Covering his eyes from the sun above, Edward sighs as his progress has taken all morning. Slipping away from Shadowfright was challenging enough under the excuse of recon, then getting past Golem houses familiar landmines littered across the beach and finally trekking through the forest to try and reach the outskirts of Pegasus House all while avoiding gem patrols. Thinking back to what Maestro said when they had their... One-sided argument about history being written from one perspective compared to the other. Clenching his fist to rid himself of said recent memory he looks upon the house perimeter, "Peacefully Edward... Do this peacefully." He mutters to himself.

A shimmering clear spike sticks into the ground in front of Edward as he looks up to see the mimic of Alexander, this time with white hair that has silver highlights. "You appear lost friend. I think your dark covern is on the other side of the island." Diamond states as they play with the cuff of their blazer.

Taking a deep breath, Edward sighs before facing the Alexander look-a-like, "Well, I'm just on recon, but decided to go on a detour here." He slips his hands into his pant pockets, "Though, I am wondering. I love history so much that I think the one humanity wrote has given a bad name to the Nightmares and the Gems. I know nothing of you other than you need someone's body to take form. I'm willing to exchange information if it's not free." He informs the Gem.

Diamond chuckles, leaping down from the tree as the spike dissipates. "For someone who 'loves history', I'm not impressed. We don't need someone's body to take form, just their mana. Otherwise, we wouldn't be returning the students we kidnapped after you and lavender crashed our house warming."

Edward took in the information quietly and hummed to himself, "That's very true, we wouldn't be here having this conversation. Although," He presses down with his foot to form earth chairs behind them as he takes a seat, "While you're very interesting beings, I do want to clear things up in my mind about what happened centuries ago."

Stroking the top of the seat Diamond sighs, "Still so far..." Brushing off his hand, he opts to stand. "What is there to clear up? Shit happens, more often than not, humans tend to be at the epicentre of each incident. I digress though, I'm not saying I hate you as much as the Nightmares, but you're up there." They state, sighing nearly every time he speaks as if it's a chore.

Nodding, he raises an eyebrow, "As far as I know the Nightmares, specifically Maestro had an argument with me about this matter. The information may or may not cross if I tell you this name... Did the Gems get involved with Morgana?" He asked, preparing for any reaction that this Gem will bring.

Taking a deep breath, Diamond begrudgingly sits down sideways on the chair, their legs over the other arm. His sitting position entirely weird for a male to take. "Which side didn't have dealings in the dark... As I understand it, we were sold out so she could get in good with the Nightmares, then they were backstabbed for whatever reason. Both sides having got involved with the Camelot war for their own reasons."

'That definitely checks out.' Edward thought, "I didn't ask the Nightmares this, but what caused the war in the first place? As far as I know, history didn't write what she did to you or the Nightmares. You're another piece of the puzzle I'm trying to solve." He intertwines his fingers and forms it into a fist, "So please, humour me, sir."

"I'm a woman..." Diamond groans as 'they' look extremely uncomfortable in their current form. "All the gems are naturally women but due to the mana taken to even release this corporal form... We assume the gender of whose mana we took. Just another part of our curse." They sigh again, glancing at Edward, "I doubt anyone honestly remembers the start... One of those things which become obscured with time before you're simply angry, unsure what it was that set you off to begin with."

"My apologies ma'am, another lost piece of information I never thought of." Edward raises a hand to quickly wave off his feelings. When he rests his hand back down he looked at his eyes with interest in what he said, "I'm all ears with what you have to say, but before we start talking, "My name is Edward, what is yours?" Giving him a smile.

"Diamond. I would say White Diamond but none of my sisters are out so I have the privilege of just being Diamond for now." He replies, still not happy about talking but indulges Edward due to boredom.

"Nice to meet you, Diamond, I hope we can put our differences aside and try to figure out why we're in this mess to begin with." He explains as his right leg goes over his left knee, "At your leisure, let me know what happened back then."

"War, backstabbing, mirror imprisonment. Pretty straight forward series of events... My one searing gripe is our wedding was interrupted." Diamond groans, having to recall the memory, leaning back in the chair as it reclines much to Edwards surprise.

'Alright, Gem's seem to have an affinity for Earth power.' He thought as he drew the connection about weddings, "I apologise that you and your lover's wedding was interrupted, Maestro and Shadowfright's wedding was also interrupted. Was it on the same day, I wonder..." He taps his chin before shaking his head, "You mention about the mirror, did... Did Morgana seal them all in there... Is there a way to break the curse?"

