about any subject than anyone and literally knows everything. My classmates stopped going to the library and just to go, since she just knows the answer. And she'd demonstrate it too," Carl said, all the while hiding his face.
"So...ex?" Lonnie asks. "Because she is glaring at you."
Carl rose his head from his book. "Hehe. I'd wish. Uh, I mean no. She's just a really smart girl. I kind of admire her," he blushed, adjusting his glasses. Lonnie rolled his eyes. "Of course your type is glasses girls. You are also visionally impaired—Ow!" Lonnie cries out, as Trevor elbows his side.
Sydney gets up and stares at Carl a good while before marching off. "There she goes. If I didn't know any better. I'd say she likes you," Scott teased. Carl shoot him a glare. "Sydney could never like a guy like me. I'm a gamer all day, my parents make me follow rules deemed strange by you guys—"
"Cause they are," Lonnie cuts in.
"And...I fail every subject except English," Carl moaned. "That's good," Lonnie said, patting his shoulder. "You shouldn't be failing English. We speak it everyday. Honestly, who among us is failing English?"
Felix cleared his throat before nervously opening his Coca Cola bottle and downs the drink in a hurry. Everyone slowly turns to the goth boy. "You're failing English?" Lonnie asked, incredulously. Felix pauses and wipes his mouth, grinning. "A C minus isn't that bad, right?" He smiled.
"Stay away from me for the rest of my life," Lonnie tells him. "Uh...no Lonnie. Relax, Felix, he's overreacting," Scott assured him. His face then becomes serious. "Although, seriously. Get a better grade or stay away from me for the rest of life."
Everyone else nods in agreement. "Oh. Okay," Felix said, shyly.
-
Angelite slams her fist into a wall. "I sense no negative emotions!" She said, frustrated. "Did you and Jasper switch bodies?" Serpentine asks, approaching her sister. "What happened last week..." she pauses. Serpentine rests a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Ignore what Beryl says. If I recall, there is something called a spelling bee. Children from all over the country participate to win," Serpentine smiled as the other women arrive. "What are you saying?" Lepidolite yawned, stretching her arms. "One of them must be harboring negative emotions. Find one—"
"And we can defeat the Lumen Knights...Genius sister," Angelite praised her. "Oh no. You're a genius," Serpentine smiled.
-
The bell rings as the students file out of school. "Man, we have too much homework to do. Cod this afternoon?" Lonnie asks. "Not me. Spelling bee," Carl reminds them. Lonnie groaned. "A spelling bee is a more boring test. Come on dude. One game won't make you lose," he said.
Carl gasps and turns his head as Sydney comes down the steps, glaring at him. She walks up to the limousine which was parked in front, stilling glaring as she enters. She winds down the glass and the cars drives off as she maintains eye contact.
The boys blink then turn to Carl. "Yeah, that girl likes you," Lonnie grins. "No, she doesn't," Carl hissed. "Dude, she was staring at you the whole time. If that doesn't say 'I like you.' I don't know what is," Trevor adds. "You guys have messed up sense of romance," Carl said grimly.
"We're just teasing. We'll play Cod but you focus on winning. Understand?" Scott advises. Carl nods as motorbikes roll up. "Our rides here," Lonnie says. "Is that an anaconda on one of their shoulders?" Trevor asks, pointing at the long, leather reptile, its tongue sticking in and out.
"No, dude. That's a sheltopusik[1]," Lonnie grinned as he and boys go down the steps. "That is not better. That...that is not the flex you think it is. God did not intent that to made," Trevor grimaced. Lonnie waved for him to come, and sighing he cautious joins them.
-
The knock on Sydney's door barely makes her jump. "Come in," she said, flipping the page. Mrs. Todd enters, carrying a tray. "I have blueberries, pumpkin seeds, dark chocolate, walnuts and your favorite drink, green tea," she smiled as she laid it down on the bed. Sydney reaches over blindly and picks up a berry, shoving it into her mouth and chewing. Mrs. Todd's smile disappears and her face becomes stern. "Spell isosceles triangle!" She barks.
Sydney closes the book and tosses it aside. "I-S-O-S-C-E-L-E-S T-R-I-A-N-G-L-E. Isosceles triangle," she answers. "Correct, my dear. Now go on and eat your food," Mrs. Todd smiles as she turns and leaves. Sydney picks up her book and smiles to herself. "Carl may be smart but there was no way he's beating me. I'm winning that competition," she thinks. "I can see it now."
