"What is that thing?" Rachel asked killing two Brinetalons.

"That my friends was a Dreadpod." Matthew said as he and Gabriel killed a Abyssmorph.

"A Dreadpod!?" Hazel said, "But I thought they were just a myth."

"I guess we thought wrong." Gabriel said as Hazel and he killed a Trancemirage.

"Well then how do we kill it?" Ace said as he and Rachel killed three Brinetalons each.

"By killing the one who summoned it." Abbey said killing a Brinetalon.

"But who would summon a Dreadpod?" Eve Nevermore asked walking up to them while killing a Metalseeker.

"Eve how do you kill something in that?" Ace asked looking at her dress and the dead Metalseeker.

"She's been training in that dress for years." Chancellor Nevermore said whilst killing seven Brinetalons.

"How are we going to find the one that summoned it, then?" Gabriel asked while shooting an arrow through a Metalseeker that was pinning Hazel to the ground.

"Good question." Hazel said kicking the corpse off her before standing up.

"Why don't you just ask me?" a familiar voice said.

Every Monster Hunter turned around to see Isabella sitting on a throne made entirely of what looked like monster bones.

"Isabella, why are you doing this?" Matthew asked.

"Whatever it is, we'll put a stop to it." Hazel said pointing her dagger threateningly at Isabella.

"Oh, Hazel." Isabella said gleefully standing up, "This is all your fault."

"What?" Hazel said eyes narrowing.

"I told you to stay away from Gabriel." Isabella said, "You see after I saw you and Gabriel kill that dragon a gargoyle snuck up behind me. Naturally I killed it and got a Kumppani in the process."

"So, you just decided to start killing innocent hunters!?" Gabriel yelled infuriated as Hazel sheathed her dagger.

"Of course, I did." Isabella said smiling wider, "Aren't you happy? I did all this for you."

"Happy!?" Gabriel shouted looking insulted, "Why the Hell would I be happy about somebody killing hunters, because of me!?"

"Leave my friends alone Isabella!" Hazel exclaimed, "If you want someone dead kill me."

"Hazel, no!" Gabriel exclaimed before a Abyssmorph pinned him to the ground.

"Just don't hurt them." Hazel said, "Rachel, Ace stand down."

To Hazel's surprise nearly everyone lowered their weapons, everyone but Gabriel who was still pinned to the ground by the Abyssmorph.

"I'm sorry." Hazel said looking at him.

"You can't let her do this Master." Josh said in Gabriel's mind.

'There's nothing I can do.' Gabriel thought.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

While they were talking in Gabriel's mind, Hazel finally reached Isabella and the Dreadpod.

"So, do you have any last words Hazel?" Isabella said pilling a pole arm from beside the throne she was sitting on.

"Course I do." Hazel said gripping the handle of her dagger tightly.data-p-id=b1840f7f88d5cd0eb2a43c511cbd8878,"Care to share with the class?" Isabella said smiling evilly.

"Go to Hell." Hazel said swiftly pulling out her dagger before slitting her throat, "Nobody messes with my friends."

With a blinding light and a blood curdling scream the Dreadpod and the other monsters disappeared. Once the Abyssmorph that was pinning Gabriel to the ground disappeared he and the twins quickly rushed to Hazel's side.

"Are you okay, Hazel?" Gabriel said.

"A little shaken but I'll live." Hazel said giving a reassuring smile.

"What do we do now?" Ace asked seeing the blood from the now lifeless Isabella's throat.

"Now you tell us everything that happened before you rescued us." Chancellor Nevermore said as he, Matthew, James, and Abbey walked up to them.

Thirty minutes later the eight hunters were crowded in Chancellor Nevermore's office.

"I want to know everything." Chancellor Nevermore said seating himself at his desk.

It took nearly an hour for Gabriel and the twins to recount everything. They were in the middle of telling how their weapons glowed before Matthew interrupted them.

"Your weapons glowed?" Matthew asked with a shocked expression on his face.

"Yes, once the door opened, they just stopped." Ace said before finishing his third cup of tea.

"Is something wrong?" Rachel asked.

"Did your weapons glowed white by any chance?" Abbey asked.

"Yes, they did." Gabriel replied.

"You know what this means, right?" Matthew said to Chancellor Nevermore.

"Means what?" Hazel said, it was the first time she spoke after they left the Great Hall.

"We'll explain everything once we're sure, not tonight though." Matthew said softly.

"So, what now?" Rachel asked before giving a soft yawn.

"Now the four of you get some well-deserved sleep." Chancellor Nevermore said while opening the door.

"You guys can sleep in our room if you want." Ace said as they left the office.

Josh and Luna quickly followed them before perching on Gabriel's and Hazel's shoulder.

"Thanks." Gabriel said rubbing sleep from his eyes.

The four of them walked to the Oliviero's room in sleepy silence. Once they were in the room the birds perched on the small chandelier.

"I'm exhausted." Rachel said before collapsing on her bed.

"You said it sis." Ace said helping Hazel and Gabriel with their sleeping bags.

"Yeah, I am pretty exhausted." Gabriel said laying down.

"Can you imagine its probably my sixth day of being a Monster Hunter and so much has happened?" Hazel said before laying down.

Gabriel gave a slight nod before seeing Hazel already asleep.

The four of them slept there for a few hours before they and the birds were awoken by a loud noise coming from the Great Hall.

"If there's another attack I will officially lose my marbles!" Hazel said sitting up before Luna perched on her shoulder.

"Let's just go check so we can get back to bed." Gabriel said standing up before Josh perched on his shoulder.

"What are we waiting for then?" Ace asked as he and the girls stood up.

"Surprise!" The Monster Hunters after Rachel opened the door.

"What's going on?" Hazel asked as they walked out of the room.

"It’s their way of saying thank you." Chancellor Nevermore said as he and Eve emerged from the shadows.

"Think we can postpone our bed time to party?" Gabriel asked.

He and the twins glanced at each other before looking at Hazel.

"Let's party!" Hazel exclaimed causing the Great Hall to erupt with cheers.

"To Hazel, Gabriel, Ace, and Rachel." Chancellor Nevermore said raising his glass.

The other Monster Hunters followed his lead and raised their glasses before shouting, "To Hazel, Gabriel, Ace, and Rachel!"

Gabriel and the twins laughed as Hazel smiled. She looked around and felt something she hadn't felt in years, she felt like she belonged.

THE END