Dangan RomPonya

by Serenade-Stereo

Rating: teen
Tags: Other, Crossover, Anthro, Gore, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark
Length: 94263

When Serenade Stereo enters a new high school after being accepted for his talent. He expects the usual. Classes, teachers etc. But this strange school 'Hope's Peak' is much more than meets the eye with it's 'Super High Schoo

WARNING! This story, DOES, have spoilers for the first and a tiny bit of the second games in the series so be careful when reading.

Serenade Stereo never had much 'luck' in his life. There was never a dull moment at least.

One day he receives a letter from the mysterious 'Hope's Peak Academy' explaining that they had seen his work and would like him to attend their school as one of the 'Super High School Level' students.

As he crosses the gate he passes out and wakes up with 15 other ponies his age also accepted for their talents as 'Super High School Levels'. They soon learn that they aren't there for their talents at all, but to be forced by a demonic creature that goes by the name 'Monkuma' to live in his 'School Life of Mutual Killings'...

Published 2014-03-27 18:50:05 UTC
Last updated 2014-09-08 21:29:34 UTC

Day 1: Chapter 2

Serenade slowly awoke from the blow to his face that knocked him out. He was in an infirmary. Which meant...

"O-oh! Y-you're a-awake!" The light blue unicorn he met in the gym hall. He never actually.

"Oh...hi...sorry, I don't think I caught your name" She instantly look ready to cry

"I...I'm sorry! I forgot!" He raised an eyebrow at the girl's apologetic attitude. "It's B...B Positive. Super High School Level Nurse" B Positive. A name and a motto, both he kind of needed at this point.

"Serenade..." he introduced "Serenade Stereo...Super High School Level Musician..."

"I know...I h-had to check your ElectroID...t-to see if you had any m-medical conditions..." How could one mare be so timid? It looked like one wrong move and she would collapse right then and there. "There was a big wound left on you and then some minor bruising, you were bleeding from the mouth. She knocked a few teeth loose but I managed to keep them stable and I healed up everything" It seemed the only time she could say a sentence without stuttering was when she was giving medical results "You'll recover quickly..."

"That's good...what is with that girl?"

"W-well...y-you did kind of sound like you had an intention to kill somebody..." She said it very with fear in her voice "I mean...you asked about that horrible p-punishment...!"

"Yeah...execution if they're found out...speaking of which, didn't that Monokuma or whatever his name was say that we would investigate the murders?" B nodded

"Y-yes I'm guessing that he'll do some sort of ballot to convict somebody...b-but what happens if we get it wrong!?" She starts to panic "D-do we get executed!?"

"Hey, relax. Remember we all agreed to not kill each other?" She bit her lip

"Well nobody properly agreed to it...b-but I could never kill anyone!" Well duh... he thought to himself "and...b-before I forget!" she went over to a table and picked up some neatly folded clothes "t-there was blood on them so I had Olive Field wash them for you" Which means...I'm sitting here in my underwear... She gave Serenade his clothes back and turned around "Y-you can tell me when you're dressed...I respect privacy of others" Serenade looked at her...then he noticed something behind her, on the wall. A mirror. She probably didn't notice it so he proceeded to put his clothes back on.

"...Alright...you can turn back now..." He said, he had a feeling in the back of his mind that she already knew that though. She gave a weak smile as she looked at him

"I'll let the others know that you're okay, your ElectroID is place over there...and that necklace you have" She pointed to where his clothes were placed. The gold necklace and the device sat side-by-side. Then without saying another word. B left him on his own.

He picked up his belongings and headed out the door, by this point, B had already turned a corner down the hallway. What was it Monokuma's rules said again? We all had specially prepared rooms? He checked his ID and found a map on one of the options. His room wasn't to far from where he was standing. Just down the hall and a few turns.

He began to explore the school he had been isolated into with the others. It was full of twists and turns, he read the signs of the doors as he passes by them. 'Biology Lab', 'Gymnasium' and then the one that caught his eye for a few seconds 'Music room'. He pondered on whether or not to enter. He shoved the thought away and continued his search for his room.

A few more corridors later he finds one with eight doors and then at the end was another turn, probably the rest of the rooms. He looked left and right as he passed by them. The name plates had face pictures of the pony it belonged to. He read then as he went by: 'Punch out', 'Olive Field', 'Nimbus Darkness'. He stopped after Nimbus, the next door along, from the star of the corridor, it was third on the right 'Serenade Stereo'. He opened the door and entered the room.

He looked around and closed the door. There was a guitar sitting in the corner, it kind of made the music room pointless but he would probably still drop by to see what else Monokuma had placed in there and then. Speak of the devil.

"Upupupu!" A familiar laugh sounded throughout the room as Monokuma appeared out of nowhere, right in front of Serenade causing him to scream and jump back, hitting against the door "Like the little present I left you?" He must have referred to the guitar sitting over on the other side of the room "I felt bad about causing the whole 'Punch out from Punch Out' so I thought I'd get you that!" Serenade didn't buy it.

"I think that was already there..."

"Eh? Aw...you made that pretty boring, things that are boring are just unbearable to me...why do think I made this 'School Life of Mutual Killings'?" his brow furrowed

"Cause you're a sadistic demon!?" Serenade said to him angrily "Do you honestly expect us to just kill each other!? It's insane!"

"Oh well I don't expect you to understand...I think I'd better go now, let you get the bearings of your room, you have your shower just through that door by the way" he pointed to a door that was probably just behind the wall since Serenade had no view of it. "Well, bye then" and just like before. He disappeared. Serenade sighed and sat on the bed, he had to try and figure out a way to get out of here, he was already hated by everyone...well almost everyone. It seemed that the girl, B Positive just didn't have the guts to hate anyone. She was a shy...friend? Is that how he would describe her?

He shook his head and noticed the clock hanging on his wall. 10:00. Probably PM, unless he was unconscious for a whole day. He didn't have much time to think about it, there was a knock at the door. He gulped, all except, B, had a motive to kill him. Kill Serenade before he kills us...He stood up and trailed over to the door and reluctantly opened it. It was his worse nightmare. Punch Out. He soon backed up as she walked into his room. Cowering once more, he put his arms up to shield himself.

"Relax...I ain't gonna hit you..." She said but Serenade still kept his guard up "geez, kid...grow a pair, would you?" she growled making Serenade flinch. "I wanted to...apologize" He paused for a few seconds and slowly lowered his arms. "Well...rather, I'm being forced to apologize, that nurse said that you didn't mean it in a way that meant you were going to kill someone." So B had sent her. "To be honest...looking at you, you don't look like the type of guy that could kill" She gave a smile "Tell you what! I'll give you protection from the others on one condition"

"...W-which is...?" he did kind of need security in this place

"You have to clean my room whenever it gets messed up!"

"H-huh?" it was that simple?

"And" there's always an 'and' "...I was hoping you would...uh..." She seemed unnaturally nervous. "F-forget it, just the room!" Serenade tilted his head but just accepted that he probably wasn't getting an answer.

"Well...it is nice of you to offer, Punch, but...I think I'll be fine on my own" She seemed genuinely shocked by that statement

"Really? You sure? I mean look at you" she pokes at his chest "You've hardly got any muscles to defend your self with..."

"I know but...I'm sure I can handle it...but...I would like for us to...start over?" Punch was silent for a few seconds then nodded

"Sure kid...why not? I mean, a little team isn't bad to have in here is it?" his expression was blank. 'Team' isn't exactly what he was looking for "or...ugh...friends?" She seemed ready to throw up.

"...Well...why not? Can never have to many friends!" He seemed to suddenly be bursting with optimism. "Well it's getting late...we should probably go to sleep...we'll have to find a way out eventually..." Punch nodded in agreement as she turned and took her leave. Serenade shut the door and locked it with the key he just noticed hanging in the lock.

He walked out to his bed, removed his shoes, socks and jeans and wrapped himself under the covers. 'School Life of Mutual Killings'? Not a chance.

Day 2: Chapter 1

Day 2: Drawing Blood

A loud yell is heard in Serenade's room as a monitor appears "Wake up Bastards! It's 8:00, You're all to meet in cafeteria! Now!" It was Monokuma. Serenade groaned as he climbed out of bed and put on the rest of his clothes. He peered at the clock on the wall. it said 9:00...is his clock fast? Or was Monkuma lying? Didn't matter either way, he had to get to the cafeteria to meet up with the others.

He walked about out his then paused. Hadn't he locked his room last night? "Ah! Looks like the killer has recovered well!" he turned to see Nimbus to his left. His face was in a sneer "I can't believe that lovely girl, B, actually gave the time and effort to treat you...I guess her instincts kicked in as the 'Super High School Level Nurse'" He snickered "That girl is to kind..." He then goes back to his sneer "I'll be keeping my eye on you!" He walks down the hall.

Guess that's what I'll have to expect when I get there... he sighed and followed where Nimbus had went. He came to a set of doors with the name plate above it 'Cafeteria'. Serenade took a deep breath and entered to see all the others. All 15. Sitting around the centre table, they all looked at him. Some like Nimbus, Lock and Beau looked at him angrily. Some weren't able to make heads or tails with him, like: Olive, Gold and Tickery. But then there were the surprisingly three that were happy to see him. B, Punch and to Serenade's surprise. Digital Code.

"Good to know that somebody didn't kill you..." Digital said. He wasn't sure if it sincere or not "Take a seat...Monokuma will be here soon" there was only one seat left, between Lock and Nimbus. Those two didn't look very happy. He took his seat and averted eye contact from the others

"This just in!" It was Moonlight "The tension levels have increased drastically since Mr Stereo's arrival! More on this story as it develops!" The two by her sides. Gold and Hammer rolled their eyes.

"I...j-just wish you could all...m-maybe...j-just...be a l-little nicer to Serenade...?" B pleaded

"You kidding? This guy wants to know the risks of what happens when somebody is killed! Isn't that telling you something, you stupid bitch!" Beau yelled at her from across the table.

"S-stupid bitch?" B looked ready to cry. That made Serenade's blood boil

"Hey leave her alone! If anybody's the bitch, it's you!" He retorted. Beau seemed taken aback like nobody had ever told her off. "And I'm not planning on killing anyone! Monokuma mentioned a punishment and I wanted more information on it!" they talked amongst themselves, aside from B and Punch.

"Alright, listen up!" Punch stood up. "If anybody tries to accuse Serenade of planning this murder bullshit, you'll have to answer to me! Got it!?" there were a few nods but others didn't move

"And if there is a murder?" Zoom asks "What then? What if it was Serenade?" Punch stays silent

"Then I'll beat the shit outta him" She cracked her knuckles and glared at him. This seemed like a fair response to all expect B who felt a bit nervous on the compromise. Serenade didn't care, it helped out prove the fact that he isn't going to kill any of the others.

"Upupupupupu! You settled that faster than expected!" Monokuma appeared on one of the other tables "it's a shame, I like drama!" he does a huge leap onto the centre table where they're all sitting "Now you must all be wondering why I gathered you here...well I have these!" He pulls out sixteen disks "Your motives!"

"Motives?" Digital inquires

"Yes! To murder! Once you watch these, you won't be able to resist killing another student!" He laughs sadistically W...What is this? Those disks... "Alright, now follow me!" He passes between Nimbus and Serenade and walks out the door with the others following behind him. They went through the twisting corridors and stopped at the room labelled 'Media room'. "Alright I'll place these on different desks and you all go to the one with your name on it!" He throws the doors open and tosses the disk, somehow though they all land perfectly on the desks. "alright, off you go!" The sixteen exchange glances before searching for their name.

Serenade looks around until he finds one that is labelled with his name. He's next to Gold Coin who looks at him, still unsure on what to do about him and what the others think of him. "You know" he speaks "if this was a video game...the main character's friend is usually the one that dies first. Like if Tickery was the main character, Olive and Lock are most likely to be dead first..." Serenade tilted his head "Just saying..." he sits and puts the headphones on his head. Serenade proceeds to do the same.

As the disk slides in the screen switches on. He sees two familiar faces: His father and younger brother. "Serenade" it was his father that spoke first "Your brother and I are so proud of you, you were able to get into a school that only lets the best of the best in. Congrats, son" His brother sat up.

"You better be ready for when you graduate. By that time, I promise I'll have my cutie mark!" His face beamed. Serenade smiled, he missed the two a lot...now his life was in danger...he might not even see them again. Then the screen went black. And that laugh went to Serenade's ears again

"Upupupupupu! That right there was the family of the amazingly talented owner of the club 'Golden Note', Serenade Stereo." Then the screen turned on again, it was the same place only...it was dark, dank, the couch the two sat on was shredded and blood was on the walls. "But happened to the two now that Serenade is no longer around?" He went pale. Was this genuine? What had happened to his family since he entered Hope's Peak? He was only here a day so far though...right? Then again he doesn't know how long he was left passed out when he first entered the school. He looked to the side of him, Gold had gone pale to.

"What...the fuck?" He suddenly stood up and backed away from the monitor "WHAT THE FUCK!!!!?"

"Upupupupu! Looks like somebody is having a worse reaction than others! GWAHAHAHAHA! I love it!" Gold had pressed himself as far as he could against the wall quivering in fear of whatever he just saw. Serenade stood up to calm him down

"GET AWAY!!!" He screeched out, pushing Serenade aside and running out the room.

"Wait, Gold!" Digital calls after him but his voice falls on deaf ears. He turns to Monokuma that is sitting on the desk at the very front of the room. "What the hell!? Are these supposed to try and fool us!?"

"Upupupupu! Oh no, these aren't to fool you at all. These are to make you question if they're real! What is they are real? Did that mean that all that you saw was real? And the only way to find is to 'Graduate'...By killing someone! Upupupupu!"

"You little shithead!" Punch spat at him "You expect us to kill each other, these have to fake! They...they have to be!" She didn't sound to sure either. This was his plan...these videos give us a reason to kill...not just to wonder!

"Well I'll be going now" and just like the other times, Monokuma vanished into thin air... leaving the others in silence.

"We should split up...to look for Gold Coin..." Digital proposed the idea. The others didn't say a word but agreed as they all filed out the room.

Serenade searched several places. The music room, the cafeteria, the biology lab, The weapons museum but no sign of Gold Coin anywhere. He had actually bumped into another one of the students in the museum, Wild Beast.

"Maybe he's in his room? It would make sense" Serenade nodded in agreement "Also, these weapons, don't you think they were placed here for us to kill each other with? I mean...look at these giant spears. Although they're probably protected heavily..." Serenade nodded in agreement then went off to the hall of rooms, separating himself from Wild. He looked between each room as he went along and stopped at the one, third on the left. Just across from his own.

He knocked on the door "Gold Coin? Are you in there?" He pressed his ear against the door but didn't hear anything from inside. He touched the doorknob...it was unlocked. "Gold...if you don't come out...I'm coming in!" He stood there, but nothing was heard.

He then slowly opened the door.

Day 2: Chapter 2

Serenade peered his head through the door. He only saw the bed. Cautiously, he continued in "Gold...?" He looked past the corner of the room, nothing. "...I guess he isn't-" He turned to face the other wall and stopped dead.

But he wasn't the only one.

There, on the wall was Gold Coin. Pierced by spears that went through several different areas of his body. His heart, arms and legs had all been pierced.

Serenade let out a scream of what he's witnessing as the monitor in the room turned on.

*Ding Dong*

"A corpse has been discovered, I will allow a certain time for investigation, then we shall hold a class trial!" That was Monkuma's voice.

"What happened!?" Nimbus ran in "I heard a scream and...ACK!" He turned to see the corpse of the late Gold Coin "I-impossible...How...?" He was left relatively speechless. He turned to Serenade "You..." he started to glare "You killed him!"

"N-no! I just discovered the body!" Serenade had pleaded

"Lies! We all knew you were planning to kill you heinous monster!" Nimbus pulled several shuriken from his pocket "Well, I'll make sure you get what is coming to you!"

"Wait! Don't you remember the punishment for murder!?" Nimbus stayed silent "You'll get executed if you're found out and those shurikens will be really incriminating!"

"...hmm...you are going to be a worthy opponent in this upcoming 'class trial'. Just wait though. I'll prove you guilty!" He walked out of the room with that vow now following him.

Serenade sighed. There's that bad luck he always seems to have, he only really had B to trust in this place...investigation...he should probably get started on that. He walked up to the body and examined it closely.

These spears...haven't I seen these somewhere before? I must have, this design on them is just to original to be mistaken...That's right. The museum when I met up with Wild Beast! But those were pretty heavily guarded with a security system and that glass box...They seem really forced into the body which could suggest a struggle...

New Ammo: Spears. Loaded into Serenade's ElectroID
New Ammo: Signs of a struggle. Loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

The fact that he's been strung up on the wall gives away one fact, he must have been killed elsewhere. I doubt anybody could have stuck him to the wall with just five spears, especially when he's so far off the ground, but if that happened, there is a severe lack of a blood trail

New Ammo: Different crime scene. Loaded into Serenade's ElectroID
New Ammo: Lack of a Blood trail. Loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

Serenade turned when he heard footsteps behind him. It was Beau.

"I see you've already started investigating..." She had no expression in her tone. It was just plain. She walked up to the body and to Serenade's surprise started inspecting the wounds, searching his pockets. She defiantly didn't look like the type of girl that would do that. She turned with an angry expression "What? Just because I'm a model means I hate getting my hands dirty? Oh please, watch this" She pulled away the waistline of his pants and stuck her hand down.

Serenade blushed, his mind was at it.

"Ugh, you PERV! Put your wings back down would you!?" Serenade looked back to see his wings outspread by his side

"S-sorry..." He slowly managed to fold his wings back in, embarrassed at what just happened.

"Thank...hm?" She turned back to where she was digging around "What the heck is this?" She pulls out a small handheld.

"That was the console he was playing on when I woke up on the first day"

"Ugh, boys and their video games..."

New Ammo: Gaming handheld was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"Well to be fair, he WAS the 'Super High School Level Gamer'...w-wait...you pulled that from inside his pants but...it would just fall out..."

"It was in his underwear..."

"Y-you put your hand down his underwear!?" This time he couldn't really help it when his wings flew out.

"Its just underwear...the nerd wore tighty whiteys...and we're all like 17, who still wears those?"

"Uh...yeah..." Beau just rolled her eyes, Serenade wasn't a good liar.

"Anyway, did you check the whole room yet?"

"Uh, no...I focused on the body first, those spears-"

"Are from the museum...I saw them there" She cut him off. Then walked over to the bedside drawers. "Hmm..." She slid the top one
open "Just as I thought..." She bends over. Showing how short her dress is. Push the thought away, push the thought away... She stood back up with a knife in her hand. "Check it out, the guy had weapon hidden in his room as well"

"As well?" Did that imply Beau had one hidden in her room?

"From what I heard every bedside drawer has sort of weapon, depending on the room, or it's hidden as something in the room...anything out of place in your room?"

"Well...I have a guitar in there...Monkuma said he placed it in there for me..." Beau stayed silent

"Probably a hidden blade in it...somewhere, like the neck of it or maybe...wait, bass or acoustic?"

"Acoustic?"

"It could be taped inside the sound hole..." Serenade was slightly surprised by her sudden knowledge. "Besides I don't think this knife has anything to do with the murder..."

"I wouldn't be so sure, every room has a shower room, the blood could have easily been washed off, in fact, we don't even know if that was the weapon for this room" Beau stayed silent they gave an impressed look

"Didn't expect that to come from a perv like you, I'll check the shower to see if it was turned on, you look around the room"

Beau...in the shower? She isn't making this easy... she walked through the door by her side as Serenade stared at the knife she placed back on drawers. Wasn't she one of the others that didn't trust me? Think I would kill someone? Then why leave the knife...maybe...she does have some trust in me? He didn't ponder on it for long

New Ammo: Knife and other hidden weapons. Was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"Hey...whatever your name is, you have GOT to check this out!" Beau called him in...to the shower...Serenade took a breath and walked in to see her kneeling by the shower "You were totally on the ball, this was used recently, check it!" She pointed at the puddles of water on the floor "That knife might have something to do with this after all" She stood up "Also I tried to move the shower head, didn't work. It's tight in its holder...but for being right, you've earned some respect"

New Ammo: Puddles of water. Loaded into Serenade's ElectroID
New Ammo: Shower head. Loaded into Serende ElectroID

"t-thanks Beau" She suddenly seemed irritated

"Oh don't thank me, I was just saying you're not a incompetent as I thought, geez!"

"Oh grow a personality..." These two were never going to get along well. Then there was a flash, the two looked to see Moonlight and Zoom standing just outside

"This just in! Supermodel Beau Love and Ponyvillian musician, Serenade Stereo were caught in the shower of the victim's room together having a secret meeting! More on this story as it develops!"

"Hehe! You two weren't up to anything naughty were you?" Zoom giggled the two blushed and started to speak at the same time

"Are you serious!? Him/Her? I would never! Especially not with this dork/witch!" The two faced away from each other causing the two other mares to laugh at their humiliation.

"Aw come on you guys! Moonlight is gonna start doing a paper for what's going on and our readers will just eat this kind of gossip up!"

"Besides" Beau spoke "I need to go look elsewhere...Serenade! Follow me!" She grabbed his wrist and pulled him past the two. "But before we go" she stopped in front of the door. "That camera ready?" Zoom nodded "Then let your readers see this for your paper" She grabbed Serenade's collar

"Hey what are yo-!?" He was stopped by Beau kissing him and a flash of the camera.

Beau let him go and walked out the door leaving Serenade with two smirking girls "I-I swear, t-there is NOTHING going on between us!"

"We have more information on this story! Beau and Serenade share their first public kiss together in front of this reporter and her photographer!"

"You should go catch up with your girlfriend" Zoom teased. Serenade's face flushed as he fled the room and ran after Beau. He ran in front of her and blocked her walking path

"W-what the hell was that just now!?"

"Oh please, I was playing it up for the cameras, you should be thanking me. It's not like you have a chance of ever getting a girlfriend..."

"Yeah, but you can't just kiss me like that! What were you thinking!?" Beau looked at him dead in the eyes.

"Helping with the mutual killings...all the boys want me, it's so obvious. I just gave them all a motive to go after you...giving me a bigger chance of survival..." She gave a devious grin

"Y-you...c-can't do that!"

"Oh? And why is that? Because you're afraid of all the others because you know you're the weakest next to that pig B?"

"Hey! Shut up about B! She hasn't done anything bad to you!"

"Whatever, I'm going to investigate the museum...you can come if you want, I won't stop you..." She barged past him and continued down the hall. She really was a she-devil...Serenade shook his head and followed on. He convinced himself though.

The two were never going to friends, the kiss meant nothing but a motive to her. She was a cold heartless girl.

"Well...it isn't nice to think of each other like that" the two turned to see Orion Ghost standing by one of the doors in the hall, how had they not notice her? "You may not like each other, but by working together, you could make a formidable team..."

"Oh please? Me and him? I don't even know his name"

"You sure about that?" Orion smiled "I think you know a lot more than you're letting on..." Beau scoffed and carried on to the museum "Don't worry about her Serenade. She's just mean spirited, she'll warm up to all of us...now I should really get some investigating done. Who's the victim?"

"Gold Coin, pierced by five spears in his room. The spears were originally in the museum though..."

"...Okay I think I understand. Shall we?"

"Excuse me?"

"Let's go investigate! You might need some help and I doubt Beau will help you out" she walked off towards the museum like Beau leaving Serenade to realize something.

He had just investigated with Beau and now he's investigating with Orion. Two girls. One case.

Day 2: Chapter 3

The two entered the weapons museum, Orion leading. "I don't see Beau anywhere..." She commented

"I'm over here!" Beau's voice called out. "Come look at this!" Serenade and Orion followed her voice and saw Beau, standing by a podium where the spears once were. Or at least that was what would make most sense. "The casing around it was shattered" She indicates the glass sharps scattered around the surrounding area. "It looks like it was smashed from the top, but the security system, from what Monokuma told me, will go off by the slightest touch and theses shards...they look to neat..."

"Neat?" Serenade echoed

"Like they were organised into this position...like they were moved over...look, there should be glass on the podium too..."

New Ammo: Security system. Loaded into Serenade's ElectroID
New Ammo: Glass arrangement. Loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"Well this confirms that the spears are the ones from here..."

"Correct...We should see if we can find anything else in here that could point us to the culprit" Beau began to search the area.

"Well, Mr Stereo, what do you think?" Orion asked

"What do you mean?"

"I can detect that you already have experience investigating...care to show me how you investigate and what conclusion you come to?" She gave a smile. Serenade bent down next to the shards of glass

"Well...I'll see what I can find..." He starts to check the shards individually as Orion simply observes. "Hmm...oh?" He pick something off the floor. Not a shard. "Check it out..." It looked like laminate. "How did this get here?"

New Ammo: Laminate. Loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"Well..." Orion starts "Let's try to imagine how this could have played out...the culprit comes in here to retrieve the spears, he smashed the glass, somehow evading the security system. Now if the spears are facing towards him and he tried to pick them all up at the same time. He could have cut something that was laminated on his clothes...does that sound plausible?"

"It does...nice work creepy girl..." Beau had returned "I'll keep that in mind when we get to whatever that 'class trial' is..." Beau then turned and took her leave.

Orion giggled "She a bit feisty, wouldn't you agree?" Serenade nodded. "Well...it doesn't seem like we have a lot left to investigate so where would you like to go next?"

"Why don't you go and investigate the crime scene, Zoom and Moonlight are there already."

"Well, I'll talk to you later I suppose..." She gave a small bow and left. Serenade turned back to the podium. How does this work? These were here when I met with Wild Beast, then I went straight to Gold's room. How in Equestria did the culprit manage to get past the security system, grab the spears, get to the room before me and then stab Gold with the five spears and get away...just how!?

"Upupupupu! How goes the investigation?" That familiar bear walks out of the shadows

"Monokuma? What are you doing here?"

"I like to check up on the investigation before the class trial"

"Right...what is this 'class trial' anyway?"

"I'll explain it when the time comes. Right now...humour me Serenade..."

"Humour you?"

"You investigated with Orion, you kissed and investigated with Beau and you're friends with B, just look at you though! Why to others find me, Monokuma, so...unbearable!?" Serenade stayed silent. It was pretty obvious why...

"Wait...I DIDN'T KISS BEAU! SHE KISSED ME!" Monokuma tilted his head

"There's a difference?"

"A HUGE ONE! S-she only did it so the other boys would have a motive to kill me!"

"Really? GAHAHAHAHA! You seem to be in a real pickle then, I like that girl!" Monokuma ceases laughing "But what do I care? I don't care WHO dies just as long as SOMEONE does. The class trials make great entertainment!" Is that all these murders are to him? Entertainment?

"So...you made that announcement because I discovered the body. Right?"

"No, because you were the third one to discover the body!"

"Third?"

"Yes, after three students come across a body. I make the announcement"

New Ammo: Announcements. Loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"Well, I should get back to the investigation..."

"Oh well. Bye then ya bastard!" He disappeared as Serenade left the room and walked down the hall.

He let out a sigh, why did Monokuma really create this school life of mutual killings, was it really just to entertain? He wasn't watching where he was going and bumped into the orange Pegasus that he was sat next to in the cafeteria.

"S-sorry, I wasn't paying attention..." Serenade apologized. He stayed silent. "You...uh...don't really say much do you?" he shook his head "Oh...Locky, was it?" he shook his head again.

"Lock..." He spoke. His voice was much deeper than Serenade had thought at first.

"Do you have any idea on who the killer might be?" He points at Serenade. "Why?" Lock just gives him a look. "Have you checked out the crime scene yet?" He shook his head again "Do you know where it is?" More shakes "It's Gold's room...I can-" he was about to go with Lock to re-investigate but he had already walked by him. "You know it's rude to leave when someone is talking!" Lock had already reached the end of the hall and turned though Not like you'd have much experience of that happening.

"Aw! Don't worry about Locky! He's always like that!"

"Huh?" Serenade didn't even have time to turn before he felt someone jump onto his back

"Now take, Tickery to the crime scene! Andale!" She spoke

"T-Tickery?" He began to wobble under her weight. "Can you please get off?"

"Huh? I'm not heavy! Tickery thinks that you're weak!"

"Well Tickery is right!" He says throwing her off his back.

"Ow! No need to be so rude!" She gets up. "You could have just asked me to get off!"

"I did! You didn't listen!"

"Oh...Tickery is so sorry for the inconvenience then. I take it that you have already started the investigation of this strange and arousing mystery!? The spears, the blood. All of it!?"

"Um...yeah...you saw the crime scene?"

"Of course! As soon as Tickery heard the announcement, Tickery began her own special investigation!" She seemed unusually chipper for someone that just learned about the death of a fellow student.

"Are you even sad?"

"Hm? I'm never sad, if Tickery is always sad, what happens to happiness!?" Sweet Celestia, what is wrong with this girl? "I guess it is kind of sad that he was killed...but we have to push on and find the killer, right!?"

"Um...right? Well did you find anything on your 'special investigation'?"

"Nope, but I ran into some of the other students. Like Hammer and Olive and Digital and Wild and B...and you!"

"I see...hey, Tickery? I learned that everybody's room has some sort of weapon in it. Does yours?" She looked at him confused.

"Weapon? I went through everything in my room. Tickery found nothing of the sort!"

"Really?" Tickery had no weapon in her room? Well that just doesn't make any sense...

*Ding dong*

"Alright, bastards! You've had enough investigation time, meet up at the red door by the Gymnasium! The class trial will begin shortly" Monkuma again...which meant it was time.

"Yay! Tickery is so ready!" She began to run off to where they were told to meet up, slowly followed by Serenade.

By the time Serenade had reached the door. The rest had already gathered there. How long had he taken to get here?

"To slow Serenade, Tickery beat you here by three minutes and thirty-nine seconds!" She was counting? Beau walked up to him

"Be ready for when those papers come out Serenade...that's when you'll be officially done for..." She smirked. Then a ding was heard and an elevator was revealed behind them all. Monkuma stepped out

"Upupupupu! This is the moment you've all been waiting for! The Class Trial!" He cackled

"Just what is the 'Class Trial' anyway?" Olive asked.

"I'll explain once you reach there...but for now...I'll be waiting." And in a puff of smoke, he vanished. They now fifteen students all stood in silence for a few seconds.

"There is no point in just standing around here. We should get this over and done with." Digital said as he walked into the elevator followed by Hammer, Olive, Lock, Tickery, Punch and B.

"Just you wait...I'll prove your guilt" Nimbus said as he walked by Serenade as he and the rest proceeded to enter the elevator. Leaving Serenade out by himself

"Well? We have to go" Wild said to him. He was reluctant to, but he slowly headed into the elevator with the others. At the same time he joined the rest of them, the doors shut and the elevator moved down into the depths.

This is it...the time has finally come. One of us killed Gold Coin, he had done nothing to hurt us and someone killed him. Nimbus thinks it's me, as does Lock. They'll try to put me under execution as soon as the trial starts...B might try to defend me, but her timid nature might get the best of her...so I'm on my own. In this matter of life or death...

In the Class Trial...

Class Trial 1: Chapter 1

The elevator grinded to a halt and the doors opened. In the room were sixteen stands arranged in a circle. Gold's portrait at one of them with a cross on it, it was crossed out in blood. Must be his blood. Monokuma was sitting at the far end in a throne.

"Upupupupu! What do you think of the décor? I did it myself" It wasn't anything special. Just grey walls and wooden stands. Not exactly something you could boast about. "Anyway the stands all have a name on it, find yours so we can get this trial started!" They all formed in the circle of the stands. Serenade stood closest to the elevator. Clockwise from there was Nimbus, Olive, Lock, Tickery, Beau, Gold...well his picture, Digital, B, Punch, Zoom, Hammer, Moonlight, Orion, Wild and Samurai. Come to think of it, Serenade had never noticed Samurai since the first day, but it didn't really matter, Hammer was the same. "Alright! Now I shall briefly explain how this Class Trial works. You all pick a subject to discuss and then you try and find a killer through it. By then choosing a 'culprit' that 'culprit' will be seen as the 'villain'. At this point, you may start to vote for who you believe the true 'villain' is. If you are correct the 'villain' will be punished...but get it wrong. Everyone ASIDE from the villain shall be punished!"

"So you are saying if we are wrong...all but the killer are executed?" Samurai confirmed with Monokuma's nod

"And before I forget, for those that didn't get around to the crime scene!" He pushed a button and all the ElectroIDs flashed "I give you the Monokuma File! This will give the basic information on the murder!"

New Ammo: Monokuma File 1. Loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

Let's see...cause of death was a stab wound in his back.Time of death...was 12:30pm and I discovered the body around 12:40

"Alright now start!" Monokuma commanded.

"Very well...as a first statement, I already believe I know the identity of the culprit" Nimbus said. Here it comes... "Serenade Stereo!" He pointed to his side

"Isn't it a little early to draw that conclusion though? Dude, we just started" Hammer interrupted

"Well let me ask you this! Which one of us was it that asked about the punishment and risks of killing another!?"

"Er...y-yeah I guess" Oh please don't just give up like that...

"Either way" Digital spoke up "voting a this point would be...premature...we should at least discuss what happened at the scene of the crime...and why you believe Serenade was the culprit"

"...Have it your way..."

Alright so we're about to go into debate. Even if I don't like it when all the attention is on me, I have to point out a contradiction if I see one. Man...what would Gold Coin say in a situation like this? 'If this was a video game, Yellow text would represent a weak point. Blue text is a statement you could agree with and green text is a statement that you can use to find a contradiction...I'm even thinking like him...

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence bullets

-Monokuma File 1.

-Security System

-Announcements

Nimbus: I believe I should start with why Serenade is the culprit

Digital: You seem very sure of yourself...

Nimbus: Well I found him at the crime scene after the announcements

Samurai: Well, what does that have to do with anything?

Nimbus: Isn't it obvious? If he was the only one that knew that Gold was dead

You got that wrong!

Nimbus looked at him "...Huh?"

"I couldn't have been the only one that knew about Gold's demise!"

"And why is that?" Digital asked

"Because. The announcement was made after three students discovered the body." Nimbus seemed stunned

"T-three? Which means..."

"That's right, I couldn't have killed him if I was third to discover the body!"

"I...what!?" Nimbus began to panic "M-Monokuma! What if the killer discovers the body? Does that count?"

"Upupupupu! Why yes it does!" W-what!? "So technically Serenade isn't out of danger yet"

"But..." Orion interjects "We should try to figure out who else was it that discovered the body. After all, they did conceal the fact, didn't they?" I suppose she is right "Well, Mr Stereo? Who do you think were the other two?"

Why is she asking me? "I'm not sure about two...but maybe...Zoom, Moonlight?"

"Yes?" Zoom responds

"Did anyone else turn up whilst Beau and I were gone?"

"This reporter remembers nothing of the sort!"

"Yeah, after you left. Moonlight and I stayed at the scene and investigated...we couldn't find anything worth while though"

So that would mean...that pony shouldn't have known about the crime scene!

It can only be you!

"Tickery, I remember what you said to me when we met up"

"What I said?"

"Yes you asked me if I investigated the crime scene and you then went on to say 'The spears, the blood, all of it!?'"

"Ah yes, Tickery did say that!"

"So...you saw the murder before the announcement?"

"Hehe! Tickery is impressed by your mad deduction skills!"

"Why the hell didn't you say anything!?" Punch yelled out

"Actually...Tickery forgot all about after she left the room!" Everyone went silent "What?"

"H-how could you just forget about it?" Hammer asked

"Dunno...I don't really understand it either..."

"Eh...moving on...we should probably discuss more on what took place at the scene" Wild proposes

"Yes, that seems like a good next step..." Digital seconds.

How the crime went down...what did happen at the scene?

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Lack of blood trail

-Monkuma File 1

-Spears

Olive- So after Gold ran off from the media room...He went straight to his room

Beau- Then later, the killer came in with the spears

Wild- He approached Gold and stabbed him with the spears

Olive- I dunno...would it really be that easy to stab him then pin him on the wall?

Agreed!

"I think Olive's right, it wouldn't be easy to stab him and pin him on the wall...without leaving a blood trail at least..."

"Wait...without a blood trail?" Hammer asked

"Yes, when I arrived...there was no sign of blood on the floor." Beau said.

"Right! There's no possible way to kill Gold and pin him on the wall"

I can't let you get away with that!

Nimbus interrupted "Actually, there is a way for there not to be a blood trail...a very simple one..."

"You just don't quit do you?" Nimbus chuckles.

"'Quit' isn't in my vocabulary!" Maybe if I throw a dictionary at your face... "Shall...we discuss?"

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Shower head

-Puddles of water

-Original crime scene

Serenade-You know I'm tired of you trying to pin this on me! Our lives are on the line!

Nimbus-Your guilt will be dealt later. As for the blood trial...That can be shown easily

Punch-Why do you say that?

Nimbus-It should be obvious!

Digital-You aren't making it obvious...

Nimbus-The shower was used to was away the blood!

You got that wrong!

"The shower couldn't have been used that way!"

"And why is that? If you try to say that the room has no shower...I'll have to strike you down for your idiotic statement!" He twirls a shuriken.

"N-no...I was going to say that the shower head doesn't move"

"Eh?"

"It's fitted tightly, right, Beau?"

"Yes, as Serenade and I investigated, I checked the shower and the head was stuck in place..."

"So...the blood couldn't have simply been washed away?" Olive asks

"Exactly..."

"I-if that's the case...h-how did he get placed on the wall w-without leaving traces of blood?" B stutters

How...how...is there a way to?

Of course!

"There is a way to pin him up without leaving much of a trace"

"...what do mean?" Wild asks curiously

"Well...simply, the spears that he was pierced with on the wall, weren't the original murder weapon!"

"Oh...I see where you're going with this..." Beau smirked "The original murder weapon..."

"Wait!" Zoom interjected. "This all seems to farfetched! Another murder weapon!? I doubt one even exists!"

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Knife and other hidden weapons

-Gaming Handheld

Zoom-Another murder weapon at the scene? I didn't find anything of the sort!

Moonlight-This reporter also had no results!

Beau-But you can't just discard it like that...

Zoom-There wasn't another weapon!

You got that wrong!

"Well it seems you didn't do a very good investigation...I have a...er...sneaky suspicion why, but it isn't important! Look! There was a knife in his room!" He displayed the knife from a projector in the ElectroID I didn't even know it could do that

"But wait..." Punch says "that knife is clean!"

And there's a reason for that as well...

Of course!

"The shower, even if the head wasn't mobile, had signs of being turned on! It must have been used to wash the blade!"

"How do you know that the victim didn't take a shower before the murder?" Digital inquires

"The floor was dry and there were no damp towels, besides, his hair could have still been slightly wet"

"I see..."

