You sprang up, the familiar sound of a phone alarm did not startle you as one might think. Instead it did the exact opposite jolting you up in a bolt of excitement. Today was another day, free of all the horrors of the last. Today was also special to you, a day that would go down in your mind locked in place forever. As you began your daily routine of hygiene and preparation, your habit of talking out loud began to form. "No more tricks. No mormmf....." You quickly shoved a toothbrush in, brushed, and spat out the gunk. "No more pick up lines." You slipped on your pants and dress shirt and started buttoning them. "No more crazy ideas or being scared. Today is the day I confront Applejack and tell her how I feel." You motivationally slapped your cheeks and brushed your hair. "You can do this. You can ask her out." You put the brush back in the drawer and searched for you shoes. Finally after finding them, you slipped them on and picked up your school bag. You gave yourself one last look in the mirror and nodded before heading to the front door. Upon exiting your house with your head held high and confidence boosted, you hopped in your car and headed off to school. Nothing could break you today, it was too good a day. "Oh you have to got to be kidding me."

Nothing at all...except the the gang of people sitting in front of the CHS statue, Orion and his crew. They were both physically and mentally scarred from Maud and Toshiro so they needed fresh meat aka you. This would not easily discourage you however. You picked up your bag and strolled as normal as possible beside them. "Hey runt." Orion called out. You tried to continue walking but felt his hand grip the collar of your shirt. "I said hey runt."

"Oh sorry Orion. I didn't see you there."

"You think I'm stupid. Here I am trying to be nice for once and you just act like I'm not even here."

"I'm sorry about that, we're still at odds you know."

Orion's face began to twist with anger but just as easily, he let out a calming sigh. "Look I'm sorry about all the trouble I've been causing you lately."

"Wait you're apologizing?...To me?"

"Yes twerp. I've been pent lately."

"You stressed? That's a bit of a surprise."

"You're funny." He said sarcastically. "It's this kid named Mazi. A real hot head that came in from out of town. She heard about my incident back when Toshiro and Maud were the big thing and has been teasing me for it."

"Aren't you the tough one here?"

"Well duh, but I don't wanna get suspended anymore. Trying to be the good kid here. Do me a favor and just steer clear of her cool?"

"Thanks for the heads up." You entered the school and began to towards the lunchroom fixing your ruffled collar. The lunch room doors were in sight and you couldn't wait to succeed in your goal. That was until a rather young lady blocked the way. Her hair was dark forest green, right to the core. "I'm sorry excuse me."

You tried to move around her only to have her mimic your movements. That's when you felt the hand of this rather lean woman in question grab you by the back pack and haul you up with one hand. You two were now face to face despite you being a foot off the ground. Her eyes matched that of a snake's, cold and menacing. Suddenly she dropped you like a bag of rocks then began to chuckle like a crazy person. It was at this point that you began to worry for your health as she knelt down to stare right into your pupils. "Oh man you sure are pathetic."

"What a way to start a conversation."

"How's about I introduce myself then. I'm Mazi."

"Luma, nice to meet you. Any particular reason you decided to drop me on the floor."

"Well I thought I'd test something. Doesn't seem like you're who I'm looking for."

"Who are you looking for?" You said as you stepped to your feet.

"Oh that's rich. You were expecting me to actually tell you? Hahaha! You really are an absolute idiot aren't you? Look kid, I got places to be right now. Do me a favor and don't get in my way would ya? I'd hate to see that handsome face all messed up."

The green haired girl walked off whistling a tune to herself. You were left speechless, even motionless for a few seconds. "Who is that girl? Why am I shaking?...Nevermind that, I have to get to Applejack before..." Suddenly the bell for classes began to ring and everyone proceeded to their respective classes. "Crap, guess I'll have to find her at lunch." During classes, your thoughts passed to Applejack from time to time thanks to her having a few classes with you but then you would drift away, any mental impulse locked firmly on Mazi. Dressed in a suit and a fedora yet so different. Who was she? Her attitude and personality, that cold snake like stare....one minute with her and I instantly thought she was a psychopath. Maybe I should avoid her.

The bell finally rung for everyone to proceed to lunch and did more than oblige, you raced to the lunchroom. You were about to open the doors until a familiar voice caught your attention. Are you kidding me? That's Mazi's voice..! "Look I don't need you to do much alright. Just tell me where Toshiro went and we'll be square ok?"

Another voice, the sound of an innocent, could be heard. "Look girl, I don't know Toshiro like that sorry."

"Not even a little?"