Her mind wanders to after the competition. She shakes hands with the judges when Carl approaches her. "Great job, Sydney Catherine Todd," he said, meeting her gaze. "Oh, it was no issue Carl. I am the best after all," she blushed. "Of course. I want to be no one but the best. Date me, girl," he said, pulling her close and giving her a playful dip.
Sydney laughs, the world fading as they come closer. "Oh, Carl. You're so forward. I'd gladly date you."
Their lips now inches from each other, about to meet—
"Sydney, spell Pythagorean Theorem," Mr. Todd's voice boomed, snapping her back to reality. His shadow seen by her side, looming. "P-Y-T-H-A-G-O-R-A-S T-H-E-O-R-E-M. Pythagoras Theorem," she said. "Good job," he said, his footsteps echoing as he leaves.
She continues to study, her resolve solidifying. "I'm the best there is. I won't lose. I can't lose."
-
Carl opened his mouth as he fed the chicken. "Son, are you sure you want to do this? After all, it's a lot of words. Twenty I believe?" Mrs. Schneider said. "Ja," Mr. Schneider replied, flipping through the newspaper. "It's dreißig, Mom," Carl clarifies. "Thirty? Oh no," she gasps. "It'll be fine. Right dad?" Carl asks, as his mother fed him another piece of chicken. "Ja," Mr. Schneider answers, flipping a page.
"Are you sure son?" She asks as she chews. "Your friends probably have issue with it," she said, wringing her hands nervously. "Wenn Ihre Freunde ein Problem mit einem Buchstabierwettbewerb haben, sind das nicht Ihre Freunde," Mr. Schneider spat, flipping a page.
"What?" Mrs. Schneider blinked. "Dad said, if my friends have a problem with a spelling bee, there are not my friends," Carl explained. "Oh.... They seem like nice people, Carl. When I hear you playing Cod," She smiles "Ja," Mr. Schneider said, absorbed in his paper.
"I'll be fine. My only worry is Sydney. She was glaring at me today," Carl said nervously. "Oh no! Maybe we should pull out of school for your safety," Mrs. Schneider gasps. "Nein," Mr. Schneider replies, flipping though another page.
"Oh okay," Mrs. Schneider resigned. "More piece of chicken, please," Carl asked, flipping to another page of his book.
"Okay. Weit öffnen," she cooed, placing the fork near his mouth. He opens his mouth and bites down on the yummy piece.
"You sure you're not hungry?" Mrs. Schneider calls to her husband.
"Ja," he replied, before breaking into a whistle.
-
Carl walked up the steps of school with his friends, the next day, still absorbed in his textbook. "Dude, did you hear what I just said?" Lonnie asked the boy. "Nope," he shrugs. "I was saying that Rebecca Romijn is hotter than Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique," he said. "But both can kick ass so it's dumb debate," Carl countered as they entered the building.
Lonnie opened his mouth but paused, his eyebrows furrowed as he thought about what Carl said. "I-I mean butt. They can kick butt," Carl corrected himself. "So how's the spelling bee coming along?" Trevor asked, as Lonnie stroked his chin in thought. "You in the finals right?"
"Yeah. Me, Sydney and three other kids," Carl said, grinning. "How happy you must be to be left with Sydney," Trevor teased. Carl turned a shade of red. "I-It's not like that," he said, his voice cracking slightly.
Sydney turned the page of her textbook, also in deep study. She and Carl had made it! The other kids didn't matter. She sighed, hugging the book to her chest. She can already see it, Carl congratulating her and asking her out.
"When I beat Carl, he'll see how superior I am and he'll have not choice but to date me," she thought, swooning. She heard some snickers and glances up to see the DOLLS. "Can I help you?" She asks, adjusting her glasses.
"Honestly, what do you see in him?" Diane smirked. "In who?" Sydney asks, feigning innocence. "Don't play dumb. I've seen the way you "lovingly" stare at Carl. To be honest, I feel bad for you," Olivia snickered.
