Finally I have managed to complete chapter 5 of this fanfiction! I apologise for taking so long to update this one! I got writer's block for this chapter. I couldn't work out a way the group could "re-organise" Dist's research without getting into trouble. And then I ended up dreaming an idea... I found it the fact that it came to me in a dream creepy but the idea appeared to work so I've used it. Well, I hope you enjoy this chapter! :-)

Chapter 5: Finding Loopholes

"Luke, wake up!" Guy called. "Luke!"

Luke groaned and turned over in his bed with his back to Guy.

"Luke, unless you want us to get into even more trouble with Legretta I suggest you move yourself now!" Natalia shouted.

Luke still didn't budge. Arietta made her liger go towards Luke's bed. The liger growled in Luke's face. Luke slowly opened his eyes and leapt up with fright. He fell off the bed during the process and landed flat on his back. This time the groan he made was of agony. He slowly sat up and began rubbing the back of his head tiredly.

"There was no need for that…" He grumbled. "I heard you…"

He glanced up at Natalia and Guy tiredly. The two of them were already fully dressed.

"How come you two got ready so quickly?" He questioned confused.

"Arietta already came in and alerted us of the situation" Guy explained.

"Where's Anise?"

"Legretta wouldn't let her come and get you from the inn" Arietta replied timidly. "For some reason she thought Anise might try and get out of it by catching a boat from the port and leaving Daath"

Luke stared at Arietta surprised.

"You're kidding me! Legretta actually thinks that?"

Arietta nodded.

"I asked Legretta if I could come get you so that I could alert you of the plan we came up with"

"So what is going on then?" Natalia asked.

"Dist likes everything organised in alphabetical order, including his research. So we've decided to do that but scatter the files around the room instead. Dist prefers them in a certain area; however he doesn't really state this. If we place them in various places around the room but in alphabetical order then you can't get in trouble"

"That's actually not a bad plan" Guy commented.

"So who's helping then?" Luke questioned.

"Sync and I will keep watch for Dist. Largo has offered to come and help you scatter the files about once Dist has left. Anyway we need to get going. We can't keep Legretta waiting"

Once Luke had finally gotten dressed, the trio followed Arietta back towards the cathedral. When they finally walked through the entrance, they found Legretta waiting for them patiently in front of the stairs along with Anise. Anise looked quite depressed; however no one could blame her. They were about to enter the quarters of the most hated God-General out of all six of them. They halted in front of Legretta.

"Good job Arietta" Legretta praised. "Please go and alert Dist that his "helpers" will be coming to his quarters soon"

Arietta nodded. The others watched as she quickly dashed off.

"Did she really have to call us that?" Luke mumbled.

Legretta frowned at the trio.

"I'm only going to say this once. Since this is a punishment and Dist is the one who will be in charge of you for the time being, you must do whatever he tells you to do and you must do the job right. If I find that what you've done looks like payback then I shall report this to Van and see to it that he deals with you. Do you four understand?"

All four of them nodded. They began to make their way carefully up the stairs with Legretta leading the way.

"Hey, did Arietta alert you three of the plan?" Anise whispered to Natalia.

Natalia nodded. She had her eyes firmly fixed on Legretta to ensure she didn't turn around. Guy gently nudged Luke in the ribs with his elbow.

"Hey Luke, is it just me or does Legretta look a bit grumpy this morning?" Guy whispered.

"I think it has something to do with getting up early" Luke whispered back. "Either that or she's having a bad hair day"

"What makes you say that?" Natalia whispered, deciding to join into the conversation even though it was risky.

"Well her hair style today looks like someone has just mopped the floor with her hair"

Natalia, Guy and Anise began to snicker. Legretta's ears managed to pick up the sound and she halted in her tracks. The group halted sharply as she turned around and glared at them angrily.

"And what are you three snickering at?" She questioned with narrowed eyes.

Anise gulped quietly. None of them answered. Luckily for them Luke had managed to come up with an idea to dig them out.

"We were just remembering Dist's facial expression when he landed head first into the fountain yesterday! Surely even you found that funny, right Legretta?"

Legretta continued to stare at them coldly with narrowed eyes.

"No, I did not find that amusing at all. Now stop snickering"

She swirled back around swiftly and continued to make her way up the stairs. The group followed behind, making sure they kept some distance in between them and Legretta so she didn't hear them again.

"Nice save Luke!" Anise whispered.

Eventually the five of them arrived outside of Dist's room. Almost as if it was on cue, a loud cry sounded from within the room. Legretta sighed heavily and placed her hand to her forehead.

"What stupid thing has he gone and done now?" She muttered.

Legretta gently gripped the doorknob and slowly opened the door. Dist was rolling around on the floor while crying out in agony.

