Chapter 16

Cry Havoc

"This is it, guys. We have to stop this here, or everything could go to hell."

The members of the Newspaper Club shared grim glances around the table as they nodded at Tsukune's words. They had each spent the last day trying to think of ways to accomplish just that, but had all come up blank. Now, as they neared the hour when war would erupt, they could only hope that they could achieve together what they had all failed at on their own.

"Let's start with what we know," Tsukune suggested. He nodded to Yukari, who glanced at the open notebook in front of her.

"We know that the basic goals of the two clubs are opposing, and that has been the source of their conflict for weeks. S.M.A.S.H. emphasizes cooperation and cohabitation with humanity, M.U.N.C.H. wants monster communities to stop hiding and carve their own territories into full nations. In short, there doesn't seem much hope for them to find common ground in terms of their goals." Yukari sighed before pressing on. "We know that the leaders of both clubs are solid in their dedication to their ideas, and that has been the key to their convincing other students to join in their efforts."

"A lot of the S.M.A.S.H. members would do anything Ceann told them to," Mizore agreed, Kurumu nodding at her side.

"Hirukawa is deeply respected in Monsters United, and Sakuya and Powaru are friendly enough to make up for what he lacks," Moka pointed out. "If we could convince the leaders that this war shouldn't happen, then they would be able to sway the others, I'm sure. Still…"

"They believe that it should happen, more than anyone else." Tsukune shook his head in resignation. "But do we know why? Is it just the ideas, or something else? Do they have a reason to hate each other personally?" He glanced around the table before looking directly at Gin, the only member of the club to be the same year as the two leaders.

"As far as I know, they don't really know each other," Gin admitted, shrugging. "I kinda doubt they have anything personal like that in this fight."

"There goes that idea," Kurumu grumbled, and the others nodded.

Yukari continued, "As far as we have seen, the two groups were building up towards a conflict as soon as they started openly recruiting members, but it has gotten much worse in the past week. The number of fights have been increasing daily, which means a bigger fight like this one was inevitable."

"And all of the fights before only make this worse," Kurumu suggested, frowning deeply. "I could tell that it really bothered Ceann that so many of her people had gotten hurt."

"It was the same with the leaders of Monsters United," Moka agreed.

"Also, Ruby and I think that someone in the administration has been trying to stir this up for some time," Yukari stated. "The competing events that both clubs had planned… someone in the administration made sure that they would conflict." The group fell silent as they considered the implications of her news. "We don't really have any way of figuring out who was behind that, certainly not before the fight happens."

"So all of this was going to happen, no matter what we did?' Mizore asked, her voice chill.

"No." The group all looked to Tsukune, whose eyes were shaded by his lowered head. "There's… something else going on." Steeling himself, he looked towards Moka. "I found out yesterday that someone else has been making this worse on purpose. One of the Headmaster's guards told me that he thinks there's a monster on campus with the power to make people turn on each other. He couldn't tell me much about it, other than it is really old and powerful…"

"And it's probably what hurt Kokoa?" Moka asked, her words as sharp as her expression.

"Probably," Tsukune admitted, meeting her eyes. "So that leaves us with two problems: finding this monster, and stopping the fight between the clubs."

"Did the guardian tell you anything about the monster?" Kurumu asked hopefully, but her face fell as she considered the source. "Wait, it wasn't Gabe that told you, was it?"

"No, Michael." Tsukune shook his head, frowning. "He couldn't tell me much, other than whatever it is, it's ancient. He called it War."

"Not really a subtle name, is it?" Gin chuckled.

Tsukune smirked for a moment, but pressed on, "He said it has the power to make friends turn on each other; the stronger the bonds, the worse they will fight. It's also really tough, and loves to fight. He didn't really know of any specific weaknesses, or how we could find it, but he was pretty sure it would get involved in what will happen today."

"That sounds bad for us," Mizore pointed out. "If we try to take it on together, then we could end up turning on each other."

"Then let Inner Moka fight it," Moka suggested bluntly. "She'll have the best chances one-on-one, and a solo fight will keep it from using that power." The others exchanged glances, fully aware of the other reason Moka would want to face the monster personally, but quickly agreed. None of them had any desire to stop her revenge.

