One would be in utter shock if any animal, especially a crow, could speak the same language that you do. Heck, a normal person would either run from the talking animal and preach it to other people or faint. Let us say that I am not a normal girl.

A whoosh of air escaped my mouth, and I rested my elbow on the top rail and put my chin in my palm.

Realizing that I would not respond any time soon, the crow asked, "You did hear me, right? I said your first name crystal clear."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I am not deaf."

"Huh." He massaged his black beak with his wing. "Usually, humans are in a panic when I open my big beak."

"Do not kid yourself...what is your name?"

"Crow."

I was a bit surprised by that reveal. "You are a crow whose name is Crow."

"I know, I know. You do not have to rub it in." He crossed his wings over his feathery chest. "My parents were not very good with creative names."

"Would you like a creative name?"

He shrugged. "I do not know. Perhaps."

"I can give you one if you would like."

"What? No!"

Crow flew off the top rail and landed by a corner of the balcony. He ruffled his feathers and hid his head and face behind his black wings.

"What is the matter...Crow? Why do you not want me to give you an awesome name?"

"You would never understand. Now shush!"

I narrowed my eyebrows. "Do not shush me. I can speak whenever the heck I want and whatever the heck I want."

The double doors to the balcony opened wide, and the crow hopped until he was hiding behind one of them.

"Ada?" Diversity stepped onto the balcony. "Mary Sue told me that you were out here."

I managed to hold back tears and wiped my nose. "Did she also confess to you...what I did?"

She nodded. "She explained the whole story to me."

I placed my palms on the top rail and leaned on it. "What now? I suppose that you are planning to kick me out of your castle because I ruined your party."

Diversity went from concern to happy and giggled.

I looked at her funny. "What is so funny?"

"You, Ada. Do you actually believe that you ruined the entire evening just because of a single incident that resulted only in a broken nose?"

I rubbed the back of my neck. "Well, yeah."

She wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "Do not be sad. Nobody should be sad at my parties. And for the record, you brought the life to the party!"

"Um...I do not believe that I follow..."

She released me. "My parties are always boring every year. No excitement. Just the same things. But thanks to you, Ada, this year's party will be one that no fictional villain, especially you, will ever forget. You ought to be proud."

Diversity added that she hoped for me to continue enjoying the party and strolled back in the ballroom, leaving the double doors open.

I would say that I was alone like before if not for the talking crow.

"Crow?"

The crow hopped out from his hiding spot and uncovered himself. He raised his feathery head, and it felt as if he were piercing my soul.

"I am shocked that you are not questioning how an animal like me can communicate with you humans with ease," he said.

"At this point, it is safe to assume that there is no logic in the fictional world," I stated the obvious.

What you dear readers would never expect in a million years happened next.

A creature the size of a human came onto the balcony. It was white and a word.

"There goes logic," Crow analyzed as Logic climbed onto the top rail, jumped, and fell to his doom.

See what I mean, readers? Logic was thrown out the window. Or in this case, off the balcony.

"Now that logic is dead..." Crow perched himself back on the top rail. "...we have business to discuss."

"What kind of business?" I interrogated him. "And how do you know my name?"

"I know lots of things. Well, everything that has to do with this castle and the villains within the walls."

"Within the walls?" I repeated.

"Not literally. All the villains live here until they graduate...if they graduate."

I let out a snicker. "Some of these villains are so dumb that they will probably never graduate?"

"No, Ada. That is not what I mean."

Before he could utter another word, I felt being pulled by my wrist. I faced the person and saw that it was Diversity. She was sweating and seemed worried.

"Diversity, what is going on?"

"It is your friend Mary Sue."

"What about her? Is she hurt?"

"Not that I know of."

I gently pulled my wrist away. "Where is she?"

I stared into Diversity's eyes. There was fear in them.

"She is gone."

"What...what do you mean that she is gone?"

"I do not know where she fled to, Ada. I only know that she is not here."

"Not here?"

"I noticed that she was not in the ballroom, so I went to your and her bedroom to see if she was there. She was not, and all of her stuff was gone."

"No..."

"What really confirmed my suspicion was this note that she left on your bed." She gave it to me, and I read the note.

"Dear Ada,

By the time that you find and are reading this, I will already be home in your father's lab. I am positive that you will be upset and even angry with me for abandoning you, but I honestly cannot handle it any longer.

Wishing You Luck,

Mary Sue"

"Ada..." Diversity spoke. "...if there is anything that I can do—"

I cut her off. "This is not Mary Sue's handwriting."