"What did you do this time?" Legretta questioned impatiently.

Dist quickly sat up. He appeared to be gripping tightly onto the middle finger of his right hand.

"I just gave myself a paper cut!" He screamed.

The group sweat dropped.

"Dist may have the brain of a genius but he has the mental state of a five year old…" Anise grumbled.

Legretta sighed.

"Anyway, I have brought the Abyss team to come and help you tidy up your research. If they do something to annoy you just let me know. I'll be conversing with Van if you need me"

Legretta quickly strode out of the room. Dist leapt to his feet and frowned at the group.

"All right you miserable savages, I am only going to say this once so you had better open your ears. There is a large pile of documents on my desk here-" Dist indicated with his right hand towards a large pile of books and folders on the edge of his desk.

"All I want you to do is to sort them into alphabetical order. I do not care how it is done, just as long as the files are ordered correctly and are still in this room. Do you understand?"

Luke stared at the pile horrified.

"It's going to take us years to get through all of that!"

"Well boohoo for you! I'm only giving you one hour. If it's not done by then I'll complain to Legretta!"

Dist cackled evilly as he strode out of the room. The door slammed behind him. Suddenly a small bird whistle sounded from outside the window. Anise dashed towards it quickly and lifted it open. She whistled back. The green haired tempest leapt from the branch he had been perched on through the window. He landed on both his feet successfully. Sync glanced behind at the pile of folders and books on Dist's desk.

"Man, I feel really sorry for you four" He commented. "That is one large pile of research!"

A small knock sounded on the door. Guy opened it slightly and glanced through. Arietta and Largo were standing there. Largo appeared to be holding a small pile of paper in both his hands. Guy carefully opened the door and allowed Arietta and Largo to walk through. Anise dashed up to Largo happily.

"I see you brought the paper with you Largo!"

Largo nodded. He gently passed the paper to Anise.

"What are you planning on doing with that paper?" Natalia questioned confused.

"This is all part of the plan princess" Largo replied. "We are going to write on them one letter of the fonic alphabet in order. Then after sorting all the files into the right piles we are going to stick these pieces of paper around the room and place each pile underneath it"

"That actually isn't a bad plan" Guy commented.

"So who is doing what then?" Luke asked.

"Largo and I will start writing on the paper. You three can try and sort out the folders and books into the right order"

"Arietta and I will stand guard outside of the door" Sync added. "We will knock three times if we see him coming"

"All right then team, let's get to work!" Anise cried happily.

Dist was sitting in the kitchen drinking a cup of coffee when Asch strode in. As soon as he spotted Dist Asch began to chuckle. Dist glanced up and frowned at Asch.

"What's up with you?" He questioned.

"I heard about what happened to you yesterday! I can't believe that reject managed to send you flying into the fountain!"

Dist gave Asch a death glare.

"I would appreciate it if you wouldn't mention that again"

Asch rolled his eyes and sat down opposite Dist.

"Well sorry! You really need to learn to laugh at yourself Dist! It was just a harmless joke!"

Dist's face went scarlet.

"A harmless joke was it? Oh damn no! That wasn't a joke! Those insolent idiots were trying to make a mockery of Dist the Rose!"

Asch sighed annoyingly and stared down at the table. The two of them were silent for a few moments until Dist decided to continue the conversation with a different topic.

"Oh by the way, have you seen the tempest, Largo or Arietta at all today?"

"No I haven't. I've noticed Sync and Arietta have been quieter than usual though. I haven't heard those two arguing in days. In a way I'm finding it quite suspicious…"

"Well whatever those three are up to it must be quite interesting if they aren't acting like themselves"

Asch glanced at the time and slowly stood up.

"I need to talk to Legretta about my next mission. Good luck with dealing with the reject and his companions"

Asch slowly walked out of the kitchen.

(I'd better talk to Legretta about the other God-General's weird behaviour to see if she knows anything…)

"Phew, at last we have sorted every last folder and book into the correct pile!" Luke cried as he slumped down against Dist's bed tiredly.

It had taken the whole group almost the full hour to fully complete the task; however they still had ten minutes left before Dist arrived. Anise and Largo had finished writing the fonic letters on each piece of paper and managed to stick them around the room in various areas. Natalia, Luke, Guy, Anise and Largo began shifting one pile at a time to each fonic letter and placing it underneath each one. Arietta peeked around the door to see how far they had gotten.

"Should we help them shift the piles Sync?"

Sync nodded.

"I think we should. Dist could decide to come back earlier than expected. Plus they are running out of time"

Arietta and Sync joined the group and managed to finish shifting each pile to its correct location. They finished within nine minutes. Arietta, Sync and Largo managed to hide in Largo's room just as Dist arrived.