Wait a second... "Isn't there something strange about washing the blade?"

"What do you mean, 'Nade?" Wild asks

...'Nade? "Well...if it had Gold's blood on it, there shouldn't have been a reason to wash it...unless"

Of course!

"That blade was from another pony's room!"

Digital fixes his glasses "...Who would that be? Do you have any idea?"

Well...from what I learned only one pony doesn't have a weapon

It could only have been you!

"Tickery...you said you didn't have a weapon in your room...correct?"

"...uh...yeah! I did!"

"Strange...I had one in my room..." Samurai spoke

"Same here! I would hardly need one though..." Punch sadistically chuckled

"M-me to!" B added

"See? The only one that didn't...is Tickery!"

Now hold one a second!

Everyone turned to who had spoken up. It was Lock. "Alright...listen here! If you're trying to pin this on Tickery, you'd better have some evidence to back it up!"

H-huh? "I wasn't accusing Tickery! I was just pointing it out! If anything...she's one of the least likely to!"

"So Mr Smart-Guy, you saying you have an idea of the killer? The culprit? Come on! If you're so smart!" He gritted his teeth. Lock was taking everything Serenade had said the wrong way.

Accuse...now? Actually...if I think about what was said during the investigation...and the evidence I collected...the killer could be...

It could only be you!

Class Trial 1: Chapter 2

"...Digital Code..."

"H-huh? Did I do something wrong?"

"You...you're the culprit!" The rest of the students went into an uproar

"Are you insane!?"

"Digital is the one that has been trying to keep us all under control and get us out of here" Serenade shakes his head.

"No...no he hasn't...he's been deceiving us!"

"Now just hold on!" Samurai interrupted "that doesn't make sense, what proof do you have to even suggest he is the killer!?"

"Well going back to when I talked to Tickery, she said she had met up with a few of the other students...one of them being, Digital"

"So? That doesn't mean I killed Gold Coin!" He retorted, now enraged by the accusation that was thrown at him.

"Okay then...Tickery. Where was it that you met up with Digital?"

"Um...it was Tickery's room! Yes!" Serenade smirked

"And remember where we deduced this knife came from?"

"Tickery's room..." Lock answered. Digital took his glasses off and cleans them.

"But...why exactly does that put me down as suspicious?" he puts his glasses back on "After all...you could just as well as sneaked into Tickery's room and stole the knife"

"I agree" Nimbus adds "After all, I investigated the museum and came to a conclusion!"

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Security System

-Laminate

-Glass Placement

Digital- Care to share your little conclusion, Nimbus?

Nimbus- Well as some of you already know...Serenade is the killer!

B- N-no he isn't!

Nimbus- But it is so obvious!

Wild- Get to the point...

Nimbus- Well in the museum the glass case is broken, shattered all around the podium

Orion- Yes, that was pointed out when I investigated with Serenade

Nimbus- And Serenade is the Super High School Level Musician, which includes his voice...

Serenade- Yes, but what's your point?

Nimbus- You shattered the glass with your singing voice!

You got that wrong!

"Whilst it is true that I can shatter glass with my voice, that just wouldn't make sense!"

"Using my hints?" Beau asked

"Hints?"

"Observations is a better term. Anyway, the glass was to neat, like it had been arranged. There was no glass on the podium so I couldn't have shattered it in that way!"

"But...couldn't it have been wiped off when the spears were picked up?" Punch suggested

"I'm not denying the possibility...but that would on be one side, the glass on the other side and below the spears would still be there!"

"So...you couldn't have shattered the glass with your voice..." Nimbus says half-angry, half-depressed

"And now we come back to you" Serenade looks at Digital "You must have killed Gold, you're the only one that's suspicious" he paused

"Hmph!" He pushed his glasses up "alright I'll tell you everything...I saw when I discovered the crime scene!"

"W-what!?" He's the third pony to discover the crime scene!?

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Monokuma File 1

-Original Crime Scene

-Lack of Blood trail

Digital- I had actually discovered the crime scene

Tickery- were you after Tickery, or before?

Wild- I don't think it matters

Digital- I came across Gold's dead body and recorded the time 1:30

You got that wrong!

"Hmm?" This caught his attention

"Everyone! Look at the Monokuma File! The time of death is 12:30!"

"So? I discovered it an hour later..." Serenade shook his head

"You couldn't have! I saw it at 12:40 and that's when the announcement was made!"

"So....you mean that Digi got the time wrong?" Hammer asked

"Not just the time...the crime scene as well!"

"The...crime scene?"

"Yes I thought that he may have been killed in a different location, but maybe just in his room...but with the time you're saying you discovered the body at...there is only one place that has a clock that goes one hour fast...my room"

"Serenade...you didn't?" Punch started insinuating

"No, no...after all, closer to the time of the murder, I was with Wild in the museum"

"Yeah, no way Serenade killed Gold...I left the museum at the same time as Serenade so the museum was empty" Wild said. At least there was someone other than B that believed in him.

"Hehe...so you intend to carry on like this?" Digital asks "Then let me say this...how the fuck did I get the body from your room to Gold's without leaving a trail!?"

H-he...it's like he changed into a different pony! "You could have had an accomplice!"

"Nope! I asked Monokuma about whilst you were passed out from Punch's punch! An accomplice wouldn't benefit from it at all! There goes that theory!"

"Not yet!"

"What!?"

"There's a way you could have used an accomplice...without them knowing..."

"Is such a way possible?" Nimbus asks

"I think so..."

Epiphany Anagram

S N P Y S O I H

I've connected the dots!

"...Hypnosis...that's it!"

"H-hypnosis!?" Digital repeated "What kind of bullshit is that!?"

"Actually...hypnosis could be possible..." Orion interjects "remember what Tickery said about 'forgetting all about the body'? I actually use hypnosis to channel spirits, unfortunately, I forgot my equipment..."

"Oh...how convenient" Digital says accusingly "How can we be sure Orion isn't the culprit!?"

"Did you not hear me? I said that it is how I channel spirits...so since I haven't channelled the spirit of Gold Coin..."

"That isn't a valid argument! If you were the killer, you just wouldn't channel the spirit because it would incriminate you!"

"No" Serenade interrupted "Channelling Gold would do nothing to help us..."

"Really? Care to enlighten us?" Beau asked

The reason that Orion channelling Gold is futile is... Of Course!

"The cause of death was a stab to the back, meaning that Gold never saw who his attacker was! Channelling him would have no point! Plus if Orion was the killer, she would have known that Gold didn't see her and therefore would have went ahead with the channelling anyway!"

"Thank you Serenade..." She smiled "Now we go back to Digital...how did he hypnotise Tickery?"

"I couldn't have! There's no gadget or gizmo that could do that, I don't have one of those pocket watches. I couldn't hypnotise Tickery!"

No gadget or gizmo...?

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence bullets

-Gaming Handheld

-Original Crime scene

-Puddles of water

Digital- Without an item of some sort...I couldn't have hypnotised Tickery!

Tickery- Is everyone sure I was under his power? I don't remember anything, besides a dripping sound

Beau- That's the point of hypnosis, you can't remember anything

Wild- How can we say that Digital did then?

Samurai- You can't

Alright...so he would have needed an item...wait, what did Tickery say?

Digital- Without an item of some sort...I couldn't have hypnotised Tickery!

You got that wrong!

"So you have the item I used to hypnotise Tickery, I presume?"

"I'll get to that later, right now I need to make sure that everyone knows that you hypnotised her"

"And how do you plan to do that?"

"Tickery, you said that you only remember a dripping sound...like water dripping?"

"Yes...I suppose..." Tickery responds

"Well then...that proves it"

"How?" Digital asks

"Because, the murder weapon, the knife, was washed by using the shower and if Tickery remembers hearing dripping noises..."

"She must have been there when the knife was washed!" Hammer finished

"Exactly! But if she doesn't remember it...she must have been unconscious...after she was freed from the hypnosis!"

"..............." Digital stared and then suddenly "hehe..hahaAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" He was laughing like a maniac. "So! Serenade, shall we go through the events in words now!?" He leaned forward, gripping onto the stand in front of him and looking at Serenade with eyes of insanity "I stabbed Gold in the back, hypnotised Tickery somehow, got her to carry the body into Gold's room, took her out of her trance which caused her to fall unconscious and then I washed the blade..."

"Yes...that's right"

"Hehehe...AHAHAHAHAHAHA!? Are you fucking serious!? You must be kidding! Then tell me! How did I hypnotise her!? Explain!"

"...I've been waiting for that question..." Serenade smirked "I think I figured it out...how you hypnotised her!"

"W-what!? No, you're lying!"

"D-do you r-really have something like t-that?" B asked

"Yes...the item Digital used to hypnotise Tickery is..."

That's it!

Class Trial 1: Chapter 3

"It's obvious when I think about it clearly...the gaming handheld!"

"E-excuse me!?" Digital stuttered "How can someone be hypnotised by a handheld!?"

"That's where the beauty...or 'Beau' part comes into it..." Beau raises an eyebrow. "Remember where you found the handheld?"

"Right" She nodded. "In his underwear..." Everyone turns to her

"Eww...you went in a guy's underwear?" Zoom questioned

"It's not that bad, grow up." She looked over at Serenade. "But I see what you mean, why was it there in the first place? He would just shove it in his pocket, wouldn't he? So the killer or the hypnotised Tickery must have put it in there"

"Well..." Nimbus started "It's more likely to be the culprit, since the blade must have been washed at that point"

"What make you say that?" Olive asks

"Lack of blood trail, remember? If the knife wasn't washed first, then there would have been blood on the floor" Wild answers instead

"Right...but wait...how was she hypnotised with a handheld device? It's just a gaming system" Punch asked "Nothing special..."

She's right...but I have to think...think how this could be changed from a gaming system to a hypnosis device...I need to figure out how to prove it!

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Gaming Handheld

B- W-what if we can't find a way to show how it w-was changed?

Samurai- There may be a possibility

Olive- But what could show something like that? Evidence in the ID's?

Tickery- Or maybe one of us?

Agreed!

"I have to agree with Tickery on that, one of us may be the key to finding out how this was switched around" Serenade states

"Y-you can't agree with her!" Digital protests "She's insane!"

"You better watch it!" Lock says with a threating tone then looks at Serenade "You were saying?"

"Right, now of course Digital did the actual switch, but I know someone among us has the power...or 'Super High School Level' talent to see it to!"

It can only be you!

"Hammer Head, the Super High School Level Mechanic"

"Me? Wait...oh I get it!" He has a glint in his eye

"He'll be able to identify any strange parts within, one's that shouldn't be in a gaming device" Serenade explains "You have your tools with you, right?"

He lets out a chuckle and twirls a screwdriver and hammer "I've always got these in my toolbelt" He grinned as Serenade passed the device along to him. "Alright...let's see what we have here..." He undo's the screws on the back and lifts it off, exposing all the wires. "Nothing seems out of the ordinary at first glance...keep in mind I've never dismantled one of these before..." He rummages through them until he finds a small chip hidden behind the yellow and green wires. "I wonder..." He hold it up and turns to Moonlight, finger over the power button "Smile" he says before clicking the button.

A bright flash comes from the screen causing everyone to be blinded for a few seconds. As their vision comes into view, they see Moonlight staring at Hammer in some sort of trance.

"Just as Serenade thought" Hammer said "looks like this thing can hypnotise others." He and the rest turn to Digital

"...You...can't be serious guys, come on...are you really gonna believe that blue fucker!?" He pointed at Serenade "he's trying to pin this on me!"

"Hey! I'm not doing any such thing!" Serenade retorts

"Well then I'll just have to let you know something, Serenade! I never set foot into that museum before the murder occurred!" He grins

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-laminate

-Security system

-Glass arrangement

Digital- You've already said that I must have hypnotised Tickery after killing him. So I must have had the spears pre-set right?

Nimbus- This does sound logical

Digital- But the problem is You can't prove I went inside the museum!

You got that wrong!

"Does everyone remember something about Digital that was mentioned on the first day we arrived, something that set him apart from the rest of us?" They all give Serenade a confused look. "Say...Digital, that badge you wear...what's that coating over it?"

"Laminate...why?" he asks

"Because when I was searching amongst the shards at the spears podium, I found a piece of laminate right there on the floor!"

"W-what? T-that can't be true!" Serenade shakes his head and holds up the small laminate "........." He goes silent

"So...is Serenade right?" Olive asks. "Was the killer really Digital Code?"

"If so...who can we trust in here?" Samurai says. "We all were convinced that it was Digital that would always be on our side...and if he's the culprit...then it changes everything..."

It must hurt...to be deceived like this. But I need to show them the monster that Digital really is!

Here's how it happened!

Act 1

This whole thing actually started on day one. The culprit heard the terms of murder and even the punishment. Even though he may have seemed to be helping the rest, he wanted out most of all. He gained the trust of everyone else so that when his crime was committed, nobody would suspect him.

Act 2

The next day, when we all got our 'motives' this fuelled the culprit's ambitions even more than before. So he stood up after watching the video to find the weakest candidate and his victim. Unfortunately that ended up being Gold Coin. So he devised the plan for all the students to split up so he could carry out his plan.

Act 3

The culprit came to the hall of dorms and saw Gold walking down. He had to think fast and broke into the nearest room. Tickery Clock's room. He ransacked the room and found the knife then laid in waiting. As Gold passed by he pounced out and thrust the blade into his back and left the knife as a plug. He reprogrammed the gaming handheld into a hypnosis device and waited for a student to walk by. Tickery was the only one that did.

Act 4

As Tickery transported the body, the culprit began to start the second phase of this plan, he entered the, at that point, empty museum, broke the glass container and stole the spears, but just before. He rearranged the placement of the shard. When picking up the spears however, he shredded the laminated badge he wore. He then went to where Tickery had moved the body. Gold's room. He removed the knife and washed it, then he pinned Gold up with the spears he had retrieved after letting Tickery go...

And the one that pulled it all off...was you! Digital Code!

"..........I....." Digital was left speechless

"Wow...so...it really was Digital?" Wild asks

"Yes, there is no room for doubt..." Serenade confirms

"No...room for doubt?" Digital starts "No room for doubt!? Fucking brilliant! I laugh at your theory!"

"T-theory?" Punch repeats

"Yes! This is so ridiculous! How could I have got past the security system!? It's sensitive to touch!"

Machinegun Talk Battle

Digital- It's so ridiculous
Digital- Go back to your music!
Digital- I'm no killer!
Digital- You've got nothing!
Digital- Wrong, wrong, WRONG!
Digital- You'll be making a mistake!
Digital- It must have been Serenade!

Enough!

Digital- You're saying I got passed the security system, I say I couldn't!

Media Room!

"The media room...it's full of computers, you could get into the school system and turn it off. After all you are the 'Super High School Level Hacker'!"

"I...I....I..." He couldn't refute the claim

"Upupupupu! It seems we have reached a conclusion!" Monokuma speaks "Now it's ballot time! In front of you are sixteen buttons, one for each student. You will cast your votes and majority votes will determine the culprit. Will you be right? Or will you be oh, so wrong!?"

It took a few seconds for everyone to cast their votes but as the last button was pushed a huge slot machine appeared with 'Voting Machine' in red on the top. It had all the students faces, all in colour, aside from Gold who was in black and white. The three dials began to spin quickly for another few seconds before all three stop on Digital's face causing a red 'GUILTY' sign to flash and two bouquets of flowers to pop out the sides.

"Kwahahahahaha! You got it! The one that killed Gold, hypnotised Tickery and stole the spears was none other that Digital Code!" Monokuma announced. "The vote was unanimous! Even Digital voted for himself!"

"W...why did you do it?" Punch asked but only met with silence "Tell us!"

"I...had...to...I HAD TO GET OUT OF HERE!" He yelled out "That video...my parents, my brother...it said...it said they were dead! All of them! You can't blame me for what I did, my brother is only nine!" He pleaded

"Actually Digital..." Serenade started "Monokuma showed me a similar one with my dad and little brother...I know how that could eat away inside you"

"....You were wrong about the whole first day thing...I really wanted to help everyone get out of here, but I lost control on the second day. I thought...I don't know what I was thinking, it all happened so fast. I saw Gold in the hall then those images showed up in my head again...I couldn't bare it any longer and before I realized what I was doing...he was dead...I had to act fast or I would have been caught..." he looks over at Tickery "I'm sorry for getting you involved..." He looks down at the floor "I'm sorry. All of you. I failed..." you could see tears begin to roll down. As the others stood in disbelief

Gold...he didn't want to....he couldn't stop himself...remember that if you're watching...

"Oh Digi..." Wild says pitifully "...It isn't your fault...it's that asshat, Monokuma!" he turns to the bear "This is all your fault!"

"Upupupupu! I had nothing to do with the murder, he did it of his own free will..."

"I did...didn't I?"

"And now...it's punishment time!"

"W...what?" Digital says shakily "P-punishment?" E-execution! "P-please no...no....NOOOOOOO!" Digital pleads "Don't do it! You guys gotta believe I couldn't stop myself, I had no control!" You could see the fear in him from a mile away

"Upupupupu! I have a very special punishment prepared for the 'Super High School Level Hacker' Digital Code!!"

"NO! P-please, no!" he backs away

"Let's get this started, it's Punishment Time!

Day 3: chapter 1

Day 3: The Despair Nightmare

Now that we've got through the first class trail, the second floor of the building has been opened up to us. The staircase was right next to the cafeteria which makes it a short walk...I guess that's good...

"Alright, we'll split up and search!" Beau said taking control. "We'll travel in pairs so that way if one of us dies, we can easily say who it was". She looks over everyone and closes her eyes for a moment. "Alright team one. Moonlight and Zoom. Two. Nimbus and Hammer. Three. Punch and...that one" he gestures to B "Four. Orion and Lock. Five. Samurai and Wild. Six. Olive and Tickery...which leaves Serenade and I"

M-me and Beau...why me!?

"Alright everyone. let's split up!" They walk past her, to the second floor. That leaves Serenade and Beau. Alone. "Alright then...where do you wanna go first? Museum second floor?" She asks him

"Wait...how do you know about a second floor of the museum?"

"Monokuma gave me a private tour last night whilst everyone was asleep, couldn't investigate 'till now though..."

"How'd you manage to convince him to give you that?"

"When you're like me, you can get whatever you want" she got closer to Serenade. "And I mean...anything" she whispered into his ear. She stepped away "now come on...the museum is awesome!" she walks up the stairs.

"Er..." Is that really the same girl I investigated with yesterday? She seems to...nice...

"Well come on!" She said running back and grabbing Serenade's wrist. "I wanna check this out with you!" Serenade gave her a suspicious look.

"Beau...are you feeling okay?" She tilted her head. "You seem...out of sorts..." She giggles

"I'm fine, now come on!" She starts to drag Serenade up the stairs "Like I said, the museum is awesome!"

They walk past a few of the rooms until Beau stops in front of one that says 'Aquarium'. "This is it?" Serenade asks only to be answered with a nod. She opened the door to see blue walls and a huge glass pillar in the middle with many different species of aquatic animals.

"isn't it just...what's the word...?"

"Breath-taking?

"Yeah...come on, get a closer look!" She pulled Serenade over to the tank. The two stood there, just staring into it. "Hey...Serenade...?" Beau turned to him.

"Yeah?"

"It's an amazing sight...right?" Serenade nodded and she grinned. "Then why don't you..." Beau placed a hand on his back "take a closer look!?" She used all her strength to push Serenade head first into the tank.

Everything went black.

Serenade awoke with a yelp. He was panting heavily and sweating like crazy. It was dream...thank Celestia. But it felt so real, he could feel her hand on his back, the pain of hitting against the glass, he was surprised he wasn't unconscious from that.

He looked at the clock. 9:00am, it was the right time. He fixed it. Serenade wasn't surprised when he found the drops of blood on the floor of his room, his deduction from the class trial was right, his room was where the body was hid until Tickery came along. Images of the execution were still flashing through his mind. To think that Monokuma was capable of something like that...no. He shouldn't dwell on it. It was like Beau said, the mutual killings had started and Serenade was on the chopping block because of the newspaper Moonlight and Zoom were creating.

Why did it have to be him? Serenade's never done anything wrong to her and she's plotting a motive for him to get killed.

"...I hate this..." he complained to himself. Obviously he wasn't the only one that wanted out, and today a new floor would be opened and he had to be ready to find some method of exiting.

He got out of bed, got dressed and left his room. Unlike yesterday, there was no Nimbus to throw an accusation at him but...Gold's room door was different. It had an X on it like his picture in the class trial. He didn't deserve what happened, even if he had spoken to Serenade once, he seemed like a good guy and then Digital...no it wasn't Digital's fault either...

It was Monokuma's fault all this happened.

Monokuma was the one that used those videos to force them to kill off one another to see if they were real. They probably weren't real...right?

Serenade continued to the cafeteria, like yesterday. He was last there.

"About time..." Nimbus said "We've been for like half an hour..."

"It was ten minutes!" Olive says back "Don't listen to him, he's just annoyed that he couldn't accuse you yesterday" she was met with a grunt from Nimbus.

"He should be" Hammer commented "I mean...Serenade's the guy that figured everything out in the end..."

"He's right..." Punch admitted

"We could have done it on our own..." Nimbus rebutted.

"Yeah but you'd be to busy thinking up new ways to accuse Serenade!" Punch retorted

"Would all of you just shut up!?" Beau yelled out "Honestly, getting mad at each other isn't going to get us out of here. Nimbus made a mistake, let's leave it at that"

"Always the voice of reason, eh, Beau? Upupupupu!" Monokuma's usual cackle sounded throughout the room as a monitor came down from the celling. "Now let me ask you all something, have any...fun dreams last night?" They all fell silent

"How did you...?" Samurai begun

"Upupupu! So you did! It didn't take long"

"What are you babbling on about?" Wild asked

"You all experience your 'Despair Nightmare's'!"

"Hmm? What is a 'Despair Nightmare'?" Orion asked intrigued.

"I'm glad you asked, a Despair Nightmare is like a vision of your death...except only one is real..."

"S-so" B started "o-one of those dreams....I-is real!?"

"Yep! The question is...which of course...who saw their own future, their own demise!? Who will uncover the dark secret behind the dreams?"

"Secret? What secret?" Nimbus asks

"If I told you, then I would be spoiling the fun of finding out!"

"Whatever...this is total BS, you're supposed to open the next floor of the building to us, right?" Punch says to change the subject

"Oh. That's already open, it opened as soon as Serenade walked through that door!"

"So you were just waiting for us all to gather here?" Wild says

"Yep. Don't want any of you to get ahead of anyone else!" He glanced at Beau as he said that

"Wait a second!" Serenade said suddenly "...Why did you look at Beau when you said that?"

"Eh? I don't know what you mean?" Monokuma rubbed the back of his head

"Monokuma...did you give Beau a tour of the second floor whilst the rest of us were asleep?"

"...Yeah" He simply stated. "So what? She asked, I granted her wish!"

"Why is she getting special treatment!?" Punch said angrily

"Look...you all could have asked as well. He could have said no to me...I guess I caught him in a good mood" Beau explained

"Well it was just after the class trial" Tickery added

"Hey Monokuma, how did you know Digital was the killer anyway?" Serenade asked "I mean you kind of just-"

"What an idiotic question..." Nimbus interrupted

"What?"

"Serenade...Monokuma has security cameras set up everywhere around the school so if there's a murder he knows who the culprit is right away" Olive explained

"O-oh..."

"W-well...t-to be fair Serenade w-was unconscious at the time s-so he had no way of k-knowing" B stutters out Thanks B...at least I have someone I can rely on for the most part...

"Well! I'd best be going now and like I said, the second floor is now available. Go and investigate to your heart's content!" And just like every other time. He was gone without a trace. The 14 students exchanged glances and then filed out the cafeteria to be faced with previously blocked off stairs to their right. Beau stepped in front of them all

"Alright everyone, I propose we split up into seven teams of two" Oh no...

"Is that really a good idea?" Zoom says with a nervous tone "I mean, what if we're paired up with our killer?"

"Y-yes, this reporter agrees!" Moonlight says slightly louder than Zoom

"Oh don't be such babies, you'll be fine! Alright so team one...Zoom and Moonlight. Since they seems so worried" The two seemed okay with their chosen partner "Two...Nimbus and Hammer" the colts nod "Three...Punch and....that one" she gestures to B who replies with a whimper. Bitch. "Four...Orion and Lock"

"Aw...Tickery wanted to be partnered up with Locky!" She complains

"Ugh...Five. Samurai and Wild. Six Tickery and Olive"

"Tickery is okay with this!"

"...which leaves...Serenade and I..." She looks at him.

Oh no....

Day 3: Chapter 2

Me and Beau...c-could my nightmare really be the one...?

The other students had already fled upstairs to investigate. Beau took a few steps closer to Serenade.

"What's up with you?" She asked "You look pale"

"U-uh..." Should I really tell her that she was the killer in my Despair Nightmare? No...best if I don't "J-just feeling a bit nauseous today...that's all"

"Can't blame you...images of his execution are still fresh in everyone's mind...and I guess you did stumble upon Gold's body..." she sounded sympathetic

"I really wish this didn't happen...everyone just picking each other off one-by-one...it's just wrong"

"Well duh! Why do think I used the newspaper, I sure as hell don't want to die!" She said to him bitterly

"So your solution was to sacrifice me!?" She went silent "Beau Love...you are the worse kind of person" He walked past her and up the stairs with her angrily following behind. "Now we just have to-" Serenade cut himself off. At the end of the hallway he saw it. The room he was dreading of existing

Aquarium

"Hmm? Oh yeah that...its really nice if you want to check it out" she said coming up behind Serenade.

"N-no, not really. Doesn't sound that appealing..." He was starting to panic

"C'mon, let's go!" She grabbed his wrist and hauled him to the door. "Are you like scared of water or something? I've never seen somebody so nervous about an aquarium"

"Um...b-bad memories is all it is, really!"

"...Alright" It was hard to tell whether she fell for it or not...."Well...you should put it aside for this, we've got to find a way out of this place!" She opened the door. It was exactly how Serenade had seen it in his dream. Blue walls. The giant square tank that reached to the celling. Beau began to walk around the room.

"You know that this reminds me of the set for this swimwear line I had to model...it was pretty tacky" She said

"Er...right..." Models...such divas "See anything?"

"...No...just a vent" She points up to a metal grating nearer the celling. "Probably leads off into another room..."

"Well it isn't really important if it won't get us out of here..." Serenade commented

"Well duh! I already knew that!" She said crossing her arms

"Well excuse me for pointing something out! At least I'm not talking about some stupid swimwear line!"

"It was not stupid, it was hideous but got me a huge amount of publicity!" The got closer with each insult thrown and then-

Click

And a flash with the two familiar giggles of Zoom and Moonlight

"Aw...couple aren't supposed to fight like that!" Zoom teased the two

"Were you two spying on us!?" Beau accuses

"This reporter remembers hearing loud squabbling sounding throughout the room when she and her photographer entered the room!" Moonlight explains in her...special way

"Why don't you just talk normally!?" Beau says with an annoyed tone in her voice

"This reporter will do that when Ms Love stops being a heinous bitch!"

"What...did you just call me!?" She started to charge but was quickly restrained by Serenade

"Run...just run!" Serenade tells the two. They look at each other and nod. They sprint out the room faster than they entered but not before Zoom stops to say

"One more pic and we'll have enough for our article on you two!" She winks and follows Moonlight.

"Yeah you better run you cowards!" Beau calls after them. "And let go of me you freak!" she elbows Serenade over the stomach. He let's out a yelp and grips his stomach, releasing Beau. "Don't ever touch me again...musicians...what total pervs..." She walked off.

I won't be shocked if you died next...and what does she mean musicians are pervs!?

"Are you coming or not!?" She yelled to him from the door. Serenade sighed

"Coming..." he trailed behind her around the second floor. She stopped at a particular door

"I...don't remember this one being here..." It seemed that this was the only door without a name plate on it. She opened the door slowly...it was a dirty, dank room filled with dust and cobwebs. "Ew! Hasn't Monokuma heard of cleaning!?"

Serenade takes a closer examination "Looks like a supplies closet..."

"What makes you say that?"

"Oh you know just...the freaking ladder, buckets, a hammer and what looks like some paint tins....yeah" Serenade walked around the small room until he stepped on something and a small 'ouch' was heard

"Hey! Watch where you're going man!"

"Hammer? Why are you on the ground?" He helped the mechanic up

"I walked in here and found tools...my instincts kicked in so I started searching for more than just that hammer"

"If you're here...where's Nimbus?" Beau asked

"Oh, him? He said he wanted to investigate on his own so I let him" he gave a smile and folded his arms behind his head

"So you just let him go? Beau put us into pairs for a reason y'know"

"Yeah you totally just broke the whole point of my spur of the moment decision!"

"Have you met the guy? I'm sure he's fine, honestly you guys worry to much!"

"And if he gets killed? What then, smart guy!?" Beau suggests

"Honestly...thinking about everyone individually as a killer or victim, he's more likely to kill. Just like Samurai and Punch. Then there are the others that are more likely to be a victim. Like B, Serenade, sorry man, Lock and Tickery...."

"Well...did you think like that with Digital? Or Gold?" Serenade asked. Hammer just stayed silent.

"Look man...I honestly don't think any more of these stupid killings are gonna happen, alright? I mean...we're friends, we shouldn't be picking each other off one by one in hopes of getting out of this hell hole. Especially when we've got you! You solved the last murder like a boss!" Hammer smirked

"A-anyone could have done it really if they looked at the evidence the right way..."

"No way! You were the one that found the laminate piece, you talked to Tickery, you found out the original crime scene! We need you here man!"

"I...I'm just a musician..."

"Let him think what he wants Hammer Head. You should get back to looking for a way out of here" Beau said to him. Hammer gave a nod and left the storage closet and left the two. "And...as much as I hate to admit it...he's right" Beau looked over at Serenade "You were the one to connect the evidence and use Tickery's testimony to catch the culprit...none of us could have done that...not even me" She quickly realized what she said. "Tell anyone I said that and I'll make you sorry!"

"R-right..." she was good at intimidating others that was for sure.

"Good! Now...where to next?" She asked him

"I'm not sure, this seems like a big floor...which in turn means a high chance of finding somewhere we can use as an exit!"

"Exactly! I like the attitude!" She smiled. Serenade felt a sudden entrancement

"You have a beautiful smile..." He didn't know why he said that, he just seemed to blurt it out. "W-wait, I-"

"I get it a lot...geez never seen someone have such an overreaction on something so small as a compliment..."

"S-sorry...." Beau rolled her eyes at his apologetic attitude.

"Whatever, let's go now..." She left the room and they continued the investigation of the second floor for the rest of the day.

After they all finished up their investigation, they gathered in the cafeteria to report their findings. Beau did a head count.

"Eight, nine, ten, eleven counting me...where's everyone else!?" She asked

"Let's see...Nimbus...Moonlight and Hammer aren't here..." Wild commented looking around the room.

"Moonlight? I thought Zoom was investigating with her" Punch turned to the pink earth pony

"She wanted to investigate by herself..." Zoom said fiddling her camera.

"Just like Nimbus..." Serenade added

"So? That doesn't explain where they are!" Beau responds, annoyed

"W-wait! Y-you don't t-think that..." B started "...O-one of them w-was killed?"

"Not a chance, I'm sure they'll walk through that door soon" Samurai smiles.

"Well...Serenade, Orion, Lock? You three go and look for Nimbus. Olive, Samurai and Tickery can look for Hammer whilst Zoom, Wild and B can look for Moonlight" Beau instructed "Punch and I will stay here in case they come here..."

"You're sending us in threes is because if we find a body...the announcement will be made, right?" Olive asks

"...it's just by the offchance" everyone exchange glances and the selected nine leave to look for the missing three

Serenade looks at the two "Where would he be?" Lock gives a shrug as silent as always...

"Hmm...well let us apply logic to this situation...if you were the 'Super High School Level Ninja' where in the school are you most likely to be?" Orion asks the two

"I'm tempted to say the weapons part of the museum but there are no shurikens..." Serenade jokes

"I believe there was a room labeled 'Dojo' on the second floor...there were a few practice dummies could use them for target practice" Lock suggests

"Seems like an appropriate place to begin..." Orion leads on to the second floor. They followed the direction Lock had given and up in front of the dojo.

"Well... Shall we?" Serenade looked at the others.

Day 3: Chapter 3

The three walked in

"Nimbus...?" Serenade called his name.

There was a cry "Hyah!" A shuriken flew past Serenade's face and dug itself into the practice dummy's head. "Drat...missed" Nimbus grunted

"But you hit the dummy in the brain!" Serenade said to him

"I don't think that, that was his target" Orion looked at Nimbus

"Hai! I was going for that ones fringe" he looks at Serenade with a cocky grin

"I do not recommend barber Nimbus..."

"Where have you been Mr Darkness? We have all gathered in the cafeteria to report back" Orion told him

"I did not realise we had returned, my apologies" he stands up

"Oh it is quite alright"

"You seen quick to accept my apology..."

"Oh as long as you are okay, that is all that matters"

"Oh would you two just get a room already?" Serenade interrupted

"Pardon?" Orion asks him

"Seriously you two are so nice to each other and I can see that glint in Nimbus' eyes...seriously, when's the wedding?" The four went silent

"I ship it" Lock says

"L-Lock! Can you not!?" Nimbus says annoyed. Orion gives a giggle.

"How...adorable" She gives a smile. Nimbus' face goes red and he covers his face with his scarf.

"T...thanks" Serenade smirks. Was this karma? Didn't matter to Serenade.

But then the mood changed drastically

*Ding dong, ding dong*

N-no...this can't be happening...

"A body has been discovered, after a certain amount of time for investigation. We will hold a class trial!"

The tension increased between the four. It hadn't even been a full day since the first class trial and already someone else was dead.

"Hammer...or Moonlight" Orion said the list of possible victim.

"GUYS HELP!!!" There was a yell and Wild ran into the room.

"Wild, what happened!?" Nimbus quickly asked.

"The...the aquarium...hurry!" Without anymore details he ran off. They looked at each other and sprinted after Wild. They turned up to the doors of the aquarium and they paused

"What...what awaits us on the other side of these doors?" Nimbus asked

"I believe the better question to ask is....who?" Orion corrects. They all closed their eyes are barged into the room.

I wasn't expecting to see what I did...but there it was, right in front of our eyes...

The wall of the vent was a waterfall of blood and inside the vent itself was Moonlight Exclusive. One arm out the vent. The ground below had a globe and several of her feathers were on the ground and the centre tank had something written on it.

"O...oh my..." Was all Orion managed to say.

"M...Moonlight...she's dead...." Nimbus barely got out

"We found the blood on the wall, looked up and saw Moonlight..." Wild explains

"Z-zoom went back t-to tell Beau a-and Punch..." B told them

"R-right! This must have hit Zoom hard...those two were best friends" Lock said with concern

"Upupupu! That means more despair for me!" Monokuma cackled from the centre tank.

"Monokuma, get your two-toned shit head outta here!" Wild yelled at him

"Hey, I don't turn up around you without a reason, I have the Monokuma file for ya!" He said to them all as the ElectoIDs flashed

New Ammo: Monokuma File 2 was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

Cause of death was a blunt object to her skull her time of death was around 1:20pm and there are no external injuries...

It was around 2:10 so she had been dead for a while.

"Well good luck, bastards!" And Monkuma vanished

"Well...let's investigate...." Lock says. Serenade was first to move over to the bloody wall. He began to mutter to himself.

"The culprit must have had one heck of a swing to create this much blood..."

New Ammo: Blood wall was loaded into Serenade's ElectoID

He flew up to the body inside the vent "Hmm...Moonlight can hardly fit in here, that means a unicorn and earth pony would have serious trouble fitting inside due to different bone size and structure..."

New Ammo: Vent loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"Her arm is hanging out, probably means that she tried to leave the vent and that is when she got nailed in the head"

New Ammo: Moonlight's Arm loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"Hey! Don't keep the info to yourself!" Wild said to him.

"I can't take any chances, what if one of you guys are the culprit? You'll know information I could use to catch you out" Serenade replies

"Well that makes sense" Orion adds

"Are you serious!? He doesn't trust us!" Wild retorts

"Well I don't that, that is what Mr Stereo meant by that, isn't that right?"

"Right, if I'm positive that you aren't the killer then I can share info with you, simple as that"

"Well....fine" Wild gave in as Serenade came to the ground and walked over the globe

This globe could be the murder weapon. It has blood on and it is a blunt object

New Ammo: Globe was loaded into Serenade's ElectoID

Orion walked up to him. "Not sure if you noticed it, but there seems to be some graffiti on that center tank..." She guides him over to the tank, B standing by it. "The writing is smudged so I cannot make out what it says. Right now it looks I can see...an 'M' and there are four letters...."

"It might be the killer's name" Serenade suggests

"It is not out of the question..."

New Ammo: Smudged writing was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"It's a shame, the tank was so beautiful..." Orion says

"I suppose..."

"It is quite unique in the aspect of it being a square tank as well, which makes the worse...there aren't many centre tanks in an aquarium like this...."

New Ammo: Centre Tank was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"I'm g-going to stay. I n-need to examine t-the body" B tells the two

"Alright, well...I think I'll try to find out where that vent leads to..."

"I will try to find a Geography classroom, if the weapon is that globe then it is worth checking" Orion goes off

"G-good luck in the investigation" B said as Serenade left. There was only one person in the hall. Olive. Orion had already left the area.

"Oh, hiya Serenade!" She greeted "Sorry, was that to cheery? A body was just discovered and all...whose was it?"

"Moonlight's...she was in the vent"

"M-moonlight!? Well in the vent...I can't really do much if she's at that height, I'll never reach...oh well!" Her mood was all over the place.

"Er....yeah...anyway, did you find Hammer?" Serenade asked her

"Hm? Oh, yeah! We did, he's in the storage closet"

"The storage closet? Why?"

"Probably because of the tools...I dunno..."

"By the way, how did you not know who the victim was? We got the Monokuma Files sent to our ElectoIDs"

"Oh is that what that was? I heard a beep, guess that was my ID" she smiled.

"Well, try to get as much information as you can before the class trial"

"Yes sir!" She gave a salute and walked off in some random direction

"Strange girl..." Serenade said to himself.

"HEY 'NADE!!!" There was a yell next to Serenade's ear.

"Ack!" He turned and saw "Tickery...what are you doing?"

"I am looking for ze crime scene! Doth thou know where it is!?" She pointed to Serenade

"Aquarium..."

"Ah ha! Tickery understands now! The killer's identity that is!"

"Huh?"