"You're asking the wrong questions. Someone darker than Morgana cursed us into the mirror and if there was, I wouldn't have a dick this very moment... Would I?" They squint at Edward, looking up from their laying position, "I doubt it matters what day they were on... The fact ours was interrupted at all is what annoys me. Though, I don't remember if the witch was the cause. It's a little fuzzy to recall." Diamond shrugs slightly.

'Alright, have to be careful here.' He thought, "I'm sorry for that, curiosity is a fickle thing." Scratching the back of his head, "Let's just say that Morgana was the reason that she interrupted your and Shadowfright's weddings and it was all a set up from her. That's what the pieces are saying at the moment. Shadowfright was sealed in a box and the rest were sealed in the moon." He recollects past memories about the Smooze, "On an unrelated note, someone released a Smooze that consumed magic around it to grow upon the academy that wasn't seen in centuries and that was sealed in a box by Merlin or Starswirl." He cracks his neck to ease some tension off, "So, here's my question to you Diamond, what really started that war? Or, in other words, who was pulling the strings?"

"Oh, you met the Smooze? Normally a pretty docile and harmless thing in the right circumstances. Someone must have pissed them off or he was stupidly hungry." Diamond stretches lightly, "Those are all well and good in theory. Those infernal magic prisons are stupidly complex like those ridiculous coloured cubes you people love to play with. I personally hate them... In that regard, the mirror curse is a vacation." Diamond raises an eyebrow as they sit properly, "What would you know of Starswirl anyway?"

The man just smirked, "Well I know that Starswirl isn't from this world, in fact he's from another. So with that in mind, I plan to see the chairman of the school and have a chat with him. They might know more about what really happened centuries ago." Edward held his hands together and sighed deeply, "I have two questions left to ask you. If you found the truth about what happened and my theory's correct, what will the gems do?" He wondered.

Diamond shakes his head, "You know nothing Edward Meteor... History is repeating itself and there's potentially only four here who even realise it. Though I'll be honest, I've no interest in participating personally this time around, that'd make things... Unfair. I'm sure Larisa feels the same way, right, Spooky?" They state, tilting their head at Edward seemingly looking at him but not at him.

He deadpans at Diamond giving the look of 'I'm being watched aren't I?' Sighing to himself, he gets up to dust off his trousers, "Last question, is there any way to stop this war? To be honest I'm sick of it... Reminds me of my home before I got here." He informed Diamond.

Diamond laughs before jumping up, condensing the chair into a spear of similar material. "You are funny. Technically, this war was never concluded and is now playing out its remaining acts till she reaches the finale as she was supposed to centuries ago. All that bearded fool did was seal festering emotions in a small box till now when they were released. Shadowfright has no intentions of signing a cease-fire 'till she achieves her goal... Right?" She asks, looking at Edward again before narrowing her eyes in annoyance as nothing happens. Before Edward can reply, Diamond spins and thrusts her spear towards the man suddenly.

"Waitwaitwaitwait!" A voice Edward recognises states rapidly as a shadow figure leaps out from behind him to wave its arms frantically, "Why are you always so extreme?!"

Diamond chuckles, "You were being silent while I was talking to you, Spooky."

"I was fucking asleep you crazy bitch! What is your damage?!" Spooky exclaims before turning to Edward, "And you! The hell did you think an earth wall was going to do? That thing is made of diamond for gods sakes, she is several leagues above the majority of earth-based magicians you have here..."

Calming himself down, he looks at the so-called 'Spooky', "To be honest, I thought using earth walls would stop its momentum." He then looks to Diamond, "I assumed Spooky meant Maestro was watching." Shaking his head while pinching the arch of his nose, 'Your name reminds me of a cat I used to have...' He thought internally, "Welp, how do you two know each other then? While my life was at stake, more questions popped up than answers."

"Oh, Maestro is crazy bitch, if you've met the girl you'd understand why. If I really wanted to I could have added your wall to my spear, I did make it out of your chair to begin with. Well, I have run out of time to chat, I'm sure several people felt earlier that someone did something extremely stupid in the direction of Wyvern House. Your friend actually went through with his plan and if, by some tiny miracle, he isn't consumed by the beasts of Spirita... Shit will get pretty chaotic around here." Diamond dissipates his spear before stretching to rub their neck, a trait Edward notices.

His eyes widened as he realized that Alexander went to Spirita, 'What is he doing?' He closed his eyes and bows to Diamond, "Thank you for your time and talking with me today. This information is helping me to figure things out. Good day." Using the earth magic beneath him, he shoots himself into the air via a magical retractable earth pillar and fly's towards the main school district.

Diamond shakes their head at Edward, seeing Spooky has also vanished. "That boy..." Groaning, they begin walking back towards Pegasus House.