"I've heard he likes girls like us, lean, pretty, not nerds," Laura said, giggling. "He finds people like you repulsive but don't take out words for it. Go and ask him. Without stumbling about your words, Sydney," Diane laughed as the girls sashayed away. Sydney leaned back against the wall, hyperventilating.
It can't be true, it can't be true, it can't be true....
"It probably is," she thought. "Why would he ever have interest in you? You freak! You weirdo!"
Sydney wipes her eyes, trying to stop herself from crying.
A snide smile comes on Angelite's face. "I sense it. Our newest creation and she is beautiful," she grinned. "Enriched with negative emotions. You were right, sister."
Serpentine smiles at Angelite. "Now, we wait to strike," she smiled.
-
Cars park in the theatre, people filing into the building. Carl stand awkwardly as his mother fixes his tie. He was dressed in a burgundy suit, his tie dark green and his shoes brown, his cufflink fastened to his cuffs. "There," she smiled, standing up. "You need cologne?" She asks him, trying to hide her anxiety. "Nope. I'm fine, Mom," he smiled.
"Let's find my friends," he says, taking a hold of his mother's hand.
Lonnie adjusts his tie, noticing Carl. "Here he comes," he smirks. Carl waves and the boys run up to him, hugging him tightly. "We saw Sydney a few minutes back," Lonnie said, as they broke the hug. "She was looking fine."
"Really?" Carl asks, blushing. "Yep. Enough talk, let's go inside," Scott advised as the boys headed through the door. As they disappear inside, the Gem Girls arrive, dressed cutout dress, their arm sleeves long and to their elbows.
They approached the bouncer outside, who noticed them. "We're here for the spelling bee," Angelite smiled. He flipped through the pages. "You don't seem to be on the list," he said, observing each page.
Quartz's eyes glowed, and the bouncer's eyes glowed as well before returning to normal. "Actually, you are on the list. Please come inside," he said, stepping aside, and holding the door open. The five women walk in, waving and smiling at him.
Inside the theatre, everyone took their seats, waiting. "Why is it so cold?" Lonnie shivered in the room. His mother, Mrs. Alexander, draped a quilt over him. "Thanks mom," he said as he tucked himself in.
The contestants gathered behind the curtain, Sydney dressed in a sparkling red dress, a white jacket worn over, her slick hair styled in a bun. She adjusts her brown horned glasses. She notices Carl walking towards her. "He's coming, he's coming, he's coming," she thought though her face remained stoic. "Hey Sydney," Carl waved. "I just want to say...."
"I love you, Sydney. With all my heart," she thought.
"Good luck."
She scoffs. "Hmph! Whatever," she said, looking ahead. Carl rubbed his neck's nape and shrugging, walked way.
"Hmph whatever? He wished me good luck and I say Hmph whatever?" She thought, her eye slightly twitching. "If I had the power to go back in time. It would be to redo that moment!"
The curtains are pulled back and the children are seated. "Welcome to the finales of the Math Spelling Bee. I hope you all are having a great Sunday. Contestants, are you ready?" Mr. Lumber, the pronouncer, asks. The kids nod. "Then let the spelling bee begin!"
-
"Spell Cuboid, Rory Simmons" Mr. Lumber asks Rory. There were now three children left, the other two had been disqualified earlier. Rory cleared his throat before speaking. "C-U—"
Lonnie sat back down, earning him a glare from Trevor, as the people clapped when Rory got it correct. "This is the fifth time you used the bathroom. You haven't eaten anything," he whispered.
"I ate KFC before coming here. Two pieces of chicken, a packet of fries and a biscuit. Also, a super gulp," he said, licking his lips. "That's unhealthy as hell," Granny whispered. Trevor nods. "What she said," he frowned.
Lonnie merely mouthed back at Trevor before refocusing on the stage. "Carl Schneider. Spell Obtuse triangle," Mr. Lumber said. Carl adjusts his tie. "Uh...O-B-T-U-S-E
T-R-I-A-N-G-L-E. Obtuse triangle," he smiled.
"Correct," Mr. Lumber said, earning an applause. Mr. Todd snorts and Mrs. Todd writes something in her notebook.
"Sydney Todd. Spell Endomorphism," Mr. Lumber said, as the judges take a sip of water from their bottles. "E-N-D-O-M-O-R-P-H-I-S-M. Endomorphism," Sydney replied. "Correct," he said, his eyes scanning the list.