"Then we just need to draw it out. We could use the fight for that, but…"

"We're taking a big risk that a lot of people will get hurt," Moka finished for Tsukune. "We have to try to stop the fight before it happens."

"And what if we fail to stop it?" Yukari asked, her tone broadcasting her opinion of their chances.

"I have an idea for that." The group turned as one as someone new entered the room. Ruby walked towards them, wearing a triumphant smile. "Tsukune asked me to consider that problem yesterday when I visited Kokoa, and I came up with a few ideas." She beamed at Tsukune, who gave her an appreciative smile in response. "I had considered calling on people I trust in the administration to break up the fight before it got started-"

"Yeah, we've all learned a long time ago not to rely on them," Kurumu groused. "The staff around here are useless when it comes to fights. Present company excluded."

"I had thought of that," Ruby conceded. "So, I turned to a more direct solution!" She pulled a pouch from her waist, holding it proudly before her. "Just a sniff of this sleeping powder, and it's lights out for anyone for at least a couple of hours. Even if you can't stop the fight from starting, then we can use this to stop it before it gets bad."

Silence gripped the room for a moment as the others considered her words, only to break into an eruption of questions. "Aren't they just going to fight again when they wake up?" Kurumu demanded.

"I don't think that little pouch is going to be enough to sedate a crowd of this size," Mizore pointed out.

"Won't we end up asleep like the rest of them?" Yukari noted.

"This is just to give us a chance to figure things out if it all goes wrong," Ruby defended herself frantically. "If we can't stop the fight, then this will give us time to get help, or to pull the strongest fighters out of it. And, this pouch is just a little bit of what I've made; the rest is drying in one of the downstairs kitchens, but it will be ready in time. I called in a few favors from Dr. Mayumi to get all the supplies I needed for a batch this big."

"We can have this as our back-up plan," Tsukune suggested. "Ruby, we'll contact you when we find out where the fight is going to take place, and you can bring the sleeping powder there. First, though, we need to stop the groups from having the fight at all. Moka, Yukari, if you can go to Hirukawa, and if Kurumu and Mizore will talk to Ceann, we have to at least try to stop this." The four girls nodded, steeling themselves against the gravity of their task. "If we succeed, we can worry about War afterwards. Otherwise…" Tsukune swallowed visibly. "We'll have to figure things out as we go. I'll stay back here and handle communications, until we know how this is going to go."

"What do you want from me?" Gin asked.

"If Kokoa knows what this War looks like, then he might want to make sure she doesn't tell anyone. I've already asked Haiji to keep an eye on her room, but…" Moka hesitated.
"Haiji can protect her from that monster, and I'll protect her from Haiji," Gin chuckled, nodding to Moka. "Don't worry, Kokoa will be fine."

"Alright, everyone," Tsukune looked to each of his friends. "We have to do this right. Keep everyone posted on what happens, and we'll stop this, one way or another." The Newspaper Club shared resolved smiles, standing from their seats. "Good luck, to all of us."


"Okay, now, how am I going to carry all of this?"

Ruby looked with dismay at the array of containers spread across the kitchen, each containing different ingredients ready for the final step of preparation. She ignored the muted thumps from one cabinet where a recaptured cauldron had been locked ever since Yukari had decanted her potion from it, instead mentally reciting the recipe she had been following ever since she had spoken to Tsukune the previous day. She had worked through the night, grinding and baking and mixing, struggling to find the right metal containers, but finally she was nearly done. One last step, and then to consider the final problem: how was she going to spread the powder far enough to reach everyone involved in the fight?

It would be worth all the trouble in the end, Ruby allowed herself to think with a smile, remembering Tsukune's grateful smile to her. If her actions could stop things from getting worse, could stop people from getting hurt, then it would be worth a night's missed sleep. 'Maybe, if things go well, Tsukune will reward me further…' Ruby slapped her cheeks, trying to focus again on the task at hand. She had other things to worry about right now, such as how she could find an air-tight container big enough to combine and seal all of the powder in…

"I'm sorry, but you'll not be involved in this one."

Ruby jumped as she heard the voice behind her. She whirled to face the speaker, but the lights died before she could complete the motion. The dim red glow of the exit sign was all that lit the room, but in its sanguine shine she could almost make out the features of the boy in front of her.

