Paying the Pied Pythoness (Part 7) by MaLAguA

Saturday, January 22nd - 8:50pm
Caro’s lab.

Marlene, Chris, and Sofia are back, and shocked at seeing how much more Caro has changed. Good, alcohol has less of an appeal to Sofia now. And with the Puck plush revealed, they have everything needed to break the curse. The tale of their chase of Mew through the tunnels can wait until after the curse is broken.

Time for Marlene to make some preparations for the ritual. A pagan spell circle, interesting. Caro is brave right now. I just hope Grimma doesn't wish to punish the other girls for helping her.

“We’re trusting you,” Sofia said as she sat next to Caro. “If I end up cursed, I’ll be sure to pester you both about it.”

At that point, if Grimma curses them for helping a friend, it would be best to bring in Fey and the rest of the Mystic Arts department to deal with her. Blood charged with magic, ouch.

A ghostly green flame with no heat, cool. Stuck until the candle is extinguished, eep. Chris! Never give a spirit like Grimma ideas; you'll regret it later. Exorcism, with how tightly it is bound to Caro and how much she has changed, would she even survive that? Things always get weird when magic of this sort is involved. Grimma, why won't you come out of the flute or answer them?

Caro spotted the golden and emerald hues intermingled with the dark… but so faint and tiny, she couldn’t help but wonder if something was off.

Did Grimma trick Caro into thinking she sealed her into the flute and went off elsewhere since? A gem that produces the black smoke, a decoy, Grimma! That is going too far. It...it was hollow, even for magic that is a bit much considering what it was doing. Now they have to do the exorcism. I hope this doesn't have any lingering effects on any of them.

Remove the curse, uncertain if she will change back, Grimma might have been trying to teach Caro a lesson, but this went too far. All this, and she might need further help to regain her previous form. At least Caro realizes she brought this punishment upon herself, even if it is too severe imo. A sip of the mead, ugh, what one has to do to exorcise a curse. Oh, good, it is working. Interesting visual effects to show it is working.

Yikes! Don't go near the cursed energy as it escapes Caro's body, or it will latch onto them. This is the scariest part of the story so far; the curse is running around trying to find another host to latch onto. It almost got Gwen, and Marlene gets Chris out of the way, no reaching out or pointing at it, nasty thing. The candle is blocking it, but for how long? Neither Caro nor Marlene has the energy left to seal it back into the flute; this is extremely bad.

Caro is willing to take the curse back despite what fate awaits her if she does so to save her friends. Yet something changed in the air and atmosphere. And it stops just before it can touch Caro, caught by an unseen force. Grimma is back and saved Caro.

She stood next to Caro, with the curse’s tail effortlessly held between her fingers.

Just in the nick of time, so like the Spirit of Fables.

“Calling it a lesson is perhaps off the mark, but I make no illusions that part of the goal was just that. Whether it would be the final destination was up to you. I knew you would find a way around it, whether it was to break my flute or ask your archmages in Whateley for help. Of course, that you took it upon yourself to deal with the matter was the far more interesting outcome… Congratulations.”

She is more frustrating to be the paladin of than being the paladin of Coyote would be. At least Caro found what is valuable to her through all this. Chris, don't ruin the moment.

“Oh Caro… what is a relationship without strife?” said the specter, pushing herself up as she moved into the circle. The flame of the candle, after briefly fading near to extinction, flared as she came in contact but didn’t fight her. “There’s no feud between us. At least on my part.” And with that, the rat curse at her hands faded, disappearing into the air and absorbed into her veil.

More reasonable than Coyote at least. Aww, the doll is okay, and Grimma drank the rest of the mead. Final trial, arrgggh! And for her friends, Grimma, what are you up to?

“You have a wayward pupil. Faced with the fade, met it with a lot of grit and insight. Willing to crawl through the gutter like a rogue,” she said to Caro.

She then turned to Gwen next to her, making the girl freeze at the attention of the entity. “There’s the heart, always beating for the happiness of all.”

“The jokester, who alleviates everyone’s spirits but conceals strength and weakness behind her smile,” she said to Chris who, while dejected at the label, still smiled at the praise.

“The black cat, cunning and resourceful, the guiding hand that has made the path real,” she said to Marlene, who gave a polite yet proud nod.

“And strength that is not just physical but also mental. Holding powers of the sylvan.” Sofia couldn’t help but smile at the praise.

App descriptions for each of them.