"Ah so young 'Nade is interested, is he? Very I shall disclose the identity...it was the fish in the tank!" Serenade gave her a blank look. "Tickery promises to prove the guilt of the fish!" She nods and speeds off in the other direction.

"Stranger girl..." Serenade muttered. Well...I should talk to Hammer, his alibi will be important... He headed off to the storage closet. As he entered his attention was drawn to the squirming earth pony in the storage closet vent.

"...Hammer?"

"Huh? 'N-Nade!" Okay how many people are calling me that? "Can you help me out? I'm in a...er...tight spot"

"I noticed" Serenade chuckled. He walked up to his flailing legs "Hold on, I'll pull you out!"

"Alright!" Serenade grabbed Hammer's ankles and started to pull hard. He strained but made to difference "Sorry Hammer, I can't get you loose!"

"Aw...Oh! I know, go get Punch!"

"Why?" Serenade asks him

"She's the 'Super High School Level Fighter' which means she's the strongest out of us all" Hammer pointed out

"Well I suppose...but where is she?"

"Dunno, just look!" After a brief silence, Serenade sighed.

"Alright, be back whenever!" He left the room and paused. Did that just happen...? Where was Serenade supposed to find Punch, and even if he did find her. He was still terrified to talk to her due to the risk of one wrong move and you could get a black eye and a broken nose...still, Hammer did consider him a friend unlike Nimbus, probably Samurai...maybe Lock? There was no real way of telling with him...Beau almost defiantly...she was the killer in his Despair Nightmare...

"Ah...hello Serenade..." A voice came from behind, he turned to be greeted by the brown earth pony. Samurai. "How goes your investigation? I'm not doing so well...." he sighed "I want to help more in the class trial unlike last time where I just stood and watched as you solved everything without breaking a sweat!" His face was beaming in awe.

"R-right..." He wasn't a friend...more like a fan-boy...

"So, those Despair Nightmare's are pretty graphic, eh?"

"Graphic?"

"Yes, you see in mine-"

"WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!!!!" Monokuma screamed, appearing out of nowhere "You can't talk about what happened in your Despair Nightmare, it is forbidden!"

"Forbidden? But there's no rule against it..." Serenade points out

"Huh? Oh, hold on!" The ElectroIDs beep

Talking about the details of a students Despair Nightmare is forbidden and will be punished if they speak of it

"P-punished?!" Samurai stutters out "Just like that?"

"Yep! Just like that! If you guys talk about the Despair Nightmare, the secret behind them will become clear and that is no fun for me!" Monokuma cackled

"Right...you mentioned something about that if I remember" Serenade said

New Ammo: Secret of the Despair Nightmares. Loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"Whelp! I'm off, and remember...I'm always watching..." and then...gone.

"I...I think I need to sit to sit down..." Samurai says shakily as he walks away.

"Poor guy...now...I need to- oof!" Serenade bumped into something. Hard. It was a towering figure, but not just any towering figure. It was Punch...and with the height difference meant Serenade had bumped into her..."P-P-P-Punch?!" He stumbled back. "I'm s-s-so sorry! Please don't hit me!" He pleaded, arms up to shield him.

"...ugh..." She grunted and sighed. "Seriously? Geez, you are the wimpiest guy I have ever met" She said annoyed.

"S-sorry...actually, it's a good thing I bumped into you, you see I...Hammer needs your help. He's stuck in one of the vents and needs you to pull him out" She grinned almost instantly

"You should have spoke up earlier...show me the vent!" She commanded as Serenade simply opened the door beside him. "...Oh..." They walked in to see Hammer, still squirming around in the vent. Punch was thrown into a fit of laughter

"AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! How the hell did you get in this mess?! Actually, doesn't matter! This is priceless!" She laughs

"Is that Punch? Thank Celestia! Do you think you could pull me out?!" Hammer calls out. Punch composers herself. Barely.

"Sure..." She grabs his ankles and within one pull. Hammer is freed. However, he's thrown back into the wall, knocking some of the tools and other various items that were kept here. He looked up to the two standing over him.

"Thanks..." He stood up brushing the dust off his clothes. "I think some paint spilled though..." he points to the red paint leaking out of the tin

"Great work genius..." Punch says

New Ammo: Paint tins were added into Serenade's ElectroID

"Now if you'll excuse me..." She takes her leave

"How did you manage to get in there?" Serenade asks

"I thought I saw something inside so I climbed in to get a better look and well...you know the rest..."

"How long were you in there?"

"Before you arrived...five minutes?"

So he doesn't have an alibi... "So...did you go to the aquarium at any point?"

"Nope...saw a few go in there...like Zoom and Wild, Nimbus, you, Beau, Samurai and Lock...."

"You saw a lot of the others enter"

"Yep, I passed by the room a lot"

Actually...with what he saw, it might prove useful

New Ammo: Hammer's Testimony was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"Alright well...we should get to the investigation, later man!" Hammer left and Serenade decided to head back to the aquarium. This time, there were a few more students in the room. Zoom, Beau and Punch. Wild, Nimbus and B were still there also.

"Ah! Welcome back!" Wild greeted "Gather some useful evidence?"

"Not sure yet..." Serenade simply stated

"...ugh, there is no way I'm getting information out of you, is there?"

"Nope, sorry"

"Nah, I understand...well, I'd better get back to the investigation...I also need to find my hamster, he's been missing the whole day" Wild walked off. Serenade walked up to Zoom.

"How are you...?" He asked her

"...hurting..." she said with the thing Monokuma craved in her tone. Despair. Her best friend had just been murdered by one of the others, it would hurt anyone. "We were so close as well..."

"Close?"

"We almost finished our article for our first newspaper...you know...I should carry on, finish it in her memory. You think that would be a good idea?" She didn't seem sure.

"...I think that it is a brilliant idea" Serenade smiled, even if he had the chance of being killed, he didn't want to see Zoom sad.

"Then I'll do it!" she smiled. She was back to her normal self

New Ammo: Zoom and Moonlight's Newspaper was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"O-oh, S-Serenade, could I t-talk to you?" B called him over.

"Um...what's up?"

"I...I e-examined the uh...the body and I determined the weapon was a flat object...but it seems that her skirt was nibbled at..."

"Nibbled?"

"Like something had chewed on it...and she was hit twice...but not by the same weapon"

"Huh?"

"One of more curved than the other...h-her injuries anyway..."

"Thanks B, I really think that helped"

"R-really?! Ehehehe! I-it feels good to know I helped" She smiled

New Ammo: B's Examination Results was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

*Ding dong, ding dong...*

"Alright guys you know the drill! Investigation time is over, meet at the red door near the cafeteria! The class trial will commence soon!" Monokuma's announcement sounded out through the room.

They all stood outside the red door like last time. In silence. The elevator came up and opened. Monokuma inside.

"Upupupupu! That motive worked better than I thought! You couldn't even go a single day without killing each other! Anyway, I'll be waiting down there for ya bastards! Get ready..." and he disappeared.

"Shall we?" Nimbus spoke, being the first one in the elevator. Followed by everyone else. The doors slides shut and the elevator moves down, just like before...

Get ready for round two...

Class Trial 2: Chapter 1

Once again the elevator grinded to a halt and the doors slid open. There they were, the wooden stands, now with two more portraits added to the circle. Moonlight's and Digital's. Moonlight's was the same as Gold's, a simple red cross of blood. Digital's was different though. It was two one's...was it to represent binary codes?

I guess culprits get special crosses on their portraits... Images of the execution was still fresh in Serenade's mind. Digital just gave in, he seemed....hopeless...hopeless. That's what Monokuma liked to see from them all, no hope.

"Alright, bastards! You know the drill! Take your places and start debatin'!" Monokuma commands. They all slowly remake the circle o podiums. This was a horrid feeling, knowing one of the others killed Moonlight..."Alright here's a brief re-cap of the rules: you guys will debate on various topics to find the culprit in the murder. Then you'll vote when you believe you have found the culprit. If you guess right, the culprit receives punishment...if you're wrong however. Everybody ASIDE from the culprit will be punished. Good luck!"

"Now, before anything else...I'd like to discuss the result of my investigation" Orion spoke

"You were in the geography classroom, right?" Nimbus asked

"Yes, and whilst looking around. I found this" She pulled out a metal rod "It was under the desks, the edges are completely flat..."

"So why are you bringing it up?" Olive said to her

"Well, there would be no reason for this metal rod to just be lying around, now would there?" She explained "I believe this rod might have something to do with the murder..."

New Ammo: Metal Rod was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"Now...I think we need to discuss the murder weapon first..." Beau suggests

"That doesn't seem like the right place to start" Wild agrees

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets:

-Globe

-Metal Rod

-Centre Tank

-B's Examination Result

Zoom- The murder weapon...I wonder what it was...

Punch- Maybe it was That globe?

Hammer- Or it could be the metal rod 'Rion found

Nimbus- Maybe it was something else...

Beau- ...or...there could be two

Agreed!

"I think Beau is right, after all...Moonlight had been struck twice..." Serenade explained

"Twice? Why does that say she got hit with different weapons?" Samurai asks

"Well, I read B's examination...and she found out the two wounds were shaped differently! One was round, and the other was flat"

"Flat and round...maybe both the globe and metal rod were used?" Hammer suggests

"But the metal rod was in the geography room, and not just that, it's clean. I don't think that the rod was used to kill Moonlight..." Beau says back. "It just isn't possible..."

Isn't possible...then what did kill her?

"U-umm...I-if I may?" B speaks up "T-the m-metal rod is to thin to be the m-murder weapon...t-the flat one..."

"How big was it?" Serenade asks her

"E-enough to flatten some of her skull..." she said

"I don't think there was anything like that at the crime scene..." Orion says

"Well...maybe it isn't in crime scene..." Beau suggest

"Dont'cha think we should figure which blow killed her?" Hammer says

"Right..." Nimbus agrees

Non-stop Debate

Evidence bullets

-Blood wall

-Metal rod

-Globe

-B's examination results

-Monokuma File 2

Nimbus- What attack killed...that is our mystery!

Zoom- what it the round...or flat weapon?

Samurai- I don't think there's a way to tell

You got that wrong!

"Well...it could be a long shot, but there is one person that could tell us what weapon killed Moonlight"

"Really? Who would that be?" Nimbus says intrigued

"The very same person that created the Monokuma File. Monokuma himself!"

"Eh? And just why would I tell you that?" Monokuma asks

"Well...er..."

"Upupupu! You think that I'd make it that easy?" he paused "Well sure! I can make one little exception! If you want to know what blow killed Moonlight, it was the curved weapon" he explained

"W-why the heck are you telling us?!" Samurai asked stunned

"It could make this trial a little more...interesting..."

"So...the weapon was rounded" Orion repeats "Does this fact really change anything?"

Actually...it could change the meaning of one piece of evidence...

Of course!

"Orion, this metal rod you found...this might actually change from the fact that it was the round object that killed Moonlight...this could have been the weapon that didn't kill her!"

D-don't hate me for interfering!

They all turned to B "I'm s-sorry Serenade, but l-like I said in my examination, h-her flat wound wasn't the rod..."

"B, this is the only thing that makes sense"

"P-please at least h-hear me out!"

Cross-Swords

Evidence blades

-Blood wall

-Metal Rod

-Globe

B- The m-metal rod is too thin to be the weapon. S-Serenade, you should know this better than a-anyone here. I-it just w-wouldn't make sense! W-why won't you listen? T-the rod I-isn't the weapon!

Serenade- But you don't have any clear basis to say that the rod isn't involved!

B- B-but even so! T-there's no r-reason for the metal rod to be considered to be involved!

I'll cut that claim into pieces!

"What about the blood wall? Even if she was dead for fifty minutes, one wound alone would be enough to make that blood wall! She needed something really damaging to her skull to help create the blood and that wound from the globe wouldn't produce enough blood. The rod...it's made of metal, one good swing and she's a goner!"

"I-I'm sorry!" B apologised

"Wait a second!" Punch interrupted "That first hit didn't kill her though! Why the heck are you saying that was needed to form that blood?!"

"W-well..." If I'm wrong I'll meet the wrong end of Punch's fist "Well...it might not be the metal rod that was needed...more likely it was..."

Of course!

"The globe was the round weapon that killed Moonlight, right?" Serenade asked the rest of them. They responded with nods "Then...that must what helped created the blood wall! Then later it was used to write that message on the centre tank"

"Wait..." Orion says confused "How would that happen? After all...she was dead at that point, correct...?"

"Well...yeah, but-"

"She's right, how does that work?" Wild asks

Oh great...always a problem...someone had to write that message...the question is, who?

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence bullets

-Smudged writing

-Centre tank

-Paint Tin

Hammer- That writing...who the heck wrote it?

Nimbus- It clearly wasn't Moonlight

Zoom- Maybe the killer wrote it...?

Tickery- The fish! The fish!

Lock- Tickery, please.

Nimbus- Maybe there was a third person?

Agreed!

"A third person...would only make sense"

"Of course it does!" Nimbus says smugly

"A third person, why the heck wouldn't they speak up then?" Hammer asks

"I know it sounds unlikely but it is the only explanation, after all, Moonlight couldn't since she was dead, the culprit wouldn't write their own name on the tank to then rub it out-"

"Why would the killer write their own name?" Olive asks

"Well...the killer would have wrote somebody else's name and then that would be that, no reason for it to be rubbed out" Beau answers.

"Exactly..." Serenade says

"Wait, wouldn't that mean this girl is a witness to the murder?" Wild asks

"Yes...so the question is, why isn't the person saying anything?" Beau says

"Maybe they want us to figure it out ourselves" Zoom suggests

"That...is strange to say the least..." Hammer comments "Dude, they should just speak up now if they know who the killer is..."

"My point exactly" Beau speaks back. "And I have a sneaking suspicion on who that might be..."

"Really? Who?" Olive asks her

"...I'm not saying...figure it out yourself..." She says back.

"But-"

"Do not bother, she shan't be speaking the name" Orion cut Olive off. "What we should focus on is why was Moonlight in the vent? That we need to answer..."

She was killed whilst inside the vent...but why was she in there?

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Moonlight's Arm

-Vent

-Globe

-Paint tin

-Smudged writing

Olive- She was in the vent for a reason, right?

Hammer- Obviously, we want to know why!

Zoom- .....I wonder where she came from, Those vents connect the rooms after all

Samurai- That isn't important right now

Olive- Maybe she was spying on somebody!

You got that wrong!

"Moonlight couldn't have been spying on somebody, her arm that was hanging out tells us that much"

"Her arm?" Samurai repeats

"Yes, since it was outside the vent it shows she tried to exit the vent."

"Oh I see...why would she want to do that if she was spying on somebody?" Beau finishes

"Exactly, she couldn't have been spying on somebody, there's no reason for her to be doing that in the first place!"

Now hold on just a second!

They all turn to who had objected.

Zoom Lens. Face with an annoyed expression, focused on Serenade

"Excuse me, Serenade...but are you freaking serious?!" She said to him

"W-what?" Serenade says confused by her anger

"Hello? We were doing a newspaper and that's the whole reason we split up during our investigation!"

"Y-you mean you spilt up to spy on the rest of us?!" Wild says

"That is quite...elaborate for you and her" Orion comments.

"Now Serenade, if you want to actually say that Moonlight wasn't spying on anyone, then prove it!"

Class Trial 2: Chapter 2

So now I have to go up against Zoom?

Cross Swords

Evidence Blades

-Blood Wall

-Metal Rod

-Monokuma File 2

-Vent

Zoom- She must have been spying, that was the whole reason she and I spilt up! We were on a deadline for the newspaper article. That newspaper was really important to Moonlight...

Serenade- Whilst I do understand your reasoning, you still haven't took anything into consideration

Zoom- But...There's no other reason for her to be in the vent!

I'll cut that claim into pieces!

"Actually...she could have been trying to escape her attacker!"

"E-escape her attacker?" Zoom repeated

"Yes, think about this for a minute. The vent is very small, Moonlight barely fit inside it"

"You must be referring to body size and structure, correct?" Orion asked him

"Right, Moonlight is a female Pegasus, Pegasi are naturally smaller and well...Moonlight was pretty much the smallest out of all of us"

"So...the attacker must have been male or a different species...so that rules out"

"Me" Beau cuts Hammer off.

"Right, Beau is the only other one that could have followed her inside, so climbing into the vent would have proved useless" Serenade explained to them. "It may just be one of us...but at least we've shortened the list of suspects..."

"We could shorten it further if we consider who was with their partner the whole time." Beau says "So that also rules out Serenade"

"Olive and Tickery had not split up once during the investigation!" Tickery spoke

"Lock and I did not separate during our search of the second floor" Lock nods in agreement

"And B and I didn't separate either" Punch adds

"So that leaves...Nimbus, Hammer, Wild, Samurai and Zoom..." Serenade says

"Well...we know how this works..." Nimbus says

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence bullets

-Hammer's testimony

-Secret of the Despair Nightmare's

-Vent

Orion- Well? Shall we hear the alibis?

Nimbus- After I spilt from Hammer...I stayed in the dojo the whole time

Olive- I saw Wild enter the storage closet just before the murder

Hammer- I saw a few people enter the aquarium...But nothing seemed off about it

You got that wrong!

"Actually, Hammer, you stated in your testimony that you saw 'Zoom and Wild, Nimbus, me, Beau, Samurai and Lock...' enter the aquarium...but there is something off about one of those people entering the aquarium"

"Oh really? Who would that be exactly?" Orion asks

One person he also should have seen wasn't there...and that means that the person that was suspicious is...
It can only be you!

"Lock Heart, you entered the aquarium by yourself...but why didn't Hammer mention seeing Orion?"

"H-huh?" Lock seemed caught of guard by the question

"Care to tell us?" Serenade asks

"Allow me to answer Mr Heart...you see, we split up during our search, but only for a few minutes. I searched the Chemistry lab and Lock was investigating the aquarium." Orion explained

"So wait...what time was it when you entered?" Nimbus asks Lock

"About...1:25..." He stated

1:25...anything about that seem noteworthy?

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence bullets

-Hammer's testimony

-Monokuma File 2

-Paint tins

Lock- I went to the aquarium at 1:25

Orion- The reason was that we were indecisive about where we should search...so we separated for 5 minutes

Beau- Even so, you shouldn't have spilt up in the first place!

Nimbus- So what about when you went inside the aquarium

Lock- Nothing was wrong when I went there...

You got that wrong!

"Lock, what you said didn't make sense at all. After all, at 1:25, Moonlight was already dead inside the vent!"

"W-what?"

"Yes, the Monokuma File tells us that much" Nimbus adds

"B-but..." Lock seemed helpless

"Locky...you didn't....?" Tickery said with a nervous tone

"No, of course not! I could never kill anyone!" he retorted

"Nice try! It must have been you!" Wild accused

"Not a chance" Orion interjected "Lock and I separated for 5 minutes, and I was in the geography room the entire time, nobody could have come in and took the globe without me noticing them and I can say now...Lock did not enter the room once before we regrouped"

"So...if it wasn't Lock...then who could it have been?" Samurai asks

"I hate this!" Zoom suddenly cried out "We've been going round in circles the whole time! We aren't any closer to finding out who Moonlight's killer is!"

"Wrong" Beau simply says

"H-huh?"

"Wrong, we are actually a lot closer to finding the culprit...now, Orion, you said the globe was still in the geography room from 1:25 to 1:30?"

"Yes, it was still there...why do you ask?"

"...tell them, Serenade" Beau answers

W-what? "Me?"

"Yes you...tell them what it means if the globe was still in the geography room from 1:25 to 1:30"

What does it mean?
Of course!

"If it was still there between 1:25 and 1:30...it couldn't have been used against Moonlight!"

"Oh I see, if she was dead at 1:20 and the globe was there during the crime scene, then it questions what actually killed her..." Orion says

"So....the globe isn't the round weapon?" Hammer asks

"Nope, it must have been something else" Serenade answers "The question is, what?"

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Paint tins

-Centre tank

-Vent

Wild- So now we have to figure out the real murder weapon...

Punch- The round one...what the hell is it?!

Samurai- We've excluded the globe....

Nimbus- Possibly the centre tank in the aquarium?

Hammer- It might not even be at the crime scene

Agreed!

"There is one round object that could be used to kill Moonlight...back in the storage closet there was some paint tins...those could have been used to kill her..."

"You don't sound so sure" Samurai notices

"No, I think, Serenade is right on the money" Beau says "Remember, those buckets of paint had red paint in it...but whose to say that it was actually paint? It could be blood...then by that logic we could question one other thing at the crime scene...isn't that right, Serenade?"

Something else we could question at the crime scene because of red paint tins...
Of course!

"You mean the 'blood' wall, right?"

"Yes" She confirms "If it's red paint...who's to say that the blood wall is real?"

"It would also explain why I didn't see any blood oozing out the vent when I went inside the aquarium..."

"So Locky is innocent! Just like Tickery had predicted!" Tickery held her head high.

"So we're back to not having a suspect?" Wild says

"And we're just gonna believe that the wall is paint and not blood?! Hell no!" Punch says

"Well actually one thing about the body proves this..." Beau refutes

"Huh?"

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence bullets

-Monokuma File 2

Beau- Something about the body...proves that the wall is paint

Punch- Like something like that exists!

B- w-we shouldn't exclude t-the possib-bility

Nimbus- Maybe it was The cause of death...

Hammer- Or maybe The weapon...s

Zoom- Or the body placement?

What the heck is Beau talking about? The thing that proves the wall is painted is...

Beau- Something about the body...Proves that the wall is paint

Agreed!

"I see now...you're talking about the cause of death..."

"Exactly..." Beau confirms

"I said it first though..." Nimbus adds

"Oh Mr Darkness, please, complaining like that is very unbecoming of you" Orion giggles

"M-my apologies...Orion..." He uses his scarf to hide his face like back in the dojo.

"Anyway...getting back on topic, Serenade...and Nimbus, unlike the rest of you knew exactly what I meant, the cause of death was 'blunt force trauma' which produces the most amount of blood when the weapon first makes impact and then doesn't bleed that fast to create the 'bloody' wall at the crime scene. Even if she was dead for fifty minutes..."

"So the blood wall...is really the painted wall!" Tickery smiles

"But where does that actually get us?" Hammer asks

"Closer...much closer...because now we have determined that the culprit entered the storage closet..." Beau folds her arms "And that narrows our suspect list even further"

"Hold on though" Samurai speaks up "what does that mean for the metal rod? Orion found it during the investigation of the but not investigating the second floor..."

"The metal rod? Why are you brining that up of all times, might I ask?" Orion tilted her head

"It's just a thought that occurred to me..."

The metal rod...B says that it isn't the flat weapon...so it shouldn't be relevant to the case...it's quite short as well. Wait...Moonlight was the 'Super High School Level Reporter' And she always carried around one thing

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Moonlight's arm

-Globe

-Metal Rod

Samurai- Sorry to bring it back up...But what is that metal rod?

Beau- Exactly what you said it was...a metal rod...

Samurai- Yes but-

Olive- C'mon, There's no reason to bring it back up

You got that wrong!

"Actually...there is one reason...we still don't know what this metal rod is...or should I say...what it was..."

"What it was?" Olive repeats

The one thing a reporter always has with them...was something I didn't even notice was missing from the crime scene!

Epiphany Anagram

I P O N M O E R C H

I've connected the dots!

Class Trial 2: Chapter 3

"That's right...her reporter microphone was missing from the crime scene..."

"Huh?" Beau eyes Serenade

Riiiight, they can't hear my inner monologue "I just remembered that whenever Moonlight was around, she's always have her microphone...yet...back at the crime scene it was nowhere to be found..."

"Oh my...you don't believe..." Orion starts insinuating "that...this metal rod is part of said microphone, are you?"

"Yes...it would make one more thing clear...she couldn't have been in the geography room"

You can shut your mouth right now!

Punch slammed her fist on the stand "COULDN'T HAVE ENTERED?!!" She yelled over to him. "What kinda bullshit is THAT?! How the hell do you suppose the microphone got in the geography room then?!"

Urk! E-everyone is out to get me in this trial...

Cross-Swords

Evidence blades

-Monokuma File 2

-Metal Rod

-Globe

-Vent

Punch- Don't bullshit me, Serenade! That metal rod ain't the microphone she carried around! If it is, then where is the rest of it?! Without that answer, you can't prove nothing!

Serenade- We don't the whole thing to say that this is Moonlight's microphone though and besides, I said that she couldn't have entered the geography room...it was kind of the reason you objected...

Punch- Well...that's true to! She had to have put it there herself, nobody else could have!

I'll cut that claim into pieces!

"Punch, are you forgetting what we just discussed? Moonlight was already dead when that metal rod turned up in the geography room..."

"H-huh?"

"Have you not been listening to anything that has been said in the last five minutes?" Zoom asks her

"...sorry, what?"

"Ugh...my question was asked...and answered"

"So...now we know that the killer entered the aquarium, storage closet...and now the geography room?" Samurai scratches the back of his head.

"Yes, that's right" Serenade smiles.

"Pfft, impossible" Nimbus scoffs "How could the culprit go to storage closet, aquarium and geography room without being detected?"

"H-huh?"

"Well? What is your answer?"

A way for the culprit to move about without being detected...

Of course!

"The ventilation system"

"The vents?" Nimbus repeats

"Yes, let's say the killer is a Pegasus, they could go through the vents with ease and attack Moonlight, dispose of evidence and most importantly, avoid detection"

"So...you're saying that the killer could fit inside the vent?"

"I suppose I am..."

"Then do you realise who you are indirectly naming as the culprit?"

Who...I'm naming as the culprit...the culprit could fit inside the vent and other than Moonlight...only one other student could have fit inside...

It could only be you!

"Beau...is the only one that could easily travel through the vents..."

Beau sighed and folded her arms "Of course...I'm unable to be the culprit since I was with Serenade the entire time..."

"Exactly..." Serenade bit his lip. The only one that could have done it...was with me the entire time...so there's nobody else left to suspect Serenade let out a yell "There's just no freakin' end to this!" He hit the stand. "Who the hell are we supposed to say is the culprit?!"

"Calm down, Serenade" Beau silenced "There's no reason to get so frustrated on a puzzle with a single piece left" she smirked "Think like this...one of us had a method of transporting the metal rod and the globe throughout the ventilation system...but if I'm the only one that could and I was with you...where could that lead you?"

If Beau is the only one that could go through the vents aside from Moonlight...then...what does that leave? What does it mean...?

Of course!

"An accomplice...the killer had an accomplice!"

"Good work" Beau smirked

"W-what?!" Hammer said taken aback

"A-an accomplice?! Not a chance! They wouldn't benefit from helping with the murder!" Wild says

"You're right...they wouldn't" Serenade looks at him

"I am...?"

"Yes, which means that...the accomplice wasn't one of us!"

"TICKERY HAS LOST THE PLOOOOOOT!!!"

"H-how...?" Lock stuttered

"Simple...one of us must have something that would be small enough to go through the vents and something strong enough to carry the small rod..." Beau explains

"B-but that kind of accomplice...it must be completely out of the question! Surely!" Orion shakes her head in confusion

"Of course not...not when we have 'Super High School Levels' that could use something like that...there are two actually...but the one that couldn't be the killer...is Hammer"

"M-me?"

"Yes, since you're the 'Super High School Level Mechanic' that mean you could build some sort of contraption to transport the metal rod...but I already figured out who the culprit is" Beau smirks

"Y-you did?!" Wild's eyes widen "Who is it?!"

"...I'm not going to say...where's the fun in that?"

"...so...where are we supposed to go at this point?" Zoom asks

"Well...the culprit used the metal rod to-"

"STOOOOOP!!!" B yelled out cutting Hammer off "P-p-please! I insist you l-listen!"

"Ugh, why are you butting in you stupid bitch?!" Beau barked

"I-I'm sorry!" She cowered back

"Hold on...what were you saying, B?" Serenade asked her

"W-why haven't you been l-listening to me?"

"What do you mean?"

"I-I keep telling you all...t-the metal rod isn't the f-flat weapon!"

"It isn't?" Punch tilts her head

"N-no! It's to t-thin!"

"Thin..." Dammit! I forgot about that!

"So now we have to figure out the flat weapon..." Beau says

"Right...well there is a limit on how many flat objects could have been used seeing the size of the wound" Samurai adds

"Well...we know where this is going" Zoom sighed

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence bullets

-Metal rod

-Vent

-Centre Tank

-Globe

Samurai- The murder weapon....had to be rather wide

Wild- at least that limits the things that could have been used as the flat weapon

Zoom- but We still have no idea on what it was

You got that wrong!

"Zoom, there is one thing that could be used as the flat weapon, one we overlooked from the start, the centre tank"

"The tank?" Zoom questioned "Why the tank?"

"Because the centre tank is a square tank, and considering it's size, it's more than enough to be the flat weapon with the right force"

"S-so...the tank is the weapon?" Wild says

"It must be...and actually we come back to question somebody again when we think about this!" Serenade says

It can only be you!

"Lock Heart"

"M-me again?!"

"You went into the aquarium at 1:25 and you saw nothing out of the ordinary...but that isn't true...because the tank should have had blood on it!"

"N-nrg!" He grunted

"L-Lock...?" Olive said worried. Lock didn't say anything.

"Locky...please..."Tickery pleaded

"I'm....not....the killer...." He finally said

"Huh?" Serenade raised an eyebrow

"It...wasn't me...It wasn't me! It wasn't me, it wasn't me, it wasn't me, IT WASN'T MEEEE!!!!" He broke down from pressure being put onto him.

"You're right...you aren't the killer" Beau agreed

"H-huh?"

"But....you're something else aren't you?" Lock paused at what she was saying

"...what are saying?"

"More importantly, what are you not saying?" she responded

Lock isn't the culprit...but something else...? What is she talking about...?

Of course!

"Lock is the witness we've mentioned before isn't he?"

"W-witness?" Lock repeated

"Yes, exactly, Lock didn't have the kind of accomplice that could transport the metal rod and he couldn't retrieve the globe either so that must mean that Lock Heart...is the secret witness to the murder!" Beau explained

"....hehe....yep, you're right" He admitted "I saw the culprit leave the scene and then I went in there myself..."

"W-what?!" Wild stood back

"W-who is it Lock?! Who killed Moonlight?!" Zoom asked

"...I shouldn't have to say...I left a clue after all...."

A clue...oh right...that

Of course!

"The smudged writing was left my Lock...well the writing anyway..."

"Then the killer came along and destroyed the only clue we had to finding them" Punch added

"Well...most of it..." Serenade said back "One letter was left"

"The capital 'M'" Orion says

"Then the other three letters" Samurai scratches the back of his head as he says that.

"So now we just figure out what those letters stand for and we have the culprit" Nimbus says

"Exactly...ugh, but whose name could it be?" Hammer says confused

So it comes down to this part of the trial again, making the accusation, the name of the culprit was rubbed out most of the way, three letters out of the four are unreadable and all that is left is a capital 'M'....so that means the culprit is...

"By that face, I'd say, Serenade has figured it out" Beau smirks

"Yes...I think so...the culprit...the one that killed Moonlight...that was..."

It can only be you!

Author's Note

Alright guys, who do you think is the culprit?

Class Trial 2: Chapter 4

"Wild Beast...you're the jackass that killed Moonlight!"

"W-w-w-w-w-WHAT?!" He stuttered, startled by Serenade's accusation

"That name on the centre tank, it says 'Wild'!"

"B-but, Mr Stereo! It's a capital 'M' on the tank!" Orion doubts his claim

"No, it can't be an 'M', none of our names start with an M, which means the letter that it actually is...is a 'W'"

"G-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g" Wild sounds out

"What is he saying?" Punch puts her hands on her hips

"FOR CELESTIA'S SAKE NO!!!!!!" He gave an outburst "M-M-M-ME?! THE CULPRIT?! NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!!!"

"Don't try to deny it! Lock saw you leave the aquarium right after the murder!"

"HAHAHAHAHA!" He let out an insane laugh "I believe you are mistaken, Serenade, Lock's word alone can't prove anything! I want evidence that I was in the aquarium! For all you know, he could have killed Moonlight and wrote my name on the tank to frame me!"

"H-hey! I did no such thing!"

"SHUT IT, MUTE!" Wild retorted

"M-mute?!"

And so begins...the downfall of another

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Newspaper Article

-Secret of the Despair Nightmares

-Hammer's Testimony

-Globe

-Vent

Wild- I ain't the killer!

Zoom- But the question is, can you actually prove it?

Nimbus- without sufficient evidence, you cannot be called 'innocent'

Wild- Well the same goes for all of you!

Beau- oh yes, throwing insults at us is totally going to make us believe You didn't kill Moonlight

Wild- How could I kill her...If I didn't even enter the fucking aquarium?!

You got that wrong!

"No, you did go into the aquarium, both Lock and Hammer saw you!"

"LIES, LIES, LIES, LIES!"

"Naw man, I'm sure I saw you go in there" Hammer said

"Well your a fucking retard then! I never went in there!"

"This...is a hidden side that I would not expect from you, Wild" Samurai looks directly at Wild

"Zip it! Or I swear I'll beat the shit outta you!"

"Is that a challenge?" Samurai reached back for his practice sword

"Easy guys" Hammer interrupted the two.

"W-well....what about Zoom?! Did you ever consider her as the culprit?!"

"W-what?!" Zoom stuttered out

"Why would Zoom kill Moonlight? They were best friends!" Serenade argued

"Well who the fuck knows why people kill?! Maybe she was the killer in her Despair Nightmare or some shit like that!"

I know Zoom isn't the culprit...I just have to disprove that theory

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence bullets

-Newspaper Article

-The secret of the Despair Nightmares

-Hammer's testimony

Zoom- Don't try and pin this on me! I'm not the culprit!

Wild- Bull! You must have killed her!

Zoom- Why is that?!

Wild- You must have had some motive!

You got that wrong!

"Actually there's no way Zoom would want to kill Moonlight, after all, they were working on that newspaper together"

"Exactly! Don't go around accusing me with no basis, it just makes you look more like the culprit!" Zoom spat at Wild

"N...nrg..."

"So now we come full circle, and in this case, back to Wild" Orion says "Care to elaborate on why you are not the culprit?"

"Why...I'm not....the culprit? Sure....why not? That way...I'll show how fucking wrong you are, Serenade!"

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence bullets

-The secret of the Despair Nightmares

-Vent

-Globe

-Smudged writing

Wild- Let's play a fun game called: Wild is not the culprit

Nimbus- We have no time for stalling

Orion- We just need a reason on why you aren't the culprit. Is it that...You don't have a motive?

You got that wrong!

"No, one motive exists, for all of us technically. The Despair Nightmares that we experienced. If Moonlight is Wild's killer...that gives perfect motive to kill her!"

"Tch! D-don't be ridiculous"

"Umm...whilst we're on the subject-" Orion starts

"Remember! You aren't allowed to talk about the details of your Despair Nightmare ever since that rule was applied!" Monokuma interrupts

"Yes, that is true..." Beau bites her lip "So we can't actually say that the Despair Nightmare is the motive to kill"

"B-Beau?!" Serenade said in disbelief

"You bet it isn't!" Wild smirked "What now Serenade? Your argument holds no merit!"

"I didn't say that" Beau retorts

"H-huh?"

"Serenade still has a strong argument, we just can't say that the Despair Nightmare is the reason you killed Moonlight"

"Dammit! I didn't kill her!"

"You did, didn't I already say that I figured out the culprit?" Beau smiles

"Y-you...bitch"

"Now Serenade...could you continue on what you were saying?"

"Right...there is evidence to suggest that you're the culprit, Wild"

"Bullshit! I'm not the culprit!"

"But there is still no sufficient evidence to say that!" Nimbus argues

"And again I say, it's the same for me being the culprit!"

Wild is strong spirited, he isn't going to admit it easily...so either I find something hard-hitting or keep piling the evidence on

"Well, we should start on this 'accomplice' that Wild had" Olive suggests

"Ha! Is if one exists!"

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence bullets

-Hammer's Testimony

-Vent

-Metal Rod

B- T-the culprit h-has an accomplice...That could f-fit in the vents...and be strong enough to carry t-the m-metal rod

Orion- So the obvious question is...did Mr Beast have something like that at his disposal?

Punch- Could you imagine that someone might see it in the vents?

Agreed!

Punch seemed genuinely shocked by that outburst "R-really? Someone saw it?" Wild watched intently at Serenade as Punch spoke

"Right...Hammer, you remember when you got stuck in the vent?"

"Uh...yeah? What about it?"

"Do you remember exactly why to tried to fit inside?"

"Hmm..." Hammer thought for a second "I think....I think I saw something moving inside and then I climbed in to get a better look..."

"And you did see something...and whatever it was...was Wild's accomplice to the murder!"

"W-whoa? For real? I saw something case-breaking?!"

"You wanna break a case? Tickery saw a briefcase in one of the rooms on the second floor if you want to smash that with one of your hammers!" Tickery giggled

"Tickery...'case-breaking' is an expression, not a literal term" Olive explained to her

"Oh...well then that's kinda boring!"

"A-anyway, whatever Hammer saw moving around in the vent had to be what Wild sent to transport the metal rod!"

"Hell no! What the hell could I use to travel around the vents?!" Wild interrupted

Actually...that's a rather easy question to answer, after all, Wild already told me the answer to that question

Of course!

"Wild, you said you lost your pet hamster somewhere today"

"G-grnk!"

"If I'm right...the place you lost the hamster in...was the ventilation system!"

"You shut your fat ass mouth with your half-ass arguments and half-ass logic!"

"Serenade's logic is anything but half-assed" Beau tells him

"Excuse me?! EXCUSE ME?!!!"

"Serenade, you must have some basis for saying it was Wild's hamster that acted as Wild's 'accomplice', correct?"

She knows me so well...yes that evidence that was said to me...

Of course!

"B's examination results showed that Moonlight's skirt had been chewed on by something...I bet you it was Wild's hamster!"

"W-well...there could be other explanations..." Hammer blushed

"Shut up before I shut your mouth for you!" Punch cracks her knuckles

"S-sorry!"

"Well...he isn't completely incompetent for thinking that..."

"Mr Darkness! I expect better of you!" Orion scolded

"Urk! M-my apologies, Orion..."

These two need to get a room

"Okay, leaving any perverted thoughts those two are thinking behind" Beau looks back and forth between Hammer and Nimbus "I have to say, a hamster, if trained right could do the task and since Wild is the 'Super High School Level Animal Tamer'-"

"Hold up!" Wild said quickly "Just cause you think it's MY hamster automatically makes me the culprit?! Anyone here could have stolen poor Gideon and used him..." Wild's ears drooped as he said that.

Well...I'd hate to admit but, he's got a point...