"I don't talk to anyone that knows him either."

"Oh man what a bummer." You took your hand off the lunchroom doors to walk down to secluded hallway. The abandoned part of the school. After peaking down the hallway, you made your way down to the next. The cracked walls and badly kept classrooms made the journey all the more creepy. Suddenly you heard Mazi's voice right around the corner. Stopping, you peaked around the corner, scared and nervous. The kid lay on the ground holding his head in fear. Mazi stood over him with a sickening smile on his face. "Sorry about that there, didn't know he would just come out like that. I'll let you go if it's for the best."

"R-really?"

"Of course but.....not without a present."

"A present? What preEAA!" the kid screamed as a kick went straight into his gut.

"I hate not getting my information. I hate not getting my way. You will know pain before this is over and I will be the one to deliver it! hahaha!" After a few more kicks, the boy was allowed to crawl out of his precarious corner. In pain like no other, he stepped to his feet and ran right past you. You turned to look at him running by and when you turned your head back, there was Mazi like a freaking phantom. "So what all did you hear?" she said in a goofy manner.

"Um...look, you know someone was going to come and investigate sooner or later."

"And you just so happen to be our lucky winner correct?"

"W-what are you going to do to me?"

"Oh me? Nothing at all. Him? Maybe..alot."

"Him?" Suddenly you ducked as a something gold and green lunged at you. A golden snake with Emerald green eyes. "What the hell is that?!"

"Meet Esper. Let's just say this little girl is...apart of my life in a big way. Oh esper esper, let your venom bind those who fall prey to our everlasting will!"

The snake lunged at you again causing you to roll out of the way. Like a professional athlete, you were up and running for you life. It's no doubt she was right behind you the entire way. You burst through the lunch room doors in a splash of fear. Everyone turned their attention to you, confused and curious. You chuckled and waved everyone off before any more drama could get started. After grabbing your food, you froze dead in your tracks. There was Mazi strolling in like nothing had happened. You did your best to avoid eye contact yet you did not hesitate to examine her body. Both voluptuous and cute at the same time, any man would fall for her only to have their heart ripped out. This is how she traps people it seems. You stood there another second as she gathered her food and walked back past you. In the distance, you could see her set her tray down next to Orion. She began to order him to move, Orion refused at first only to have little miss sunshine grip his collar and throw him out of his seat, food and all. He balled his fist, wanting to fight, but sighed and just left to another table. You followed suit and sat down across from him. "When you said she's worse than you, you weren't kidding."

"This is what I get for trying to change huh? All that talk about reform and paying for past mistakes and here I am having to live them again. You're one of those...goody goodies. How would you get someone back that isn't worth suspension?"

"I can think of a few ways but that chick is definitely not one to messed with."

"Why not?"

You motioned him in closer and whispered, "I saw her beating up some poor kid in the abandoned part of school."

"For real?"

"For real."

"Damn she's a monster."

"She also tried to beat me up too but I was too fast."

"Tell the principle or something."

"I plan on it after school." Ten minutes later the bell rang to go to the afternoon classes. Of course you were more than pissed that you lost any chance to talk to Applejack but Mazi was the real issue here. She was psychotic and dangerous. You needed to report this as soon the last class of the day was over. Finally after the agonizing hour that was the last class of the day, you started to bolt to the front office. However, just as life intended, the concerned faces of Rainbow Dash got your attention. "Rainbow Dash right? Are you ok?"

"Oh I'm fine. We're just looking for our friend Applejack."

"Did she go somewhere?"

"Well after class, she straight up disappeared. We've searched the entire school and haven't found here yet."

The entire school? "How bout the abandoned part?"

"We're not allowed to remember?"

"No...No!..No no no no no no."

"Hey man what's up?"

"Just tell your friends to wait outside the school with an ambulance and the police...now!" Without a moment to spare you raced to the abandoned part of school and like a freaking genie, you could hear the sound of Mazi's voice. Damn Mazi! You had no hesitation as you began to run down the hallway until a hand grabbed you by the arm. "O-Orion?"

"Shhh...I heard her back her for the last five minutes, just been working up the courage to confront her."

"I have a strong feeling I know who she's trying to beat up this time." Both of you inched your way to the corner of the hallway and peeked around. There she was but farther down and backed into a wall in front of her was, "Applejack. Hey ymmff.."

Orion put his hand over your mouth and shushed you as Mazi began to talk. "C'mon cowgirl, you must know where Toshiro is. You are friends with Maud's sister after all."

