Pied piper

Heather scowled as everyone crowded around the table set up in her hotel room. Upon hearing news of the 6B tournament, she had called for a meeting of not just team England, but all the teams of the UK and Commonwealth.

"Seems Australia has done their own thing and already sent people," Heather glared directly at Azalea.

"S- Sorry, your highness. They immediately sprung into action and I couldn't stop them."

"Shave your head in repentance."

"Ara, a little harsh, Heathy. You know those folks are known for their impulse dares," Sorcha smiled.

"But Scharlachrot would say that!"

The matter of Azalea's hair was quickly tabled as things got to the main discussion point.

"This event. The timing's really off. Why announce something like this last-minute? This kind of thing you should announce earlier in order to give everyone time to plan," Bette scowled.

"I have the opposite opinion; it makes sense why this would be announced the way it was as it's only a day tournament taking place in the evening," Tonka proclaimed.

"Yeah, what madam prime minister's saying. Therefore, we should send some reps to try n' win as much cash as we can, for the league and nation of course," Gwen smirked.

"We didn't hear a word o this at HQ. I don't know a damn bout this Mifsud either," Buffy scowled.

"Says the woman who shaved her prized thick red hair and brows off."

"Are ye trying to equate that Mifsud as the symbol of all bald women in the world? Ye're fecking up the wrong tree."

"They got some high-level participants, notably our favorite damsel and her crazy mother who wiped us out," Vittoria smiled as she played with her earring.

"Ara, you're volunteering?" Sorcha asked.

"Guess I am. Don't worry, if no one else steps forth, I'll pair up with Abby."

"HEY! Why am I always treated as the whipping girl!?" Abigail fumed.

"Aye, treat the girl a little nicer. Thanks to me, there's a chance England could get a second DSPCM spot, and there's good word that she could be nominated for it," Buffy stated.

"And London?" Heather asked.

"Still stuck with the robot."

"Speaking of DSPCMs, looks like they're listing them off right now on the show," Blossom stated.

"Ah yes, that Mifsud... She's implying I need to shave my head and participate," Myfanwy frowned.

"And if ya do, I'll join ya! I was plannin' on shavin' this all off for charity n' stuff, but this fast tracks it," Jasna smiled as she pointed at her multi-colored hair.

"And Wales and England now have their representatives. For Canada I nominate the McDonalds, so what says Scotland, New Zealand, and Northern Ireland?" Tonka asked.

"A bit ahead of yourself, but if we're participating, me n' Lí Ban should go since we're both over 2700," Síofra smiled.

"Hmm, it is true you'd be a top seed, which could actually increase betting odds for us," Medeucesa mumbled.

"Betting odds?"

"Oh, yes. See, there's betting odds over on this other site," Medeucesa stated as she showed everyone her phone.

The site in question was a betting site owned by one of Mifsud's corporations, furthering skepticism towards the event.

"This seems like an exhibition, or perhaps the world's greatest scam and humiliation. Very well, if it's sketchy, New Zealand shall send Camilla. She can play by herself, and be mocked for the monster she is," Leah scoffed.

"Oi, we aren't even eligible thanks in no small part to you always benching me. And over a petty thing as my lineage?" Camilla scowled.

"An unholy fusion of elf and blood-sucker should not exist, yet here you sit defiling the order of the world."

"And I'll have you know my vampire side's descended from Romanian royalty."

"Then go join your blood-sucking ilk in Bucharest!"

"I'm a born n' bred Kiwi. Auckland's my home, and I'm the best female chess player in the country. Deal with it."

"No, by law, I am the best in the land at all."

"At all, including fucking up?"

Leah slammed her fist down on the table. "Ethelreda, discipline that monster. The nineteen-tailed whip will do."

"As you wish, ma'am," Ethelreda smirked as she unlatched her whip from her belt.

But before she could get a swing in, she froze in place. "6B... Ra-ra... Must partake... Conduit fate if I'm late," she mumbled as she dropped her whip and began slowly trudging towards the door as if trapped in a trance.

"Ehtelreda, what are you-"

"6B... Ra-ra... Must go... Must partake... Conduit fate if I'm late," Justin mumbled as he too began to get up and trudge out.

"Whoa, where ya going? We ain't dismissed yet," Grizzly smiled as he attempted to block the two from leaving.

Yet as if being pulled by a powerful magnet, the two easily slipped out of Grizzly's grip, making their way out the door.

"Rasputin, you dragged a man into this? Well it matters not. He's nothing of value, so the least he can do is serve as a conduit when he's denied entry to the tournament," Tonka thought. "It seems we're all participating. Now who will step forth for Scotland?" she asked aloud.

"Hold on, why are you taking charge when I'M the queen!?" Heather fumed.

"I'll do it. Trudy, will you accompany me?" Lorna asked.

Iona turned to Lorna in shock. "Sister, you're volunteering?"

"I always volunteer. That's my duty as student council president. Worry not, Iona, we'll overcome this trial."

"But your hair's so long-"

"And it can be used to make a fine wig. Perhaps that is the true good of this event."

As Lorna and Trudy headed out, Lí Ban and Síofra got up to leave too as did Vittoria with Abigail in tow.

"Guess we gotta-"

"-Go with the flow," the McDonald twins shrugged as they gave chase to the others.

"Wait! We didn't even have a proper meeting!" Heather cried.

"We did. It was a short and effective one. Now no complaints. We'll watch the tournament and bet on the app," Tonka growled.

Despite her tone, Tonka couldn't have been more thrilled the meeting went the way it did. She had strung everything along to her tune like a pied piper, and regardless of how the tournament went, would be receiving praise from her cohorts, her TRUE cohorts, for successfully getting so many potential so-called "conduits" for the mysterious Deep Blue.