"Tsukune, what are-"

A single finger touched her forehead, and time stopped for Ruby. She froze in place, her mouth gaping and eyes squinting into the darkness as the boy turned away from her, walking without another word out of the kitchen. When the door swung closed, everything was still and silent in the room, as it would be for hours yet to come.


"Moka, Yukari." Hirukawa raised a hand respectfully as the pair entered his office. He stood from his seat as he turned to face them, turning away from the window he had been gazing out of. His smile was cautiously optimistic, and he motioned to a pair of empty seats, offering the girls a chance to sit. "My apologies; Sakuya and Powaru are out taking care of final concerns, and I was a bit lost in thought. I didn't hear you knock at first."

"That's alright," Moka said, though neither she nor Yukari moved to take the empty seats. "We came to speak to you about the upcoming fight."

Hirukawa's eyes narrowed as he inspected their faces, finding resolve there, but something else as well. "You've not come to join us for the battle, have you?" he concluded, nodding to himself. "You've come to stop it." When both girls nodded to him, hesitantly, he sighed. "I expected that from you. Your Newspaper Club has a bit of a reputation for meddling, you see."

"Only to stop people from getting hurt," Yukari countered, and Hirukawa smiled in concession.

"We've found out that people from outside the clubs are trying to make this turn into a fight. Both S.M.A.S.H. and M.U.N.C.H. are being played like pawns, by people in the administration and some from outside the school," Moka stated firmly. "We can show you proof, if you don't believe us."

"Oh, but I do." Both girls looked shocked at his confession. "I've known for some time that some people had other… interests in mind. Kamui Ruthven, for example, despite his noble heritage, has been scheming with both sides from the beginning. I suspected that even the administration had a hand in all of this, too." He spread his hands wide, meeting their gazes directly. "I only ask you: why should that matter?"

"What?" Yukari stammered, caught off guard. "Why- they're using you! They just want to cause trouble!"

"And is that such a bad thing?" Hirukawa crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Are you so happy with the status quo? Causing trouble is the only real way to affect change, and if we are being used by others, then we will use them too. Anyways…" His eyes gleamed behind his thick glasses. "Forgive my lack of discretion in researching the recent history of your club, but haven't you been used as well? The Headmaster has shown special attention to some of you… Tsukune Aono, for one. Even now, you act in the Headmaster's best interest, instead of your own."

"I don't see how my school getting torn apart by this is in my best interest," Moka responded, frowning. "Enough people have been hurt already."

"I admit that people will be hurt," Hirukawa softened his tone. "I cannot apologize enough that your sister already has been. But I can't change course, not now. You have to see… what we accept as 'law' here is what will decide the rest of our lives. I, you, so many of us, have seen what humans are capable of: abuse, neglect, greed, hatred. And we are just supposed to subordinate ourselves to them?" His words were almost pleading, but his jaw was set. "We deserve more. We deserve an equal place, and if we must fight to take it, then so be it. People will be hurt." He swallowed, his words catching. "And not just here and now. But if we want things to be better, then at least they will be hurt for a reason, and no more than we will suffer in silence otherwise."

"You can't think that this will go so easily," Moka responded, incredulous. "Have you even tried talking to them? Have you tried to find common ground?"

"It doesn't exist." Hirukawa's words were spoken with the solemnity of a death sentence.

Moka gaped at him in silence for a long moment, until she felt Yukari pulling at her sleeve. "We can't convince him. We will have to hope the others are having better luck." Moka nodded to her words, but she stared at Hirukawa even as she moved towards the door, struggling to see another way. He watched her go, until the closing door broke their locked gazes.

As Moka and Yukari made their way out of the building, hastening their steps to let the others know they had failed, Hirukawa sighed and turned to one of the cabinets nearby. He opened it and reached inside, pulling a lantern from its depths. It was very old, made of glass and red-rusted metal, but a flame danced upon the candle at its base. Hirukawa held it aloft gently, staring at it with firming resolve, before turning once more to look out of the window.

He would light the way for his peers, even if it meant burning down everyone that stood in their way.


"Ceann! We need to talk to you!"