Walking through the hallways of the main academy castle, Edward is joined by the entity now revealed to be Spooky. An awkward silence having been shared since he landed nearest to the campus from flinging himself with the earth pillar.

Edward smacked his lips, "So... Uh... When were you going to tell me you had a physical form?" He asked as he navigated through the halls, making sure no one was there to see Spooky.

"When you finally figured out I wasn't your actual 'dark side'." He deadpans towards Edward, folding his arms.

"I knew that you were part of the nightmare and you took some kind of form in my head, so how else am I suppose to greet this form?" He told him as he stopped to face Spooky, "There isn't much of a guide book on how Shadows work ya' know."

Spooky floats in front of Edward, "If it matters, my name is Spooky. I'm one of many infiltration and subterfuge members of the Nightmare Force. Surely you had to know Shadowfright wouldn't let you play for her side without insurance..." He comments, arching his eyes curiously.

The man just physically shrugged, "All I was told I was going to get great power to take revenge on my friend. Nothing more, nothing less." He informed Spooky, "I don't recall anything being told to me by Shadowfright or Maestro for that matter." He hummed as he cupped his chin.

"Of course not, who would tell someone they are under observation..? Defeats the whole point." He sighs and shakes his head, "I'd be more concerned for that friend of yours if I were you... Spirita Isn't a joke. Only one or two that history knows of have returned from going there." Spooky states as he glances at Edward.

"That would be Starswirl correct?" Edward pops his neck, "Besides, I'm sure he has some sort of plan in mind. Knowing him, he's probably going to give me a gift because of what started this dispute in the first place." He then turns silent. "So... Is Maestro or Shadowfright watching me through you?"

Spooky shakes his head, "As far as our archives go up to, we only know of Morgana and Merlin who both travelled to Spirita and returned. We don't believe Starswirl was able to join Merlin on her venture there as he was left at Arthur's side... Hence why my concern for your friend. It's a saturated realm of magic where familiars come from, it's unpredictable and would overwhelm lesser magicians." He looks forward before thinking for a moment, then turns back to Edward. "Additionally... According to the shadow web, his known familiar was left behind to handle Wyvern House communications."

Edward nods as he sighs, "Then you don't know what's really happening. Which is good, since you didn't answer my question if I'm being watched, then it's a given I should keep my mouth shut." He said as he resumed to walk towards the door leading to the Chancellors office.

"Oh, that... As bored as Shadowfright is, even if she could, I'm sure your emotional trifles would bore her to tears, no offence. Maestro..." Spooky looks away, pondering something as he lowly groans, mulling something over. "We aren't conduits they can look through. We give reports and details about our charges and their activities, just like regular spies. There is a minor detail... Something I'm debating telling you as I'm still sizing where we stand."

"We had that discussing ages ago." He said sighing, "Either your on my side to get some sort of freedom or you're on their side." Edward stops and leans back beside the door, "I'll come clean if you do as well, on the condition, you fib to Maestro and Shadowfright, give them a fragment or extension of the truth."

Spooky crosses his arms, "You realise I'm a Nightmare Force first and foremost, Shadowfright is... It's hard to describe how our people work but she is important in a sense to each of us, we follow her for individual reasons." He dips down and slides back up closer to Edward, "That isn't to say I agree with the current course... You heard Diamond, they have both grown past this grievance whereas those who follow them hath seemingly not. If I had to hazard a guess, it's a war of closure for those two with Kilgharrah playing the role of Camelot." Spooky leans back slightly, but still uncomfortably close to Edward's face. "What do you think I do already? You'd hardly have a fraction of your current freedom if I told the truth... That said... Do you feel no concern for your friend? What if he indeed doesn't return, leaving things between you in their shattered state, never to be resolved?"

"Point taken, what did you tell them to get me my freedom?" He asked as a knowing smirk forms on his face, "That's the thing, the information I'm going to tell you secures my confidence with him. I'm still pissed with him, but at the very same time, it's been a while since we had a proper fight." He pushes himself to his feet and looks at him, "Are you even ready for the truth?"

"Given you live here I've been feeding them scout reports and or shadow maps of the island as we've been going along. Seems to have worked thus far..." Spooky floats back a bit to give him space, "What do you know then that makes you confident your friend will survive?"

"His banned Familiar which prevented me from getting mine, Ventus." He raised his hand to prevent Spooky from speaking as he began to whisper, "The 'familiars' we have aren't our familiars, they're from another world that is similar to ours." He then turns around to open the door, "Do with the information as you will, I hope to get along during this 'War'." He then walks inside into the office.

As he walks in the Chancellor spins around in his sizeable armchair, the tips of his fingertips touching like an 'I've been expecting you' vibe. "I have always wanted to do that." He chuckles before leaning back, "To what do I owe the pleasure, Mr Meteor?"