"No...Wild is most defiantly the one that used the hamster" Beau states

"W-why...? WHY THE HELL IS IT ME?!" Wild was on the verge of breakdown.

"Then I guess it's time for it all to be explained...isn't that right Serenade?"

"Y.....yes...this needs to be finished..."

Here's is how it happened!

Act 1

Moonlight was in the aquarium, investigating after she had split up from Zoom. The culprit, who was also investigating after he split up from his investigation partner walked in whilst she was there. Moonlight, was most likely the killer in the culprit's Despair Nightmare making him extremely wary around her. It was in seconds, his mind started booting up realizing that he could stop her from attempting to kill him so he decided he wouldn't let her get the chance.

Act 2

The culprit invited Moonlight to look at the fish in the centre tank which was Moonlight's first mistake. When she let her guard down, the culprit grabbed the back of Moonlight's head and smashed her head against the centre tank which became the flat weapon in this case. But Moonlight wasn't dead yet.

Act 3

Moonlight, weakly got up and attempted to get away from the culprit but he must have been blocking off the exit. That's when she noticed the vent up high on the wall and tried to make her escape so the culprit had to act fast. He left the aquarium and went to the storage closet and grabbed one of the paint tins but not without being seen by Hammer who was walking by.

Act 4

When he entered, he saw that Moonlight was already about to make her escape, he flew up in a rush and swung the newly acquired paint tin which ended Moonlight's life. The culprit proceeded to use the red paint in the tin to create the 'blood wall' effect. Then he decided to alter the crime scene even further when he noticed that he must have knocked Moonlight's microphone out of her possession to confuse us on the flat weapon, he broke off the top and had a certain 'accomplice' carry away the metal rod. Then he went to do his part. Replace the round weapon.

Act 5

When the culprit left the crime scene, he was saw by a passer-by in the hallway, Lock. When Lock went inside, he saw what the culprit had done and attempted to show who was the guilty party among us by writing his name on the centre tank and before the culprit could find him, he ran out of the aquarium and met up with his investigation partner, Orion.

Act 6

The culprit, after Orion left the geography room, snuck in and grabbed the globe inside and ran back into the aquarium. He cover the globe in either the blood or paint and when he turned he saw that someone had came along and wrote his name on the centre tank. That's when the culprit acted fast, only rubbing away three letters, thinking he could blame Zoom for the crime later. Meanwhile in the vents, the culprit's accomplice, the hamster was making its way through the vents and ended up in the geography room, leaving the metal rod inside the room and going back to the culprit but not before being seen by Hammer who got stuck in the vent. When the hamster got back however, instead of remaining undetected, he chewed on Moonlight's skirt which ended up being the reason for the culprits downfall.

And the one that put this whole thing together could only be you! Wild Beast!

"And that's how it happened, isn't it, Wild?"

"He...hehehehehehe..." Wild grinned "IT'S NOT OVER UNTIL I SAY IT'S OVER!!!"

"Y-you serious man?" Hammer scratched his head

"You haven't proved anything! You haven't proved my hamster was the thing that was in the vents yet! Without that you can't convict me of murdering Moonlight!"

Machinegun Talk Battle

Wild- Where's the proof?
Wild- You have no proof!
Wild- You have no case!
Wild- I...I couldn't kill her...
Wild- Just because I have a hamster?!
Wild- You're an idiot!
Wild- I hate you!

Enough!

Wild- You can't prove my hamster was in the vents!

Shedding fur!

"It's common knowledge that if there's one thing certain animals do a lot, it's shedding their fur or skin, if there are hamster shedding in the vents, then that proves your hamster was in there!"

"N...no..." Wild looked down at the ground

"Upupupupu! It seems we have reached a conclusion!" Monokuma speaks "Now it's ballot time! In front of you are sixteen buttons, one for each student. You will cast your votes and majority votes will determine the culprit. Will you be right? Or will you be oh, so wrong!? What's it gonna be? What is it gonna be?!"

As the last button was pushed the huge slot machine appeared with 'Voting Machine' in red on the top. The three dials began to spin quickly for another few seconds before all three stop on Wild's face causing a red 'GUILTY' sign to flash and two bouquets of flowers to pop out the sides.

"Kwahahahaha! Twice in a row, amigo! The one that brutally killed Moonlight Exclusive was none other than Wild Beast!"

"H-hold on a moment" Orion interrupted "Could we keep the trial going a little longer?"

Class Trial 2: Chapter 5

"Orion, is something wrong?" Serenade asks

"Well...this trial cannot be considered 'over' if we do not clear up one more thing. The secret of the Despair Nightmares"

W-what?

"How can this not be over?! We already voted! Wild is the culprit!" Zoom said

"Yeah..." Wild said guiltily

"Even so...without knowing this last part of the case...I refuse to consider this to be a case closed!"

"Actually the briefcase was open! Hammer? Do you still wanna break-?"

"Tickery, please" Olive said

The secret of the Despair Nightmares....it was never established....

"The reason it was never established is because Monokuma said we weren't allowed to talk about or else we'd be punished...and that rule was enforced during the investigation...but what about before it...?" Orion suggests

"Before it? What the heck ya' talkin' about?" Hammer asks

"Well...if one of us told another about that before the investigation...they could speak about that one"

"H-huh?" Monokuma tilts his head

"You're rule says we can't discuss the details of our own, but it doesn't say anything about discussing another students!"

"And besides...one of us here can get past that rule now" Serenade adds

"Oh, truly?" Orion giggles at the suggestion

One of us can...and that person is...

It can only be you!

"Wild, you could tell us what happened in your Despair Nightmare, the punishment wouldn't matter to you at this point"

"...alright...I'll tell you how it went down..."

"W-what?!" Monokuma said startled "...oh what do I care? I'd probably told you it after this case was over"

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence bullets

-The secret of the Despair Nightmares

Wild- Well...basically, in my Despair Nightmare, I met with Moonlight in the aquarium. We talked for a bit, in front of the centre tank. Then she grabbed the back of my head...and smashed me against the tank.

Serenade- W-wait what?!

Wild- Is something wrong with that?

Serenade- N-no!

Orion- Oddly though...that sounds familiar

Orion said something there...exactly what I was thinking to!

Wild- Well...basically, in my Despair Nightmare

You got that wrong!

"Wild...I can't speak very well but try to figure out what Orion said 'that sounds familiar'...?"

"Umm...uh...w-wait...are you trying to say that, that's exactly what happened in yours?!"

"I'm not saying anything of the sort" Serenade lied

"Hmm...well, if that is what you're saying...then...what about the rest of you?"

"We can't say anything" Beau winked to signal him

"Hmm...well that's defiantly weird...if we all had the same situation in our dream...what the heck is that supposed to mean?" Wild says

We all had the same thing happen...what the hell is going on?

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence bullets

-The secret of the Despair Nightmare

-Newspaper Article

-Centre Tank

Wild- If we all had the same Despair Nightmare...what the hell is that supposed to mean?!

Orion- Of course, the rest of us cannot speak about ours which complicates things

Lock- I wonder if it has something to do with the secret?

Agreed

"I was actually thinking the same thing because...Wild? A little help?"

"Um...you...you're thinking...uh...wait, if we all had the same situation, it could mean all them are linked together"

"Upupupupu...pu?" Monokuma stops laughing "That an interesting little theory you've built there!"

"Well, is it right?" Serenade asked

"KEAHAHAHAH! If I told you that, where's the fun?"

"But you were happy to share information before?" Beau said

"Well, I felt a sudden surge of generosity so you actually just got lucky"

"Generosity my ass! There's got to be a connection!" Wild retorted

Right...there is a connection between them but, I can't say what it is unless I want to be punished...

Of course!

"You know...that centre tank was rather interesting, wouldn't you say everyone?" they all looked at Serenade "I mean...to think that Wild's supposedly unique Despair Nightmare had that as a weapon..."

"The connection is the centre tank?" Wild asked Serenade gave a blank expression but was still able to convey a 'yes' to him. "Man, my head hurts from all this thinking and logic stuff..."

This guy killed Moonlight?

"B-but where does that l-l-leave us?" B asked

The Despair Nightmare...it was Monokuma's motive with some secret to it...what kind of secret could it be that he wants to keep so badly...maybe it's so bad...it would stop becoming a motive

"So, if the centre tank is the connection...then what does that mean?" Wild says

Wait...what was the rule again? 'Students are not allowed to discuss their own Despair Nightmare...I wonder...if Moonlight talked about her Despair Nightmare, it would have to be before the murder, before the rule was made and thinking about it carefully. There was only one person here she could trust enough to tell

It could only be you!

"The rule says we aren't allowed to talk about our own Despair Nightmare, right?"

"Yes, that was brought up a few minutes prior" Orion replied

"Well...what is Moonlight told someone about her Despair Nightmare?"

"But if she did that, Monokuma would have punished her and we would not be having this trial" Nimbus retorted

"Yes but that rule was implemented before the murder. Which means...Moonlight could speak about her Despair Nightmare without any worries! Isn't that right, Zoom?"

"H-huh?"

"You and Moonlight were best friends! It would only make sense if she told you about her nightmare!"

"B-but...I can't talk about it"

"About your own"

"My own?"

"Have you not been listening?" Beau asks her "The rule doesn't say we can't talk about another students nightmare, it was stated a few times as well"

"S-sorry...I was just...focused on other things..."

She must be talking about Moonlight...and the fact that Wild is the killer...

"Alright...I'll tell you" she takes a deep breath "Moonlight entered the aquarium with another student, who wanted to look at the fish with her. As they watched, that student grabbed the back of Moonlight's head and smashed her against the glass killing her instantly...and the one that did that was...Wild..."

"Y-yes that was established that one nightmare would happen, her fate was sealed from the beginning" Orion commented

What Zoom just said...is there a problem...?

"Hold on a second....there's a gaping hole in what Zoom just told us!"

"H-huh?" Zoom stuttered

"So you took notice of that incorrect detail as well..." Beau smirked "Point it out for us, would you?"

What Zoom told us about Moonlight's nightmare contradicts with something in the evidence
Of course!

"B has clearly said that it took two strikes to kill her and Wild even admitted so himself the secret of Despair Nightmares have something to do with the death!"

"And since everybody's nightmare is of the same circumstances...what would that mean?" Beau asks

"That is a good question..." Olive adds

"I fear..." Lock bites his nail "That it's a horrible truth...."

A horrible truth....that lies within that contradiction... Serenade eyes widened Shit, I-it couldn't be...

"That truth....couldn't be..." Serenade grip tightened on his stand. "I don't want to say it..."

"Serenade...I'm not going to say it...so you have to" Beau folds her arms

"P-please..." Why the hell is she putting the pressure on me?!

"Tell them..."

"The secret to Despair Nightmares is...."
Of course!

"They're all...fake"

There's a silence that surrounds everyone. Nobody moves, nobody makes a sound. Paralyzed from fear of it being true. Apart from one person.

"Correct..." Beau says, unfazed by it.

"W...what...?" Wild looked pale "N....no...."

"The murder happened...for nothing..." Beau looked into Wild's eyes as she said it.

"Upupupupu...." Monokuma stood up "Correctamondo! The secret of it all is that the Despair Nightmares are fakes I created with...!" He pulled a small box "My Monokuma Dream Machine MK 3"

"Fuck....FUCK!!!" Wild slammed down on the stand "YOU'RE LYING! Y-YOU HAVE TO BE!!" He looked up, tears clearly forming. The rest refusing to look at him.

"Upupupupu! Well it's been long enough now! You know it's finally time for the main event!"

"N...no..." Wild stuttered "Y-you guys! Help me! I was manipulated! I was used! Don't I get a case?!"

"Nope! You took a student's life and was found out! Now here we go!"

"W-wait! Can I say one little thing?"

"Hmmmm?" Monokuma tilted his head

"....Zoom...?" The pink earth pony was averting her gaze from everyone "I know you'll never forgive me for what I did to Moonlight...but I'm so sorry...and can you do me a favour?" no response "Take care of Gideon for me....Moonlight loved the little guy...." Zoom paused as she looked over to Wild

"I....I promise..." she said half-sobbing

"Thank you..."

"Alrightly then! Here we go! Time for the main event! I've prepared something special for the 'Super High School Level Animal Tamer' Wild Beast! And now....IT'S PUNISHMENT TIME!!!!!"

Class Trial 2: Execution

The big red button raised from the ground and with his small gavel, Monokuma gave it a tap.

Game Over!
Wild Beast is guilty!
Commencing execution!

The monitor flashes on to see Wild in the middle of a stadium filled with Monokuma's as an audience, Wild is holding a red flag.

Matador Manslaughter

A bull breaks out of a cage with another Monokuma riding on top. As soon as it sees the red flag held by Wild it starts to charge. He smoothly dodges out of the way, he feels some confidence within him grow until another bull is released. His movements become reckless as he tries to dodge the oncoming, bloodthirsty animals, Wild's fear grew. One after another, the cycle continues, bull, dodge, bull, dodge until all surround him in a circle and charge right at him.

"This is the end..." Wild gives a weak smile and looks at the monitor, to everyone in the trial room. The bulls all charge at once, slaming into him and crushing Wild in between and in the audience you can see a small hamster watching as the blood pours out in all of the directions from between the bulls...

Back in the courtroom everyone had that eerie atmosphere that they recognised from the last execution.

"Dammit...Wild was a good ally to us..." Hammer said

"Why the hell did this have to happen...?" Olive asked

"Upupupu! That was EXCITING, aren't you excited?!" Monokuma jumped "Oh and also, for madam Lens..." he pulled a lever and the hamster that Wild had cherished dropped onto her shoulder however unlike last time this happened. She didn't scream, she just looked at it as it looked back.

"We'll be okay..." She says turning to the others "Wild's spirit lives on inside the rest of us, just like the others: Digital, Gold...Moonlight" it looked painful to say her name. "We can push through this! We can fight off everything that comes in our way as long as we work together!"

Zoom... "You're right" Serenade admitted.

"Of course I'm right" She smirks "So what do you say we go back now...we...we have a lot to think about tomorrow." The others nod in agreement as they head to the elevator and head back to the school floors

"It's a shame..." Nimbus says whilst in the elevator "He was deceived, he should have been able to get out of that....it was Monokuma's fault in the end, wasn't it?"

"Yep..." Orion agrees as everyone is put into a remorseful silence once more.

Back in the dorms, just before Serenade opened his door to enter his room, he feels a hand on his shoulder. Swirving around he comes face-to-face with Beau

"You were strong back there" She compliments

"Huh?"

"It must have hurt to say the truth, the truth isn't always pretty, even I couldn't have said it so I'm glad you did..." She leaned in kissed his cheek. "That was for solving two murders in a row..." she whispered in his ear before walking away. Leaving Serenade, blushing at what just happened.

How the hell am I supposed to understand what goes on in her mind? He shrugs before entering his room without taking notice of the one that saw it all.

B Positive.

Day 4: Chapter 1

Day 4: The new floor

Serenade did, what became: his usual routine after the Monokuma Announcement. Get up, get dressed and head to the cafeteria. He heard something resembling argument inside and upon entering he saw Beau yelling at B who was trembling with Hammer, Olive, Lock and Orion watching the two.

"You freakin' weirdo! Is something you usually do?! Go around, eavesdropping on other peoples conversations?!"

"I'm s-s-s-sorry!" B cringed

"What the heck is going on?!" Serenade said shifting the attention towards him. Beau shot him a glare.

"Little miss shy-shit was eavesdropping on us last night when I was talking to you outside your room!"

"I w-w-w-was only walking to m-m-my room! I s-s-swear!" B protested nervously.

"Yeah right! Like I'd ever believe you!"

"T-there's no stoppin' this, dude!" Hammer tells him "They've been at for like five minutes now!"

"Serenade! You seriously can't be okay with this!" Beau says to him

"Well....if B was just going to her room, there's no reason to get mad at her" Serenade says to her

"...you know what?" Beau's eye twitches "Fine" She sits down at the centre table.

We all sat in silence until the rest of the students showed up

"Alright, so what's the plan for today?" Samurai asks

"We should start by sharing the results of our investigation of the second floor from yesterday" Serenade suggests

"Well" Nimbus starts "There's a dojo that has practice dummies, practice swords, you name it"

"Pfft!" Samurai scoffs "Even the like's of Hope's Peak couldn't match the skill of my practice sword!"

"I don't think that has anything to do with the second floor!" Beau yells at him

"Well..." Olive scratches her head "It isn't that big but...there's a physics lab that have a few machines inside, there was this huge one in the centre but I'm not sure what it was for..."

"Obviously, it needs no introduction" Orion says "But the geography room had a few tables with textbooks set out like they were prepared for a class. They even looked they were used recently since there was no dust on them"

"Weird" Hammer simply states "Oh! It's my turn! There was a storage closet filled these awesome tools so now I've totally upgraded my utility!" he twirls a drill and a screwdriver.

"U-umm...w-well, it isn't on the second floor but just down the hall next to here. A s-storage room filled with f-food and a l-laundry room that have p-personal lockers for each of us..." B says

"Is that everything?" Zoom asks without being given a response "Well, the third floor to the building should be open now so let's head up!" Everyone nodded and headed up to the newly opened third floor. They scattered around to search.

I wonder what kind of place this floor is Serenade walked along the hallway to one of the doors. It was an ordinary looking art room. "Well that's pretty boring..." He looked around, canvases, paints, brushes, colouring pencils, sketching pencils. Then his eyes stopped at something laying on the floor. A photo. What the heck is this doing here? He picked it up and was instantly hit with shock. It was Gold, Wild and Moonlight in the very room that Serenade was in. Smiling and the huge difference was the windows. Unlike everywhere in the school, these windows didn't have iron plates covering them. So did that mean that this was taken somewhere else?

"ACK?! Give that back right now!" Monokuma burst out of nowhere, snatching the photo from Serenade's hand

"What the heck is that?!"

"Hmm? It's a photo, duh!"

"No! Why are Moonlight, Wild and Gold all there, smiling and with none of these iron plates on the windows?!"

"Because somebody took a photo when this was happening"

"That can't be true! I bet it's a fake!"

"Upupupu! Nope! Not a fake! This photo is as real as real can be!"

"W...what...?" Serenade said stunned

"If you don't believe me then alright, that's your choice but seriously, I have GOT to make sure I don't drop these!" And then he vanishes, leaving a confused Serenade standing in the middle of the classroom. He shook his head and left the room to continue his investigation. A room at the end of one the halls, next to the blocked off stairs to the fourth floor was were two changing rooms. One boy and one girls.Olive, Tickery, and Samurai were already there.

"Serenade! This floor has a pool! A POOL!" Tickery jumps joyfully.

"We need to use our ElectroIDs to open the lock and it doesn't seem like it will work on the other room" Samurai tells him "Which...I suppose would only makes sense..."

"We're thinking of going for a swim later if you wanna come with us!" Olive smiles

"W-well, I'm not a huge swimmer, but maybe..."

"Y-you'll honestly hang out with us in the pool later?!" Samurai's eyes spark

"S-sure..."

"AWESOME!" As Samurai says that, the monitor in the room flashes on

"Ahem! I'd just like to say something about the changing room doors to everyone. Since I like to keep things less than M for mature, I've installed the big Gatling gun on the ceiling in case a boy tries to get in the girls room or vice versa and also! You have to enter one at a time and you can't lend your ElectroID to another student...in fact, I should make that a rule now!"

The ElectroIDs flashed onto the rules section:

8. The act of lending your ElectroID to another student is strictly prohibited and will result in punishment for both students

"Wait...where did that Despair Nightmare rule go?" Tickery asked

"I guess that since we now know the secret, that rule isn't needed anymore..." Olive says.

"Well...I'm gonna check out the rest of the floor" Serenade tells the three before walking out. There should only be one more room according to the map... Serenade walks along to the final room and upon entering, he finds a garden room filled with plants and a small tool shed in the corner.

"Yo! 'Nade!" That was Hammer's voice calling him from behind the shed, his tail was sticking out.

"Yeah?" How did he know it was me?

"C'mere! You gotta check this out!" He called over. Serenade shrugged as he walked over to see what was so special that he needed to see it. "Look at this bad boy!" He shows him a spanner

"...um...what about it?" as Serenade asked Hammer gave him a shocked look

"What do you mean 'what about it'?! This is a left-handed spanner, do you realize how long I have been looking for one of these?!"

"Probably not..."

"Like, 5 years! Every time I go to the store, they never have one and now I've finally found one!"

"So, you're left handed?"

"Yep, that's the hand I use for everything..." Hammer paused "W-wait! N-not like that!"

Oh boy.... "How did you know it was me when I walked in? You didn't look from behind the shed"

"I recognised your footsteps"

"My footsteps?"

"I have a little sister back home and she's always trying to distract from my work so I had to sharpen my hearing to know who comes into the room. That way, I can take her by surprise"

"That's...actually really impressive"

"Thanks!"

"I wonder why this shed had a spanner in it anyway..."

"It does actually have gardening tools as well: Hedge clippers, lawnmower, shovel, rake. You get the idea?"

"Yeah..."

"Well...I'm gonna go continue my investigation, later!" And with that Hammer gave a small pat on Serenade's shoulder before exiting the room.

I think I've checked out all the major rooms on this floor. I should head back now.

Back in the cafeteria everyone had already started gather in when Serenade arrived and in only a few minutes. Everyone had re-grouped.

"Alright everyone!" Beau yells over everyone "What did we all find?"

"There's a pool!" Tickery says quickly "It's got two changing rooms which are unlocked by using our ElectroIDs but they only open depending on gender of the card's owner"

"Also, the changing rooms themselves have work out equipment" Samurai adds

"There's a garden with a tool shed to the west of the floor" Hammer says "It has what you'd expect inside of it, lawnmower, headge clippers, others"

"There was an art room as well" Orion says "It had canvases set up with paint brushes and pallets but nothing to out of the ordinary"

"Actually..." Serenade stops her "There was something when I went in there..."

"What would that be?" Nimbus asks

"It sounds crazy but...I found a picture of Moonlight, Wild and Gold"

"M-Moonlight?!" Zoom repeats

"They're all smiling as well, but that isn't the weirdest part of it, the iron plates that are usually on the windows are missing!"

"M-missing?! So what'cha saying? That photo ain't taken from Hope's Peak?!" Punch asks

"Maybe they knew each other before we became trapped inside of this building?" Orion suggests

"Moonlight never mentioned something like that" Zoom told the rest of them.

"This....is a rather confusing puzzle indeed, you might have just found something useful, Serenade" Beau smirks

"Uh...t-thanks..."

"Well? Is that everything?" Beau asks to be given no response. "Well, it looks like we're done here..." They all scatter, Serenade goes back to his room for a little while

........I shouldn't be staying here the whole day...I wonder if I should hang out with someone to pass the time...?

Day 5: Chapter 1

Day 5: Surfaced Memories

*Ding Dong, Bing, Bong*

"Wake up you bastards! It is now 7am and night-time is officially over, let's make this day a good one!"

Serenade groaned as he flopped out of bed doing his usual routine and heading to the cafeteria. Just at the door though, Tickery burst through the door in a panic

"Serenade! Y-you must see what Tickery has saw in the cafeteria!" She told in

"What is it?"

"Horrible! It's is horrible!" She sprinted off. What's going on? Serenade entered the cafeteria and saw exactly why Tickery freaking out so much. On the wall next to the door to the kitchen, somebody had written

WHO'S NEXT?

Some of the other students were standing there stunned by it. Beau, Nimbus, Orion and Zoom.

"What...the...hell?" Beau said

"This is...truly discomforting to be around in this place" Orion bit her nail.

"What hell-driven demon has done this?!" Nimbus said agitated

"I-it was like this when we got here" Zoom told Serenade

"This is...insane..." Serenade says in shock

"We sent Tickery to gather the others so we may discover the one that has done this" Orion explains, and just like she said, within minutes everyone had gathered in the cafeteria with surprised or angered expressions.

"Who the fuck did this?!" Punch yelled out angrily

"I-is this b-blood?" B stuttered

"No..." Beau says "It's just ketchup"

"T-this is just...wrong" Olive said

"Oh? It isn't so bad" A voice said "Don't discredit my work, Olive. Is that what friends usually do?" It was Lock.

"This was YOU?!!" Punch cracked her knuckles.

"Well, of course...I thought that I would write this up just before the doors to here locked up for the night. A nice little present for making it through a day without brutally murdering one another" He chuckled.

"Alright! That's it!" Punch swung but Lock dodged

"You are focusing on brute force more than dodging your opponents attacks" he smirks

"L-Locky...? T-this isn't you" Tickery whimpered

"You right" he sighed "Sorry about that, just kind of did in a spur of the moment from the excitement of the game"

"Game?" Nimbus repeated "Is all this is to you?"

"Monokuma said it himself, this a mutual killings game, people are bound to whipped up into a frenzy when they start to think about getting out of here"

"So what are you saying about the deaths up until now?!" Hammer said to him

"Those were meaningless sacrifices for us to get closer to the end" and as he said that

*SLAP!*

"You...have no right to say that" Zoom said who just received a pitiful look from the orange Pegasus. "Gold...Digital...Wild and Moonlight...their deaths were not meaningless!"

"Oh really?" he looks at her dead in the eyes "Tell me something that we got out of them dying!" There was a silence "Exactly, if we don't gain anything out of their deaths then they were meaningless. It's as simple as that"

"You can't be serious man!" Hammer said annoyed

"...hm?" Lock blinked a few times "Serious about what?"

"Don't play dumb after everything you just said!" Beau yelled at him

"W-what?!" he look confused

"You just said all of the deaths were meaningless!" Zoom told him

"Wait...Ack! No, no, no, no, no! You don't understand!"

"What? Don't understand what?!" Zoom said

"I have....attitude sparks sometimes..."

"Attitude sparks?" Olive repeats

"Yeah...sometimes I'll say things I don't mean or I lie about something for no reason...I-if I offended any of you...I am so sorry..." There was a silence.

"I forgive him" Serenade finally says. Breaking the tension.

"R-really? Thanks..." Lock gave a weak smile

"Well...if you are telling the truth, then forgiveness is most certainly in order" Orion gives a bow to apologise.

"If Miss Orion can find it in her heart to forgive you, then I can do the same" Nimbus folds his arms

"And if Serenade thinks you're worth forgiving, then you have to be!" Samurai adds

"Oh boy, here comes fan-city central" Zoom jokes.

"Thanks you guys...I...I'll clean this up" Lock says but before he had the chance to move or for anyone to make a response, the monitor turned on

"Ahem! This is a school announcement! Can all students please make their way to the gymnasium for a very important briefing? Thank you!" the monitor turned off. Everyone took a long pause.

"Looks like...Monokuma has prepared our next motive" Beau states

"D-dammit...why?" Nimbus grunts

"Hell knows why this mono-turd this trying to make us fight like wild animals" Punch sighs.

"Well...we don't know what he's capable of if we don't go..." Serenade admits and after a few more seconds of silence they all head for the gymnasium.

They all stand nervously, aside from Beau who seems calm and collected about the situation.

"Where the hell is he?" Beau asks

"How are we supposed to know man?" Hammer says

"I'm nervous about what he's got up his sleeve" Olive comments

"Sleeves? He has sleeves?" Tickery tilts her head

"No, Tickery. It's a figure of...oh never mind" Lock folds his arms, giving up on trying to explain things to Tickery. Just as he did everyone's attention was brought to the stage by some noises and in a matter of seconds, Monokuma jumped from behind and landed, sitting on the podium.

"Alright you bastards! How are ya' feeling?" He asks

"Do you honestly care?" Zoom says back

"Nope!"

"Alright, let's get this over with, what hell-bent motive do you have planned for us this time?" Beau asks annoyed

"Motive? Why do you automatically think that was why I called you here?" He laughed "This is about that little message!"

"Did you do that?!" Punch yelled

"Oh, no, no, no! I would never do that! Bear's honour! One of you thirteen did it!"

Did he say...thirteen?

"Oh. Right. You don't know about him yet..." Monokuma shrugs "Oh well"

"Hold on a second!" Hammer interrupts "You're telling us there are SEVENTEEN students here?!"

"Yep. But, you have no chance of meeting him, he is much better at hiding in the shadows than Nimbus!"

"Impossible." Nimbus simply states

"Then how come you haven't found him yet?" Monokuma chuckles

"You know what? He's probably lying, so what is it about the writing?" Beau asks

"No, that was it, one of the thirteen surviving students is the one that wrote it...oh and one more thing!"

"What?" Beau folded her arms

"Your motives!"

"Oh...of course" Zoom rolled her eyes as Monokuma pulls out twelve slips of paper

"This was one of favourites back in the day!" He throws them in the air, one falling at each students feet with their name written on it. Serenade picked it up and unfolded it. "These are a copy of your deepest. Darkest secrets!" Serenade gulped as he read was written. "I decided to put one to three on it depending on what the chances of you killing another are!"

Serenade let out a small gasp.

Serenade has a boyfriend. He has MPD (Multiple Personality Disorder) and...just look at his arms for the last one.

"You...little...shit" Serenade stuttered

"Aw...is somebody afraid again? Afraid of their secrets being revealed?" Monokuma laughed.

"How did you find this...?" Hammer looked pale.

"I have my sources!"

"Fuck you teddy bear...fuck...you" Lock said angrily.

"And if you don't want your secret revealed, you'll kill someone in the next twenty-four hours! Byeeeeee!" And he hopped back down off the podium into Celestia know where. The twelve stood in silence for what felt like forever, as if the twenty-four hours had already past and Monokuma was about to announce each little secret to everyone. Serenade knew he couldn't let that happen, but he couldn't kill anyone....could he?

N-no! I have to push those thoughts away!

"A thirteenth student" Beau says breaking the silence "How interesting..." and without another word to be said Beau turned and left as composed as always.

"I think Monokuma is lying about that seventeenth student, there's no sign of them existing after all" Olive pointed out

"True...sixteen rooms, sixteen lockers in the laundry room, sixteen podiums in class trials...no way is there a new student hiding here!" Zoom agreed.

"W-well....m-maybe we should h-head back for a little bit a-and try to c-comprehend what is happening..." B suggests

"We've been trying to comprehend what has been happening to us the last few days Ms Positive" Nimbus says

"Well, she's right. Let's head back..." Serenade says trying to stay calm. He held tightly onto the piece of paper, he knew what would happen if his secrets were to be found out.

He'd die before letting that happen though.

Day 5: Chapter 2- Free time

Serenade sat on his bed in silence for a while. It turned into minutes. It turned into what felt like hours. He stood up quickly.

I can't stay here all day! I need to take my mind off things! He half-ran, half-walked out his room. He walked around the school for a bit before bumping into someone else on the second floor.

"Oh, sorry Serenade" It was Lock "Wasn't watching where I was going"

Since he's talking, should I ask Lock to hang out? "Hey, Lock? Do you wanna do something?"

"Hmm...well, we could talk about the girls"

I talked about the girls in the school with Lock

We bonded a little "Hey, Lock. Have this...it's some weird compatibility measurer or something..." Lock eyes gleamed as Serenade presented the item.

"H-hehe...you aren't trying to hit on me are you? I don't really like you that way!"

Kind of mean...but he seemed to have liked it at least

"Hey, Lock? You came here as the 'Super High School Level Matchmaker', right?"

"Yep, that's right! I'm great at what I do!"

"I could tell but...how do you get that kind of title?"

"You mean how did they discover my ability, right?"

"Yes"

"I control this dating website called 'TheLockAndKey.com' and it has been around for...three years? Anyway, even after all this time, not one break-up, not one divorce. Happy relationships forever and ever! That's my guarantee!" He said proudly

"That is actually a lot more impressive than I first thought it was going to be"

"Ehhehehe, most people do...so...let me ask you a question"

"Um...sure?"

"If...someone...oh I know! If a man is straight but loves shopping, fashion, and similar interests traditionally associated with women or homosexual men. What is that called?"

Oh geez....I think my dad told me this because of his brother...it was... "Metrosexuality, right?"

"Yep, I have a cousin that's metrosexual...you have no idea how much he and his girlfriend get along" he chuckled "But myself? I'm actually bisexual....most people would make fun of me for the whole 'liking boys' part of it...it's so stupid"

"I know what you mean"

"Yeah, I guess you would...you're bi as well after all"

"W-what?"

"Dude, my talent lets me see a person's sexuality"

"What about...love interests?"

"Unless I know the one they're interested in...then no, I don't"

"That's a bit...weird"

"I suppose...oh well. I can't really do anything about that, can I?"

"Well...not really"

"I'm gonna head now. Nice talking to you, Serenade. You're really good company!" With that Lock flashed a smile before walking off.

He's a good guy... With that time well spent with Lock, Serenade continued walking around the school. He walked up to the third floor to look at the art room, pass the time by sketching even if he couldn't draw to save his life he couldn't think of much. He sat at one of the canvases and before he started someone walked into the room.

"Ack! S-Serenade, hi!" There's one person only that could make a reaction just from seeing him.

"Hi, Samurai" Serenade turned

"Hi! Um...I guess we had the same idea, sketching to pass the time?"

"Yep"

"W-wow...w-well, I should go. Don't want to disturb you"

Maybe I should ask him to stay?

"Well...I still want to pass the time, conversation might help"

"R-really? Serenade wants to hang out with me?! Um...I know! I'm actually a really good cook, I'll make you something in the cafeteria!"

I ate with fanboy...he actually was a decent cook as well!

We bonded a little "Hey, Samurai" Serenade took out some folded material "It's a practice sword holder, I noticed you just have a scratchy looking rope to hold in place so I thought this might help"

"You mean I can really have this?! Your generosity has no bounds!"

It looks like he liked it...but he probably would have liked anything I gave him

Samurai sighed

"Is something wrong?" Serenade asked

"Sorry, I don't mean to make you feel concerned about me but...it's about my title"

"The 'Super High School Level Swordsman'"

"Right...see, the thing is, I can use a sword pretty well...but I only ever used a sword in one sport"

"What sport was that?"

"Well...with deduction skills like yours, you could figure it out! It's a neighponese sport in which two opponents face each other with wooden swords and attempt to strike each other"

Oh! That concept does sound familiar... "Kendo, that's what you're talking about?"

"Yes! I knew you'd be able to figure it out. Don't get me wrong, I have an awesome Kendo team it's just...I'm just feeling like they only care about winning instead of the players or just having fun in the competitions"

"So...they don't care what happens to you?"

"Right...so I quit the team and went into it solo, and won it"

"That pretty amazing"

"Thanks! It means a lot because Kendo isn't really to hard to be good at..." he gives a weak smile "But...if it got me into this school, I shouldn't be complaining...or at least I wish I could say that..."

"Well don't worry about it, Samurai, we can find a way out of here, I'm sure of it!"

"Y-yeah!" He gave a semi-confident look "I'm going to resume search immediately, I'll report to you soon!" and with saying that, he sped off.

"What a weird guy..." Serenade muttered.

*Ding Dong, Bing Bong!

"Ahem! Can I have your attention? It is now 10pm and officially night-time. The cafeteria doors will be locked soon and entry will be strictly prohibited! Thank you and good night!"

Serenade headed back to his room right after hearing the announcement. Once there, just like yesterday, he pulled out his ElectroID and updated the Student Reports

For Lock he wrote in:

I control this dating website called 'TheLockAndKey.com' and it has been around for...three years? Anyway, even after all this time, not one break-up, not one divorce. Happy relationships forever and ever! That's my guarantee!
I have a cousin that's metrosexual...you have no idea how much he and his girlfriend get along" he chuckled "But myself? I'm actually bisexual....most people would make fun of me for the whole 'liking boys' part of it...it's so stupid.
my talent lets me see a person's sexuality.

And for Samurai:

I can use a sword pretty well...but I only ever used a sword in one sport.
Kendo! It's a neighponese sport in which two opponents face each other with wooden swords and attempt to strike each other.
I have an awesome Kendo team it's just...I'm just feeling like they only care about winning instead of the players or just having fun in the competitions.
I quit the team and went into it solo, and won it.
Kendo isn't really to hard to be good at...

He turned his ElectroID off and laid on his bed and started to think about the transpired events.

If they find out about everything...I'm done for...but I can't let that takeover...my life is on the line here but I'm seriously considering this?! What is wrong with me?! Thunder...he wouldn't want me acting like this...thinking like this.... A few tears fell as he thought about the possibility of never seeing his friends or family ever again. No! I...I need to get out of here! But not the way Monokuma wants...I...I can't do that to someone....

He pushed all his thoughts away and shut his eyes.

His only choice was to let them know everything...

Day 6: Chapter 1

Day 6: The Undeniable Fate

Serenade's slumber was disturbed abruptly by knocking on his door. He groaned and looked at the clock in his room 5:45am, who the hell was coming to his door at 5:45am? He sighed and got out of bed to answer the door. He opened it to see Olive standing there with a towel and a swimsuit in her possession.

"Serenade! Remember when you said you were gonna come swimming with Tickery, Samurai and I? Well come on!" She said to him.

"But...the morning wake up call hasn't even been broadcasted" Serenade complained

"I know, but the pool isn't off limits at night-time, come on! Don't be so boring. Those lockers in the laundry room have a swimsuit for each student as well so grab one and get to the pool ASAP! I already got Tickery so I just need to get Samurai, move it!"

"Ugh...fine, I'll be five minutes..." He went to leave his room but got stopped by Olive.

"First though....I think you should put some pants on..."

"Huh...?" Serenade then realized...he answered the door in his shirt and underwear "AH!" He slammed the door in Olive's face, face bright red. "I can't believe I just did that!" He said to himself before quickly putting his pants, socks and shoes on. He left his room to see that Olive was already gone and her voice wasn't echoing in the hall so she had already got Samurai. He headed to the laundry room to retrieve his swimsuit and towel from his locker and then headed to the changing rooms.

He scanned his ElectroID and walked in, placing the towel and swimsuit on the bench. Inside the room there were some exercise equipment. Dumbbells, a punching bag, a treadmill, various other equipment Serenade didn't recognise. He threw his shirt off as Samurai walked into the changing rooms.

"Ah! Hi Serenade!" He beamed. He was far to energetic for this time in the morning...or maybe it was because Serenade was in the room?

"Hey Samurai...Olive wake you up to?" Serenade half asked, already knowing the answer would be

"Yep, banging on my door. Didn't she know there was a buzzer?"

"I guess not..." Samurai placed his stuff on the opposite bench and started changing into his swimsuit. There was an awkward silence.

I wonder if Samurai is watching me... Serenade shivered.

"Hey, Serenade?"

"Um...y-yeah?"

"This might seem kind of weird to ask but..." Oh great. Here it comes. "Boxers or briefs?"

"...excuse me?"

"I knew it sounded weird, just forget I-"

"Briefs..."

"Oh..."