The leader of S.M.A.S.H. turned to face the two girls racing up the stairs of the Annex towards her. She had been pacing back and forth, trying to think of what she would say to her followers before the final battle. She had already mentally composed and discarded a half-dozen speeches, but none of them were good enough, and the ever-present gaze of her father's portrait above her only drove her onward with greater intensity.

She smiled as she recognized Kurumu and Mizore. "I am so glad you both came! We can use you, for sure. Ushi and Tora have the battle plans, so they can…" She paused, reading their expressions. "You've not come to help, have you?"

"We've come to talk you out of this," Mizore stated, not bothering with tact. "You can't do this."

"Ceann, I've thought a lot about this," Kurumu interjected. "I know you have…" She paused, glancing around to make sure no one around was listening. "… a type. A particular sort of guy you like. But do you think refined human gentlemen are going to be interested in warmongers?"

"Really?" Mizore hissed sidelong at Kurumu. "I give you credit for figuring that out, but did you really think that was going to convince her?" In response, Kurumu merely motioned at Ceann, whose face was brilliantly crimson.

"Anyways, we found out that people in the administration and others are trying to use you all against the school, and-"

"Enough." Ceann regained her composure, replacing her blush with a steely glare. "I know others are involved, like that rat Ruthven. I know agitators are working against us. But that doesn't matter, not in the big picture."

"Why not?" Kurumu demanded.

"Because this has to happen. Do you think that this is the first time that this exact fight has come up?" Ceann motioned towards the portrait behind her with a broad sweep of her arm. "Even in my own family! I grew up around people who still thought humans were little more than something to be hunted. I've seen the monster culture those idiots in M.U.N.C.H. worship, and it's terrible; murder and violence, taking what you want no matter who it hurts. And they say we are nobility? Last time, it took fighting to stop people like them, and it will this time too. My father fought for the things this school embodies, and I will take my turn now." Her jaw tightened, and she nodded resolutely.

"Ceann, please, you're talking about doing the exact things you think are so terrible!" Mizore pleaded with her.

"No. There's a difference." Ceann nodded, almost smiling. "Villains take what they want, but heroes take a stand. We will be the wall that saves everyone else from what they are trying to force upon us all." She looked at Kurumu and Mizore, hope burning in her eyes. "Thank you. Thank you both, for reminding me why we are doing this."

Mizore and Kurumu gaped at her, their mouths open. "We may have screwed up," Mizore admitted under her breath.

"Please, both of you, stay out of this; if your resolve isn't up to it, then I don't want you to get hurt." Ceann turned to face up the stairs, waving to dismiss them. She didn't hear them move for a long moment, but in time she could hear them making their way down the stairs.

"We have to tell the others," Kurumu groaned as they reached the bottom, the rest of her words fading from Ceann's hearing. Instead, Ceann stared ahead, concentrating on her empty right hand. A small cerulean flame lit upon her palm, quickly growing into a plume that stretched several feet high. With a flash, it faded, and Ceann snatched the sword that had appeared from the flame as it descended toward the ground. She flourished the blade, admiring the blue-green light dancing within the steel.

Just like her father had, she would stand against those who wanted bloodshed over peace. She would fight until everyone could have the lives they wanted, no matter what it demanded of her. She would even strike down her own classmates, if all they sought was conquest.

War was the only way, now.


Author's Note: I realize it is a bit ironic that the chapter that takes a full extra week and 5 hours is simultaneously the shortest chapter since, like, the first few chapters of this work, but such is how things worked out. I apologize for the delay; life has been demanding recently, a flurry of job calls and basketball games and almost no time for writing. I only hope that the days ahead are more productive, especially with a 4-day-long basketball tournament just before Christmas; I had believed that schools got a Christmas 'Break,' but I begin to doubt such will be my own fate. I admit, I am getting rather tired of making hot dogs and popcorn, and may lose my mind and begin hurling both at passerby if I don't get a few days to myself in the near future.

Next chapter is the end of the burning fuse, so expect explosions. I'm still trying to dissect it into sections and place those into chapters, but just know there will be more content in the chapters ahead. Wish me luck in getting all this chaos in my head into order; after all, as Eisenhower once said, "In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable," and it is to planning I now turn.

For now, while I can I must work, lest my frustrated plotlines haunt my sleep once more.

~Wynn Pendragon