"When will this end?" Jasper whispered. "Soon," Serpentine assured her. "Rory Simmons. Spell Manifold," he said. "M-A-N-I-P-H-O-D?" Rory said, frowning. "Incorrect. Carl Schneider?" He turns to the boy. "Um....I don't know that one..."
"Sydney Todd?"
"M-A-N-I-F-O-L-D. Manifold," she answered. "Correct. Rory Simmons, please exit the stage," Mr. Lumber said. Bowing his head, Rory walks off, descending the steps. "Stupid," Lonnie scoffs as the boy walked past, earning an elbow from Trevor.
"We are now in the last round," Mr. Lumber announces. Carl blew out a steady breath as Sydney shifts her skirt. "Sydney Todd. Spell Floccinaucinihilipilification," he said in the mic.
Sydney froze, her mind stilled. She cleared her throat before speaking. "F-L-O-C-C-I-N-A-U-C-I-N-I..."
She paused, her eyes darting around, sweat appearing on her brow. Her parent sit up in their chairs, glaring at her. She briefly makes eye contact with them before clearing her throat, her glasses fogging up. "Repeat?" She speaks, as she takes them off and anxiously dries them. "I will repeat one more time, Sydney Todd. Floccinaucinihilipilification," he said.
"Right. F-L-O-C-C-I-N-A-U-C-I-N-U-H-I-L-I-F-I-C-A-T-I-O-N. Floccinaucinihilipilification," she said. "Incorrect," he said, the word making her freeze, accidentally gasping in the mic. Mr. Lumber turns to Carl. "Carl Schneider. Spell Floccinaucinihilipilification."
"F-L-O-C-C-I-N-A-U-C-I-N-I-H-I-L-I-P-I-L-I-F-I-C-A-T-I-O-N. Floccinaucinihilipilification," he answers. "Correct, Carl Schneider. That's the end of the spelling bee. You are dismissed," Mr. Lumber said. Sydney stiffly abandoned the mic, walking down the steps. Her eyes were wide and her mind was racing. "I...lost?" she thought.
"Good job, man," Trevor said as he hugged Carl. "Guys. You act like I just won or something," he laughed. "We're proud of you son<" Mrs. Schneider smiled. "Ja," Mr. Schneider smiled, patting his shoulder. Mr. and Mrs. Todd approached her, frowning. "How could misspell such a simple word?" Mr. Todd chided her. "That was embarrassing for us. Do you know how embarrassing that was for us?" Mrs. Todd added.
Sydney heard none of their complaints. "Carl...he saw...heard...my mistake. He saw my flaw. I've disappointed my parents. I've never made a mistake. No once," she thought, as tears welled her eyes. "We have the results in," Mr. Lumber said as he went up on the stage. "And the winner is....Carl Schneider!"
The boys cheered, jumping up and down. Trevor stopped as he noticed his grandmother's glare, but the other hugged up Carl. Sydney gasped, failing to catch her breath, as tears trickled down her face. "I can't believe this," Mr. Todd said, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You lost to this boy?"
"No, Dad,' she thought. "I lost his love."
Her lip quivering, she sobbed as she ran off into the bathroom, Carl seeing her run off. "Sydney?" He calls out. "What?" Lonnie said. "I saw her. I saw her crying.
Sydney slammed the door shut, resting against before her face contorted in pain and sadness, slipping down and hugging her legs as she buried her face in them, sobbing bitterly.
The energy crackled as five women appeared, dressed in cutout leotards. Sydney looked up and gasped. "Who are you?" She sobbed. Serpentine smiled, kneeling down. "We're your friends."
"Friends?"
"Yes. We're your friends," she assured her.
"We saw your...loss on stage. It was unfair. What they did. What your parents said. The boy you loved. How secretly judges you. We may not be able to help you Sydney Todd, but you can help us," she sneered.
Sydney yelped as her body freezes due to her magic. She is yanked into the air and she struggles to escape. "That insecurity. The shame. Is what exactly we need. That will make this bee, interesting," she smiled.
Sydney cried out, as she felt something being pulled out. She witnessed the orb yanked out, floating towards Serpentine. Sydney slumps to the ground as the others surround her.