"Not just gonna leave you without an answer..." Serenade said awkwardly at the question

"Well...thanks for answering"

"No problem but...why did you want to know?" Serenade said that as he put his swimsuit on

"I'm not sure, I heard Olive and Tickery talking about what each of the boys wear and...I think I started wondering to."

"I think those two are a bad influence on you...are done getting changed yet?"

"I think you might be right...um...yeah, I'm done, you?"

"Yep" The two turned and faced each other.

"Shall we?" Samurai nodded and they went through the door to the pool. The room was huge, there was a diving board, a slide, a lifeguard chair a side room at the other side and a cart that had pool noodles, and diving equipment...which seemed pointless to have in a school pool.

"Hey, where are Olive and Tickery?" Samurai asked pointing out the fact that the two weren't to be seen.

"Maybe they're still getting changed, girls take a while for a lot of things"

"Yeah I guess....anyway, let's jump in!" Samurai ran, he was lucky the floor was dry or he would had slipped onto his back. Serenade sighed and walked over to the pool edge with Samurai swimming around the edges. "Come on in!" Samurai beckoned the reluctant Pegasus to join him.

"I'm not sure...I'm not a big swim-AH!" Before he could finish his sentence, Samurai grabbed Serenade's ankle and pulled him into the water.

"Don't think, just do!" Samurai gave a goofy smile as Serenade glares at him. "What? You were going to come in anyway, I just cut out the middle man. Reluctance"

"Well I'm in the water now..."

"Thanks to my help"

"Yeah...so what are supposed to do until they get here?"

"Relax...I think everyone is a bit on edge, can't blame them obviously but...a good swim could go a long way"

"Extra on edge today..." Serenade bites his lip

"Those goddamn secrets..." Samurai grunts. Serenade stayed silent, remembering what was written on his. "Sorry...I'm probably not helping right now..."

"N-no...it's fine..." Serenade lied. They stayed in the water for a few minutes until the door to the girls changing room was opened and Olive and Tickery came in

"Finally!" Samurai said

"Sorry, Tickery forgot where she had put her ElectroID" Tickery apologised

"Yeah, turns out she left it under her bed" Olive told the two.

"Well come on in!" Samurai beckoned the two and Tickery gleamed.

"YAY! Samurai, catch me!" Tickery ran over.

"Wait, wait, WAIT!!" Before he had time to react, Tickery body slammed Samurai into the water. They rose up with Tickery giggling at the glaring earth pony.

"Sorry if you two have been waiting a while" Olive said sitting on the edge.

"It's fine" Serenade assured her "It isn't like anything major happened after all"

"True enough" Olive smiled

*Ding dong, Bing bong!*

"Ahem! Wake up you bastards! It is now 7am and night-time is officially over, let's make this day a good one!" the monitors switched off.

"Oh wow, is that really the time?" Olive questioned

"Aw...Tickery just got here though!" Tickery complained

"If we don't meet up with everyone else, they'll start wondering where we are" Samurai points out. They all look at each other before heading to the changing rooms once more.

"It's a shame we didn't have more time in there" Serenade says wrapping the towel around himself and taking off his swimsuit.

"I know. Tickery and Olive are good fun" They were left in silence until they finished getting changed and drying off from the water and head to the laundry room to put their swimsuits back before heading to the cafeteria where most, including Tickery and Olive, were waiting.

"Where were you two?" Zoom asked

"The pool with Tickery and Olive" Serenade answered

"You...were at the pool?" Beau repeated "Why?"

"Swimming is actually a really good way to relax so I invited them to the pool with me" Olive explained "Sorry if it made us a little late"

"Well, you aren't the latest. What about Hammer, Lock or Orion? Did any of them join you?" Nimbus asked her

"Um...not that I know of. I was going to invite Lock, but he wasn't answering the door"

"Hmph! I'll go check on him and the others" Nimbus gets up from his seat to leave but before he does, he points to Serenade "You shall come with me"

"Huh?" Serenade tilted his head

"Just come with me" Nimbus walked by with a confused Serenade closely behind. They head to Lock's door and press the buzzer. They waited for a few seconds and tried again but nothing happened.

"N...Nimbus...?" Serenade gave a concerned look.

"He must still be in the school, you go look around, I'll check on Orion and Hammer" Nimbus walks along the hall. Leaving a scared Serenade to look for Lock. He quickly headed back the cafeteria. "Um..." He looked around "Tickery, Olive, Zoom? Could you three come out here for a second?" The three give him curious looks before leaving the room.

"Is something wrong?" Zoom asks. Serenade explains the situation to the three.

"Lock isn't answering his door still?" Olive says

"Right...Nimbus has gone to get Orion and Hammer so I need some help finding Lock"

"Sure! If Locky is lost, then Tickery shall find him!" Tickery gave a salute.

"Alright, Serenade and I should search the third floor, you two search the second" Zoom suggests "If Nimbus is here, then he might come across Lock"

"Good point" They all gave each other a nod before splitting up. On the third floor, Zoom and Serenade split up and search the separate rooms. Serenade goes to the pool to check once more, there was no trace of Lock being there, nor in the art room. He leaned against the wall. There was one room left. The garden. He walked over to the door and went inside. He saw Zoom, with a horrified expression pressed up against the shed.

"Zoom...?" Serenade walked over to her. She shakily raised a finger and pointed to the shed door.

"In...I-inside..." she says, petrified.

No...this means... Serenade grabbed the handle of the garden shed door and took a deep breath before opening the door.

Day 6: Chapter 2

There was rope dangling from the top of the shed coming down slightly before being knotted around two hands. Hands belonging to Lock Heart. He stood, legs apart, eyes closed and looking down in the middle of the shed.

"Lock...." Serenade said "Why him...?" He was a good person, he protected Tickery, he was best friends with Olive, as far as Serenade knew. Everyone liked him, why was he dead? He had a good personality aside from the attitude sparks he had...did someone want to protect their secret so much?

"G-get..." Zoom stuttered "Get the others..."

"Right!" Serenade sped out of the room and down the stairs to the second floor. He searched but found no trace of Olive or Tickery. "Guys! Where are you?!" He called out for them but had no response. "Dammit, I don't have time for this!" He rushed off to the cafeteria. Bursting through everyone looked to him. "It...it's Lock...come quickly, to the garden!" They all followed behind him. As they got to the second floor, Olive and Tickery came into sight.

"What's going on?" Olive asked

"No time to explain! We need to get to the garden, quickly!" Serenade said to them as they joined the group. They reached the entrance of the garden. Barging in Serenade went over to the shed door and opened it.

Then time stopped for the second time today.

Lock's body was unchanged, but on the ground, arms around his left leg, was Zoom, she was bleeding from her skull.

"Z-Zoom...?" Serenade stuttered

"Both of them are dead?!" Nimbus said stunned

"No...before it was just Lock...and now Zoom is dead...?" Serenade said confused.

"L..L..LOCKYYYYYYY!!!" Tickery cried out.

"N...no..." Olive could hardly speak.

*Ding dong, Bing bong!*

"A body has been discovered! I will allow a certain time for investigation and then we shall hold a class trial!" Then straight after

*Ding dong, Bing bong!*

"A body has been discovered! I will allow a certain time for investigation and then we shall hold a class trial!"

"Why....why were there two?" Punch asked

"Probably because it was both Lock and Zoom that were killed and we discovered both at the same time" Beau explained.

"Coooooorectamondo!" Monokuma said, popping out of nowhere once more. "Since both of them are dead and were discovered at the same time then I had to make two Corpse Discover Announcements! But that isn't why I'm here, you guys need your Monokuma Files to help your investigation!" The ElectroIDs flashed.

New Ammo: Monokuma File 3 was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

Lock died...at 3:45am? He died of strangulation. Zoom died at 7:40am and died of blunt force trauma

"We should spread out...there may be evidence elsewhere" Orion suggests

"R-right..." Olive says quietly. A few leave the room leaving Beau, Serenade, Olive and Hammer in the garden.

"Serenade...you discovered Lock's body right?" Beau asked

"Um...yeah"

"And did you touch the body at all?"

"Nope"

"Then...this doesn't make sense" She kneels down at Lock's shoes "Lock doesn't wear black boots like these"

"He doesn't?"

"Nope...he wears white sneakers"

"How do you remember that?"

"I'm a stickler for details" She simply states

New Ammo: Lock's boots were loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"Hmm..." She stood up "I wonder where the culprit got this rope..."

"The storage closet? That has rope, I think"

"I'll check later..."

New Ammo: Rope was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"This rope couldn't be the weapon...if so, then there should be marks on his neck indicating that it was used"

"You mean rope burn?" Serenade asks

"Yes...so this must have been with two bare hands"

Someone strangled him...with their hands?

New Ammo: Neck marks were loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"Also, look here" She indicates his hair

"What about it?"

"...it's damp"

"...and Lock wasn't in the pool at all today as far as I know"

"Hmm..."

New Ammo: Lock's hair was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

Beau turned to Zoom's body. "You left Zoom here to guard the body, right?"

"Yes"

"So someone had to sneak in here and kill her"

"I guess so..."

"There isn't much to her body really...nothing of interest"

"Really?"

"Yes...I guess I'll have to look for evidence elsewhere..." Beau passed by Serenade and left the garden.

"Yo' 'Nade, I need to tell you something pretty interesting" Hammer said to him

"Really? What's that?"

"The equipment in the shed...one of the shovels are missing"

"Shovels?"

"Right, there are supposed to be three, but now there're two. One must have been taken away"

New Ammo: Missing Shovel was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

Serenade's attention fell onto Olive who had her head low.

"Olive..." Serenade walked up her

"He was my friend...you know?" She said "And now he's dead..."

"Don't worry, we'll find the culprit. No doubt!"

"I hope so..."

"Well anything of interest to say?"

"Not really...the culprit killed Lock during Night-Time...we were awake during Night-Time from 5:10 to 7:00, and I was in the dorm hallway for most of that time so the culprit had to sneak into their room before that time"

"I guess you're right"

New Ammo: Olive's testimony was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"Let's find the culprit together Serenade!" Olive said

"Right! I'll continue my investigation" Serenade nodded before leaving the room. Huh...? He saw Punch go into the girls changing room and was able to narrowly see her go into the pool Where is she going? Serenade scanned his ElectroID and went into the pool. Punch and Orion were the only one's there.

"Ah...Mr Stereo...so nice to see you" Orion smiles

"Oh, hey Serenade" Punch simply greets

"Why are you two in here?" Serenade asks

"We are here to investigate, like I said before there may be some evidence elsewhere. That was the case with the last class trial, was it not?"

"I suppose..." As Serenade said that, Tickery and Olive came into the room.

"Hey..." Olive said to them

"Hey there..." Punch said back

I wonder if there is evidence in here... Serenade looked across the room to the cart that held the swimming and diving equipment inside, it was tipped over.

"Oh, I see you have noticed it to" Orion says "It was like this when I arrived...you were in the pool earlier, yes? Was it like this?"

"Not that I remember" Serenade says

"Hmm...how interesting"

New Ammo: Pool Cart was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"I wonder why the cart was pushed over..." Tickery walks over but slips on some water before she does. "OW!"

"Tickery! Are you alright?" Olive helps her up "Geez, I guess some water splashed over here" Olive steps out of the puddles of water.

"You two need to watch where you're going..." Punch says

"You're telling me" Tickery agrees.

New Ammo: Puddles of water were loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

There's a sudden ruckus from the door on the other side of the room, the sound of something falling over and a loud grunt to be heard. They all go quiet.

"What...was that...?" Orion asks

"How are we supposed to know?" Punch points out. They wait a few more seconds. "Serenade, go check it out"

"What?! Why me?"

"Because, I'll beat the shit outta you if you don't!" Punch cracks her knuckles.

"I think I'll be going now" Serenade flies over to the door. "Punch...stay nearby..."

"Alright..." She nods before Serenade edges into the room. It's pitch black and there is no easily found light switch in the room.

"U-umm...anyone in here...?" He slowly moves through the room, blindly into the darkness. He bumped into something and started moving his hands around. This is a weird wall. The lights go on and a towering figure is standing in front of Serenade. "Oh..." He looks up to be met face-to-face with an older looking changeling that looked nothing like the ones he had heard of from the Canterlot attack, he had black hair and as Serenade remembers being told, this one didn't have any visible holes in his arms but it was mostly covered up by a huge trench coat.

"...who the fuck are you?" He says, he surprisingly sounds around Serenade's age...which means

"Who the fuck are you?!" Serenade could bitch back

"I asked you first!"

"I asked you second!" The figure paused.

"Okay, I have been trapped on this floor for like nearly a week then you all start showing up, who the fuck are you?!"

"Serenade Stereo, we're all Super High School Level students...who are you?" the figure paused

"...Grimdark Sirens. An SHSL student like you..."

Grimdark Sirens Super High School Level Lieutenant

"You...you're a Super High School Level student?"

"Yep...I may not look like it but I'm only seventeen" Grimdark smirked.

What? How is he...?

"Now...what the fuck is all the commotion all about?" he asked

"Hasn't Monokuma told you? The School Life of Mutual Killings?"

"Oh shit! He was serious about that?! I thought it was a joke!"

"Nope, don't you have an ElectroID?"

"You mean, this thing?" Grimdark pulls out his ElectroID "It flashed a while ago but I don't know why"

"That would be the Monokuma File, it's the basic information for the murders that occur."

"Oh right...wait, is this how I turn it on?" He pressed a button and the Monokuma File came up on the ElectroID.

"Well, you have some explaining to do later, but for now...I have to go investigate..." Serenade left the side-room.

"Well? What was it?" Olive asked when Serenade emerged

"The seventeenth student, he's called Grimdark Sirens and is the...actually he didn't tell me what his title was..."

"Super High School Level Lieutenant" Grimdark brushes by Serenade as he leaves the room. "I used to be part of the army...but not anymore..."

"Why not anymore...?" Orion asked intrigued

"I cannot say..." Grimdark simply told her.

"Well...that might be his dark secret" Punch suggests

"Hmm...?" Grimdark looks to her

"Right, the motives" Serenade says

"Motives...?"

"Monokuma has been giving us all motives to kill one another and each time unfortunately, he has succeeded" Orion explains

"Dang...so there already more than those two that are dead?"

"There are six in total now..." Olive tells him

"God, those killers are such stupid bitches!" Grimdark folds his arms "Who the hell kills for their own personal gain?"

"They wanted out of here...you can't say you don't want to" Serenade says

"I suppose not...but I'm not gonna kill someone, that's just stupid...anyway, investigation, right?"

"Yeah, we should get back to that" Olive says

"Hey, Serenade?" Punch says to him "I was wondering something"

"What is it?"

"The time of death for Lock was 3:45, right?"

"Yes, that's what it says in the Monokuma File"

"And...he was in the garden after being killed?"

"Yes...you saw that yourself"

"Right, but...the thing is, I had to go return something to the shed, I went at 4:00 and Lock's body wasn't there...I stayed there for about half an hour as well..."

What the heck...?

New Ammo: Punch's Testimony was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"Hmm...Mr Stereo?" Orion walks over to Serenade "Could you come with me for a minute?"

"Sure" The two leave the pool and head to the first floor. "Where are we going...?" Orion didn't give him an answer instead she just led on to the laundry room. "Why are we here?"

"I thought that if the pool was worth investigating then the laundry room could be worth investigating also..." she explained.

"Well there isn't much, just these lockers and these washing machines..."

"These lockers...they have replacements for every article of clothing...aside from shoes..."

"Shoes?"

"Yes...it is rather strange, wouldn't you agree?"

"I...I suppose" Is that why she dragged me down here?

New Ammo: Laundry Room Lockers were loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"Well...it seems that what I came down here for is not here...apologies for using up our time, Mr Stereo" Orion bowed and left the room.

She's so elegant, but so creepy. Serenade was about the leave the room when he noticed something on the ground. A note. He picked it up and started to read what was on it.

I need to talk to you about something really important, come to the pool at 3:30 during Night-Time, please don't be late.

What the hell is this? This handwriting seems familiar though...

New Ammo: Mysterious Note was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID.

After reading the note and shoving it into his pocket, Serenade left the room and headed back to the garden. Hammer hadn't moved but now Tickery was in the room.

"Oh, Serenade!" Hammer called him

"What is it?"

"B told me to give you her examination results of the bodies"

"Oh, well go ahead"

"Let's see...Lock's body had nothing out of the ordinary to it but Zoom's skull wound was only a few millimetres wide but a few centimetres long"

"Okay, thanks Hammer"

"No problem!"

New Ammo: B's Examination Results was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"Hi Tickery..." Serenade walked up to the white earth pony.

"Hey..." This was the first time Tickery didn't seem her happy, carefree self. It didn't feel right "I can't believe Locky...Locky was..."

"It's alright...we'll find the culprit soon..." he assured her

"T-Tickery...knows...but that won't be enough"

"Huh?"

"Executing the culprit won't bring Locky and Zoom back...just like executing Wild and Digital didn't bring Gold and Moonlight back..." Serenade didn't like it when Tickery was depressed.

"Can you tell me what happened when we were searching for Lock on the second floor?"

"Well...when we split up to look for him, Olive and I did a thorough search of the second floor but we didn't find anything useful...we even checked separate rooms and then we switched sides of the floor and checked those rooms once more..."

New Ammo: Tickery's Testimony was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

*Ding dong, Bing bong!*

"Alright you bastards! You've had enough time to investigate, make your way to the usual place and get ready!"

And now...here we go... the now ten students made their way to the red door near the cafeteria.

When Serenade arrived only one student was missing. Beau. But everyone's attention was fixed on Grimdark, where had he been this whole time?

"Sorry I'm late, I had to..." Beau walked in and stopped after seeing Grimdark, they looked at each other for a few seconds

"Who the fuck are you?" Grimdark said

"Who the fuck are you?" Beau said back

"Oh no. NO! I am not doing this again!"

"That's Beau...all you really need to know" Serenade says. He elevator doors open but before anyone can step in.

"Whoa! Hold on a sec!" Monokuma stopped them

"What the hell do you want?" Punch asked

"I just got a new carpet for this, it's really nice and all of you have been going around the garden and pool. SHOES OFF!"

"You cannot be serious" Beau sighs.

"Do it or I'll count this as a lost class trial!" They all took their shoes off and left them in the small section before stepping onto the elevator. "See you all down there!" Monokuma disappeared and the elevator started moving.

Round 3 was about to begin.

Class Trial 3: Chapter 1

The elevator stopped and they stepped out. The carpet that Monokuma seemed to cherish so much was one half black the other white, the walls were orange and pink, to represent the victims probably. The three new additions to the portraits were visible. Lock and Zoom with regular red Xs on theirs and Wild with three claw marks going both right-up and left-up. Plus there was now a seventeenth stand for Grimdark that was stationed between Lock's portrait and Tickery.

"So, uh...can someone explain to me how this works?" Grimdark asks

"Alright, well I was gonna recap it anyway!" Monokuma cleared his throat. "Alright! Now I shall briefly explain how this Class Trial works. You all pick a subject to discuss and then you try and find a killer through it. By then choosing a 'culprit' that 'culprit' will be seen as the 'villain'. At this point, you may start to vote for who you believe the true 'villain' is. If you are correct the 'villain' will be punished...but get it wrong. Everyone ASIDE from the villain shall be punished! Now get debatin'!"

"Wait...did one of us really kill those two?" Grimdark asks

"Well, it was like that the last two times" Hammer answers

"....you guys are so fucked up"

"Hey!" Punch says suddenly "What do you mean we are?! You aren't in the clear either!"

"...I suppose I'm not due to me hiding most of the time"

"Yeah! What if he's the one that killed Lock and Zoom?!" Olive accused

"Tickery votes for him!"

Those two are really serious about this trial...so the question is...did Grimdark kill Lock and Zoom?

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Rope

-Tickery's Testimony

-Olive's Testimony

-B's Examination Results

-Pool Cart

Grimdark- You honestly think...I killed those two?...This early in the trial?

Olive- I'm saying you did! There's a possibility!

Agreed!

"Whilst I don't jump to conclusions...Grimdark could be the killer"

"W-what?" Grimdark stuttered

"Or at least someone like him...B, your examination results said that Lock's killer had to be really burly...I think we can just look at Grimdark and say he's a possible suspect"

"Y-yes, I s-suppose Hammer told you m-my results...?" B asked

"You bet I did!"

"Well at least right away we can narrow down our suspects" Beau says

"Wait...no, we should be able to yet" Olive says

"Why not?" Nimbus asks

"Because...why did it have to be someone strong?"

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Rope

-Lock's Boots

-Missing Shovel

-Neck marks

Olive- You're saying that he was strangled...but why does it have to be by someone that was strong?

Hammer- I'm confused...

Olive- Well....If he was tied up with a rope...Couldn't that be used to kill him?

You got that wrong!

"Sorry, but this time I have to disagree with you Olive. Beau pointed out the neck marks on Lock, they weren't from a rope so the only other alternative was their hands"

"O-oh...I guess that would be right..."

"Tickery has a question!"

"What would that be?" Nimbus asks

"If Locky died from bare hands...what did Zoom die from?"

"You mean the murder weapon?" Orion confirms

"Yep!"

The murder weapon...actually, that's a pretty easy question

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence bullets

-Missing Shovel

-Rope

-Pool Cart

Tickery- Tickery never did learn what the weapon that killed Zoom was

Orion- The weapon caused blunt force trauma...but also rather thin

Grimdark- Maybe it was the blunt edge of a knife

You got that wrong!

"A blunt edge of a knife...that wouldn't be it...it's more likely to be the missing shovel from the garden shed"

"A missing shovel?" Grimdark repeats

"Oh yeah. There are supposed to be three shovels but now there are only two..." Hammer explains

"So now the question arises...what happened to that shovel?" Nimbus asks

"The culprit must have disposed of it somewhere, right?" Punch says

"Of course, but we don't know where" Beau answers

"It could have been buried somewhere" Olive suggests.

"No, there would have been an obvious out of place dirt patch in the garden" Beau retorts

"Well..." Serenade starts "What if it isn't on the third floor?"

"Hmm...?" Beau seemed interested

There is another room that a shovel wouldn't seem out of place in...
Of course!

"What about the storage closet on the second floor? If the culprit hid the shovel there, there would be no problem since a shovel wouldn't seem out of place"

"That sounds about right...now" Beau folds her arms "We've only just begun talking about Zoom's murder when we still don't know everything about Lock's"

"We don't?" Hammer scratched the back of his head

"Care to explain?" Samurai invites her theory

"...well...the time of death was 3:45am...but what was Lock doing at that time?"

"That...that's a good question" Tickery admits

"So it seems we are faced with a new objective...discover why Lock was out of his room so late at night" Orion says

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Olive's Testimony

-Mysterious Note

-Tickery's Testimony

Beau- We can't proceed in this trial...without knowing why Lock was out of his room at so late...

Samurai- He must have had a very good reason

Hammer- M-maybe...The culprit dragged him out?

B- M-maybe...h-he went of his o-own free will...?

Agreed!

"Yes, Lock must have went out of his room from his own free will"

"Why is that?" Beau asks

"This note I found in the laundry room...'I need to talk to you about something really important, come to the pool at 3:30 during Night-Time, please don't be late'. If this isn't a clear indication that Lock went to the pool, I don't know what is!"

You should learn to shut up!

Everyone turned to Punch "Now, hold up! Just because that note exists, that doesn't mean Lock went to the pool! For all we know, that could have been forged and Lock could have been killed elsewhere!"

"U-uh..."

"What's up? Don't have a counterargument?"

Cross-Swords

Evidence Blades

-Lock's hair

-Rope

-Pool Cart

-Mysterious Note

Punch- Just because that note exists...doesn't mean that Lock went to the pool! He could have stayed in his room the whole time, and strangled in there!

Serenade: W-well...do you have any proof that Lock didn't go?

Punch- Oh, that is weak. What about you? I don't think that there is anything that says Lock went

I'll cut that claim into pieces!

"Actually, Punch there is something. Lock's hair was damp which suggests he did in fact go to the pool before he was killed"

"His hair...?" Punch seemed confused.

"Yes, if he didn't come into recent contact with water then it would question his hair even more" Beau states

"Wait...that might suggest was in the pool...but it doesn't mean he actually went" Samurai objected.

"What are you talking about?" Beau asks

"Umm...something seemed out of place when I went to the pool during the investigation that wasn't like that when I was there this morning..."

Oh, that's right...Samurai's talking about
Of course!

"Samurai, you must be talking about the pool cart right?"

"That's it! I was trying to remember, it was toppled over when we went during the investigation, but when we went in the morning...it was perfectly fine..."

"Hey...now that you guys are bringing it up..." Tickery injected herself into the discussion "Tickery smelled something strange in the pool this morning..."

"It's called chlorine, Tickery" Olive said but Tickery didn't seem convinced.

"Tickery doesn't think it was chlorine..."

I can't listen to both of them...but I have to try!

Double Point Shootout

Evidence Bullets

-Pool Cart

-Lock's Hair

-Punch's Testimony

Samurai- Why was the pool cart toppled over after we discovered the body?

Tickery- Tickery would like to know what the smell was

Samurai- I mean, there must have been some reason for it, right?

Tickery- It most certainly wasn't chlorine

Samurai- There must have been a reason for it to fall over

Tickery- It was really familiar

Samurai and Tickery- What if...There was something there?

I can connect those thoughts!

Class Trial 3: Chapter 2

"The origin of the smell Tickery is talking about...must be part of something that caused the pool cart to be toppled over!"

"You mean...Tickery and I have a connective point in this?" Samurai asks

"Right...Punch, do you remember what you told me during the investigation...? Lock's body wasn't in the shed from 4:00 to 4:30 and we don't know how much longer after that"

"So wait...Locky's body...was in the pool cart?!" Tickery said taken aback

"It must be...what Tickery smelled must have been blood...and the reason the pool cart was toppled over was because Lock's body was transported from the pool to the shed!"

"Wait, Lock died of strangulation...where would the blood come from and besides, Lock's body had no blood on it in the first place..." Olive pointed out

"Well...not that we don't know of..." Beau says

"Huh?" Olive tilted her head

"Serenade...there is one thing that could have had blood on it...and who said it had to be Lock's blood? It could be our killer's"

Something that could have blood on it...?
Of course!

"You mean Lock's shoes, right?"

"Right, Lock's shoes could have blood somewhere on them" Beau nods

"Wait, Lock's boots never had any blood on them..." Hammer points out

"There's a good reason for that...the culprit switched their shoes..."

"But why? Wouldn't that incriminate them if someone noticed?" Tickery asked

"Maybe they just liked his shoes?" Punch suggests

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Missing Shovel

-Monokuma File 3

-Olive's Testimony

Orion- What reason would the culprit have for switching their shoes for Lock's?

Samurai- Like Tickery said, if someone noticed...That would be it

Punch- Maybe because the culprit liked his shoes

Olive- What if...They wanted to confuse us about something?

Agreed!

"Hold on...check the Monokuma File...specifically the time of death"

"Lock was 3:45 and Zoom was 7:40...but what's your point?" Beau asks

"Remember what we just deduced? Lock's body was left in the pool cart...so maybe the killer wanted to confuse us on...when the bodies were put in the shed"

"You mean the order?" Nimbus asks

"Right, remember I was only one that saw Zoom before she died. I was left alone with her on the third floor so it would seem that I was most likely to kill her. After killing Zoom, what if blood got on Lock's shoes? Then the order of body appearances would be obvious to anyone. Switch shoes however and then you can say that Zoom appeared first and Lock was added later"

"That's....quite a convoluted way of going about just to confuse someone about the order of the bodies appearing in the shed, is it not?" Orion says

"There might be a deeper reason, maybe it was like Serenade said, they wanted to incriminate him..." Beau suggests

"I...I suppose that is logical..." Orion concedes.

"Now I'd like to talk about something a bit more in depth to this crime...why was Zoom killed?" Beau folds her arms

"What do you mean?" Hammer asks

"Well...Lock must have been for covering up the culprit's secret...so why kill Zoom as well?"

Now that she mentions it...why did the culprit kill Zoom?

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Punch's Testimony

-Rope

Beau- Why did the culprit kill Zoom? We should figure this out next

Grimdark- They must have had a pretty good reason...

Olive- But we still don't have that reason

Hammer- I wonder...Serenade you saw her last, right?

Serenade- Yes...she was pretty scared by Lock's body

Hammer- I guess we can't blame her...so if she was scared by Lock's body and you were last with her...

Samurai- She was by the shed door

Hammer- Hey! Don't steal my line, dude!

Zoom didn't have to be killed...but there was a big reason the culprit had to kill her...

Beau- Why did the culprit kill Zoom? We should figure this out next

Grimdark- They must have had a pretty good reason...

Agreed!

"I think there was a pretty good reason...she was in front of the door to the shed...she was killed because she would have saw the culprit!"

"So she was killed because the culprit was seen by her..." Beau said

"But...it wouldn't matter if Serenade was seen by her, right? Those two were searching the third floor together" Olive points out

"Which leaves one person...Grimdark!" Nimbus points to the changeling

"...hmph! So you honestly are trying to blame me for this?" Grimdark chuckled

"He isn't the only one that could have done it" Beau says "Hammer could have to..."

"W-w-what?!" Hammer stuttered out "I didn't kill them, I swear!"

"Why don't we start with Grimdark? If he could or couldn't kill them...that's up for us to figure out" Serenade says

"Don't ignore me!" Hammer said

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Mysterious Note

-Punch's Testimony

-Rope

Olive- I knew it! The culprit really is Grimdark!

Grimdark- Is that so...? Where's the evidence?

Nimbus- You were hiding in the pool if I remember correctly

Grimdark- Yes, I was...

Olive- So you left briefly...killed Lock...stuffed him in the pool cart...and tied his body up!

You got that wrong!

"Grimdark could have tied Lock's body! Not without this rope at least"

"So? What's the problem?" Olive asked annoyed

"This rope was from the storage closet on second floor...right Beau?"

"Yes, I checked and there was some rope in the corner and one of the ends looked like it had been cut"

"And you see...Grimdark couldn't risk going to the second floor, he might have been seen by someone...or go to the first floor to deliver a note"

"Heh, thanks..." Grimdark smirked

"So now...we move to Hammer" Beau directs the discussion over to the earth pony, half trembling

"C-c'mon guys, I didn't kill him! Or Zoom!"

"The only that answered the door to their room was Orion, you didn't" Nimbus says

"I...I overslept..." He simply stated

"That doesn't classify as an excuse!" Olive retorted

"C-c'mon, what do you expect me to say?"

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Missing Shovel

-Olive's Testimony

-Tickery's Testimony

-Lock's Boots

Olive- The only possible culprit left...is Hammer!

Hammer- B-butcI didn't kill them!

Olive- That doesn't classify as an argument!

Beau- Technically it does

Hammer- There has to be something...Something to say I'm not the culprit

Agreed!

"Those missing shovels could show that Hammer isn't the culprit"

"The shovels?" Olive repeats

"Right, one of the shovels was missing and that was what was used to kill Zoom but it wouldn't make sense for Hammer to use one of those shovels he had plenty of tools at his disposal!"

"D-drat..." Olive grunted

"See?! I'm not the one that killed the two!" Hammer yelled at her

"But...that means that there's nobody left to suspect...right?" Samurai asked

"I...I suppose not..." Orion said worried. Beau looked deep in thought.

"Did we consider...suicide?" she says finally

"Suicide?" Serenade repeats "You mean they both killed themselves?" Beau didn't respond. "Well that can't be the answer either...first of all, not for Lock due to that..."

Of course!

"He couldn't tie himself up and strangle himself...and as for Zoom..."

Of course!

"It wouldn't explain the missing shovels...Zoom couldn't have disposed of it if she died instantly"

"Hm...like I said, it was just a consideration..." Beau reminded them.

"But let's recap because I have a feeling Monokuma will be wanting us to make an accusation soon..."

"You got it ghost girl!" Monokuma agreed

"I prefer 'spirits'..." Orion smiled

"So the culprit had to be awake during night-time...and they went to the pool after giving that note to Lock, there they strangled him to death and stuffed his body in the pool cart. The next morning, the culprit took an opportunity to move the body from the pool cart to the shed...but how many of us could have done that?" Beau asked

"I...I think I know..." Serenade says as all eyes fall onto him. With everything that's been discussed in the trial...and with the explanation of what happened and the evidence provided...the culprit could only be one person here...

It could only be you!

Author's Note

So guys, who do you think is the culprit?

Class Trial 3: Chapter 3

"Betraying friends is the worst thing you could do here. Isn't that right...Olive?" There was no surprise from the assertion from the accused. She just stood there emotionless.

"You're kidding right?" She says after a brief silence

"No...you killed Lock and later, you killed Zoom"

"No...I'm afraid you're mistaken..." she says calmly

"Y-yeah! Olive would never kill anyone, never mind Locky!" Tickery yells at Serenade

As some as I figured it out, I knew Tickery would try to stop me, Olive is the only friend here that she has left...or at least that's what she thinks...but I can't let her get in the way!

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Olive's Testimony

-Tickery's Testimony

-Punch's Testimony

-Puddles of water

Tickery- Olive isn't the culprit! How could you accuse her of something like that!

Olive- Don't worry Tickery...they have nothing against me...

Beau- Nothing against you?

Tickery- Well...she never had an opportunity!

You got that wrong!

"Tickery, you made it clear that there was an opportunity, at least for Zoom's murder"

"I...I did what?"

"When Zoom, Olive, you and I all split up, you and Olive split up from each other also, you did a thorough search of the second floor and then you switched sides of the floor, all Olive had to do was move Lock's body, switch to the next side of the floor and then kill Zoom!"

"You're wrong! Stop saying that!" Tickery yelled.

"Tickery?" Olive says catching her attention "Shut up and let me handle this"

"O-Olive?"

"So that's how it is..." Serenade says

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Lock's Boots

-Lock's Hair

-Rope

-B's Examination Results

-Olive's Testimony

Olive- Me? Kill my friend? That's a pretty dumb accusation

Beau- Well, how do you respond to it?

Olive- It wasn't me... why would I want to kill Lock and Zoom?

Orion- We have already figure that Zoom was a spur of the moment

Hammer- And Lock was killed to protect the culprit's secret

Olive- But there was no time frame for me to leave my room

You got that wrong!

"Ironic...you were the one that gave yourself a timeframe, Olive"

"I did...?" Olive still seemed calm at collected even with what was being said

"Don't you remember what you told me? We were awake from 5:10 to the end of Night-Time and when combine that with what Punch has said...she was in the garden from 4:00 to 4:30 so simply...you had the time frame of 3:30 to 4:00 to kill Lock and then 4:00 to 5:10 to get back to your room"

"...tch!" She faced away.

"But you still can't prove it!" Tickery rebutted.

"Actually, I think I can suggest she was there..."

"S-shut up!"

There was something I found that could suggest she was there...
Of course!

"The note I found in the laundry room...when I first saw it, I thought it could have been sent to Lock...but it would make more sense for it to be sent to Olive. Lock would have no reason to go into the laundry room after all and Olive was in there to get her swimsuit this morning"

"Well so were you, Samurai and Tickery" Olive says

"But you and Tickery were Lock's friends and there is more compelling evidence to suggest you went"

"Oh...?" Olive smirked

Yes...there is something...
Of course!

"Those boots Lock was wearing...how would you guys describe them?"

"They look like...worker boots..." Hammer says

"Yes, I would have said the same thing" Orion says

"That's right" Serenade smirked "And do we remember what Olive's SHSL talent was?"

"The 'Super High School Level Farmer'" Nimbus answers

"As a farmer, she would need to wear worker boots like those in the fields, I presume?"

"Yes...." Olive admitted

"But, that doesn't mean they're Olive's!" Tickery interrupts

"Hey! Why are you questioning Serenade's logic?!" Samurai says back

"Dude...you are such a fanboy" Punch says

"I...I am not..." Samurai blushed

"Leaving...that aside" Serenade says quickly. "Olive is the only one here that would wear worker boots, they have to be hers!"

"But can you prove it...?" Olive half laughs "Lock wears white trainers, right? Well let's see if I'm...oh wait, Monokuma told us to take our shoes off before the trial!"

"Upupupu! I love this carpet! I wasn't letting you all make it dirty!" Monokuma tells them

"As if" Beau retorts "You must have been covering for the culprit, this would be to easy if we just checked everyone's shoes"

"Well...I guess that's true to, but whatever! You can't prove it and therefore I did nothing wrong!"

"Besides" Olive puts her hands in her overall pockets "Couldn't I just get shoes from the laundry room? Couldn't LOCK get shoes from the laundry room? What's the problem?"

"Mr Stereo" Orion smiles "I do not expect you to be incorrect about this obstacle in your path"

She's right, this is really easy to explain. Neither of them got shoes from the laundry room because...
Of course!

"The laundry room lockers have a change of nearly everything: shirt, pants, socks...underwear...but they don't have shoes to change"

"Indeed, that is correct" Orion spoke

"Did...did you already realize the culprit had to still be wearing Lock's shoes?" Serenade asked but wasn't given a response to his question.

"Anyway, back to the main focus..." Beau puts them back on track

"It does make sense if Olive is the killer, right?" Samurai said "I mean, those are her boots..."

"That still hasn't been proven..." Olive said

"What do you mean...?" Samurai tilted his head

"Those dirty boots aren't mine, they're covered completely in dirt that could fall off or wash away really easily..."

"Lock's sneakers were spotless, right?" Hammer asked "So they wouldn't stain anything...wait, why are we talking about this?"

Hammer and Olive are both saying something really interesting...but I don't have anything in my ElectroID that would connect them...do I...?

"There's something interesting about what Hammer and Olive were saying..." Serenade says finally

Double Point Shootout

Evidence Bullets

-Puddles of Water

-Pool cart

-Punch's Testimony

-Laundry Room Lockers

Hammer- Lock's shoes were spotless...

Olive- Lock's boots were filthy...

Hammer- They clearly wouldn't have left a trace...

Olive- Those things would clearly leave a mark

Hammer- But it doesn't matter does it?

Olive- It's not important...

Olive and Hammer- The culprit...can't be found with their shoes

You're both wrong!

"The culprit actually can be found with their shoes alone...after all, that's what has been shown today"

"What are you yammering on about?" Hammer asked. They all looked at Serenade curiously

"Back in the pool, there were puddles of water on the ground, I remember it because Tickery slipped on the water and Olive helped her up"

"But what does this have to do with finding the culprit?" Olive asked

"Well...your worker boots must have been dirty but the puddle...was completely clear water even after Tickery and Olive stepped in it!"