"All right, let's see how you mindless idiots did…" Dist grumbled.

As soon as he reached the doorway his mouth gaped open in shock. He froze to the spot. Not a single word was able to escape his mouth audibly. Anise pretended to act all confused.

"What's wrong Dist? We did what you asked in the time given"

Dist's face turned scarlet. His hands began to tremble into fists. Anise gulped.

"You three might want to cover your ears!" She warned.

"Why?" Guy questioned.

"Just do it!"

All four of them covered their ears just as Dist was about to blow.

"LEGRETTA, I'M COMPLAINING!" Dist screeched loudly.

The walls shook violently and so did the floor. Luke, Guy and Natalia almost lost their balance from the violent shaking. Eventually it stopped. They slowly removed their hands from their ears just as Largo, Arietta and Sync dashed out of Largo's room acting is if they didn't know what had just happened. Legretta and Asch were dashing up the staircase towards them.

"Dist, what's the matter?" Legretta questioned.

Dist pointed towards the group standing in the middle of his room.

"Those idiots have gone and pranked me again! Look at what they've done to my room!"

Legretta scanned the room carefully before turning to face the Abyss team with narrowed eyes.

"How did Dist tell you to organise his research?"

"He said to organise it into alphabetical order; however he also mentioned that he didn't care how it was done, just as long as it was in the correct order and still in this room" Anise answered.

Legretta turned back to Dist.

"Is what they just stated true Dist?"

"Yes that is exactly what I said but-"

"Then there should be no problem. The files are clearly still within your room and are placed into alphabetical order. They match the conditions meaning they have now completed their punishment"

Anise stuck her tongue out at Dist playfully. Dist's face went red with anger. He stomped off angrily. Sync was rolling around on the floor with laughter and Arietta was snickering. Even though Largo didn't look amused he too found this little prank quite amusing. Legretta turned towards them and crossed her arms.

"So, I'm guessing you three are involved in this little prank too?"

Sync stopped laughing and widened his eyes in shock. Arietta hid behind Largo. Largo's expression didn't falter. Guy, Luke and Natalia gulped. Anise gaped at Legretta in shock.

"How did you-" Anise began.

"I suspected that they were helping with not just this prank but the others as well since the cathedral seemed to be quieter than usual…" Asch interrupted. "Legretta also suspected the same thing and so we investigated"

"We know what you have been doing Anise" Legretta added. "You can't hide everything from us as easily as you think"

"Please don't tell Van about this!" Anise begged. "We are only getting revenge on Dist because he took our stuff!"

"Anise, we weren't supposed to tell Legretta!" Arietta cried.

Legretta turned to face Arietta confused.

"Why didn't you come to me in the first place?"

"Dist threatened he wouldn't give us our stuff back if we told anyone in authority" Sync explained. "This was the only way we could try and get them back without falling into his demands"

Asch sighed.

"Dist seems to be complicating things very badly here isn't he?"

"Well, if Dist won't give them back even if I were to threaten him then we have no choice but to help you" Legretta announced.

Everyone gasped.

"You'll really help us?" Anise questioned.

"We might as well" Asch replied. "The pranks you all have been pulling off are actually quite amusing. Plus Dist does deserve it"

"I agree" Legretta added. "I won't tell the Commandant about this; however if you are planning something then let us know and we will help you"

For the rest of the day Dist remained in a grumpy mood and didn't speak to anyone.

When the next day came it was time for Luke, Guy and Natalia to return back to Grand Chokmah and Baticul. Anise, Arietta and Sync went to say goodbye to them down at Daath's dock.

"Guy, is the Colonel free from his work yet?" Anise asked.

"I believe he will be soon. Why?"

"There is one prank on the list that we might not be able to do without his help… Do you think you could ask him if he will visit Daath sometime soon?"

"Of course I will. I'm sure Jade would love to help out with your pranks!"

"Yeah, I know we definitely did!" Natalia added.

"I had a good time too" Luke commented. "We'll come and visit you again sometime! Oh and don't forget to let us know about how your last two pranks have gone!"

"I won't!"

Anise, Arietta and Sync watched from the dock as the boat slowly sailed away and out to sea. Arietta yawned.

"All this pranking stuff is tiring… I miss my doll…"

Sync gently patted Arietta's head.

"Don't worry Arietta; we only have two more pranks left. Dist will have to break at least by the last one so you will be reunited with your doll soon"

"I think we should head back" Anise stated tiredly. "We need to start making preparations with the others about the fifth prank"

The trio slowly made their way back towards the cathedral.

This prank might not be as funny as the others but this is the only way it could work. I'll try and update soon with Chapter 6 once I get my remaining exams over and done with... -_-