Grow, grow, big and strong," she chanted, the orb growing, as she fed it her magic. "Become the threat we know you are!"
The orb takes on a feminine shape and slender arms spring out. Its face takes form, being is stoic, with various cracks that pulse black, a flowing blue gown, all capitalized with a veil covering her head. "What is your name?" Serpentine questioned. "My name is Reverbia," she answered.
"Reverbia, go and take vengeance on those who do you harm, and if the Lumen Knights try to stop you, destroy them," she smiled. Reverbia nods and floats up, phasing through the roof.
-
"Carl, relax. She's fine," Lonnie assures him. Suddenly, a ghostly figure phases through the curtain, floating in the air. Everyone in the room gasps at the sight. Carl and the others turn around, observing it sternly. "Oh my God, what is that?" Granny asks. "An Echo," the boys say in unison.
"I am Reverbia and you all feel my insecurity!" She declared. A ball of blue energy readies in her hand as Scott summons his wand. He whispers, "Plasma shield." It sends out a pulse of energy, hitting everyone except the boys and their families.
The judges fall on their knees, shivering. "I'm such a failure," one murmurs. Mr. Lumber pants in ragged breath. "Why is everyone staring at me?" He mutters. "Do they know who I am? What I've done?"
"Was that—" Muriel began. "Yeah, sis. The Lumen Knights are always on time apparently. Come on," Scott urged, pushing his sister along with his parents. The boys lead them all to the exit and Trevor opens them, urging to exit the room.
"The Lumen what?" Granny asks after they all file outside. "Watch the news next time," Trevor said as he slams the door. "Uh...that boy. He getting his ass whooped today!" Granny stamps her foot.
The boys gather backstage, with Scott bringing his bag along. "Never thought I'd be backstage," Lonnie smirked. "Me too," Scott's bag spoke. The boys scream as Scott opens it and pulls out a pink ball. It opens its eyes and winks at them. "Dot? Shalom, Dottie," Lonnie smiles.
"You were here this whole time?' Trevor asks. "Of course. You're my Knights. I'll never abandon you," Dot responds. Scott tosses her into the air and she transforms back into her flying self. "Now. Time for your magic trick. She grins."
"Guys. Spell Transform," Scott smirks, his pink signet ring flashing. "T-R-A-N-S-F-O-R-M!" They said in unison.
"By the constellation of Sagittarius, transform me!"
"By the constellation of Pisces, transform me!" Lonnie shouts.
By the constellation of Leo, transform me!" Trevor declares.
"By the constellation of Cancer, transform me!" Felix yells.
"By the constellation of Taurus, transform me!" Carl shouts.
Light envelops each one of them. Scott's hair turns pink as he spins, his sleeveless halter white frilly dress appears on his body. His irises turn pink, as well as his eyebrows, lipstick, eyeshadow and eyelashes. Doing the dab, his arm sleeves appear too. His boots appear and he catches his wand before spinning and posing.
Lonnie's hair turns blue, as well as his irises, eyelashes, eyebrows, eyeshadow and lipstick. He does the floss, his dress appearing as well as his arm sleeves. He snatched his star wand and taps his legs, a boot appearing on each leg. He spins his wand before posing.
Trevor shadow punches, his arm sleeves appearing. He does some shadow kicks, each kick makes his boots appear. Doing a spin kick, his frilly dress appears on his body and he grabs his wand, his hair turning orange, his locks twisted into dreads before being self-styled into a ponytail. His eyelashes, eyebrows, eyeshadow, and lipstick being orange.
Felix slides his hands over his hair, making it long and purple. His eyeshadow, eyelashes and lipstick appear as he did so. He mouths, "Tonight will that I will fall for you," as his dress appears on his body as well as his boots. He dusts his shoulders, his arm sleeves appearing on each arm. He takes his wand and twirls it like a drumstick before posing.
Carl whips his head back, his hair turning green and self-styles into a ponytail. His glasses disappear and he snaps his fingers, his dress appearing as well as his arm sleeves. He waves his open hand in front of his face, mouthing, "You can't see me," as his eyelashes and lips become green, his irises turn green and his eyeshadow appears on his eyelids.
He takes his wand and does the peace sign, while posing.