Antics aside, he takes a seat across from the Chancellor, "Hoping to get some answers, sir. Looking for the truth behind what's going on. I have a vague idea, but I need your input if it isn't much trouble." He said with a determined look.

"It's a Trinity War siege game with no holes barred warfare to resolve some past issues the Gems or Nightmare Force still have." The Chancellor explains bluntly, even teleporting the signed contract in front of Edward on the desk, leaning back as he waits for the reply.

Edward deadpans physically and sighs deeply, "So it is what it is... But why? I'm not a fan of this and I'm sure some of the student body doesn't want to be part of the war." He told him, "I've been trying to gather information to find out what really happened to settle disputes... Like a certain family of mine." He informed him.

"You've taken part in the siege games before, Edward. While this time has some... Extra players and ulterior objectives, it should essentially be the same. Though, I can't help but notice your attire change... Did something happen for you to betray your brothers and sisters at Wyvern House? Out of all the houses, I dare say they are the closest in Kilgharrah." The Chancellor visibly frowns, seeming to find it more upsetting than one would imagine.

"I switched sides for two things, one a proper fight with Alexander and second information. I want to end this war overall, maybe sabotage it all together, but sadly my familiar got captured and due to some circumstances, she can't get out of Shadowfright's building. Once she is safe, I could have a lot of fun ending everything, like my parents did with problems like these." He smiles giving him a knowing look, "I wonder if you knew about Alexander's real Familiar while I was caught in the crossfire."

The Chancellor sighs as he slowly stands from his chair, "I see..." He strokes his hand along the cabinet below the mirror, "I'm hardly in a position to lecture you about how to conduct your own siege games. As you know we leave the majority of choices up to the houses while we maintain the spell which prevents fatal afflictions. However, I assume you've managed to meet both sides. If so, you'd know why both Diamond and Larisa have abstained from the frontlines, to give their comrades chances to let off centuries worth of built-up resentment. Neither would quite see it end so abruptly, I'm sure you understand." The Chancellor hums as he walks back to his chair, sitting down again. "In regards to Mr Night's blacklisted familiar... While true, Ventus is a forbidden contract, I saw it as an opportunity to observe both him and his magician Alexander when he first entered this academy."

"So, you wouldn't even try to reschedule a familiar ceremony for me to get one? My friend and his new girl are in Spirita trying to get what I've been missing all this time to make up for the mistake he made." He sighed, "I did meet both sides of this war and there is nothing I can do, right? If that s the case, then I know what I must do." He gets up and looks at the Chancellor once more, "Thank you for this enlightening conversation, have a good day." He bows before heading towards the door.

The Chancellor stands up and sighs deeply, "Edward... I'm sure you understand but there is a small number of people who returned from Spirita. His heart is stupidly in the right place which unfortunately reminds me of someone else who was exactly the same... While he likely has Ventus with him, the Wyvern's power is severely limited due to the restrictions placed upon all blacklisted familiars based upon their level of power." He takes a deep breath, "Ventus was, is one of Merlin's former companions, he's going back to the land he was exiled from... I know you have faith in your friend, but I urge you to also consider the worst outcome. He might not return."

Edward stops before turning his head to the Chancellor, "I'm sure he'll be alright, besides, I'm sure the all-powerful Ventus has some sort of connections before his exile. I'm not worried at all, it's basically an increased difficulty to a normal day for us." He then turns back and steps out of the office, walking towards Shadow... No Larisa's domain, "So what will you do with this information Spooky?" He asked aloud as he exited the hallway.

The shade slips back out of Edward's shadow to float in front of him, being silent for a moment, "Your friend is proper fucked... Ventus made a lot of envious enemies within Spirita as far as I know. Naturally, because he formed a contract with Merlin, a powerful magician but also, according to what we know about him, he married one of the most sought after maidens in Spirita known as Aphrodite's Disciple. As you can imagine, being the disciple to the goddess of love... She sounds like a stunning beauty. Given he's never been there before too, his magic will be unpredictable... Yeah, the deck is not stacked in his favour." Spooky goes to float away before sliding back to, once again, invade Edward's personal space. "Oh, I forgot to mention... Maestro knows about your inclinations towards the pony that was brought in recently. Thought I'd outta give you the heads up, 'pal'."

Once Edward got outside the building he once again launches himself off the ground towards Larisa's domain, "Fucking hell... Here's to a new rocky partnership pal." 'I'm coming Twilight, I'll get you out, even if I have to cause some damage..." His fists were clenched tight as he launched from pillar to pillar.

Author's Notes:

We actually forgot we had this chapter ready to publish before a lot of crazy happened.