"Y-you're pinning the blame on me for something as small as that?!" Olive yelled now showing true anger from the accusation of the double murder that had occurred. Why was she only acting up now though? That didn't make any sense, she finally must be feeling like she's backed into a corner. "What the actual FUCK?! How could you think I killed my friend? That just isn't right! Plus I didn't even send that note!"

Dammit! She isn't listening to anyone anymore...I have to stop her...

Machinegun Talk Battle

Olive- Shut up, shut up, SHUT UP!
Olive- Lock was my friend...
Olive- I hate you Serenade!
Olive- Tickery...help me
Olive- I could never!
Olive- Do you hate me or something?

Enough!

Olive- I didn't even send Lock that note, prove that's my handwriting!

Message in the Cafeteria!

"Do you guys remember what was written in the cafeteria? In red...I was 'Who's Next?' When we compare that to the note...the handwriting seems very similar doesn't it?"

"I...I..." Olive stopped and put her head down in defeat

Class Trial 3: Chapter 4

"Well it seems that is that..." Beau said breaking the tension between everyone now that the culprit had been discovered. "Only one thing left to do...Serenade?"

"Yeah?"

"W-wait...'only one thing left to do...Serenade?'" Hammer repeated

"Shut up you freakin' idiot!" Punch yelled at him

"S-sorry!"

"Time to go from start to finish...time to tell them how this crime played out" Beau fold her arms

I hate this part most of all...going through everything just to prove something that is already obvious...but I have to do it...for everyone here, they need to survive...

Here's how it happened!

Act 1.
This crime started the night we got our motives. The culprit knew that she couldn't her secrets that she had kept down to long revealed like that. She wrote a note and then sent it to Lock, calling him to the pool-

How? that just sounds stupid!

It was Beau that interrupted him this time "Serenade, I thought you had this all figured out but still haven't answered a crucial question, who wrote the note?"

"What do you mean, the one that wrote the note and the one that wrote the writing in the cafeteria are one of the same, right?"

"Of course, but that wasn't Olive"

"Huh?"

"It was another...Olive...isn't the culprit...she's an accomplice"

"Hold on! Why would she help someone in this?! An accomplice would gain nothing! Plus, why wouldn't she just confess, she's protecting the culprit? That's what you're saying, right?!"

"Yes...why would she help the guilty party...? And to answer why she didn't just confess...she's playing it up for the rest of us...but why would she take this risk might I ask?"

"I don't know what you're talking about..." Olive said "I've given up...I'm the culprit, execute me already..."

"O-Olive..." Tickery barely said

"You aren't the culprit, stop lying" Beau told her

"I'm not lying you bitch!"

"The student that wrote the note is the culprit...that should help..." Beau folds her arms, leaving the rest to Serenade to figure out.

"Ms Love...though I do not like to question the logic of another, why do you believe this? Do you have evidence to give your theory some support?" Orion asked but was not given a response

The one that wrote the note is the culprit...?

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Mysterious Note

-Tickery's Testimony

-Pool Cart

Olive- Oh for crying out loud...I'm the culprit! Can't we just leave it at that?

Samurai- Hasn't she already confessed to this? Why are dragging this on for longer than it has to be?

Hammer- The one that wrote the note and culprit...Are the same person

Grimdark- Which means of course. If Olive didn't write the note

Agreed!

"Olive...Olive didn't write the note...it was someone else..."

"That's what I said before, genius, you still don't know who it is though...the one that wrote the note is the one that killed Lock...that should help answer the question..."

If it wasn't Olive then...who was it? How does she expect me to know? Serenade stood in silence for a few seconds

"So are going onto voting or not?" Monokuma asked

"Not yet...give us a little more time" Beau tells him

"Fine, but I will put a timer on if I need to" He lounges comfortably in his seat

Who killed Lock...maybe it was someone we wouldn't expect...? Serenade's eyes widened "Someone...we wouldn't expect...the one that killed Lock is someone we wouldn't expect!"

"What do you mean?" Tickery asked, confused

"All the evidence from Olive...it was left purposely so we would think she's the culprit...and only one person here is someone we wouldn't expect and one that Olive would protect!"

It could only be you!

Everyone stood silent as Serenade looked to his left side and raised his arm

"It was Lock!" He points at the now deceased Pegasus's portrait

"W-w-w-w-w-WHAT?!!" Tickery yelled out

"L-Lock commitied suicide?!" Samurai said, clutching the sides of head trying to comprehend what was being said. "Why the hell would he do that?!"

"Be probably didn't want others knowing his secret...and he invited Olive to watch his death..." Serenade said, feeling disbelief at the conclusion he had arrived at but with no objections from Beau, he must have been right.

"Lock committed suicide...care you delve deeper into this? We should examine the possibility thoroughly" Orion says calmly.

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Puddles of water

-Monokuma File 3

-Pool Cart

-Missing shovel

Orion- If Lock truly did commit suicide...then we need to explore this possibility...

Nimbus- The cause of death was strangulation...

Punch- Wouldn't that mean he had to strangle himself?

B- I-Is that even possible?

Olive- Why are you talking about this?! I killed Lock!

Hammer- He didn't have anything to strangle himself with though...

You got that wrong!

"Actually, there was one thing that could have been used, there were a few pool noodles in the pool cart, if he used one of those, then he wouldn't leave any markings and he could have committed suicide via self-strangulation"

"A pool noodle? Then what about the neck markings?" Punch asked

"Those could have happened later...maybe after he was already dead, Olive grabbed his neck..."

"But if he was already dead, why would she do that?" Samurai asked. Olive sighed as she gripped her forearms

"Because....Lock asked me to" She admitted causing everyone to fall silent.

"Lock...asked you...?" Hammer repeated

"O-Olive?! What do you mean Locky asked you to help him with his death?!" Tickery questioned "I-if this is a joke...IT'S NOT FUNNY!" She yelled

"It...it isn't a lie...I met with Lock who...who told me that he wanted to protect everybody's secrets...so he sacrificed his life...the time I got there was 3:50..."

"But, Lock died at 3:45...didn't he?" Punch pointed out only to be responded with a nod

"So...he was dead before you got there..." Samurai said

"Y-yes...here" She pulls out a piece of paper "It's what Lock left for me along with instructions on what to do when I found his body..."

"Can I see it?" Serenade asks. She nods and passes it along to him, Serenade unfolds the paper and reads Lock's dying message.

Dear everyone...don't hate me for doing what I did, I couldn't let everyone suffer by having their secrets exposed so easily especially after you all worked so hard to hide them. I want you all to carry my spirit with you out of this place and to not fall into despair...I'll be in the hearts of you all forever and if there is anything else you are confused about...you can ask them about it...

-Lock 'Locky' Heart

"So...Lock really did commit suicide..." Nimbus said after a brief period of silence.

"Case closed then" Tickery said

"Not even close" Beau retorts "We still haven't found the answer to one question in this...who killed Zoom?"

"T-that's right...s-she's still s-shrouded in my-mystery..." B says

"The answer we've been looking for...is in that note he left us...Serenade...read over it again and tell us what important part can help lead us to the killer..."

A part of the note that can lead us to the culprit....wait...maybe she means...
Of course!
"Wait...'them'...?" Serenade read it over again " 'You can ask them about it'?"

"Exactly...the other student referred to as 'them'...is the culprit" Beau folds her arms "And I think it's very clear on who that could be...."

"So wait...it isn't Olive?" Hammer asks

"No...the one that killed Zoom is not Olive..."

"I'm telling you, IT WAS ME!!!" Olive yells at them

"Olive...?" Tickery gives her a scared look.

"I hit Zoom with the shovel! I killed her! Execute me!"

"The one that killed Zoom...." Serenade starts

"Was me!" Olive yells

"Is the other one referred to in the note left by Lock...and if my intuition is right...then there is only one possible suspect!"

It could only be you!

Author's Note

Any idea on the true killer even though it is really freaking obvious?

Class Trial 3: Chapter 5

"Tickery....it was you...wasn't it?" Serenade sounded sad saying it aloud.

"W...wha-....? What are...you saying? I killed...Zoom?" Tickery's eyes widened, looking at them, the were just empty voids of nothingness. Like she was already dead and her spirit had came back to haunt everyone still living. "How...ho-how hilarious...eheheheh...eheheheh....AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" She began laughing insanely, pupils shrank like she was trying to emphasise her breakdown. "OH! That is just PRICELESS!" She suddenly clamed down "But serious you think I killed her?" She started to giggle "Tickery would never do that!"

"W-what's gotten into her?" Samurai said

"Can I get a different podium, one a bit further away from this psycho?" Girmdark asks Monokuma but wasn't blessed with an answer.

"Shut the FUCK up Grimdark Sirens!" She yelled at him "You have nothing important to say in this!"

"She really had lost it this time" Hammer said

"What the FUCK did I just say to Grimdark you useless pervert!" Hammer whimpered at her insults. "Now...onto what's important..." She looked at Serenade with a sudden calmness "Tickery thinks you made a mistake, Tickery is not the killer!" She smiles eerily

"Well, could you explain why you couldn't be the culprit?" Beau asks

"Hmm...Tickery could most indeed do that! See, Locky is Tickery's best friend along with Olive!"

"We're talking about Zoom, not Lock" Hammer interrupts

"I'M FUCKING GETTING TO THAT!" She yells at him "Now...as I was saying...Locky was my best friend along with Olive...but regrettably, I'm a bit of a blabbermouth so...I didn't actually get a note asking me to meet him at the pool last night...and if I didn't get a note, then I couldn't have known about Locky's suicide...his suicide instructions, Olive mentioned and the fact that he wanted Olive to take the fall for it"

"...did you really just say something like that?" Beau says in disbelief "Didn't realize how stupid you really were"

"What? WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!"

"You're an idiot...how did you know he wanted Olive to take the fall for him?"

"Well why else would Olive say she was the killer for Locky?"

"I may not have killed Lock...but I did kill Zoom..." Olive added

"You didn't" Serenade retorted

"Can we revoke her right to speak unless we directly ask her a question?" Beau asks Monokuma

"Sorry, no can do. Has to be a fair trial for everyone!" Monokuma folds his arms behind his head.

Well...I actually need some evidence or this discussion is going to go back and forth and we'll get nowhere...this note left by LOck should prove useful though...

New Ammo: Lock's Final Words were loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

Alright...now I need to get this over with!

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Mysterious Note

-Lock's Final Words

-Olive's Testimony

-Tickery's Testimony

Tickery- Well all Tickery has to say is...that she is not the killer!

Olive- That's because I am

Samurai- We're just going back and forth here...it's getting ridiculous

Hammer- Well...Tickery is saying she never went because she didn't get a note...but we don't actually have proof of that

Nimbus- Hmm...I don't think there is evidence like that

You got that wrong!

"Actually, there is evidence that Tickery went to the pool...if we think about it the right way...the mysterious note was written by Lock and Olive went to the pool twice that day...once, to find Lock's body and second was with Samurai, Tickery and I...but this note in the locker room. We never actually confirmed if it was Olive's or not"

"You think this one could have been given to Tickery?" Samurai asks

"Right, it's not impossible...if Olive has that note with her then that proves it"

I'll plough you out of my field!

Olive hit her hand against the stand "Actually that is my note, I must have dropped it when I went to get my swimsuit this morning"

"Olive, you can't be serious, can you?"

"I'm deadly serious, just try to disprove this!"

Cross Swords

Evidence Blades

-Mysterious Note

-Lock's Final Words

-Puddles of water

-Pool Cart

Olive- You can't prove that note belongs to Tickery! Mostly because it's actually mine...why can't you guys see that? I keep admitting to it for a reason...because it's the truth, I killed Zoom with the shovel. It has nothing to do with Tickery!

Serenade- But the problem is....you would simply cover for Tickery. She is your friend after all

Olive- Are you serious? Yes she is my friend but the punishment for getting it wrong is execution! You can't prove that I wanted to do that!

I'll cut that claim into pieces!

"Actually, the fact that you hid the evidence of Lock's suicide would suggest you were trying to hide it from us...because, there might be something on this that might point to the true culprit, I.e., Tickery!"

"S-shut up!" Olive yelled "What the hell are you saying?! I don't want to die even if it did mean saving Tickery..."

"Y-Yeah! Who in their right minds would do that?!" Tickery agreed

"He has a point though" Beau says "If you knew it was a suicide from the start...why hide the fact?"

"U-uhhhh....." Olive was left speechless

"Tell us Olive...why did you hide the fact?" Beau asked her again

"B-because...Lock said so in his instructions!" Olive said finally "He told us to cover the fact that his death was suicide!"

"No...that can't be true" Serenade says

"What do you mean exactly?" Nimbus questions him

"I mean...that, that would contradict with something else...."
Of course!

"Lock's last words....why would he leave these if he wanted it to be covered up?"

"Olive...h-help...." Tickery pleaded

"Shut up, shut up!" Olive yelled in frustration

"This is tiring....Serenade...?" Beau looks at him

"So it's time to finish this off eh?" Punch folds her arms "Let's hear it then..."

Another murder case...another plot

Here's How It Happened!

Act 1

This whole case starts off with one decision made by one of the students. Lock. He knew that is someone didn't die, everyone would have their secrets revealed so he hatched a plan to help protect what everyone had kept down for so long. His own death...he wrote out two notes. One was to Olive and the other was for the case culprit, he called them to the pool however, the time the notes had was after the time he planned to kill himself. At 3:35. He must have known the two would have been late and that's why he chose that specific time for them to show up.

Act 2

Before he actually committed the crime, he wrote out two more notes. His final words and a list of instructions on what to do with his body after he died. He grabbed one of the pool noodles that were stocked in the pool cart and wrapped it around it his neck. He pulled on it hard causing him to suffocate and fall to the ground. Dead. Only minutes later did Olive and the culprit come into the pool to find Lock's body with the two notes sat beside it. After reading his dying message they agreed to carry out their friends last wish...

Act 3

They attempted to move his body to the garden but that was around the time Punch went to the garden stopping their chances of doing so. Instead they dumped his body in the pool cart and covered it up with the various equipment. They went back to their rooms for a while until Olive gave the idea of going for a swim so she invited a few others to join her even though she did know that she risked having Lock's body being discovered. Whilst in the locker room though she dropped her note that she got from Lock.

Act 4

When the morning announcement was played the culprit and Olive headed to the changing room and waited for Samurai and I to leave before transporting Lock's body to the garden shed, they used some rope from the storage closet to tie his body upwards and then Olive swapped their shoes around. They hastily made their way to the cafeteria and joined everyone else. After a while Nimbus and I left to look for Lock, Orion and Hammer but when Lock didn't answer the door I went back to get a few others to help me search for him, mistakenly, Olive and the culprit

Act 5

When we split up into two groups and Zoom and I headed to the third floor. Zoom investigated the garden and found Lock's body in the shed which I then found and rushed back to the cafeteria to get everyone up there, but Olive and the culprit were already in the garden, they went into the shed and must have done something like tamper with the body. The culprit panicked and grabbed the shovel, hitting her over the head and killing Zoom. Both Olive and the culprit moved Zoom's body into the shed by Lock's feet and ran back to the second floor to regroup with the rest of us and blend in with the crowd

Olive protected you...Lock is watching over you...but you can't be saved from the truth Tickery Clock!

"Hrrrrrrrrrrng...." Olive groaned "Why...?"

"Well Tickery? Any objections?" Serenade asked. Tickery kept a straight face then a crooked smile appeared on her face

"Objections...? Objections....?" She giggled "OF COURSE I HAVE SOME FUCKING OBJECTIONS!!!" She yelled

"Figures this psycho wouldn't give in so easily" Grimdark sighs

"Shut up!" Tickery yells at him, puching him in the jaw "You assholes have NOTHING on me! Why would Lock leave INSTRUCTIONS for his death?! It was suicide! The note would have been enough for everyone! Why oh why did Locky leave those weeeeeeird instructions...without those, there would be no reason for me to go to the garden....well 'Nade? Got something up your sleeve for that?"

Machinegun Talk Battle

Tickey- LOCKYYYYYYY!
Tickery- You're stupid! Stupid, stupid, STUPID!
Tickery- I wouldn't kill Zoom-zoom!
Tickery- Olive...help me
Tickery- You're all assholes!
Tickery- I didn't go to the garden!
Tickery- You have nothing. NOTHING!

Enough!

Tickery- Locky's death was suicide...why would he write instructions for what to do with his body?!

Attitude Sparks!

"Lock had a small condition that we got a taste of, his attitude sparks!"

"Oh really?" he looks at her dead in the eyes "Tell me something that we got out of them dying!" There was a silence "Exactly, if we don't gain anything out of their deaths then they were meaningless. It's as simple as that"

"You can't be serious man!" Hammer said annoyed

"...hm?" Lock blinked a few times "Serious about what?"

"Don't play dumb after everything you just said!" Beau yelled at him

"W-what?!" he look confused

"You just said all of the deaths were meaningless!" Zoom told him

"Wait...Ack! No, no, no, no, no! You don't understand!"

"What? Don't understand what?!" Zoom said

"I have....attitude sparks sometimes..."

"Attitude sparks?" Olive repeats

"Yeah...sometimes I'll say things I don't mean or I lie about something for no reason...I-if I offended any of you...I am so sorry..."

"With a condition like that, he would do anything without thinking! That's why those instructions were there...that's the reason Zoom was killed..."

"N...no...NOOOOOOOOO!!!!" Tickery cried out

"Upupupupupu! Looks like we come to my favourite moment, it's ballot time! In front of you are sixteen buttons, one for each student. You will cast your votes and majority votes will determine the culprit. Will you be right? Or will you be oh, so wrong!? What's it gonna be? What is it gonna be?!" Monokuma cackled

As the final button was pushed for voting, the huge slot machine appeared with 'Voting Machine' in red on the top. The three dials began to spin quickly for another few seconds before all three stop on Tickery's face causing a red 'GUILTY' sign to flash and two bouquets of flowers to pop out the sides.

Everyone stood in silence at the result of the ballot unable to believe what they had learned about the deaths of their friends.

"Upupupupu! Wowee! Three in a row, you go! The one that killed Lock was Lock himself and the one who smashed Zoom's skull in with a shovel? That was none other than the crazy daisy herself, Tickery Clock!"

"Goddammit...why does this have to keep happening?!" Punch said, frustrated

"Why Tickery...?" Hammer asked her

"Zoom-zoom...she...she saw us tamper with the body..." She admitted "If she told you guys...it would spoil what Lock put in the instructions...he wanted us to go to class trial...but I panicked...Tickery..." Her eyes watered up "Tickery never meant to hurt anyone! WAAAAAAAAAH!" She fell to her knees, tears flowing "It's my fault! It's my fault! My fault!"

"So...why did Ms Field protect you if it meant losing her life?" Orion asked

"I did it because...I had a feeling Monokuma was going to reveal her secret after the class trial...if everyone died...it wouldn't matter. I was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice if it meant saving my friend's life and secret! She'd win her freedom to..." Olive said

"Well...you are correct on that!" Monokuma says "You guys wanna know the little secrets that Zoom and Tickery carried?"

"What about Lock?" Samurai asks

"Oh...those attitude sparks were his, he showed them right before I gave the motive so I didn't have time to change it" Monokuma rubbed the back of his head "Anyway...story time! Tickery was a little girl aged eight, life was great for her until...one night, when she was alone in her house something terrible happened, Tickery's parents got in a car accident and both of them died in the hospital Tickery cried for until night-time but as that sadness was soon replaced by another strong emotion...vengeance. 'It was the hospital that couldn't save my parents! It's all their fault!' That's what she thought...so, she grabbed gasoline and a lighter and you know what she did? She set the hospital on fire! Very few people inside the building lived...and it was all because a little girl that lost her parents..." Monokuma closed a book he randomly produced mid-way in the story, it had no pages, just blank covers.

"Tickery...did that?" Samurai went pale

"I was arrogant...." Tickery said "I blamed the whole building for my parents death and hundreds of people died because of it...and the worse part it...they were only unconscious, their hearts stopped for a while but a miracle happened and the next day...they walked through the house door...I killed so many people for nothing!" Tickery started crying again.

"But...what about Zoom?"

"Oh-ho! Now that's a fun tale! Zoom was also aged eight when this happened, she was going to school one day, starting off like any other day when she stumbled upon these three students that were in the grade above her. These three had been picking on her for a while now and Zoom had enough of it. She decided that she had to get them back for everything they had done to her over the years so she used her photography skills for her plan. She waited for the right moment and took some very special pictures that shouldn't even be mentioned for nine year olds and she blackmailed them! But she didn't stop there, she blackmailed teachers into passing her tests without putting a single answer down! She became invincible until...she was busted, her parents found the pictures and just like that, she was powerless. She had to move school and move town just so her reputation could be used against her..." Monokuma closed the book again.

"Wow...who would have though someone like Zoom would do something like that" Hammer said in disbelief

"She seemed...so pure and kind hearted..." Orion said

"Yeah, well looks can be deceiving toots!" Monokuma says "But now...it's time for the main event!"

"W-wait! S-stop! Don't do this to her!" Olive objects

"Olive...I deserve what happens to me...I'll be joining Locky..."

"How many time have I told you...? I hate that nickname...my name is Olivia! Not Olive!" She yelled at her

"I know...Olivia...take care..." Tickery gives a smile

"No.."

"I've prepared a very special punishment for the Super High School Level Watch Maker, Tickery Clock! So let's get the ball rolling!"

"Tickery...don't do it..."

"Olive...?" Tickery tilts her head

"Don't....DON'T LEAVE ME ALOOOONE!!!"

"O-Olive?!"

"IT'S PUNISHMENT TIME!!!"

Class Trial 3: Execution

The usual red button rose from the ground for the third time. Monokuma pulled out his tiny gavel, his eye sparked red and he hit the button with the gavel.

Game Over!!
Tickery Clock was found Guilty!!
Commencing Execution!!

The huge metal chain flew into the room, grappling itself onto Tickery's neck and dragging her away through the door. The monitor flashed on to see Tickery hitting against something hard and a few more chains retrain her. The lights flash on in the room to reveal a huge clock like machine, each hour had a different means of execution. Fire, Electricity, knives, lasers and many others. It was a randomized execution

It's Half-Past Your Death Time

There was a shudder before the minute hand that Tickery was strapped to started spinning around. It started off slow but as it looped around more and more it in turn got faster and faster. The camera seemed to be following her face, you could see the strain from the air force that was hitting her and then suddenly the mechanism stopped. Monokuma was sat in front of the clock and cackled before pressing a button which revealed her execution method. Electrocution.

There was a sudden pour of salty water over Tickery. She spat some water out of her mouth with a gagging expression on her face. There was a zapping noise coming from the centre of the clock. It was the electricity turning on! The electrical current travelled down the clock hand quickly, coursing through Tickery. Her hair stood on ends until a bright flash of light engulfed the room and when it cleared, on the floor next to Monokuma was a pile of ash and Tickery had disappeared from the clock hand.

"Tickery..." Olive said, teary-eyed.

"D-dang...that's brutal" Grimdark commented on what he just saw.

"That's probably worse that the last two..." Nimbus said

"Why...? Why are you leaving me alone like this...?" Olive wept "Lock...Tickery...who's left...? Nobody..."

"That's not true Olive..." Serenade said "You have us, you can't be alone in a place like this..." his words didn't seem to have any effect on her mood

"O-Olive...?" B started "P-please...please don't me s-sad, it won't h-help anyone, especially n-not y-you...would Tickery or L-Lock want you to f-feel sad?" Olive was silent

"But...if we just told Zoom about the whole suicide thing...this never would have happened, Tickery would still be here..."

"Listen here!" Grimdark yelled "Do you honestly think that crying about this will make you feel any better? Do you think blaming yourself for happened will bring her back?"

"Of course not..." Olive simply said back

"Guys...maybe she just needs to find her own way of dealing with this" Serenade sighs "We can't pressure her into just letting go"

"Ack!" B cried out "I, I'm s-s-s-sorry for pressuring y-y-y-you!"

"It's fine...really..." She didn't seem sincere about it though.

"Well...I think we need to head to our rooms...we have a lot to discuss tomorrow" Beau tells them

"Hm? Like what?" Nimbus asks. Beau only glances at Grimdark before walking into the elevator, closely followed by everyone else.

"Before I forget! Grimdark, I installed a room for you during the execution!" Monokuma says from his seat

"Whatever..." Grimdark folds his arms before the elevator closes and they ride back up to the school.

Serenade sat on his bed, thinking about what just happened.

Tickery...she was like the ray of sunshine we needed in here...and now she's dead...

There was a knock at his door. He pushed his thoughts away before getting up and answering his door to find Olive, looking shamefully down onto the floor.

"Serenade...?" She said nervously

"Olive? What's wrong?" He asked concerned.

"Can...I come in...?" She still didn't look up but Serenade let her in. She sat on Serenade's bed. "Sorry for barging in..."

"It's fine...do you need to talk about something...?" He knew it was stupid question to ask. She must have came here to talk about Lock and Tickery.

"Could you..." She started "Could you roll up your sleeves for a second?"

What...? "W-why?"

"I...I found this..." She pulls out a slip of paper. He couldn't have...he checked his pockets, double checked, triple checked...it was gone. Serenade went pale. Olive knew...about everything. "I...I know I shouldn't have read it Serenade...I'm really sorry..."

"I...I..." He couldn't speak, it all came to fast. He kept these so far down and for them to be discovered just like that...his eyes fell of the guitar sitting in the corner, he recalled what Beau had told him. A weapon for each student...no, he shouldn't think like that.

"Serenade...?" Olive looked up to him

".....sorry.....if you already know the other two...then you should know the last one..." Serenade reluctantly rolled up his sleeve to be met with a horrified looking Olive, sat on his bed. On his left arm, it was covered in old scars.

"Oh...Celestia..." Olive covered her mouth "W-why...?"

"It ties in with the multiple personality...when I was younger I used to get bullied a lot just like Zoom did...one day I was dragged behind the school building, it was the usual treatment but halfway in I heard a voice saying they could take care of them for me...so...I agreed to let them and I blacked out...when I came to all the bullies had been knocked out, covered in cuts and bruises. That's where the multiple personality made its first appearance, it even had its own name: Shadow Rain. I ran back home and tried to retreat into my room but I lost control a second time and this time I had thrown my older brother down the stairs, he fell in such a way that it damaged his eyesight so he needs special made glasses now...I stayed in my room for two days and...that's where the first five of these came from, one scar equals one person I've hurt...all because I couldn't control Shadow..."

Olive stood up and wrapped her arms around Serenade. "That's horrible...but...you didn't need to do that to yourself..."

"It was me that couldn't keep him stable then...I've got control over him now though..."

"Well that's good...at least you've made sure that nobody else can be hurt by him..."

"Yeah...I suppose..." Olive pulled away as Serenade said that

"I...I should go...sorry for having to make you say that...here" She gives Serenade the paper "I won't tell anyone else...promise..." She smiles before leaving his room.

Olive...at least you're being strong to...that's always good...especially in a place like here, I'll never make it out, not when I'm to weak to do so. I will survive as long as I can though...Thunder...dad...my family...my friends are all waiting for me to never return on the other side of the building...

Serenade laid on his bed, shoes kicked off along with his shirt and pants, curled under the blanket he shut his eyes feeling like a heavy load had just been taken off his shoulders.

Day 7: Chapter 1

Day 7: The Fourth Floor

*Ding dong, Bing bong!*

"Ahem! This is a school announcement! It is now 7:00am, Night-Time is officially over! Let's make this day great you guys!"

Serenade sighed as he heard the announcement. He was already awake, just in the shower though as the water just started to run again. Well, the secrets he protected so much had been revealed now because Olive found his paper. Where did she even find it? Didn't matter, he should have kept it hidden in his room.

He finished up in the shower and dried off, putting his clothes on and heading to the cafeteria. Just as always, everyone else had already got there.

"Where were you?" Hammer asks

"Sorry, I was a bit busy..." Serenade lied. He didn't know why it was, he just hated saying to others that he was in the shower.

"Well...we were ready to go without you so hurry up next time" Beau tells him

"Right, sorry..." He apologised again. He couldn't tell if Beau could tell he was lying or not, she was just one of those types of ponies.

"Anyway, now that we've gotten through that class trial, the fourth floor should be opened up now, right?" Samurai asks

"You betcha! I hope we finally get something wicked, maybe something like a boxing ring!" Punch cracks her knuckles with a devious smile on her face.

"Hmm...or maybe something with a more technical feel to it..." Hammer smirks at the thought

"Or a meditation room to communicate with the afterlife..." Orion smiles

"Are..." Olive starts "Are we all just going to move on like this? Pretend like last night didn't happen...?" They all went silent "I guess I didn't notice until now but...most of us don't seem to mourn over the death of our friends...after Digital was executed...and Wild...we just acted like it never happened...like they were never there in the first place..." She stands up and heads for the door. "It's times like this that I wish Orion brought her channelling equipment..." She left the room. Everyone still stood in silence.

"Poor girl...must be tough..." Grimdark sympathises "Losing a bestfriend is never easy..." he leaves after saying that.

"Well, later, I'm gettin' a head start with Olive and Grimsey..." Hammer salutes before heading off. It takes a few minutes but eventually everyone makes their way to the new floor. The walls were yellow-orange colour, making the whole floor seem extremely flashy.

This has a different atmosphere compared to the other floors, it seems more...relaxed...? Serenade shook his head as he went down the hallway. Classroom 4-A was the first room he found. He opened the door and went inside Honestly, anything would be good to have at this point....any leads on reasons to why we're here...

Inside, on the blackboard, there was a picture of what seemed like Monokuma getting shot multiple times the only way to tell was little white specs flying in the air behind him and red that was on his body. He looked around a bit more, under one of the desks he found some strange medallions...they were Monokuma medals, guess he knows where he'll be going later. That shop on the first floor with the Monokuma slot machine.

He looked around a bit more and then, laying under the teacher's desk, was a photo...just like when he investigated the third floor. However, this time it was Digital and Tickery, holding hands with each other with Lock next to them like a third wheel, just like Gold, Wild and Moonlight. They were smiling, didn't seem like they were in Hope's Peak and the metal plates on the windows that sealed everyone off were gone.

"Hey, hey, HEY!!!" Monokuma yelled, bursting out of nowhere. "What do you think you're doing?! Why the heck are ya' trying to steal my photos all the time?!"

"I should be asking you why you even have these photos! Why are the metal plates off of the windows, is that even Hope's Peak in the picture?!" Monokuma paused as he was barraged with the questions

"Well...I can't tell you everything, I mean...where's the fun in that. Am I right? But I can tell you one thing, this is most certainly Hope's Peak in the photo." He vanished.

W...what? This is Hope's Peak in the photo? That can't be right...we're in Hope's Peak but all the windows and doors are blocked off! Serenade tried to figure out if what Monokuma had said was true or not, this would drive him insane if he didn't find out. He left the question for the time and left the room with it still itching in his brain.

He continued to the next door that was marked 'Classroom 4-B' this was the other classroom of the floor. The four floors each had two classrooms and three other rooms, aside from the first floor that had around five rooms plus the dorms. He went inside so find Punch trying to pull off the metal plating

"Celestia....dammit!" She grunted letting go of the metal bolt keeping the plate on. She turned and looked a little surprised to see Serenade standing by the door. "This floor's not got a window escape route..." she tells him with a slightly annoyed tone.

"Have you been checking that for each floor?" Serenade asked

"Yep, just finished this floor but still nothing!" She gave an angered glare "I swear, there has GOT to be someone behind this! That stuffed little shit shouldn't be able to do all this by himself!"

"You're right...there must be someone or something that's controlling him...but I don't understand their motives for doing this...but I can't be the only one"

"Yeah, Beau seems pretty focused on trying to figure that out herself, Grimdark to...speaking of which...I think we should be careful around that guy"

"Why?"

"My instincts tell me that there's something really wrong about him..."

"Are you sure it's not just the fact that he's a changeling? The last time Equestria heard of those, it was when they attacked Canterlot..."

"Nah...that's not it, something else about him just doesn't seem right...."

"Well I guess we don't know much about him so you do have a point..."

"Anyway, there's nothing really important here so we should head off!" Punch drags him out the room after her search.

"Say...Punch? I've been meaning to ask you something?" Serenade says once they leave the room.

"What's up?"

"When you came to my room on the first night and you offered me protection...what was the second condition?"

"H-huh...?" Punch tensed up.

"You said you wanted me to clean your room and then you were about to say something else but you backed out of it at the last second"

"T-that's none of your business!" She suddenly seemed defensive

"B-but-"

"Shut up! Just leave me alone!!" She threw him against the door before running off down the hall.

What was that about...? Serenade got up and headed off in the opposite direction and came to a door marked 'Rec room' he went inside to find a pool table in the centre with a magazine rack and a game of chess was set out on a small table.

"Ah...Mr Stereo, always a pleasure..." Orion greeted him from the corner of the room, she was sat in a chair with a magazine in her hand.

"Oh...hi Orion..." He said as Orion flicked through the pages.

"It is a shame...Monokuma has informed me that he cannot provide us with new editions of the magazines...but for an unknown reason, did not tell me why..." She closed it over and placed it neatly on the rack.

"Hmm...that is weird...why wouldn't he be able to do something like that?"

"If I was to hazard a guess, I would say that it is because he would be very much noticeable in the public areas of Equestria..."

"Speaking of which...where are you actually from?"

"Excuse me...?" Orion smiled curiously

"You just sound so sophisticated but you'd stick out like a sore thumb in Canterlot"

"Oh, actually I am from Trottingham and was taught how to speak this way by my mother and father who were both from Canterlot...that is all there is to it"

That can't be true, can it?

"Well, I must be going now, thank you for the conversation Mr Stereo..." She gave a bow before taking her leave. Unfortunately, thanks to Orion's explanation, there was nothing of interest in the room. He left and looked for the last two rooms, one was a gallery, sitting in the corner was Olive with Grimdark looking at the photos on display

"Olive...? Are you okay?" Serenade asked her

"A gallery...Zoom would have loved this..." Her voice was soft "But now..." She looked at the floor "Sorry...I shouldn't be bringing the mood down..." She apologised and kept quiet after saying that.

"I don't mind, Olive...I don't blame you for what you did, nobody does..."

"I do" Grimdark says from the other side of the room "She made her choice of killing off the rest of us to save her friend's skin...you're saying that choice wasn't her fault? You make me laugh!" He smirked as he turned to face the two that were crouched in the corner. "As for you" He pointed at Serenade "You got lucky when you found out that crazy mare was the culprit, if it wasn't for that girl, Beau, you would have lead everyone astray and got everyone executed!"

Serenade didn't respond, he didn't need to, Grimdark already knew what he was thinking

"As for the evidence? Remember who planted that? It was her" He moves his finger to Olive "So I guess I can't blame you too much, it was her fault that we got lead astray in the first place"

The three were there, left in an eerie silence until Olive stood and walked away, clearly hurt by what Grimdark had said.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Serenade yelled at him once Olive had left the room.

"What are you talking about?" Grimdark folded his arms "I was just stating the facts, she was the reason we were almost executed"

"She was protecting her friend! You can't blame her for that! Plus she also lost both of her friends so don't you just stand there and say things like that after everything that's happened to her!"

Grimdark paused "Listen here...listen right here you little shit" He glared a Serenade "Do you realise how many of my friends I was in charge of when I was a part of the Cheerag army?! It was so much more than two, I can tell you that much! I am a Super High School Level Lieutenant and I will not be lectured by some musician from a backwater town in central Equestria!" Grimdark stormed out of the room muttering some inaudible words under his breath.

What the hell is up with him? Back in the cafeteria he was sympathetic but now...he just acted like a complete asshole. Serenade shook his head. He should probably head back to the cafeteria, everyone would be finished with their investigation by now.

Day 7: Chapter 2

By the time Serenade had reached the cafeteria, most of the others had regrouped as well. Hammer was the only one not there.

"Where's Hammer? Is he still investigating the fourth floor?" Serenade asked

"No, Mr Head told me that he had some matters to attend to...but he did not tell what those matters were..." Orion explains.

"We can discuss without him then...who wants to go first?" Beau asks

"Those metal plates still aren't coming off anytime soon, I checked each and every single of them to!" Punch says

"So the windows as per usual aren't a possible escape route" Beau folds her arms

"There's a photo gallery with a few nice displays covering the wall...but it doesn't seem like anything of interest was in there" Nimbus says.

"Zoom...she would have loved that gallery..." Olive says. Her mood was extremely uncomforting but there was nothing anyone could do to help her with it.

"Yes...she would have..." Nimbus looks away.

"There was a rec room with a pool table, a line of various magazines...and I mean a wide variety" Orion started

"Like ones Hammer would enjoy?" Samurai asks

"Er...y-yes...there was also a game of chess that was set up...unfortunately the magazines will not be switched with more up-to-date ones, for some unknown reason, Monokuma has informed me that it is not possible..."

"Strange...they're just magazines, why would they be a problem?" Grimdark asks

"I do not know...my apologies..." Orion smiles.

"T-there's a w-workshop...it's equipped w-with lo-lots of different tools and materials to build something..." B says

"Maybe that's why Hammer's up there?" Serenade suggests

"It's Hammer, he won't be building something in his spare time...you know what I mean?" Samurai says

"Um...right..." Celestia dammit, Samurai!

"There are your usual two classrooms as well, nothing suspicious about them though..." Punch says

"Actually...there was one thing" Serenade says, all attention was drawn over to him as he said that. "It was just like the third floor, I found a photo of three of the dead students, unlike last time though, it was: Lock, Digital and Tickery but Monokuma snatched it up before I could get a good look at the whole thing"

"Was it like before? With the windows?" Nimbus asks

"Yep, none of the iron plates were covering the windows and something that makes those photos all the more suspicious is...they were taken here in Hope's Peak..."

"But, the metal plates are clearly here and yet they aren't in the photo? They can't be the same place!" Punch yells out

"Well maybe...we aren't in Hope's Peak" Beau suggests "I mean, we all fell unconscious when we entered through the gates which means...we could have been transported to somewhere completely different"

"But what about the three of them in Hope's Peak? I mean, they had to have at least spent a day there for that photo to be taken" Serenade argues

"True, but what if that isn't really Hope's Peak and Monokuma was just lying? I mean...he did lie about the Despair Nightmares so why wouldn't he do that now?"

"So Digital, Tickery and Lock all knew each other before coming to Hope's Peak?" Samurai asks

"It's defiantly plausible" Beau folds her arms. There were a few moments of silence.

"Well then...I guess that concludes everything" Nimbus says

"Not yet...remember in the class trial I said I had one more thing we would need to discuss?" Beau interrupted him

"Hm? What would that be?" Nimbus looked at her intrigued.

"It's about him" She points at Grimdark "Why were you hidden up in the third floor all that time anyway? And is it just a coincidence that you're the only changeling here?"