-
Reverbia floats down to Mr. and Mrs. Todd, who hug each other, shaking. "You two. The source of my pain. The cause of humiliation. The—"
"Hey, Reverbia!" Lumen Orion calls out, interrupting the Echo. She turns around, her blank slots for eyes eyeing them, the boys posing with Dot. "Leave them alone," he orders. "Leave me. This doesn't concern you," she snarls, her face showing no emotion as more cracks appear. "The hell it does. You're an echo and we'll send you packing," Lumen Solus glared. Dot cleared her throat as he adds, "To the... victim's body."
"You can't stop me," she snarls as she powers up a blast. She sends it at them, the pulse of energy makes them crumple to their knees. "I'm a horrible husband. I feel like my wife's laughing. Every day," he shuttered. "He hates me. I know it. Even his smile seems fake," she sobbed.
"Okay...didn't need to know all that...that," Lumen Solus said, gesturing with his wand. "Now begone," she said, blasting at them. Lumen Vespera blocks the boy with his pink energy shield. "I think not. Lumen Aurora," he commands. "Wait!" Lumen Caelum shouts.
To no avail, Lumen Aurora shouts, "Leo! Tempesta Vocare!" as he floats upward.
The wind starts to below and outside, clouds start to gather. "That can't be good," Mrs. Denoise said, trying to keep her skirt down. 'What the hell's going on in there?" Granny asks. "It's the Lumen Knights. One of their powers I believe. Think Sailor Moon, Mrs. Brown," Muriel explains.
Granny looks at her, shook. "I thought Sailor Moon was fiction. They're real?"
"N-No. I said, like Sailor Moon."
"So this Sailor Jupiter doing all that right now?" Granny points. "Never mind," Muriel sighs. "It's...more like Thor. Right darling?" Mrs. Schneider asks. "Ja," Mr. Schneider nods.
The roof is suddenly ripped off as the lighting flashes. Outside, their families gasped as Lonnie's maternal grandmother does the cross. "Oh," Dot gasps. "Oh no, no, no, no, no, no. That was...not suppose to happen," Lumen Vespera grits his teeth in shock. "Damn," Lumen Solus exclaims as Lumen Orion face palms.
"I was trying to prevent that. This is not like with Wrath. We're in a building," Lumen Caelum calls. "Yeah. I realized too late. But he already triggered his ult," Lumen Vespera points out. Lumen Aurora aims his wand at the Echo, crying out, "Lighting Spear!"
The lighting flies down, morphing into a spear and impaling the Echo who lets out a cry. The clouds disperse as Lumen Aurora lands. "That was my bad. I apologize in advance for the taxes the mayor's gonna enforce on us after this," Lumen Vespera comments. "You're forgiven," Dot answers, flying close.
"This means I'm benched. Makes sense. I'll kill everyone except that thing," Lumen Solus points as Reverbia phases through the spear. "Guess it's just me," Lumen Orion smiles. "Dude, with what liquid?" Lumen Solus sasses. Grinning, he points to the judges table. "The water bottles and cups from the judges, the juices from mother who have young children and...." He points to the male bathroom. "Toilet water."
"Ew. Do it," Lumen Vespera urged. "What is up with you and unholy water?" Lumen Solus asks. "Pisces!" Lumen Orion shouts as the water streams out of the bottles, cups and out the doors of the bathrooms. "Disgusting. What girl has Dot chosen?" Lepidolite comments. "The gross kind," Serpentine argues. Sydney weakly coughs, her form weak and her skin pale white.
"Aquatic..." he says as it gathers into a spherical bubble. "Fish Blast!"
A powerful stream of water blasts at it, morphing into fish, practically swimming towards it. Reverbia forms a blue ball and fires it at the fish blast, making contact. The two struggle to push their attacks forward.
One minute, Orion has the upper hand but Reverbia pushes back. Gritting, as sweat pours down his face, he puts more power but Reverbia keeps her ground and overwhelms him, sending her blast upward which made contact with the bubble. It explodes and the boys fall to the ground.
"Damn!" Lumen Orion cries out. "I can't believe you lost that beam struggle. You, the self-proclaimed king of beam struggles in Sparkling Zero!" Solus shouts. "His only loss in the two years, 24 and a half months," Aurora comments as they scramble to their feet. "What now, Lumen Knights?" Dot asks. "Running's always an option," Orion smiles.