Ouch, what Grimma says is true, but after what Caro just went through, it is more than a little cruel. A vote from her friends on this, oh boy. Gwen's answer is the right one, even if it would hurt for a friend to leave. They all vote to let Caro go back to her old life, if it is what she truly wants.

“Why wouldn’t we?” Marlene asked.

“This is what we did this for,” Sofia said.

“A-after all I said to you? After how I acted?” Caro was trying not to choke.

“Because we want you to be happy,” Gwen said with a soft smile that broke Caro’s heart.

This is what true friends do.

Caro wants to go back to things under the old agreement, even if Grimma lied about the changes being temporary; she still wants this to stay with her friends. I'm tearing up here. Caro's old mana source is restored, yay. And time for a flashy transformation of Caro back to the way she was before. Oh, good, the clothes are growing and changing with her, no accidental wardrobe malfunction today. After what Caro went through, her old GSD is something she can handle now.

“And with that. My work here for tonight is done. For the black steps, I will turn back and show up later. Then, say my name and we’ll talk things over some more.”

I hope their conversation will be a pleasant one. Grimma is intimidating, but polite as long as you are. And I agree with Chris, meeting Grimma would be like something out of a fairy tale. Oh, the clothes were designed to stretch but are at their limit; please, no wardrobe malfunction.

Out the candle goes, the ritual is over, and Caro is hugged immediately by Chris and Gwen. Marlene and Sofia join the hug. Don't try to act like what just happened didn't happen; it isn't good for your long-term mental health. Time to head back to their dorms; it has been a long day. Oops, Marlene accidentally broke the flute, oh well. Yes, put the ratcatcher curse back into that flute and hope it stays there.

Saturday, January 22nd - 10:11pm
Outside Caro’s lab.

Past curfew, sneak in and hope you don't get caught. At least Caro can take some good-natured teasing from Chris again. I hope Mrs. Horton gives them a break. Marlene is going back to Caro's lab to get her cloak on her own. Why am I worried?

“Alright, done it.” Marlene sighed, not quite speaking to herself. “For the black steps… I will turn back and show up later… Then, say my name and we’ll talk about it. Isn’t that right, Grimma?”

Hhm, so that was directed at Marlene. Grimma shows up in her usual dramatic fashion.

“I should thank you and your friends for helping my ward,” Grimma said as she paced around Caro’s lab.

A Thanks, and Marlene wants her notes back.

Marlene's class notes were on those papers with all the things needed to help break the curse. Grimma, you sneaky spirit.

“Imagine my surprise,” Marlene said as she turned them around, checking that the meddlesome words were gone. “Two nights ago, I was woken by a presence slipping into my room. A dark shadow moving in and jumping into my notes.”

“Your friend took me by surprise and left me with not much time, so I sent a brief message to the nearest magically attuned person I could think of.”

“Brief? You left me instructions for a part to play, of the things that happened, were happening and later, and how to guide them. When the part was done, more appeared.”

Wait, a part to play? Don't tell me Marlene wouldn't have helped without Grimma's intervention. Partake in a script, Grimma even moved the plush so Caro would lose it, and Mew would find it.

“It was an entertaining evening… the risky parts aside. Got me back in action for the term” Marlene smiled. “Does that mean I’m also your pupil?”

“If you wish for it.” Grimma laughed. “I’ve coached many through the times. Be it the Masters of the house, or some mages in your world. I have even given people without magical talent a taste of it. What’s another girl with a penchant for trouble and adventure?”

“Glad you noticed me.”

“Every person is the hero of their own story; I’m interested in seeing them all,” Grimma told her.

“I’m flattered the Spirit of Fables said that to me.” Marlene adjusted her cloak, and as she did, her eyes went down to the circle on the ground. “So… were you really going to let Caro become a rat all the way?”

Grimma held her tongue for an answer, feigning to look away before casting a glance back at Marlene. “It wouldn’t have come to that… I took precautions, didn’t I?”

A role to play, is Marlene truly Caro's friend or just playing the role of one? And having Marlene as a backup to make sure Caro never turns fully into a rat, Grimma, if Caro ever finds out about this.

“You’re Arlina’s granddaughter,” Grimma recognized with a hint of joy. “No wonder I felt a sense of familiarity.”

“We heard the story of her adventures until her last day. The same curse she exorcised then now lies within me, at my service.”

“I hope she left with a smile,” Grimma said in a solemn tone. “It’s no wonder I sensed the talent within you.”

