Chapter Text
“Mooooom!” A young girl called. “Come on, we’re gonna be late!”
A woman in her mid 30s was coming out of the house and quickly locked the door. Then took the hand of her second son before guiding him to the car.
“Coming darling,” she replied walking up to the car. “We’re still well in advance sweetie.” She took her son in her arms before putting him in his car seat.
“But I want the best seat in the theatre,” her daughter pouted in her seat. The mother giggled before making sure both her children were strapped in.
“Okay pumpkins we are on our way,” she said as she sat in the driver’s seat. She started the car and headed out.
The drive was smooth and everything seemed well.
“Are you excited for the movie?” the mom asked her daughter as she glanced in the rearview mirror.
“I can’t wait!” Her daughter exclaimed and then went back to her game on the tablet. The mother smiled before looking ahead. She then heard a thud.
“Is everything okay back there?” she asked.
“I dropped my tablet,” her daughter responded. The mom then heard a click and quickly looked back.
“Pumpkin?! What are you doing?” she asked with concern.
“I’m just going to pick it up,” her daughter tried to reassure.
“Sweetie get back in your seat, I’ll stop on the side and get it for you,” the mom said quickly trying to get her daughter back in her seat.
“I almost have it mom,” Her daughter replied not listening. The young girl could feel the tablet on her fingertips
The mom looked away from the road ahead to scold her daughter and did not see the upcoming stop sign.
“Sweetie, get back in your -”
CRASH!
…
“MOOOOOM!”
“OH MY GOD”
“Quick! Get the kids out!”
“What about the woman? Is she breathing!?”
“MOMMY!!!”
…
Ah, my dear esteemed benefactor…
My proud, beautiful flower of evil.
You are truly the fairest one of all.
O magic mirror, thy wisdom I entreat…
Reveal unto me the visage I seek…
You, whose image the Dark Mirror did beckon forth…
If your heart bids it, take the hand of the one reflected in the mirror.
As flame reduces even the stars to ash
As ice steals away even time itself
As the great trees swallow even the sky
Fear not the power of darkness.
Now - demonstrate your power.
To me. To them. To yourself.
The hour grows long, and time is scarce.
Keep steady your grip, no matter what may come…
A black carriage pulled by horses was heading towards its destination. Inside was a coffin which had someone that would impact the fate of many people.
Why does my head hurt? I groaned and my eyes fluttered open, but I was met with darkness. Where am I? I tried to think what I was doing and after a few seconds the memory struck me.
“MY CHILDREN!” I yelled. I needed to get out right now! I banged against whatever it is that was confining me. Then I heard something from the outside. “What’s that noise?”
“I better hurry up and find that uniform before someone spots me,” an unknown voice said. I heard the creaking of wood but nothing moved. “Urgggh… This lid weighs a ton! Try this on for size! Mya-ha!”
All of a sudden the temperature rose and I heard the crackling of fire.
“BWAAAAAAAH?!” I gave one big push and the lid finally snapped open and the source of the voice was not what I expected. “A-A cat?”
“Myehehe, now to grab the goods,” the small grey cat with… Blue flames in its ears?! He reached towards me, but finally realized I was awake. “What?! You ain’t supposed to be awake! And who are you calling a cat?!” He huffed and I swear I saw blue flames coming out of his mouth.
“Tch. Whatever. You human!” He said pointing at me. “Just gimme your uniform, and be quick about it!”
“M-My clothes??” I asked with confusion. I glanced down at myself and saw I was wearing a black robe with golden outlines.
“Hey, come on! I’m on a tight schedule here!” he made a motion to grab my clothes and I quickly swatted him away from me. He fell off the edge and grumbled. “How dare you swat the great Grim! You’re gonna pay for that human!”
I finally felt the use of my legs and jumped out of whatever it was that was holding me. Looking back, I saw I was in a black coffin and let out a scared yelp.
“What the heck! I was in a coffin?!” I freaked out. I saw an exit and ran for it. I ran down the corridor and everything was dimly lit with floating candles. I saw another door and quickly opened it to hide inside. I closed the door and saw I was in a library.
“Where am I?” I wondered out loud. I remember I was in the car and my daughter had dropped her tablet and then…
“What happened to me? Where are my children?” I asked myself. Then I heard the door burst open and the mysterious cat appeared.
“Foolish human! Did you really think you could slip away from ME?” he yelled at me. “Now, unless you wanna get burned to a crisp, take off that -” Preparing myself to dodge his flame, I then heard the crack of a whip and it quickly snatched the cat away and tied him up. “Me-YEOH! That hurt! What gives!”