"Stay out of my way, Lumen Knights! My human self was weak, too weak to win the spelling bee but I will win in her stead!" Reverbia sneers. Lumen Caelum's eyes widen as it hits him. "Guys, that's...Sydney's Echo," He gasps. "Really?" Orion glances at the monster. "Oh wow. I actually see the resemblance."
"Enough. You can't defeat me," Reverbia adds as she powers up a blast. "No! Stop!" Lumen Caelum jumps in front of them. "I get it. Your other half is hurting but hurting others won't solve it."
"Is he...trying to talk-no-jutsu the Echo?" Orion points. "Let him cook," Vespera glares at Orion. "I won't hurt you. Your shame in understandable but...this is not the way," he says. Reverbia falters, the ball of blue disperses. "What?" Serpentine gasps. "Quartz, take control now!"
The Echo's eyes glow white, indicating she's been taken over. "Enough, Knight," She sneers as she sends a pulse of energy at him. Vespera summons a shield, protecting Caelum.
"That's it," Caelum mutters. He points his wand at Reverbia and shouts. "Taurus! Gravi Slam!"
Reverbia grunts as it's sent into a pack of chairs, Quartz falling onto the floor, hard. "Stop..." Quartz says through Reverbia. "Get out of her. Send it back to Sydney," he demands. "I...can't. What's done is done," Reverbia with Quartz's voice speaks as she groans due to the weight of the gravity.
"Then...I'm sorry," he said, as a single tears flows down his cheek. He applies pressure, causing an explosion of smoke and blue energy. The dust settles and a blue rob floats. "This is not over," Serpentine says as Quartz is helped up. The women then disappear in a black portal.
-
The Lumen Knights open the girls' bathroom and Caelum kneels at Sydney's body as he restores the orb to her. It enters her body, a blue glow heals her body, restoring her healthy color. She's helped up to her feet and Caelum gives her a tissue. "Thank you, but I can't go back out there. He'll never look at me the same," she smiles sadly.
"What makes you think that?" Caelum asks. "There's this boy...his name is Carl Schneider and...well. The point is. He'll never like me now that I lost," she wiped her eyes. "Hey," he said, placing his hand on her shoulder in comfort. "If this Carl wouldn't like you even though you lost, that's every superficial of him."
He wipes away another of her tears. "It's just a spelling bee. How he feels won't change," he smiles. Sydney smiles and steps back. "Thank you," she smiles back, sniffling a bit. "No problem. I gotta go," he said, noticing his friends leaving. "Bye," he waves as he exits the bathroom.
The boys emerge, dressed in the fancy suits as their families approach them. "Where were you guys?" Muriel turns to Scott. "We ran to the bathroom where we were ambushed," Lonnie lies. "The bathroom?" She scoffs. That's monster escaping 101. You don't go to the bathroom."
"Carl?" Sydney calls as she exits through the door. "Sydney?" He turns around, adjusting his glasses. "Uh...Carl. I....have to admit something. I...like you. A lot and I thought if I'd won the spelling bee, you'd ask me out. But I lost and well..."
She tenses, feeling his shadow looming over her. Carl takes her hand and clears his throat. "I...like you too. I've tried to deny it but I do. You shouldn't have to be so worried over something like that. It's just a spelling bee. My feelings won't change," he smiles.
Sydney's eyes at the words. "It's just a spelling bee. His feelings won't change".
She smiles to herself. "You saved me..." she thought.
Meeting his gaze, she leans up on her toes and kisses his cheek. She lowers herself back to the ground and smiles. "Congratulations, Carl," she said. Carl releases her hand and she walks away humming.
Carl stood there, frozen as he slowly placed his hand on his cheek. The boys surround him, nodding and grinning. "Carl the rizzler," Lonnie smirks. Carl shoots him a glare. "It's not—"
"My man," Trevor pats his back. "Stop...."
Doing God's work," Felix cheeses. "Guys..."
"Carl. We're all proud of you. Stand tall, you're a man."
"Please stop," Carl pleads.
[1] The sheltopusik, also commonly called Pallas's glass lizard, the European legless lizard, or the European glass lizard, is a species of large glass lizard found from Southern Europe to Central Asia. -Definition from Wikipedia