"Hmph! You have no idea what you're talking about! I woke up on the third floor and was stuck up there for the whole time...of course...if you have something that would say otherwise, I'd love to hear..." Grimdark smirked confidently

"Well, if you want evidence, alright then. Do you all remember the message that was left just before we got our last motives?"

"Yes, I believe it said 'Who's next?'" Orion recalls

"Exactly...but I don't think Lock was the one that wrote that now...what if it was Grimdark? What if he had a motive in his head that would reduce the amount of others that could attempt to kill him and therefore try to turn us against each other and kill one another for his own personal gain?"

"I don't think so! I hid in the side room in the pool the entire time until I was found by the music boy!"

It's Serenade you douche...

"Oh please, if you were in there the entire time you would have seen Lock trying to kill himself but even if you were there, you wouldn't have stopped him, he was making things easy for you and also. Why didn't you have to do class trials up until now? I think...you're the mastermind" Beau pointed at him as everyone went silent.

"M...mastermind...?" Punch repeated

"Monokuma can't be doing this by himself, there has to be someone behind the scenes, the man behind the curtain! Why not Grimdark? As a 'Super High School Level Lieutenant' he has muscles that protect him from most of us, excluding Punch of course who could rip him into little changeling pieces, he has the ability to easily strategize before performing an action and he has the brains to know whether a plan will work or not...I'd say he's the perfect candidate..."

Grimdark let out a chuckle "That's real cute, but you should try to actually prove that little farfetched theory of yours..." He turned and walked out, hardly phased by the accusation.

A mastermind? Could someone really be controlling Monokuma...I guess Orion did think the same thing but that doesn't mean it's true, does it?

"I still think that it's him, he just shows up out of nowhere in the middle of an investigation and expects us to believe his insane story!" Beau says, annoyed. "I need to go cool off..." She storms off leaving the rest of them to ponder on what she had said.

"So a real pony trapped us in here...?" Olive asked

"We can't say that for sure...it's just a theory that Beau came up with" Nimbus says

"But...Beau has always been right about things, like Serenade...why would now be any different?" Samurai scratches the back of his head.

"W-well...that can't be true, it just can't!" Punch says

"Y-yes...one of us is t-the ho-horrible one behind t-this? It's u-unthinkable!" B agrees.

"But...it is not outside of the realm of possibility..." Orion argues "Do you honestly believe that a small doll could trap us like this? It must be a robot of some sort and if it is a robot then there must be a controller somewhere, no?"

"She...makes a valid point, but I'm not sure" Samurai says

"We can't question an argument like that at this point in time!" Nimbus says to him.

Oh just go and make out with her in the storage closet already. Serenade rolls his eyes.

"Let's not think about it to much you guys...we should just relax for the rest of the day as well as we can..." Punch suggests.

"She's right...we should just wait around for the day to end" Nimbus folds his arms. But before that happened, Serenade had recalled those Monokuma medals he found and headed to the shop on the first floor that was next to the gymnasium. He had three medals.

The first attempt he did acquired him a fashion magazine. Second got him a purple and red dream catcher and the last attempt got him a blue metal stack.

How do these all fit in here? He shook his head as he headed off to his room to relax for a bit.

Author's Note

I totally haven't made it obvious on who will be next in the free time events...

Day 7: Chapter 3 - Free Time

Serenade exited his room after a quick costume change back into his clothes he was wearing when he first arrived.

Maybe I should see if Beau has cooled off a bit now... Serenade walked over to her door, a few rooms down from his and pressed the buzzer. Almost instantly, as if she was already waiting for him, Beau appeared in front of him. She seemed a lot more calm than back in the cafeteria.

"Oh...it's you. Did you want something?" She asked, no emotion whatsoever in her tone.

Well she at least seems a lot better... "S-so...I was wondering if you wanted to hang out for a little bit?" Serenade asked her for some reason it sounded very shy.

"Well...I got a few hours to kill I guess...but don't try anything weird or suspicious!" She said

I spent some time with Beau who was making sure I didn't do anything wrong...

I guess I grew a little closer to her... "Umm...Beau, I just got this from that Monomono machine in the shop but I don't really have any use for it..." Serenade pulled out the fashion magazine and handed it to her.

"Oh! This is what I've been looking for, I love this, thanks!" She gave an unexpected smile of gratitude.

I guess she really liked it!

"Hmm....tell me something Serenade, and be honest with me...what do you think of me?" She sounded serious

"Huh?" Serenade asked confused

"Tell me what you think of me...one trait that you think stands out above the rest"

Well....I guess she won't me go unless I give an answer... "You...you're not afraid to speak your mind..."

"Not afraid to speak my mind?" She repeated

"It's a good trait to have, it means you aren't afraid to voice your own opinion without a care of what anyone else thinks about it"

"So what you're saying is...that I don't care if my opinion offends others?!"

"Wait, what?!"

"So THAT'S what you think of me?! Ugh, you freaking prick!" she slapped Serenade and stormed off.

Ow....I think Beau might hate me now... He rubbed where Beau had slapped him and left feeling somewhat bad about what just happened. He should apologise for it later. He turned away and walked off in the opposite direction. Maybe I should see if there's anyone in the cafeteria...

He walked to his destination and found only one student inside the room. Hammer Head. I guess he's alright... Hammer turned his head slightly as the door closed.

"Oh, hey 'Nade!" He greeted "I've just been working on this machine that I think everyone will love when it's finished" He flashed a smile.

Well...I guess I should ask him... "Hey, Hammer? Do you wanna take a break for a few minutes?" Serenade asked

"Sure, I guess I should take a break every once and a while or else I'd be up all night trying to finish this off" He smirked

Hammer took a break from his machine and spent some time with me

We grew a little closer... Serenade pulled out the blue stack of metal and slid it over to Hammer. "I got it from that slot machine in the shop. Since you work with these sort of materials it's probably a better idea for you to have it"

"Wow, thanks...I'll need to figure out what to do with it though...!" Hammer's eyes sparkled

Well, he liked it for sure!

"So, Serenade how about we have a very serious talk?" Hammer said

"A serious talk? What do you mean?" Serenade tilted his head curiously

"Girls"

"What?"

"Girls, dude! There are plenty of good look mares in here and you're trying to say that you don't wanna just...'stick it to them'? If you know what I mean!" Hammer blushed as he said it.

"W-w-w-wait! Now hold on a second, we're in high school!"

"So? You trying to say that you've never had that first time?"

"YES!!" Serenade yelled at him. "Cause I'd rather not just throw myself at the first girl I see!"

"Well whatever...if you ask me, Orion is pretty classy but not got much for her looks. Beau has an attitude but she has got it going on!" Serenade just sat in disbelief as he was saying these things.

I can't believe he's talking about this!

"Punch is really aggressive...so she's out of the question...B is to shy to talk to, she'd be the freaking innocent one in her school, Olive is-"

Think of a way to change the subject!! "Hammer!"

"...yeah?" He stopped talking about girls for a second

"Um...what's your...favourite tool?" This should distract him...

"Hmm...well, I like my power drill a lot but of course hammers are pretty cool...maybe a screwdriver...? Nah, the designs are to basic for my liking oh! I know! It's got to be a monkey wrench!" He gave a thumbs up.

"A monkey wrench?"

"Yeah! They look awesome to me and I don't know why but I just love them so much....which sounds kind of creepy when I say it aloud..."

"I don't think it's creepy, you're just passionate about your hobby" Serenade smiled.

"You really think so? Thanks 'Nade! You're a pretty cool dude!" Hammer gave him a thumbs up. "Well, I should get going now, talk to you later man!" Hammer stood up with his machine in hand and took his leave.

*Ding dong, Bing bong!*

"Ahem! May I have your attention, please? It is now 10pm and officially night-time! As of such, the cafeteria doors will be locked soon and entry to certain places is strictly prohibited! Sweet dreams now..."

Serenade stood up from his seat and headed back to his room. He sat on his bed and pulled out his ElectroID for his student update.

Beau Love

Hmm....tell me something Serenade, and be honest with me...what do you think of me?
So what you're saying is...that I don't care if my opinion offends others?!

Hammer Head

Girls, dude! There are plenty of good look mares in here and you're trying to say that you don't wanna just...'stick it to them'? If you know what I mean!
Orion is pretty classy but not got much for her looks. Beau has an attitude but she has got it going on!
Punch is really aggressive...so she's out of the question...B is to shy to talk to, she'd be the freaking innocent one in her school
Hmm...well, I like my power drill a lot but of course hammers are pretty cool...maybe a screwdriver...? Nah, the designs are to basic for my liking oh! I know! It's got to be a monkey wrench!

He switched off his ElectroID and left it on the bedside table before kicking off his shoes and jeans, laying down on his bed and falling asleep.

Day 8: Chapter 1

Day 8: Now you see me....

*Ding dong, Bing bong!*

"Ahem! This is a school announcement! It is now 7am, Night-time is officially over! Let's make this day a great one everyone!"

Serenade slowly awoke and sat up in his bed. He paused. There was something different in his room. The guitar was still there, the furniture was still there. He reached for his jeans.

Nothing.

There was nothing. It was his clothes that he wasn't wearing, that's what had disappeared! But didn't he lock his door last night? He ran over and checked. It was unlocked.

"Dammit!" He yelled at himself. Someone in the school was pranking him like this? He didn't much time to think about, there was a knock at the door. Serenade gulped and he peered around the edge of the door when he opened it. It was Grimdark.

"Hey...you're usually one of the first there, what's taking ya' so long?" He asked

"W-well...someone stole my clothes in the middle of the night so I don't have any pants..." Serenade explained. Grimdark stood silent for a few seconds before a crooked grin appeared on his face.

"You're kidding...right?" Serenade shook his head. "Pfft...." He started to laugh. "Wow, you got hit harder than a lot of us! Maybe even top!"

"What do you mean?"

"Everyone had something stolen from their rooms last night, but with you...it just went to a whole new level!"

"I-it's not funny!"

"It's pretty funny actually. But if you need pants I'll see what I can do...give me a minute" Grimdark heads off back to the cafeteria. Serenade shuts his door and sits on his bed, waiting for Grimdark's return.

Everyone's had something stolen from them? Would that mean Monokuma was trying to give another motive? This one is really weak compared to the others though so maybe someone is lying about it....I hate the thought of that but...it's not impossible He sat on his bed until there was another knock at the door. Instead of just Grimdark this time though, Hammer was accompanying him.

"Seems like Hammer is closest to your size. Here" He passes through a pair of grey cargo pants.

"They may not be your style but it's better than nothing, right?" Hammer said

"I guess..." Serenade shut his door and puts the pants on before getting his luckily not stolen socks and shoes and heading out the door to join Grimdark and Hammer.

"I have to wonder who the heck would steal all this..." Grimdark folded his arms.

"They stole the thing I was working on! Do you even realize what that means?!" Hammer yelled clearly distraught by what happened.

"No, because you refuse to tell any of us what the machine actually was..." Grimdark sighs. "They stole my fucking medals. Those are proof of my work in the army and they fucking took them!"

"Needless to say, the one that did this is gonna be hurting a whole lot when they're found out..." Hammer says.

"Well, let's head to the cafeteria for now and see what everyone else has to say..." Serenade suggests

"Umm...I'm not sure if that's the best idea..." Grimdark tells him "Everyone's accusing each other of the thefts so it's a huge riot"

"Well, we should at least try to calm them down..." Serenade says

"Fine...but we aren't going in unless you can calm them all down..." Grimdark says as they head to the cafeteria. Serenade goes in alone, as soon as he opens the cafeteria doors, his ears are attacked by a series of loud comments and accusations that can't be made out.

"I bet it was you, you bitch!" That one was most likely to have been Beau.

"I smash you to pieces if I find you, I swear!" That had to have been Punch.

"I'll have to cut you down a notch!" That was either Samurai or Nimbus. "If I don't then the hellfire will!" Nimbus, had to be Nimbus.

"Um...g-guys?" Serenade tried to grab their attention but to no avail. "Guys!" Still, they ignored him. Serenade sighed and stood up on one of the tables. "GUYS!!!" He yelled out, finally grabbing the attention of everyone in the room. "Thank you..."

"Did you have something stolen to?!" Punch asks immediately.

"Yeah...but I don't think it was one of us...I think this might be Monokuma's new motive..."

"What? Our stolen possessions? What's a lot weaker than the rest..." Beau comments

"But it isn't impossible, Ms Love.." Orion says

"Nope! It's impossible, one of you guys stole something from everyone else!" Monokuma says appearing out of nowhere as per usual. "As for who...I'm not gonna say!"

"So one of us really did take one belonging of each of us?" Samurai asks

"Well not everyone...they didn't steal from themselves!"

"Alright, who was it?!" Punch yelled "Fess up before I find out myself, then I'll beat twice as hard when I do..."

"Just...try not to kill them..." Nimbus says "We don't need another class trial because of this"

"He's right, once we find out who did it, we can let Punch hit them for a maximum of seven times because eight would probably kill them" Samurai says

"One could kill them..." Olive folds her arms.

"We should start by creating a list of all of the stolen items, then if any of us happen to come across one, we can take it to their rightful owner..." Orion suggests

"This is based on the assumption that some items were dropped by the culprit" Beau says and is given a nod from Orion.

"Well? Monokuma, would you be so kind as to-"

"Already made a list, toots!" Monokuma cuts her off as he pulls out a piece of paper and sticks it on the wall.

Stolen Items! Return to owner if found!

Serenade- Change of clothes + other pants
Orion- Old charm
Grimdark- Army Medallions
B- Spell book
Samurai- Practice sword
Nimbus- 67 shurikens
Hammer- Secret machine
Olive- Photo
Punch- Diary
Beau- left shoe

Wait a second... "Beau only lost her shoe? That's what she's so annoyed about?" Serenade looks at her

"Don't give me that look, I have my reasons for needing it back..." She simply states

"Oh yes...you very much do Ms...'Super High School Level Model'..." Monokuma says before disappearing.

"Hmph! Whatever...I'll find that stuff by myself...!" Beau leaves.

I guess that girl will do anything without questions from anyone. The others start to scatter around the building as usual and Serenade heads back to his room for a small rest. An envelope slips under his doorway after around three minutes of being back. He opens it up to find a note and a Monokuma medallion inside.

'Just to say you're awesome!' That had have been Samurai...his handwriting was surprisingly good. Serenade walked out the room and headed to the shop room and slotted the medal into the Monomono machine. It made a *Clunk* noise and a blue medallion dropped out. Wait...

A medallion...? Didn't Grimdark...? He looked closely into the Monomono machine...it was true, there were a few medallions inside the machine, this must have been what happened to Grimdark's medals...did Samurai already find them inside and want Serenade to take the glory of finding them? It was likely...or was it the culprit...? Either he knew something.

He was paying a visit to Grimdark...

Day 8: Chapter 2 - Free Time

Serenade stood outside of Grimdark's room. He knew Grimdark wasn't very fond of him but even so...he may as well try to have a civilised conversation with him no matter what his attitude may be like. He pressed the buzzer and waited outside for him, it took longer than expected but eventually, he answered his door. Grimdark didn't seem to happy to see Serenade though.

"......what...?" He simply asked him.

Oh Celestia, do I honestly want to attempt this...?

"Hey, uh...Grimdark...?" Serenade started

"I know what you're gonna say...you want hang out with me right?!" He smirked

"W-what?! w-"

"Well then, you're gonna do my special training course!"

"NO! I-"

"No buts, maggot! You will listen to your lieutenant or face the consequences!"

"Y-yes, sir!"

"Good! Now move out!"

I was forced to do an army training course by Grimdark...

I accidently grew closer to Grimdark... "How before you spawn more barbwire for me to walk over"

"It practices endurance..." He states

"Right...anyway, I found this in the Monomono machine, the rest are in there to..." He hands Grimdark the blue medallion.

"W-what?! You had this?! Well then...thank you Mr Stereo, I will remember this moment"

You bet he freaking liked it! Wait...it was his to start with, of course he was going to like it!

"Tell me Serenade...what is your battle strategy?"

"Battle strategy? I don't under-"

"YOU'RE ARMY BATTLE STRATEGY!! WHAT IS IT?!!"

"Ack! I don't have one!"

"You...don't have one?" Grimdark looked at him as if those words didn't make sense as a response to his question.

"Well, I wouldn't really need one, I'm not part of any army..."

"....well...do you know how the military works?"

"A bit...from history in school..."

"History...very well, prove it...what was the name of the plan that the Germanes used against the Prench in the First Equestria War?"

"The...plan...?"

"Yes, the plan. ARE. YOU. DEAF?!!"

"No, sir!" But I will be if you keep yelling at me like that...um...the plan that the Germanes used against the Prench in the First Equestria War...I think it was called... "That was the Schlieffen Plan, wasn't it...?"

"Correct...impressive you'd know that, seems that space between your ears does have something inside it"

"Um...thanks?"

"Ah, the Schlieffen Plan could have worked...it was a well thought out plan as well...pity it failed...well...I guess the Prench would say different"

"Yeah..."

"True enough...well, I have business to attend to so for now, I must bid you adieu, Serenade..." He turned and marched off.

I'm not sure what just happened but...I think I understand Grimdark a little better...maybe he isn't so bad as everyone else thinks... Serenade walked off with the thought in his head. Maybe they just didn't understand Grimdark, he seemed nice if you got to know him a little.

Serenade headed to the rec room on the fourth floor. He wanted to read a music magazine he noticed the day before when they were investigating. He entered the room and went over to the magazine rack. Serenade looked at each individually until he found the one he was looking for. He sat in one of the chairs in the corner as he flicked through the pages. A few minutes from being in the rec room. Someone had already entered, Orion.

"Oh...hello Mr Stereo, how are you?" She gave a polite smile

"Oh...hi Orion, I'm fine..." ...I could ask her to kill a couple of hours with me... "Hey, Orion, do you wanna do something?"

"Hmm...like what?"

"Whatever you want"

"Well in that case....how about we have a game of pool?"

"Sounds good"

"Excellent!"

I played pool with Orion

We grew a little closer...not as much as Nimbus would want to though "Hey...Orion, I got this from the Monomono machine" He pulled out the dreamcatcher he got and handed it to Orion. "I think you'd like it"

"Why, Mr Stereo...thank you very much for this thoughtful gift!" She smiled

Well she must have liked it!

"....hmm......" Orion sighed

"Is something wrong?" Serenade asked with a concerned tone.

"Sorry to worry you Mr Stereo...it is just...I feel so useless in here..."

"What do you mean?"

"Because of my neglect to take my spirit channelling equipment here...we have to go through class trials to find killers..."

"Oh, c'mon, Orion, you aren't useless"

"Thank you for your attempt to give me some self-worth but...I must apologise if I can't say I see eye-to-eye with you on this occasion..."

Poor Orion...I have to think of something to cheer her up... "Well...I lost my cell phone when we came in here"

"Hm? What are you talking about? What would that have to do with my equipment?"

"Because...if my cell phone was taken...your spirit channelling equipment might have been taken to upon arrival, you wouldn't have had it with you at this point either way"

"...yes...you are correct I suppose...I must say, it does make me feel slightly better than before...my sincerest gratitude Mr Stereo"

"You're welcome"

"Well...I must return to my room now...good day, Mr Stereo..." She gave a bow before wandering off out of the room.

She still as polite and proper as ever...

*Ding dong, bing bong!

"Ahem! May I have your attention, please? It is now 10pm and officially night-time! As of such, the cafeteria doors will be locked soon and access to it is strictly prohibited! Sweet dreams now!"

Serenade headed back to his room. Making sure that he defiantly locked his door this time just in case of any more break-ins. He pulled his ElectroID and updated the student reports

Grimdark:

...what was the name of the plan that the Germanes used against the Prench in the First Equestria War?
Ah, the Schlieffen Plan could have worked...it was a well thought out plan as well...pity it failed...well...I guess the Prench would say different

Orion:

I feel so useless in here...
Because of my neglect to take my spirit channelling equipment here...we have to go through class trials to find killers...

He switched it off before setting it on the bedside desk, taking of his shoes, socks and pants and slowly drifting off into his slumber...

Day 9: Chapter 1

Day 9: Hammer's machine and Monokuma's brutal trial

*Ding dong, bing bong* Hearing that to many times would probably make someone go insane

"Ahem! This is a school announcement! It is now 7pm and as of such, Night-time is officially over! Let's make today a good day! And also...could everybody please make their way to the gymnasium for a special surprise? Thank you!"

Serenade raised an eyebrow when he mentioned the gymnasium...what was Monokuma up to? Did he have a new motive prepared for them? He'd usually appear in the cafeteria beforehand though, so why was this time different?

Serenade got dressed and headed, hastily, to the gymnasium. He was last in, it looked like everyone else had similar thoughts to him since they all seemed out of breath. Aside from Beau, who still had her bitchy poker face on.

"Looks like we...all got here...as fast as we...could" Samurai panted, he must have just gotten there before Serenade. For a swordsman, he was really out of shape.

"I wonder why he called us here...and why you all felt the need to rush over..." Beau says.

"What if he's got something bad planned for us?! I don't know about the rest of you but I was panicking about it!" Hammer exclaimed

"I was in the middle of my morning run around the school" Punch says

"Morning run?" Nimbus repeats

"Yeah, I gotta stay in shape so that I don't lose my fighting edge" She folds her arms "I use the equipment in the changing rooms for a few minutes and then I head off around the first and second floor!"

"That's a nice story, but frankly, no gives a fuck" Grimdark tells her

"You wanna fight, you prick?!" Punch cracked her knuckles.

"Ugh, when someone resorts to violence whilst off the battlefield to settle things, it makes them look complete and utterly pathetic" He looked dead into her eyes. "So I suggest to you: learn to control that temper of yours or you'll regret it!" He yelled , silencing everyone. Including Punch. "That's better..."

"Well...if this really is a new motive...do you guys think that it'll go along with the thefts?" Olive asks

"It could add to it...but I don't think it would be directly connected..." Beau says

"Why not?" Serenade asks curiously

"Well...Monokuma likes to use really big things in our lives to make us want to kill one another...something like thefts wouldn't be enough so he must have something much stronger..."

"She's got a point..." Hammer admits.

"Well kiddies, you know what time it is!" Monokuma's voice sounds throughout the gymnasium as he hops onto the podium. "It's motive time!" He yells out throwing his arms into the air. There was a long silence.

"...well? What is it...?" Nimbus asks

"Umm..." Monokuma looks down, depressingly. "Truth is...I haven't really thought one up..." He admits

"So why the heck did you call us here?!" Beau yells

"Because...since I couldn't think of a motive...I thought I'd use something to my advantage..." His eye sparks red. "Hammer, remember that little machine that you were working on?"

"My machine? What about it...wait...did you find it?!" Hammer beamed

"Oh, I found alright. In complete pieces!"

"H-huh?! Pieces?!"

"Yep...and please, for me? Could you tell everyone what you were making?"

"Umm...it was a way for us to talk to those that had died...I actually finished it just before it got stolen"

"And THAT'S the beauty part of this meeting! Since the machine was complete, that means the students were alive within the machine...and does anyone want to take a guess at what all this means...?"

"...wait...you can't possibly be saying...?" Beau starts

"Oh yes! That means that the since the machine is broken, all students inside died...which mean it's time for a class trial!" Everyone was taken aback.

"You can't be serious!" Punch yells "It's a dumb robot! Why the hell should it count as a victim?!"

"Hey, it wouldn't be the first time I counted a machine as a victim!"

"What are you talking about?" Samurai asks

"....nothing...nothing important" There was a hint of annoyance in his voice. "Either way, no matter what you try to do, this class trial is happening and if none of you want to compete...there's always the alternate" His claws sharpen

"A-alternate?" B repeats

"Do I have to spell it out for you?!" B flinched as he yelled "You're executed! Okay?! Was that clear enough?!"

"Y-y-y-y-y-yes!"

"Good! Now, you won't be getting the Monokuma File until you find the 'corpse' so get to it!" He vanished.

"This is bullshit!" Punch yells

"I know, Monokuma just took his demonic levels to a new height!" Samurai grits his teeth.

"And yet" Orion interrupts. "This seems like something that he was likely to have done from the very beginning..."

"What do you mean?" Olive asks

"He wants to collect despair from us, no? What better way than having a meaningless death from destroying a machine?"

"She...she's right..." Hammer says

"Well...we can't waste any time or Monokuma will start the class trial without us being able to learn anything" Grimdark tells them all. "We should split up, Beau and Punch can search this floor for the machine. Make sure you check the rooms as well in case you find the other lost items. Orion, Nimbus and Hammer will look around the second floor, check that storage closet, again, some things could be hidden there. Olive and Hammer can take the third floor and Serenade, B and I will check the fourth floor. Got it?" Everyone nods before splitting up.

When they reached the fourth floor Grimdark stopped them. "Alright, I'll check the gallery and the two classrooms, B can check the rec room and, Serenade can go to the mechanics room" They nod before splitting away from each other. Serenade rushed down the corridor. The mechanics room was the only room he hadn't seen yet so he knew where he was going. He stopped in front of the door and slowly opened it and carefully started to look around the room. There were a few tables with tools laid out on top of them. Three tables to be exact. He looked behind the first two. Nothing. The third one however made Serenade stumble back in shock.

Propped up against the wall was a more mechanical looking Digital Code, his head was down and, what looked like blood, was seeping out from his head. There was a small tool next to his body and a much larger one next to it.

"W-what the hell...?" Serenade questioned as the doors to the room opened and Grimdark, accompanied by B walked in.

"Did you find it?" Grimdark asked. Serenade nodded and pointed to the 'corpse'. "Huh? Isn't that the guy in one of the portraits in the class trials?"

"Y-yes...Digital C-Code..." B informs him.

*Ding dong, bing bong!*

"Ahem! A body has been discovered! I will allow a certain amount of time for investigation before we begin another class trial..."

"B, you go get the others and tell them where we found the body" Grimdark commands as B nods and rushes out of the room. "Dammit...this'll be one hell of a pointless class trial...but I guess it isn't an exception"

"What do you mean?" Serenade asks

"...Monokuma has been using unfair tactics to get unfair not-so-mutual killings out of us and then for us to choose who to execute. He says that the winner stays alive but let's be honest with each other" He turns and faces Serenade.

"In those trials....there's no such thing as a 'winner'..."

Day 9: Chapter 2

Author's Note

WARNING!

There are spoilers in this chapter about the game! If you don't want to be spoiled, be wary!

Day 9: Chapter 2

After a short few seconds, some of the others had gathered with Serenade and Grimdark next to the mechanical corpse that was lying in the corner of the room.

"Aw! My project! Ruined!" Hammer says

"C'mon man...you can always repair it, right?" Samurai tries to comfort him.

"No...those were extremely rare parts that I used, I don't think there's anymore of them in the entire building...my 'DigiBot MK1' is ruined!"

"Oh, quite your whining" Beau says, irritated. "We need to figure out the killer in this case or we're all getting executed so you might as well treat this like any other murder that's happened so far" Her tone gets more forceful the more she speaks.

"Y-yes, ma'am!" Hammer salutes.

"Alright...let's get to it then...but first...three...two...one...no-"

"Hiyeeeeeee!" Monokuma says much to cheerfully. "Whelp, like I promised, I'll send you bastards the Monokuma Files!" As soon as Monokuma said that, the ElectroIDs went off with the new Monokuma File loaded into them.

New Ammo: Monokuma File 4 was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

Let's see....'the victim is the DigiBot MK1, cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head and death was instant... "Wait...that's it? No time of death?"

"Sorry! Can't tell you that!" Monokuma rubbed the back of his head. "But, I'd better get preparations ready for the class trial! See you guys later and happy investigating!" Monokuma vanished.

Serenade turned to the 'corpse' of the DigiBot. This is gonna be one hell of a trial later... He bent down beside it, Beau crouched on the other side, examining the wound.

"Looks like the weapon was medium sized and hit him on the left side of his head..." She says

"Huh?" Serenade looks at her

"Yeah...the circumference of the wound would suggest it wasn't to small or too large"

"How are able to tell these things so easily?" Serenade tilts his head as she bites her lip.

"I...can't say..." She gets up. "I have to go..."

"But-" Serenade tries to call her back but she had already left. Medium wound on his left side...

New Ammo: Head wound was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

There are two different hammers here. One really small one and a really large one...so which did the culprit use?

New Ammo: Two hammers were loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

Serenade turned his attention to where all the tools were kept. There was a rack of hammers but three of the six spaces were empty.

Well, there are two on the floor but as for this last slot...it's right in the middle...I wonder who took it?

New Ammo: Hammer rack was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"Aw...I can't believe this happened to my DigiBot..." Hammer complained

"Well...it is a shame, after all of your hard work..." Serenade said

"He was going to be able to get us out of here without breaking a sweat..."

"Why don't you tell me a bit more about the robot?"

"Sure...this robot has twice the strength of Punch and a supercomputer mind. The reason it looks like Digital is because when I was building it, I thought about its programming and then Digital came to mind so that's how the design came along."

"Why is it bleeding?"

"I wanted to make it as realistic to a normal student as possible so instead of it running on electricity, I made it run of red fuel!"

"How did you get red fuel?"

"There was food colouring in the kitchen and some special fuel in here already so it was pretty easy"

New Ammo: DigiBot MK1 data was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"You know what I'm still trying to figure out?" Hammer folds his arms

"What?"

"How the culprit got DigiBot up here so easily"

"Why is that?"

"Well it weighs a lot so it wouldn't be easy to get up here without taking a break, it's size would make it easy to spot but nobody has said anything about it and nobody but me could turn it on since the switch it hidden in a special place"

"Special place?"

"I put it on the waistband of his underwear! Who's gonna look down there?"

Beau... "Anyway, thanks for the information, Hammer, it could come in use"

"Glad to help!"

New Ammo: Hammer's Testimony was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

Serenade turned his attention to Samurai who was looking at each little section of the room with more focus than he probably should have had.

"Find anything yet?" Serenade asks

"Yeah something kind of weird: this..." He picks up a small button. "I'm not sure what it does...do you think I should press it?"

"Sure, anything could help us at this point" Samurai nodded and pressed the button. There was a beep before one of the sections on one of the walls slid away, leaving a huge hole.

"W-woah!" Hammer exclaimed "Who would have guessed this was here?"

"So that's what this does..." Samurai says

"...it would be best if we kept this all between us..." Orion, who nobody had noticed was even present within the room, says. "It could be like a secret weapon in the class trial of sorts" she smiles. "Do we have an agreement?" The three boys nod. "Good"

New Ammo: Secret compartment was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

Samurai pressed the button again and the wall closed over. "I wonder why that's there"

"Storage? It can't be a way out since it just goes to a dead end" Hammer says

"True...but it's empty, what happened to whatever was stored inside?" Samurai asked

"Hmm...dunno" Serenade admits.

"Hmmm...what time did the culprit kill him...?" Samurai muttered

"Huh?"

"S-sorry, it's just...I was here on the fourth floor for a while this morning and...the robot wasn't in here..."

"Really? What time was that?"

"I think it was around...6:30am, I actually saw Punch this morning as well doing her jog around the school!"

New Ammo: Samurai's Testimony was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"I would be ecstatic if that information was able to help you, Serenade!" There was a twinkle in Samurai's eyes as he said that. One that would creep anyone out.

"I just might..."

"Really?! Awesome!"

It doesn't seem like there's anything else in here...I wonder if anyone else has found anything... Serenade exited the room and searched around the rest of the floor. He went into the gallery to find Grimdark crouched in the corner.

"What the hell...?" He muttered

"Did you find something?" Serenade asked, catching Grimdark off guard.

"O-oh, Serenade. Yeah...some weird residue that's been left here in the corner, and not just here...I think there was some in the mechanics room as well" He points to some brown powder on the ground. "I think it might be dirt..."

"Well, that's not so weird since there's a garden just on the floor below" Serenade says

"I suppose so...still"

New Ammo: Dirt was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"Not much in here though..." Grimdark tells him.

"Hey boys, find anything worthwhile?" Punch's voice cuts into their conversation.

"Just dirt on the floor..." Serenade tells her

"Dirt? So the culprit went to the garden?"

"That's what we're guessing" Grimdark folds his arms.

"Well it doesn't narrow it down since we were all in the garden for the last investigation..." Punch points out

"Yes but that was a few days ago so it's unlikely that they could have dirt from then still on their shoes...so they must have went more recently..." Grimdark suggests.

"Well, to bad I didn't see them"

"What do you mean?" Serenade asked intrigued.

"Well, remember when I mentioned my morning routine? The thing is, I never saw anyone during my morning routine, not since the last class trial..."

"What time frame would this be around?" Grimdark asked

"Well...first around 5:00am to 5:45am, they'd have around five minutes after that since that's when I go to the changing rooms to work out and them I go around the school until the morning wake up call"

New Ammo: Punch's Testimony was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"I'm gonna look around here a bit more..." Grimdark says

"Same, you never know what you might find" Punch folds her arms.

"I'll check the rest of the floor. See you guys later..." Serenade walks away from the room to find, Beau standing against the wall. "Beau? Is something wrong?" She looked up with her usual poker face.

"No...just waiting for the class trial to start..." She replies

"Well, shouldn't you be investigating?"

"I don't need to...the culprit in this case is so obvious"

"You know who it is?" She gave a nod. "Who?" Beau smirked and had an expression that said 'you should be able to figure that out'. Serenade sighed. "Fine. Don't tell me"

"I wasn't planning to...and before I forget, Nimbus wanted to talk to you, he's in the physics lab on the second floor..."

"Alright, thanks"

"Don't thank me, idiot, all I did was deliver a message. It's not like I gave you some valuable information"

Bitch...

"Well? Are you gonna waste your time here or are you gonna investigate like the rest of the clueless cast?"

"Cast? What do you think this is? Some sort of story?"

"...just go..." Serenade sighed, accepting that he would get nowhere fast, trying to talk to her and he ventured down to the physics lab on the second floor. He entered the room to see, in the centre, a huge contraption that stretched up to the high ceiling.

"Ah, Serenade...good to see you're here" That was Nimbus's voice but he wasn't visible. He must have been in the shadows somewhere. "I have some information to share with you..."

"Which is...?"

"It seems that the culprit has disposed of the weapon in this room..."

"How are you able to tell?"

"There is a small chute on the far end of the room, at the bottom...is an incinerator, and it's turned on, meaning that there must have been something inside it because it activates to pressure...."

"Wow, that's...actually really useful, thanks, Nimbus!"

New Ammo: Incinerator was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"You're welcome...also...Beau asked me to do one little thing before you left..."

"What's that?" As Serenade said that, a rose flew at him, piercing the wall next to him. There was a small note attached to it.

"She wanted you to read that..." And then, Nimbus's presence disappeared. Serenade took the note of the stem of the rose and read what had been written.

Serenade,

I need you to know this but I couldn't tell you upfront because of the mastermind...but I think my suspicions are correct. The mastermind in among us, I still have no clues as to who it is but I know for sure that it isn't you or Nimbus. Whatever you do, don't fall into the mastermind's trap and fear her name...Junko Enoshima. Super High School Level Despair.

-Beau Love <3

Serenade tilted his head 'Junko Enoshima'? There wasn't anyone with that name. Was one of the students lying about their identity just like Beau had said? These questions kept flying through Serenade's mind as he shoved the note into his pocket.

W-what the hell is Beau talking about?! Super High School Level Despair? Junko Enoshima? Someone. Please just tell what's happening?! Serenade looked at the note again. He seemed more relaxed when he saw the signature. She signed it with a heart...that's kind of cute... He shoved it back in his pocket once more.

*Ding dong, bing bong!*

"Alright you bastard! You've had enough time for your investigation. It's time to get this underway! Meet at the usual spot for the class trial to begin!"

Serenade pushed his thoughts about the note away. He focused his mind on one objective. Finding the DigiBot's killer and surviving a fourth class trial. He made his way down to the red door on the first floor. He was second there, the only other being Samurai.

"Oh, hi Serenade! You think you got evidence for a fourth one in a row?" He asked almost to excited.

"I hope so...it's kind of hard to tell at this point..."

"Oh, right...sorry. I should have known that even you would have trouble at time!"

"It's fine, Samurai. Really"

"Well...if you say so..." It didn't take long for the rest of the students to gather. Only ten were going in. It just showed how much had happened since they had arrived.

"Alright! You guys ready for round four?!" Monokuma asked, doing his usual tricks. "Actually don't answer that, cause I know you aren't!" He cackled.

"Let's just get this over with" Beau says. "With a culprit this obvious, this trial is going to be a cakewalk"

"Oh? A little confident, are we? This'll be interesting to say the least! I'll see you guys down there!" And he was gone.

"W-w-well...here we go a-again..." B says stepping onto the elevator, with the other filing in with her.

"To think...this has happened four times now..." Nimbus says.

"It's because of our desire to leave...at least, the last three were" Beau replies.

"This one was clearly not indented to go to a class trial" Orion speaks with a sorrowful tone.

"Well...we can't do anything about it" Grimdark tells them. "No matter what, it doesn't change the fact that there are never any winners in these..."

That's when Serenade heard Beau say it under her breath. "Fucking, Junko..."

Class Trial 4: Chapter 1

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Class Trial 4: Chapter 2

"Actually...maybe the culprit did hide somewhere on the fourth floor"

"What? Someone could actually do that?" Punch says

"But, Punch and I went into every room at least twice, where could the culprit have hidden?"

"The reason you guys don't know...is because, at the time, you guys didn't even know the area existed"

"Oh...I do believe I know where this is going..." Orion smiles.

"Right, the secret compartment inside the mechanics room. The culprit could have hid in there"

"Um...Serenade?" Samurai starts.

"All they'd have to do is wait inside the compartment with the DigiBot until it was all clear, there's a button they could use to get in and out of it"

"About that..." Samurai gives a sheepish smile. "Um...on the back of the switch, it says: 'Does not work from inside'"

"...wait, what?" Serenade says.

"Yeah...turns out you can only open it from the outside. It emits radio waves to a transceiver which then reacts by opening up the wall but the problem is, the walls block out the radio waves from inside..."

What the...? What the heck is going on here? The culprit must have been able to hide in the compartment...but if they couldn't press the button, how could they get out...?

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Contraption

-Hammer's Testimony

-Secret Compartment

Serenade- I know that the culprit hid inside the compartment!

Samurai- But the radio waves can't pass through the walls from the inside...how could they have gotten out?

Serenade- W-well...

Beau- This theory is falling flat on its face...

Hammer- Maybe...There's an idirect way to open it from the outside?

Agreed!

"I'll have to thank Punch for this next one"

"Huh? What did I do?" Punch titled her head.