Grimma sure seems to have a connection with more than a few Whateley students. Now that is a gift for Marlene, the old cloak is like new now. Show Marlene, Chris, and Sofia's part of the adventure to the anime club, that would be epic!

Monday, January 24th - 3:23pm
Crystal Hall.

Of course, Caro is applying herself. She wants to make sure she never ends up in a mess like that again. Learning how to disguise herself better and, in the future, physically transforming herself will drive Caro to avoid asking Grimma for a favor like the one that started this whole mess ever again. Ouch, catching up on classes she missed, I know that pain. Caro, everyone hates apologizing; it is just something you have to do sometimes.

“So, are you going to try to fix yourself using magic?” Marlene said.

“It’s part of the plan.” Caro sighed as she closed the notebook and passed it back to the catgirl. “But I just recovered from an involuntary transformation. I think I’ll take it easy for now.”

Yeah, the strain on your body from doing it again too soon would probably put you in Doyle for days. Anime club, you will learn to enjoy it, Caro. Oh, good, Mrs. Savage just glad the curse wasn't a problem anymore.

“And… Well, today I dealt with the rest, kinda the reason I was late for class,” Caro continued between scribbles. “Told the Mystic Arts department about it all–well, most of it–much to their surprise. From there, they performed some tests and checkups to make sure that no traces of the curse were left in me. I’m completely back to normal… I also told Mr. Kim. I do owe him for advocating for me to keep my freedom rather than have me interned into Doyle for revision.”

Thank you, Mr. Kim. Heh, her friends aren't letting her forget any little detail of what happened and what they had to do to break the curse.

“They probably would’ve given us a lecture for the ritual we performed,” Marlene conceded.

They might have brought in Fey for that lecture, if not Kayda.

“Sorry, sorry,” Gwen said shyly as she put her phone aside. “It’s just that… I’m reconnecting with a school friend.”

“Really? Old boyfriend?” Caro asked.

“Just a guy friend,” Gwen said. “He was quite a jokester in my old school. Lost contact with him around the same time as Vic.”

“Is he doing well?” Chris chimed in. “Better watch out. Not sure how Dereck will take it.”

“Ah… about Dereck, we’re giving each other some distance.”

Yeah, Dereck seems to think he has to do everything with Gwen, even when she tells him she doesn't need him. He should have listened and trusted her.

“We’re just on a pause giving each other distance, not exactly a full break. I was clear on that,” Gwen said. “I hope he’ll trust me more.”

I hope Dereck isn't the kind of lunkhead that thinks that means he has to just keep poking at her to see if the pause is over, or that he is free to date other girls without making Gwen upset by it in the meantime.

The fact that Dereck doesn't like Caro being in the Capes due to her appearance shows he needs an attitude adjustment. Marlene! Let Gwen not have to dwell on this right now.

“It’ll probably be a small prank when they least expect it. You might not even know when I’ve gotten to them,” Caro said innocently.

After what those girls did to Caro and were plotting to do, a small prank is just what they deserve, if not more. Caro goes off to her labs or a walk in the woods, Chris is going to see if she can book some time in the parkour lab, and Gwen goes with her.

Monday, January 24th - 3:50pm
Woods

Hhm, interesting spell and sounds like a spell to mend an object, probably the flute. Releasing a curse, bad idea, who will it latch onto? How can you do it safely, Grimma? Grimma lingered around, for a spirit, she follows her whims a lot. The perfect branch for a spell to mend the flute, Grimma sure knows how to find rare things.

“I don’t see why not. If you do so, then the curse would be no more, and its anima will join the flow of energy to be reborn and made into something new.”

“Sounds like killing it.”

“Hardly. Curses typically don’t have a mind of their own… all they might have are instincts and preordained functions. Releasing them in a purified way is just cutting those orders off, letting them leave in communion with the world until they get called forth again,” Grimma told her.

Hhm, interesting detail about curses.

What is Mew doing out here? And I forgot why Grimma calls her child.

“A choice was made? I see… you finally decided to make a bridge?” Grimma answered.

Why does that sound like something both good and something to worry about?

“Young Mew’s den is located not so far from that maze near your lab.”

“It lives in the labs?”

“Mew is a sweet girl, Caro,” Grimma admonished.

Mew is a girl. Was this revealed in a previous story, because I don't remember that being stated before now.

“I believe it’s a name she picked for itself, something about some card in her nest,” Grimma said, reaching over to caress the cat’s head as it demanded.