“Consider it tough love,” a male voice said. A man now holding Grim (yes that was the name he used earlier) appeared. He was pretty tall and had a black mask in the shape of a crow hiding the top half of his face, but I could still see yellow eyes staring at me. He wore a top hat and had quite the flamboyant outfit.
“Ah, I’ve found you at last,” he said with relief as he was looking at me. “Splendid. I trust you’re one this year’s new student?”
That word struck a cord in me.
“S-Student? You must be mistaken sir. I am too old to be a student,” I said, holding my hands in front of me. Surely this man can see I’m in my mid 30s.
“My, were you ever to make your debut,” he continued ignoring me. I was about to correct him again, but then I saw a mirror to my left. For the first time since coming out of that black coffin I saw my appearance. I was no longer a 30 years old looking woman that had carried two wonderful children.
I was in what looked like my young teen body?!?!
“EEEEEEEEEEHHHHH????” I shouted and ran up to the mirror to make sure. I grabbed my face, I glanced down at my body. I looked at my hair and it was back to being long to my mid back. I had previously cut it as long hair got in the way. Oh my god. How did this happen? I thought.
The other man, having seen my freakout, didn’t even seem fazed by it.
“Hmm? Of course you’re a teen, why else would I address you as a student. Anyways, I should mention, bringing a poorly trained familiar with you is a clear violation of the school’s rules,” he scolded. I was too shocked by my appearance to even comprehend what he was saying to me.
“As if I’d serve some lowly human! Now lemme go!” Grim demanded.
“Yes, yes. Rebellious familiars always say that. Do be quiet for a bit, won’t you?” The man with the mask covered up Grim’s mouth.
“Mmmrph!” Grim tried to protest.
“Dear me. Of all the students I’ve dealt with,” the mysterious man lamented. The word student still resonated in my head. “You’re the first with temerity enough to open their own gate and step out of it. Does the very notion of patience elude you?” I slowly turned around to face him. Still having a panic attack from my youthful appearance.
“No matter. Your orientation has already begun. Let us return to the Mirror Chamber,” he said.
“Gate…?” I squeaked. I felt like I could barely speak and my brain could not keep up with the information in front of me.
“You awakened in a room full of gates, did you not?” He asked as if it was so obvious. “All the students here at the campus arrived by passing through such gates.” So all those coffins were some sort of gates? That still didn’t explain my appearance.
“Although typically the students have restraint enough to wait until I open them before waking up,” he said with a scolding tone. I started narrowing my eyes as I did not like the tone he was using with me. Teen body or not, I was a grown woman dammit.
“I think something blew the lid off mine,” I replied curtly and pointing at the squirming cat.
“The culprit does appear to be that familiar of yours,” he agreed. “You’re the one who insisted on bringing it, so curtailing its behaviour is your responsibility!”
“Hold on a minute! T-That cat is not mine!” I said regaining my wits, but he completely ignored me.
“But now is not the time for such prattle. You’ve a student orientation to attend!” He exclaimed and grabbed me by the arm. “We must make haste.” he said as he dragged me out of the library.
“Hey! Let me go! Can you at least tell me where we are? And who are you?” I asked hoping he’d hear me. Trying to pull myself away, but his grip was too strong.
“Hm? Have you not fully regained consciousness?” he wondered. “The timespace teleportation must have addled your memories. I shall explain then. Truly, my magnanimity is boundless.”
He did not just praise himself for that I thought as I felt a drop of sweat run down my head.
“This is Night Raven College,” he presented with a bit of a flamboyant tone. “It is an institution for students in the world over who demonstrate a rare aptitude for magic. It is the most prestigious academy of its sort in all of Twisted Wonderland. And I am Dire Crowley. Having been entrusted with its care by the chairman, I serve as headmage.” Having finally a name to the face that was kidnapping me (this is kidnapping I refuse to call it otherwise). And then a word he said clicked in my brain.
“M-M-Magic?” I stuttered.
“Only those who the Dark Mirror perceives as having a talent for magic are admitted to the college. Those who are selected are summoned to the campus through those ‘gates’, which can appear anywhere,” he informed.
“But I don’t have magic,” I tried to tell him, but fell on deaf ears.
“Anyways, we mustn’t delay any long. Let us attend to your orientation,” he said. He pulled me through a door and my journey in Night Raven College officially started.