Dining Hall C

Vanessa and I got dressed and made our way over to Dining Hall C. Lexi and Regina said that they might meet up with us later, depending on how much those two decided to fuck the day away. Not that I would have minded getting to do that with Vanessa, but I can’t just spend my weekends fucking my girlfriends. I have to be productive and a good student. But, ugh, does Vanessa’s ass swaying make that hard to do.

“I’ll probably get something from WOW Street Eatery,” Vanessa said, pointing over to one of the stalls. “What about you?”

“Hmm,” I said, looking around at what was open at the time. “Probably something from Waffle Story. I just love the fluffy waffles that they have.”

Vanessa quickly pulled me in for a kiss, putting her hands on my hips. “Alright then. I’ll go save us a table after I get my food.” With that, she spun around on her heels and walked off, once again swaying her ass for me. Goddess, I love her so much.

However, as I turned to head over towards the Waffle Story, my head began to feel fuzzy. I closed my eyes and tried to focus on the ring to make whatever it was go away, but the pain still kept lingering. After a few seconds, the pain subsided and I opened my eyes.

Standing before me was a large expansive jungle. I quickly spun around, but all I could see was vegetation.

“Vanessa!” I called out. No answer. “Vanessa!” I called out even louder, but still no response. “Regina!” I shouted, hoping that maybe whatever psychic connection that she had would help her find me. Nothing.

Suddenly, I heard something rustling behind me. I spun around to see Rene, the one Ringmaster, stumbling into the clearing and falling on the ground. Before I could rush to help her, out from the foliage came Regina. She was dressed in something that looked very similar to Rene’s outfit and time period. She was also much younger, looking no older than 19. Then two guys emerged as well, tripping over Rene, one a much older brown-haired gentleman with a mustache and the other younger with blond hair. All four of them looked badly scuffed up and injured. Quietly, I sat down and observed.

“Are you alright? Can you keep moving?” Regina asked, helping Rene up to her feet. Though, it was strange. That’s what I heard Regina say, but her lips didn’t line up with what I heard. It was like watching someone read the subtitles out loud of a foreign film, but not change the mouth movements.

“Not much longer,” Rene said before clutching her side.

“Rene!” The two guys rushed to her side to help Regina.

“How is she?” the blond asked.

“Not good,” the mustached man said, looking over Rene’s injuries. “She has to rest and recover her strength.”

“We don’t have the time for that,” Regina said, turning back to face where they had come out of. “His goons will be on us at any moment.”

“Can’t she just wish herself back to full?” the blond asked.

“Are you kidding me?” Regina shouted. “After that last stunt she pulled, Rene’s lucky to be alive right now! Not only that, the damage was ring based. It’d be like trying to fix your shirt by stitching pieces from the same shirt onto it.”

“Well, we have to do something,” the blond man said, looking around.

“I will,” Rene said, gesturing her hand to the two men. “Favi, Torr, you’ve stuck with me for so long. I can’t go on.”

“No no no,” the mustached man said, clutching her hand. “You have to stay with us. We can’t do this without you.”

“We don’t want to do this without you,” the blond one said.

“We don’t have a choice,” Rene said, freeing her hand and holding it out again. “Please, take the ring. Get as far away from here as you can. Do it for me.”

“But, we couldn’t… Regina?” the mustached man asked, turning his exasperated expression towards the albino.

Regina just turned her head in the direction that they came, looked at Rene, then turned her gaze away. “If the Ringmaster wishes it to be, then I cannot go against their wishes.”

The blond and mustached man looked towards each other. The blond gestured to the mustached man. With a heavy sigh, the mustached one took the Reality Ring off of Rene’s finger. “We won’t forget you, Rene.”

The three of them set Rene down and ran off in a direction. As I tried to come out of hiding to see if I could help her, there was a loud stomping sound. It was like an elephant approaching as the ground rumbled. The trees began to topple over, branches and trunks breaking like toothpicks. Against all rationale saying to leave, I rushed forward to try and save Rene.

“Hey! Hey! HEY!”

Suddenly, I blinked and I was back at the food court. My body jolted at the sharp return and I turned to see Vanessa had tapped me on the shoulder, holding an omelet in the other hand. “Ah, I didn’t mean to startle you, Maria.”

It took me a few moments to readjust back from… whatever it was that I was in. “Huh? Oh, uh, you’re fine,” I said, trying my best to reassure her with a smile.

“What were you doing? You were just kinda staring off into space,” she said, tilting her head in confusion and concern.

“Oh, um, I was just thinking about, uh, tonight is all,” I said, doing my best to make sure she wasn’t too concerned. “I got lost thinking about… um… what I would end up wearing and trying not to stick out.”

“Well, don’t you worry about that,” Vanessa said, giving me a wide smile that I had dashed away her concern. “I’ve got plenty that I’m sure you’d fit into.” She turned around before looking back at me. “Go get your food. I’ll get the table.” With that, she headed off to find seating.

I breathed a huge sigh as I looked down at the ring. There is so much about this that I don’t know. What was that vision? Why did I suddenly get it? What was going on? These were too many questions and not enough answers.

Then, my stomach rumbled, pulling me out of my thoughts. The answers would have to wait until I could be alone with Regina and talk with her in private. For now, I had my breakfast date with Vanessa.