Someone had Pokémon cards in an old room down there! Mew is far from a normal cat, Caro.

“Hm… I’m not quite sure myself,” Grimma answered. “I guess she would be something like a daughter to me?”

Caro blinked. “A daughter!?”

“In a sense.” Grimma reached down to caress the cat’s back as it played with the bell. “I do plenty of things in this world. I meet people, teach them, help them or hinder them. Anyone I run into who piques my interest. Some years ago, a rather talented alchemist summoned me. He was part of a collective that sought to make an experiment, a creation of both science and magic, a unique blend.”

A chuckle escaped Grimma, just like a fond memory. “They tried to take my power by force and I taught them a lesson… but it was the alchemist’s humility and drive that won me over, enough for me to agree to give them a dollop, well, a large-ish portionof my essence.”

Okay, Mew just became a lot more interesting. Created with alchemy and science, and a large-ish portion of Grimma's essence; no wonder he is so powerful.

“Mew is her own entity… although because she has a part of me within her, she knew I was someone she could trust right away… even if she can be a naughty child at times.” To that the cat creature gave Grimma’s hand a playful bite, with half-closed eyes of happiness. All the while Caro was just taken aback by this.

No matter how smart Mew is, she is still a cat.

Mew just marked you, Caro, you have been claimed by a 2nd powerful creature.

“Where’s the joy in that? Exotic suits you.” Grimma shook her head. “When you’re ready, I’ll show you what other forms you might adopt… and it doesn’t have to always be the dragon that you’d found so useful.”

Trust Grimma; with dragon essence, there are a lot of forms you can take once you learn how. Ah, so Grimma only hangs around so long as not to be detected by those at the school who would see her as a danger to it.

Monday, January 24th - 4:12pm
Woods - Lake

Vic at the lake and skipping stones. Well, it is a short message, I hope it at least helps Vic's dad not worry about him. Classes going peacefully at Whateley is the best anyone can hope for. Imp being indifferent to your changes, she knows what it is like; if you wish to talk to her about it, she will be there for you. If not, she won't bug you about it. M3 needs to meet up and do things together! A date with Tanya in Berlin, please don't let it fall to the Whateley student trip curse.

A bell that makes all water solid without freezing at the ring of a chime.

Now that would be handy for Vic to have as a holdout. Aww, Mew is back at the lake again. So cute, a game of bat the bell back and forth. Mew gets Vic to pet her, marks Vic, and Vic forms a mental link and is surprised when Mew tells her her name. A big day for Mew, new friends all around.

Seeing Caro at first struggle with a glamour for her trip home for the holiday was hard. But the deal with Grimma, I knew the temptation to try and force Grimma to do things the way she wants would be too much. She wants the old and familiar back, not realizing it will mean giving up her new friends who truly care for her. It hurt to watch her turn back into a mean girl, to treat others cruelly while hanging with other mean girls. I knew the confrontation with Grimma was coming, but I didn't know how bad the fallout for Caro would be. Seeing her transformation, I was scared for her the whole time until she went to her friends, and they started to help her figure out how to break the curse.

It was a rollercoaster of emotions for the missions. I was on the edge of my seat as Caro and Vic tried to sneak in to swipe some mead, Caro triggering the curse on purpose so she could fit through, and they could complete the mission, hurt Vic, Caro, and me to see it happen. Then the chase for Mew was brutal. I knew Mew had powers, but not to that extent. The soot rats, that is one of the most dangerous summons I've ever seen. Though it was fun to watch Marlene, Sofia, and Chris all in cat form on an adventure.

Solving the riddle, acquiring the items, and the ritual. Everything was epic, just what it should be to break a curse from the Spirit of Fables.

The reveal that Marlene was given a role by Grimma, all those details, was a great twist. Would Marlene have helped even without Grimma's intervention? I'm glad we don't have to find out. And the family connection of Marlene to Grimma, sometimes you forget spirits can be truly ancient.

The fallout of Gwen and Dereck being on a break. Dereck needs to stop treating Gwen like she is some delicate flower that needs him to always come to the rescue, or he is going to drive her away.

The scene with Caro, Grimma, and Mew in the woods. So many things said and revealed. I would have never guessed the true origins of Mew. I knew she was unique, but science, alchemy, and a large-ish portion of Grimma's essence used in her creation. It is a good thing Jobe didn't hear any of that, or she would want to study Mew.

I can't wait to read the next story with Caro, Gwen, Chris, Sofia, Marlene, and all their other friends in the future.