"Pinkie is the only one who really keeps tabs on them. Ah don't know where they are."

"You're really not helping you know that? Then where's this Pinkie girl hmm?"

"If your tactic involves trapping people then roughing them up some, there's no way ah'd tell you."

"Oh fine scout's honor then?"

"Not even."

"Oh Applejack, dear Applejack. What a mistake you have made."

Suddenly she screamed out in horror, the golden snake sinking her fangs into Applejack's right thigh. You almost instinctively acted until Orion held you back for a second. He whispered something in your ear and you nodded. You picked up a piece of rock and tossed it. It sailed over her head and landed a few feet away turn her attention away from your direction. Both you and Orion rushed her like speed demons and jumped. A good double dropkick never hurt anyone. She turned to have her stomach collide with two sets of shoes sending her rolling down the hallway. Applejack held her leg in pain and was just about unconscious it seemed.You picked her up and began walking down the hallway, back to people, until the sound of Mazi running caught your attention. She was back up in a flash and pissed. As she jumped to tackle you, Orion tackled her in mid air and slung her back down the hallway. He looked back at you and smiled. "Go!"

"Now way you're staying man, she's a freaking demon, you saw it."

"I got this! No way she's going to hold toughest forever!"

You looked at him with concerned eyes but smiled. "Make sure to put her down." You took off towards the entrance of the abandoned school and slowly made your way back towards the front of the school. Kids gasped at the sight of applejack, the two holes on her leg leaking a weird green substance. You burst through the door of the school and desperately approached the paramedics. "Please she's hurt! Help her!"

"Woah calm down kid. Get the stretcher out here! Cause of injury?"

You tried to speak but words became mumbled gibberish under the tears. "I-I think......"

"Hey kid c'mon we need you here, can you confirm the cause of injury?"

"A-a snake b-bite on her upper thigh."

The paramedic lifted up her skirt and examined the two venomous holes. "We got snake poison here! Get her stabilized and be ready to get that poison out as soon as possible! Thanks...what's your name?"

"Luma sir."

"Thanks Luma, it's a good thing you got her here so soon or else she'd be dead." He stepped into the back of the ambulance and closed the door."

Applejack sat in your lap as you finished telling her the story. "And that's what happened. That Mazi girl was psychotic, I just couldn't let you stay back there with her, she'd probably would've killed you....and I'm to blame."

"Say what now?"

"She found out about you through me. Orion told me once he got out of the hospital that all those times I was admiring that amazing body, those gorgeous freckles..she was watching." Applejack gasped as a teardrop fell upon her cheek. She looked up to see the streams of sadness pouring down your face. "That's not it. Mazi was never captured. She could be anywhere, ready to strike. Y-you only got hurt b-because of me.....It's obvious t-that's a sign..."

"A sign? Sugarcube that's not it at all."

"Yes it is. I'm a risk...a liability...you'd only get hurt because of me. M-mazi hasn't been caught yet and I'd hate to see you h-hurt because she wants revenge."

Suddenly you felt her finger against your lips. "Listen here sugar. I refuse to let you believe you're a risk. The only reason you were forced to come back there in the first place is because of my stubbornness. That's why ah'm here now. Don't none of my family exactly agree with me on that one. Back then, I could've asked for help but no. I went alone, thought I could do it myself. W-what a great idea that was. Way to b-be stupid Applejack." she said as she herself began to tear up. "I thought I was gonna die when I felt that pain in my leg...that w-was until I saw you."

"You..saw me?"

"Opened my eyes to you speeding like my best horse down the hallway....Ah have to say this."

"Applejack I..."

"None of that now. Let me say this...please? I'm s-sorry for ignoring you all this time. Wasn't until that day that ah began to look you differently. After ah got back, something changed in me. Even with the few conversations we did have, I took notice. You were cute, funny, interesting. I couldn't take my mind off of you."

"So why didn't you say anything to me?"

"Ah'm not gonna lie. I was...scared."

"Scared?....As in nervous to talk to me." She nodded. "Are you kidding me? I was more than nervous, I was completely love struck."

"Is it a coincidence to say ah was as well?"

"To think we could've been together this entire time."

"Ah'm willing to make up lost time if you are."

"Like a sweet make out session right?"

"Well you did save my life. Kissing just don't feel right by itself. I reckon you know what ah mean?"

Oh this is going to the coolest night ever.

Author's Note

You guys know what comes next.

Just in case you were getting the vibes here of something familiar Mazi was inspired by a character from BlazBlue, Hazama.