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"CASSIE!" Atomica called out. This was actually a dangerous move on Cassie's part...the Pendulum Peril Paradox!

Advantages: No sane monster was going to follow behind you while giant pendulums were swinging through the corridor! A great way to get ahead in the race and slow down your rivals!

Disadvantages: GIANT. PENDULUMS. SWINGING.

Cassie was off of her little plastic doll-feet. Cassie may have been constructed of sturdy, high-grade temperature-resistant shatter-proof resin, but the hit from the pendulum had still knocked her for a loop.

The worst part of dealing with pendulums was, if it hit you once, it was going to swing back in a few seconds and hit you again!

"Protective" Necrolin said. "Important" Atomica's fuzzy audio receptors heard. And Nekki was right!

"YOU'RE RIGHT! Protecting your fellow SKRM skaters IS THE MOST IMPORTANT!" Atomica shouted back at Necrolin. What could they do to save their friend?! No matter what else may be going on, this was the most important thing! Atomica's analytical engine hit upon the solution.

"Nekki!" Atomica turned to the meaty fish-ghoul. She was inspecting the ground, which, while wise meant she was neglecting Cassie's peril. "Remember what we did in Mad Science class?!"

That's fright...the fundamental physics of SKRM! The transference of kinetic energy from one object to another! THIS WAS CASSIE'S ONLY CHANCE to avoid being squished by another pendulum swing!

"You can do this!" Atomica told the mermomancer, her atomic energy heart glowing with confidence. "I BELIEVE IN YOU!!!!!"

And with that, she picked up Nekki and threw her with all of her atomic automaton might at Cassie.

"FASTBALL SPECIAL!!!!!!!!"

Cassie screamed as she was heading towards the pits, She tried to find a way to stop, but her speed was too high, If only she had paid attention to where she was going!

Suddenly, due to the high speed, the dolls skates broke! She spiraled until she hit the ground, sliding a bit. Her little body now had scuff marks from the track, the little wheels from the skates were no where to be found. She just wanted to lay there and curl into a ball. She wanted to cry

"how could I be so stupid?" she asked herself. She tried to stand, She refused to be hurt, She couldn't be hurt not now. Her legs trembled a bit, and she had a hard time making her back straight. She looked at her friends ... well Friend.

"Atomica, I'm alright!" She cried out

Nero rolled out onto the SKRM track. It good him ages to laces up his guards over his muscles, but that was the price one paid for such an impressive physique. If in meant a harder time finding pants...well...as one of Monster High's tallest boos, that was a problem he had anyway. Might as well be broad and tall instead of just tall. Then people might mistake him for Gryff.

He skated easily...through, most of the SKRM traps, in the sense that a rock goes through paper. Nero's biggest problems were always the obstacles that involved jumping.

Like the flaming pits. That was what he wanted to practice on today, to see if he could get airborn enough not to singe his tail. Last time he almost melted a piercing.

As he got closer, he saw three of his team mates. Atomica was still mobile, but two of the ghouls were in a groaning heap. Well, one was groaning, the adorable Cassie looked like she wanted to groan but was presenting a stiff upper lip.

"OH NO!" Nero cried, "Don't worry ladies, help is on the way!"

Not only were his team mates in trouble, but they were two ghouls in distress. Nero melted when a ghoul was in distress (or simply nearby). Nero's version of melting, however, was not the same as other bros.

He skidded to stop in front of them, and flexed with all his might. His biceps bulged like two great oiled pythons, his abs rippled like a mountain brook, his jeans stretched as his thighs flexed. Mysteriously, little rose petals began to float through the air, enveloping them all in the heady scent of bromance.

He would use the power of pec-romancy to snap them out of their daze and take their minds off whatever scratches and bruises they might have incurred on the field!

ninja

Nekki slowly and delicately opens her eyes and looks up at the majestic muscular manster who saved her death. The pec-romancy worked. She certainly wasn't paying any mind to the pain in her... Ankle? Necrolin sits up. Her small, delicate hands clench in the stress of her blushing, her whole face washed in the cold embarrassed blue of her deceased fishy skin.

The rosy wind catches the mermaids dead hair, seemingly bringing it back to life. With the hair out of her face, her emotions are vulnerable.

Oh my ghoul.

Baby-doll eyes, she hides her face with her hands to hide the sudden crush.

"um... Uh... Thank... You..." She whispers shyly.

Nero grinned and reached down, helping the merghoul to her...tail? Whatever counted as a standing position.

"I'm always ready to help a ghoul in distress. Well anyone in distress, but ghouls especially. I am Nero de Sphinx."

He helped Necrolin back to the locker room door, where he bowed gallantly and gave his pecs another flex just for good measure. There was no such thing as too much pec-romancy.

"I hope this doesn't sour you too much on SKRM. Maybe you'll come to the match anyway, even if you don't skate."

He winked and walked away.