"Do you remember that contraption you showed us? You told us that it had a fist that would come downwards if you flipped the switch"

"So wait...the culprit must have..." Nimbus begins.

"The culprit used that to open the door from the outside!"

"But the thing activates as soon as you flip the switch" Olive points out.

"True...but that depends on what you do beforehand"

Of course!

"It has a timer next to the switch that goes up to ten minutes, all they would need to do it set the timer and leave the button where the hand would hit."

"But...Punch and I were up there for thirty minutes..."

"Just reset it, it was a game of chance and they won..." Beau answers.

"A game...of chance?" Olive repeats.

"They would have to get out to reset the timer, if Samurai or Punch came in at those times them it would be game over..."

"But wait...if that's true then aren't we just back to square one with the time of death?" Grimdark says.

"Looks that way" Punch says.

"Ah, fuck..."

"Well...actually the compartment was spotless...so the murder should have happened after 6:55am since that was the last time Punch or Samurai went into the mechanics room..." Hammer explains.

"S-so...w-where does that le-leave us?" B asks.

"It gives us the timeframe of 6:55am to 7:00am...so anybody without an alibi for that time is suspicious!" Nimbus tells her.

"Well, Hammer, Punch and Samurai have been ruled out due to feature of the body and witnessing of others..." Olive says.

"Yep..." Hammer smiles. There was an eerie silence for a few seconds.

"So..." Nimbus says awkwardly.

"Come on, people!" Monokuma yells. "Don't make me cut to the vote now!"

"Alright, alright! Well...what about...transportation of the body to the fourth floor?" Hammer says on the spot.

We running out of topics. Fast. We need to hurry and figure out our culprit or everything is over...

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Punch's Testimony

-Hammer's Testimony

-Samurai's Testimony

-DigiBot MK1 data

Hammer- So...if the culprit is the thief like Beau said earlier...then they must have got the DigiBot up to the fourth floor....

Samurai- Well, duh! We want to know when!

Beau- Well it had to have been during night-time

Samurai- We aren't gonna have another timeframe problem, are we?

Nimbus- So...the culprit probably...moved it in the middle of the night...

Agreed!

"It defiantly was moved in the middle of the night. If not, then they would have most likely have been seen by Punch"

"Oh yeah, cause of my morning routine!" Punch smiled. "Who would have guess that, that would become evidence?"

"But...didn't you say you go to the changing rooms to work out?" Grimdark asks.

"Yeah but for only five minutes"

"So the culprit must have moved it up before Punch's morning routine"

I don't like the theory you're sprouting!

Olive folded her arms. "C'mon, are you serious? Five minutes would be more than enough to sneak it past the third floor!"

"But, Olive-"

"Serenade, do you take me for an idiot or something?"

Well...

Cross-Swords

Evidence Blades

-Hammer's Testimony

-Punch's Testimony

-DigiBot MK1 Data

-Dirt

Olive- Five minutes would be more than enough to sneak the robot all the way up to the fourth floor, Samurai probably wasn't there at the time which explains why they weren't seen

Serenade- Okay, that reasoning does actually make sense. But what mode of transportation would you expect the culprit to use.

Olive- Isn't it obvious? They'd carry it

I'll cut that claim into pieces!

"No way, the culprit couldn't carry it on their backs all the way up to the fourth floor that easily. Hammer told me that this thing ways a TON! It would be impossible for anyone to have carried it all the way up!"

"N-nrg...I guess...I guess you're right..." Olive admits defeat.

"Unless" Beau interrupts. "They had a lot of strength to carry it..."

"Well yeah but...that leaves only Punch, Olive, who I was told was waiting for the cafeteria to open with Orion, and...Grimdark..." Nimbus says.

"...so, you want to pin the blame on me? Good luck with that cause there isn't a single shred of evidence to say that I did it" Grimdark says smugly.

"He's telling the truth, Grimdark is not the culprit" Beau informs them.

"Then who is it?" Orion asks.

"...you guys still haven't figured it out? Here's a small hint: The culprit slipped up at one point...they said something that they shouldn't have at that time..."

What is she talking about?

"Well...why don't we recap what we know?" Hammer suggests.

"Sounds like a plan!" Samurai nods. "So the culprit in the case doubles as the thief..."

"T-they to-took the DigiBot from w-where it was hidden and mo-moved it up to the fourth f-floor"

"They must have waited a while to kill the DigiBot. All the way to 6:55am as a matter of fact" Nimbus says.

"The culprit must have done that so..."

Of course!

"They could destroy most alibis at that time..."

"Most alibis?" Olive repeats.

"Yes, the culprit must not have wanted to be the only suspect so they waited until the right moment which only gave alibis to you and Orion" Serenade explained.

"Wow...I picked the right day to get up early..."

"Moving on. The culprit then hid with the DigiBot inside the secret compartment and waited for any possible witnesses to pass by, they managed to get out by using the contraption that Punch found." Beau says.

"They took three hammers off of the rack, used one to attack the DigiBot and the other two to make us spend time on what hammer was the weapon" Hammer says.

"But...why would they wish to do that?" Orion asked.

"Well, if the small hammer was thought to be used then that would support the theory of anybody being the possible culprit" Beau answered.

"I understand what you are saying but what if we arrived at the conclusion that it was the larger hammer that was used?"

"To be honest...they probably had specific targets. But that's just my theory..." Beau speculates.

Targets...? Does she mean...those two?

"If we're talking about a target for the small hammer...the target they had in mind was probably..."

It could only be you!

"It was probably B"

"W-w-w-wha?!"

"Think about it, B uses magic a lot, healing spells mostly but that still means her magic abilities are very strong...even with the small hammer, she could leave quite the mark"

"B-b-b-b-but it wasn't m-m-m-me!"

"I'm not saying it was, I'm just saying that the culprit was trying to make you look suspicious...but as for the larger hammer...the target was probably..."

It could only be you!

"Grimdark"

"...you guys just looooove making me look suspicious, don't you?" Grimdark sighed.

"I'm not accusing you, I'm saying that the culprit made a scenario that would make you look like the culprit since you've been part of the Cheerag army, they'd have special training courses, right?"

"Yes, you aren't exactly guaranteed to live..."

"And you did it anyway?" Hammer said in disbelief.

"Those courses were to simple, I was first in each of them..."

"And with strength like Grimdark's, you could easily believe that he had enough brute force to kill the DigiBot"

"Hmm...true enough..." Grimdark folded his arms.

"And now...the culprit has been made clear..." Beau smirks.

"R-really?" Samurai tilts his head. "I didn't hear anything definite in that..."

"......well...maybe...maybe it is a little clearer now..."

"So you figured out who the culprit is? Bravo, Serenade" Beau says.

Throughout the entire day, one person here has been acting differently...that person must be the culprit and in that case...the culprit's identity...

It could only be you!

Class Trial 4: Chapter 3

Serenade stayed quiet for a few seconds. "It was you, wasn't it? Punch?"

"W-what the fu-?"

"Correct" Beau interrupts.

"What the FUCK are you saying?!" Punch growled. "I get it, just cause I hate Hammer means that I killed the DigiBot, IS THAT IT?!!!"

"Wait...you hate me?"

"Shut the FUCK up Hammer!" Hammer whimpered in response.

"P-P-P-Punch wouldn't really...w-would she?" B stuttered out.

"C'mon, B, back me up here!"

"I'm s-s-s-sorry!" She cried out. "I don't know how!"

"Ugh...."

"But...I was with Punch on the fourth floor when the murder occurred...remember?" Samurai spoke up.

"Exactly! How the fuck could I kill the DigiBot with Samurai seeing me at that time?!"

"Well...you were the last on in the mechanics room before the body showed up" Nimbus said.

"And it was at 6:55, which was around the time of the murder..." Orion adds.

"Plus you do have the strength to carry the DigiBot very easily" Grimdark smirks.

"Er...w-well..." Punch said. "I still say that I ain't the culprit!"

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Punch's Testimony

-Dirt

-Contraption

-Two Hammers

Punch- You guys have got it wrong this time. I'm not the culprit! If you vote for me...we all die!

Grimdark- What about evidence? Do you have evidence to say that you aren't the culprit?

Punch- Well...I guess not...

Orion- And you want us to believe that you are innocent to the crime?

Punch- W-well...I couldn't move freely about the school at night!

You got that wrong!

"Punch...you proved it yourself that you were capable of moving freely about the school. You told me that during your 'morning routine' which at this point we can only assume means, 'transporting the robot', you said you saw nobody else"

"Er...well, yeah, I didn't..."

"Wow...you just love digging graves for yourself, don't you?" Grimdark said.

"S-shut up! I ain't the culprit! Why would I want to destroy that robot anyway?"

"You just said the answer to that yourself a few minutes ago..."

Of course!

"You said you hated Hammer, I'd say that's motive enough!"

"Guys, I'm standing right here..." Hammer said with hurt pride.

"What the FUCK did I tell you?!!"

"Serenade...you can't prove she's the culprit, at least not the way you're doing it..." Beau tells him.

"Huh?"

"You need to prove she's something else which in turn would prove that she's the culprit..."

"...let me give it a few more attempts...."

"I won't stop you, I'm just saying though..."

Alright Punch....round two...

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Dirt

-Contraption

-Secret Compartment

-Two Hammers

-Head Wound

Nimbus- Why don't we talk about the murder weapon? It was disposed of with the incinerator...

Hammer- Because it might have had something incriminating on it

Nimbus- That was the conclusion we came to prior to this...

Orion- For Punch...would a Liquid be incriminating... or would a substance prove to be more of a threat

Agreed!

"Right, the substance was dirt and remember back in the last class trial. Where was Punch?"

"She was in the garden" Samurai answers.

"Exactly, for some reason, Punch had an attachment to the garden, meaning that she would dirt on her and possibly, dirt of the hammer!"

Can't let you continue!

Everyone looked at Hammer. "Hell no! You want to say that there was dirt on the murder weapon? Well prove it!"

"H-Hammer?"

"Prove it! Prove it, prove it, prove it! You just LOVE evidence so show us the evidence that Punch had dirst on her at the moment of the murder!"

Why is he getting so worked up?

Cross-Swords

Evidence Blades

-Two Hammers

-Dirt

-Punch's Testimony

Hammer- You may keep making up these little theories of yours but you still haven't shown definitive proof of Punch's guilt! Dirt? That's what you're going with? That's really pathetic!

Serenade- What's so pathetic about it? Punch loves that garden, it would be natural for her to have dirt on her!

Hammer- Oh yeah? Well, how about proof that there was dirt on the murder weapon? Can you prove that because I don't think you can!

I'll cut that claim into pieces!

"Actually all we have to do is examine those other hammers, if there's dirt present on those, then there is most likely dirt on the murder weapon as well!"

"Urk! W-well..."

"Actually...I was wondering what that was..." Samurai says.

"What?" Olive said.

"When I looked at those hammers...there was some brown powder-ish stuff on the handles...I guess it was dirt..."

"Well, Punch? What now?!" Serenade points at the red earth pony.

"Shut up! For all you know...it could be dirt from Olive!"

"Hey! I'm wearing Lock's shoes still! I don't have any dirt on me!" Olive yelled, defending herself.

"Prove it!"

"Search me! I haven't got any dirt on me!"

"...Celestia...dammit...but that doesn't mean the dirt was from me! It's pretty dirty in the mechanics room! Anyone that went in there could have gotten dirt on them!"

"Well...yeah, but-"

"So you admit it!" Punch smirked "I'm not the culprit!"

"I didn't say that!" Serenade said back.

"Serenade" Beau says. "If Punch really is the culprit...we also need to question her credibility..."

"Credibility?"

"What the hell are you talking about you little-"

"Quiet" Beau cut her off.

"So you mean...something Punch showed or said that would be questionable at this point?"

"Yes...anything come to mind?"

Well...there is one thing...

Of course!

"There's the video of the contraption that she showed us"

"Right...but did anyone here actually see the switch that was used to activate it?" There was a silence to answer her question. "Interesting...for all we know, the switch might not even be from the mechanics room"

"G-grr..." Punch growled again.

"Even with that though...we still can't prove that Punch is the culprit" Beau says to the contrary. "Everything we've just show...is circumstantial"

"How so?" Olive asked.

"Well, the dirt is only IF Punch went to the garden in the last day or so. The switch could just be a case of 'we didn't notice it' and a motive for hatred would be more likely for her to kill Hammer..."

"Beau...Beau's right..." Serenade admits.

"Exactly...so you need to prove she's something else that would link her to the DigiBot..."

"Something that would link her to the DigiBot?"

Of course!

"You mean...prove that she's the thief?"

"Yes"

"Pfft!" Punch smirked. "Good luck with that cause I ain't the thief either!"

"It's actually a lot simpler to prove she is...she just had to have known something that she shouldn't have at some point..." Beau says.

"So...somewhere she slipped up..." Olive says.

"D-d-did she slip up at any po-point?" B asked.

"...why don't we listen to what Punch said when we were being told about the robot?" Serenade suggests.

"...yes, that seems acceptable" Beau agrees. "So, Punch, if you aren't the culprit, repeat what you said this morning"

"...you're lucky that I have a good memory..."

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Monokuma File 4

Punch- What I said this morning was...well, it right after I challenged Grimdark to fight me...then I said something like...'You can't be serious! It's a dumb robot! Why should it count as a victim?!'

Samurai- She did say something along the lines of that...but I don't see the point

B- W-w-was there a problem in that?

Something that Punch said that Punch shouldn't have known....I wonder...

Punch- What I said this morning was...well, it was right after I challenged Grimdark to fight me...then I said something like...'You can't be serious! It's a dumb robot!

You got that wrong!

"...Now I see what Beau was talking about...Punch, how did you know that the machine Monokuma was talking about was a robot?!"

"H-huh?"

"Nobody had labelled the machine that Hammer made as a 'robot' except you! And that was before we found the body!"

"W-wha?! But I!"

"Punch it was you wasn't it? Confess already!"

"No way! It wasn't me!" She was starting to sound desperate for her voice to be heard.

Dammit Punch...why did it have to be you of all people...?

"Serenade...you know that you'll have to finish this off, right?" Beau says.

"...I...I know..." He replied weakly. Since Punch is the killer, a few things in my theories will be off but it shouldn't be a problem...I already have a clear vision on how the crime went down...the only obstacle left in my way are...my emotions...

Class Trial 4: Chapter 4

Here's How it Happened!

Act 1

This case started off at night. With one person in our group venturing into everyone else's room to take one item that belonged to them. Including the victim in our case. The DigiBot from Hammer's room. Little did they know what the DigiBot actually was. They hid the items in different areas of the school. I actually Grimdark's medals in the Monomono machine. They kept them there in those spaces to make us suspicious of one another.

Act 2

As the next day went on. The culprit suddenly felt this rage against Hammer, wanting to hit him where it hurts they devised a plan. Destroy the DigiBot. They waited until Night-time and carried the DigiBot from it's hiding spot and carried it all the way up to the fourth floor. Something like this was easy for the culprit due to their extra strength that they possessed.

Act 3

They took the DigiBot up to the mechanics room to put their plan in motion. First: they stuffed the DigiBot inside the secret compartment they found most likely by chance during the investigation of the fourth floor. They waited for it to get closer to the morning announcement so that they could make it hard for anyone to have an alibi at the time of the murder. She took the DigiBot out of the secret compartment and three hammers off of the rack on the wall.

Act 4

The culprit took the medium sized hammer and brought it down on the DigiBot's head and left the other two neatly by its side. They probably were planning to keep the medium one there as well but they noticed the dirty fingerprints that had passed onto the hammer and hatched a new plan. Using the sizes of the hammers, they tried to make it look like other students could have easily killed the DigiBot and therefore also be blamed for the robberies.

Act 5

Next, the culprit snuck past Samurai who was also present on the fourth floor with the hammer hidden on their person. They made their way down to the physics lab and over to the incinerator. They took out the hammer and threw it down the chute and activated the pressure sensitive plates, burning up the evidence of their involvement. But unfortunately, they didn't realize the consequences of what they had done.

And this is the truth of what transpired. I've knocked you're argument out of the ring...Punch Out!

"So...you figured it all out" Beau smirked.

"No...no he FUCKING hasn't!" Punch yelled.

"H-huh?"

"What the hell is so suspicious about knowing about what the machine was? So what if I knew it was the DigiBot?! I ain't giving up yet you piece of shit!"

"Punch..."

"........"

"I don't want to do this, but...I can't let everyone else die!"

Machinegun Talk Battle

Punch- You can fuck off you piece of shit!
Punch- Trying to blame this bullshit on me!
Punch- Asshole!
Punch- No way! I didn't do anything wrong!
Punch- I didn't touch that hammer!
Punch- So what? I hate your fucking guts!
Punch- You're making a mistake
Punch- You're wrong, you're wrong!

Enough!

Punch- So what if I knew that it was a robot? There's a list of the stolen items in the cafeteria!

'Secret Machine'!

"The problem with the list is...the machine is labelled as a 'secret machine'...so that is no excuse for being able to know what the DigiBot actually was!"

"B-but..." Punch dropped her arms. "...fuck it...I'm tired of dragging this on..." She sighed.

"Well! That's my cue!" Monokuma yelled. "It's ballot time! Cast your votes on who you think the culprit is with the buttons in front of you, remember, majority wins! Now will it be right? Or will it be oh so wrong? Who's it gonna be? What's it gonna be?"

As the final button was pushed for voting, the huge slot machine appeared with 'Voting Machine' in red on the top. The three dials began to spin quickly for another few seconds before all three stop on Punch's face causing a red 'GUILTY' sign to flash and the two bouquets of flowers to pop out the sides.

"Going strong people! That's four in a row! The one that bashed the DigiBot's mechanical skull in was none other than Punch Out!"

"F...fuck..." She grunted.

"Punch...why?" Olive asked sadly.

"I...I was trying to get back at Hammer for all of his annoying, perverted comments..."

"That's it...?" Hammer said. "You...you should have just told me that you didn't like how I talked like that...you didn't have to do what you did..."

"I realized that a little to late...Celestia dammit! I'm such a fucking idiot!"

"Punch...did you...did you really take all of our stuff?" Samurai asked, not looking up from his stand.

"Y-yeah...it was just for a little joke though...then Grimdark's medals went missing...and that meant someone knew..."

"So...someone else put Grimdark's medals in the Monomono machine?" Serenade concluded.

"Must have...dunno who it was though..."

"So where's the rest of our stuff?" Nimbus folded his arms.

"In my room...here" Punch took out her key and handed it to Serenade. "As a memento...and so you can get your stuff back" she giggled.

"H-how...how can you laugh at a time like this? You're gonna be executed!" Grimdark reminded her, but Punch didn't see phased.

"Yeah I guess that's one way to look at it...but it'll probably get you closer to the end of this hell hole!"

"P-P-P-Punch..." B whimpered.

"Hey, Serenade!" Punch smiled.

"Yeah?"

"Looks like I kept my promise to you until the very end!"

"Promise?"

"Back on the first day, I promised to be your teammate, your protector and your...your friend...I promised to help you get out of here and that's exactly what I did so I ain't got any remorse! It's not like I actually took another students life!"

"Which should make it worse! You're being killed because of a robot!" Grimdark yelled at her.

"Oh well, win some, lose some as they say..."

"Well it seems that-"

"Wait, could I just do one, teeny little thing before you execute me?"

"Hm? Depends..." Monokuma looked interested.

"Um...S-Serenade...?" Punch stood right in front of the shorter blue Pegasus. "I should...I should tell you about that second condition, or at least...show you..."

"What are you-" Serenade was cut off Punch kissing him on the forehead causing him to stumble back in surprise.

"Hehehehe! I never had my first kiss so I was gonna ask you then! Better late than never, right?"

"I, you- wait, you can't just. WHAT?!!" Serenade said in a stuttered mess.

"Not exactly the reaction I was hoping for" Everyone looked at her in shock, even Beau's poker face had shattered away.

"You can't just kiss me before you're about to die!"

"Meh, what can you do?" Punch shrugged.

"Y-you have gotta be kidding me..." Beau said.

"Oh hey look! I stunned Beau, where's my prize?" Everyone was quiet. "What? To far? Oh well, hey Monokuma, let's get this over with, kay?"

"Your wish is my command!"

"Wa-wait!" Serenade objected.

"Nope! No more breaks! It's time for the main event. I've prepared a very special punishment for the 'Super High School Level Fighter', Punch Out! And now without delay, let's get the ball rolling. It's Punishment Time!!!"

Class Trial 4: Execution

The podium with the red button rose from the ground in front of Monokuma's throne. He pulled out his tiny wooden gavel and hit the button with it.

Game over!
Punch Out was found guilty!
Commencing Execution!!!

The silver chain shot into the room, wrapping around Punch and dragging her off into the room behind Monokuma. The monitor in the trial room flashed on. Punch was in the middle of a boxing ring, her arms and legs restrained to the ground. A row of three spotlights on either side of her light up and make the surrounding crowd of Monokuma clones visible. There's another strange cracking sound before another Monokuma can be seen riding down into the arena, swinging from the microphone that an announcer at a boxing match would use.

Final Blow

There's a faint rumbling sound before a figure arises. It looks like Punch but it's colour scheme was that of Monokuma's, it had a pair of metal boxing gloves on. The Punch clone prepared itself and then charged at the helpless earth pony in the centre of the ring. It swung, hitting Punch in the stomach and going behind her to deliver another blow to her back.

It kept going in different directions, attacking different sections of Punch's body until there was a noise of something being drawn from metal. Spikes had appeared on the gloves! The next hit was delivered to Punch's leg, there was a snapping noise as she fell down, blood pouring out of her leg. She looked up in pain to see the Punch clone looking at her, blood dripping from the glove right in front of her. It drew back it's arm and sent one final hit to Punch's face leaving a bloody and deformed corpse in the middle of the ring. Monokuma then landed next to the corpse of Punch. There was a ringing noise before the words 'KNOCKOUT!' flashed on a screen behind him.

"When...when the hell is this gonna end?" Hammer said.

"...we...we lost a strong soldier today..." Grimdark closed his eyes.

"...she lied to herself though..." Beau says.

"What do you mean?"

"She said that she was keeping her promise of defending you...but if that was true, she would have just confessed from the start..."

"S-s-so...s-she didn't really c-care...?" B asks

"Nope...not at all..."

"...shut up..." Serenade said.

"Excuse me?"

"Shut up...Punch did care..."

"No she didn't, she only cared about herself"

"I said shut up!" Serenade turned. "All you do is speak ill of others, pointing out their flaws and trying to bring everybody's spirits down after the execution. We're already hurt from this and then you have the guts to say some bullshit like that? Beau, I have said this before but I don't think I could say it enough. You are the worst kind of person, I don't even care if you die next! You can burn in HELL for all I care!"

"...are you done?"

"What?"

"You're an emotional wreak, she manipulated you so she could walk free"

"Shut up!" Hammer yelled.

"Hammer..." Serenade looked at him.

"Serenade's right, you are the worst kind of person!"

"It's true..." Grimdark chimes in. "You're worse than those fucking army generals that think they're all that back in Cheerag..."

"The only person that's worse than you, is the Mastermind...and even then it's just barely!"

*slap!*

"...don't...you...EVER...compare me to her..."

"...I'll never take back what I said..." Serenade folded his arms.

"Okay then Serenade...I have one question:...who the fuck are you...? Who the FUCK do YOU think you are?!"

"Somebody that actually knows how to be respectful to those that have died in here! Maybe you should try it some time!"

"Do NOT push me, Stereo. Nobody messes with the Super High School Level A-..." Beau cut herself off.

...what the...? Was she just about to say something else...?

"We're leaving. Now..." Beau made her way to the elevator.

"Fine by me..." Serenade said, staying on the other side of the elevator. Not even glancing at the red Pegasus.

Not once. Not a single time has she shown respect for those that were executed...Digital...Wild...Tickery...even Punch...I wouldn't mind if...if Beau turned out to be the one behind all this...

Day 10: Chapter 1

Author's Note

WARNING!! There are spoilers to the first game in this chapter! If you haven't played the first game, it is recommended that you do so first.

Day 10: Chapter 1

Day 10: The fifth floor...

This day, Serenade just ignored the morning announcement. He couldn't be bothered anymore, not after last night, Punch's final words, Beau's comments. What Serenade had said himself to Beau...at this point, he didn't even know if it was out of rage or if he really meant it...didn't matter. He was still pissed.

*Ding dong!*

Damn doorbell...Serenade sighed as he got up and opened the door. It was B...someone he liked at least. If it was Grimdark or, curse the thought of it being Beau, he would have slammed the door shut.

"H-h-hey..." She greeted. "Everyone is w-wondering where you are...s-s-sorry, I should rephrase...w-w-we were wondering what w-was taking so long..."

"....I'm not leaving my room today..."

"Huh...?"

"I just...don't think I can leave my room right now..."

"B-because of the tr-trial?"

"Yeah...and Beau, she's such a bitch. She has no respect for anyone else in this place, dead or alive. I wosh she would just DROP DEAD!!!"

"Hueh!!!" B stumbled back from Serenade's outburst.

"Sorry..."

"I-I-I-I-it's fine...b-b-but...maybe you should co-come and investigate the fi-fifth floor...?"

"Oh right...that'll be opened up now...great to know that the death of our friends are getting us places like pools and science labs..."

"S-Serenade...w-why are you only fe-feeling this way now?"

"...I dunno..." Now that she's pointed it out...I never felt like this with the others...is it because Punch was more of a friend to me than the others?

"I wonder why..." B said. Serenade raised an eyebrow.

"B...you seem...off today...."

"I don't know what you mean"

"Well you just said something that wasn't a medical examination without stuttering"

"W-w-what are you t-talking about?"

"...B. Have you been faking your stutter all this time?"

"..." B sighed. "Yeah...well not the entire time..."

"When did it stop?"

"Just before Beau started talking about the Mastermind...I thought if I mentioned my stutter was gone. She'd label me as suspicious"

Makes sense...

"...give me a minute, I'll meet everyone on the fifth floor"

"Alright...I'll see you there..." He closed his door and sat on his bed.

"...I did not put my pants on before answering the door again..." He sighed before getting dressed and heading up to the newly opened floor. Blue walls this time. Small detail that he would always notice, without fail, but it's not like it meant anything...

"Ah! Serenade!" That was Samurai's voice. "Good to see you're here, we found something pretty big!"

"What is it?"

"Come look" Samurai led him over to a door at the far end of the floor that was labelled 'Headmaster's Office', everyone else had already gathered outside the room.

"Ah, hello Mr Stereo..." Orion greeted.

"So, what is it?"

"Beau thinks that this is where the mastermind is hiding..." Grimdark explains.

"What? But, Beau, I thought-"

"In here..." She cuts him off. "That must be why the doors are locked...we can't break it down either or Monokuma will punish us..."

"So there's something worth hiding in there basically..." Hammer says.

"Right..."

"But, does that have to mean that the Mastermind is hiding inside there?" Serenade asked.

"...what are you talking about?" Nimbus looks at him.

"Well, what if there's something else they wanted to hide in there?"

"Like what?" Olive raised an eyebrow.

"...dunno, but the possibility exists, right?"

"Yes, yes it does..." Beau concedes. "But...what could be bigger?"

"Upupupupu!" Monokuma laughter came from one of the monitors. "That's for me to know and you to never know!" It turned off.

"Well, that was brief..." Hammer comments. "But he did confirm there's something behind this door..."

"Yes, he did...and I suppose that concludes our search...even if Serenade didn't get a chance, that's his own fault..." Beau says.

"Alright, then let's head back" Samurai nods. The all descend the building to the ground floor and go to their usual meeting area.

"Now, reports" Beau instructed.

"Looks like we aren't getting out through the windows..." Grimdark said first. "I tried each of them but they're stuck on tight..."

"I wonder why the windows are sealed off in the first place..." Olive says.

"Hmm? What do you mean?" Hammer asked.

"Well...wouldn't it seem suspicious to people outside of the building?"

"She's right...maybe Monokuma found a way around that..." Beau suggests. "Like, sticking up classroom pictures on the windows, then the plating..."

"Speaking of picture, doesn't seem like those ones Serenade found before are anywhere..." Samurai tells them. "Although, there is a concert hall with this grand piano and a microphone stand...so that's fun!"

"F-f-for some reason, there w-weren't any cl-classrooms on that floor, but there were a fe-few locked rooms..." B fake stuttered.

"Yeah...that wasn't the only thing missing from that floor though..." Grimdark folds his arms.

"Oh...yes, that is true. There are no staircases leading upwards..." Orion says. "Meaning...that was the final floor..."

"So...if we don't have a way out from there...how do we leave...?" Olive asked.

"We don't" Beau simply states.

"B-but, we have to get out of here!" Olive says back.

"Just because we have doesn't mean that we will. As hard as it is to accept, we need to consider that it will happen..."

"I...I don't want to be stuck in here!" Samurai said.

"Then you know what you need to do..." Everyone goes silent. "You kill someone..."

"So now you're telling us to kill one of us?! That's just wrong!" Hammer yells at her.

"Look, I won't be doing it anytime soon but...think of it like this: this is a battle royal to leave one person standing...unfortunately, we have no way of getting around that. So sacrifices have to be made..."

"Wha...I can't believe you'd say that!" Serenade yelled, enraged.

"Oh look. Common anger issues is back..."

"Oh just shut up, the pair of you" Grimdark says. "We still have a means of escape...the Mastermind..."

"Hmm?" Olive tilts her head.

"Think about it...who's the one with power over what happens in this school? The answer is The Mastermind. Beau already told us that the Mastermind is among us...defeat the leader, defeat the army...that was the Cheerag army motto..."

"But...we still have no way of knowing who that is..." Samurai says. "We don't even know if Beau is right about that..."

"I think she is..." Serenade admits.

"Really...? Well...if you think so..."

"So, excluding the Mastermind...only eight of the students remain..." Hammer says.

"True...in my opinion, I don't think it's Serenade or Nimbus..." Beau says.

"Yes, but that's only an opinion..." Grimdark says.

"Hai...I cannot blame you if you have your suspicions about me..." Nimbus looks at them.

"Pro-probably...the most suspicious I-is Grimdark...si-since he appeared in the mid-middle of the investigation..."

"That is true...but I can say now that it isn't me..."

"Maybe we shouldn't be focusing on this just now...maybe we should try to rest a little and discuss this tomorrow?" Samurai suggests.

"Yes...I believe that to..." Orion seconds.

"I want to conduct an investigation so please, nobody bother me..." Beau says before leaving the room.

"Well, I'm headin' back to my room if anyone needs me for something..." Hammer walks off.

Back in Serenade's room. Serenade laid on his bed, deep in thought. His mind was still trying to figure out what Beau was talking about in that note...who was Junko Enoshima? It defiantly not a pony name. It could be a changeling name though but it was to dangerous to ask Grimdark about in case Junko heard. Grimdark couldn't be the Mastermind, he was male, plus he knew that changelings couldn't disguise their gender. This one girl was the reason that nine of the students were dead and the other seven stayed alive, managing not to give into her bait. Beau was on her own investigation right now...what if she was the Mastermind? No...she wouldn't talk about it so much if she was. So who is it?

Who is Junko Enoshima?

Day 10: Chapter 2 - Free Time

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Day 11: Chapter 1

Day 11: The Final Motive

Serenade was already at the cafeteria that morning, he didn't want to hear the morning announcement first thing in the morning. Nobody else had arrived at the time so he was just standing there with his thoughts.

*Ding dong, bing bong!*

"Ahem! This is a school announcement! It is now 7am and therefore, Night-Time is officially over, let's have a great day today! And also...can everyone please gather in the gymnasium for some special news? Thank you all!"

Oh no...can't he just wait for once and let us recover from the hell he puts us through? Faced with no other choice, Serenade headed to the gymnasium to receive Monokuma's 'Special news'.

"Hi 'Nade..." That was Hammer's voice from behind him. Serenade didn't need to turn to know that either, he was the only one left that would call him Nade, only others were Wild and Tickery. "Getting ready for another 'fun' motive?" He asked sarcastically.

"Oh joy! Why not just behead me now and get it over with...?"

"I know...I hate this. He says his motives are despair but...it has to be more than that, right?"

"Probably..."

"So what do you think it is this time?"

"No idea...but I already know it'll work...they always do..."

"....sadly..."

The two turned up to the gymnasium to find that Beau had already arrived. "How long have you been here?"

"A while...I figured he'd deliver our motives so I came early today..."

"At this point it is kind of predictable..." Hammer sighed. The doors opened.

"Morning..." Olive greeted, Grimdark by her side.

"Hmph...where are the others. Being late is unacceptable!" Grimdark folded his arms.

"We aren't your troops..." Beau tells him.

"Your point?"

"Oh do not start an argument Ms Love, please?" Orion's voice came from the bleachers.

"Hai! I too, am tired of hearing your bitter words" Nimbus added, appearing from the shadows.

"When did you two get here?" Olive asked.

"Before Hammer and Serenade, but after Beau..." Nimbus adjusted his scarf.

"That's not specific!" Samurai says, entering with B.

"Well...looks like everyone is here..." Grimdark states matter-of-factly.

"Guys...no matter what happens. I don't want anyone else to die..." Olive says. "I've lost my best friends in here and I don't want anymore of these class trials to happen...I want that last one to be the final class trial!"

"Olive..." Serenade mutters. "Look. I know how you feel but...I don't think we can prevent a death happening..."

"S-Serenade...?"

"Sorry, but, you guys can't say you don't think that either. I just finished saying that to Hammer...all motives work, no matter what..." Everyone was quiet for a few seconds.

"Looks like even Serenade's hope is diminishing..." Beau says.

"Upupupupupu! That's what I like to see! Despair! Beautiful despair!" Monokuma yells from the podium.

"Alright, let's get it over with...what is it?" Serenade asks.

"Well, you're straight to the point, why can't we just-?"

"Motive..."

"...I didn't say it was a motive..."

"Huh?" Olive said surprised. "What is it?"

"I needed to tell you all that...the next class trial will be the final class trial!"

"F-final class trial?" Grimdark repeated.

"A-a-are you letting us g-g-go?!" B asked joyously.

"On one condition..." Monokuma rubs the back of his head. "If the victim is the Mastermind!"

"...what?" Serenade simply said.

"So the Mastermind is among us?!" Nimbus asked.

"Yep! Somewhere among you remaining nine is the one that's been pulling the strings!"

"And there's the motive..."

"Well, it's not a 'motive' per se...like I said, it's special news! That Beau's theory was right all along!"

"T-to think!" Orion exclaimed. "Someone...somebody is truly...."

"Hmph, not that hard to believe actually...." Grimdark says. "It's a great way to hide away, the only reason they haven't mentioned this before is because they didn't think they could have used it as a motive at that point. The trigger must have been Beau talking about it..."

"And bingo!" Monokuma says. "Gold star for Grimdark! Even though you have plenty of medals!"

"Right..."

"Anyway! I'd better go and let you guys all...discuss this among yourself!" Monokuma disappeared leaving the others to discuss.

"So, how does he expect us to know?" Hammer says.

"Probably wants us to take a random guess...." Grimdark answers.

"It's like a game of Russian roulette..." Beau says. "One out of nine chances of getting the right person. Like how there's a one in six chance of being shot in the head in Russian roulette."

"We couldn't just guess, could we?" Olive asks.

"Someone will..." Serenade says. "Someone always does..."

"Serenade...you don't really think that-"

"Samurai, wake up and taste reality, come tomorrow someone will be dead! That's just the truth!"

"B-b-b-but Serenade-"

"Oh quit the fake stutter, B! You already told me it was gone a few days ago! The only reason you didn't say anything is because of Beau talking about the mastermind!" Everyone went silent, stunned by Serenade's sudden attitude.

"All because of Punch?" Beau said. "She manipulated us for her own benefit. You don't even realize that we all would have died if she wasn't executed!"

"Shut up! It was because of Monokuma making that stupid rule about the robot!"

"She shouldn't have stolen it then! She shouldn't have smashed it up!"

"Well-"

"Both of you stop!" B yelled. Everyone turned to her. "Sorry but seriously, Serenade! I have to agree with Beau on this. Would you really feel better if we were all executed because of Punch?"

"...well...."

"Think about it...I know it must be hard but that doesn't mean you should be angered by this...I mean, yes you should be angry but you should be using that to counter the mastermind's despair..."

"She's right..." Samurai says.

".......I know..." Serenade said. "Sorry...I should...I should just go..." Serenade brushed through the middle of them all and made his way back to his room.

"Dammit! What is wrong with me?! I've been getting angry for no reason, I've been an asshole to everyone. It's like I'm not me anymore"

Hehehe...funny you should say that... There was a voice. It was close to Serenade's but slightly deeper.

"...go away...I don't need you talking to me now..."

Yeah, yeah. You think I care what you want? I've been trapped up here for what now? Five years or something? I can say whatever I Celestia-damn want!

"I'm just gonna ignore you..." Serenade laid back on his bed.

Fine. I'll just talk. You realize that as long as you're in control that you'll never escape and murders will keep occurring, I could put an end to all that though. All that is needed for that is for you to give me full control....

"Yeah right...like that's gonna happen...how do you expect to stop all the murders and release everyone exactly...?"

There was a brief silence. Upupupupu... Serenade went pale. Do you really want to know...?

Day 11: Chapter 2

Author's Note

WARNING!! Spoilers of the first game in this, if you haven't played the first game yet, it is recommended that you do so first!

Day 11: Chapter 2

"N...no..."

Upupupu...! Didn't see this coming, did'ya?

"Shut up! You shouldn't be joking about-"

Being the Mastermind? Oh, Serenade...what was it you said before? 'Wake up and smell reality'? Well, practice what you preach music man!

"But...I've-"

Let down your guard in here...so in the night, I was always able to escape. I went up to that headmasters office. Programming Monokuma is easy, I make sure to tell what to say and by the next day, the motives are there for you all...

"...Listen, Shadow...I don't know what you're trying to pull here. But I know that Junko Enoshima is the mastermind, not you!"

And where is the evidence of Junko even existing?

"But, Monokuma-"

Said that the MASTERMIND was among you, which I am. He never said Junko was...you must be feeling so much despair right now...I'm a little jealous!

"Jealous? Of despair?"

Didn't I already mention my motives for trapping everyone? I wanted despair, that's what I'm getting right now. Up until now it's been my despair versus your hope...but now, I win! Hahahahaha!

"Shut up!"

You know though...there is one way for you to end this game...

"Yeah, release you, you already told me..."

Or...you could use what's the sound hole of the guitar...go on...check... Serenade got up and reached inside the guitar, feeling around the empty space for a little bit before making contact with something small. He pulled it out to see a small container. It's cyanide....you can use that, leave the game and everyone walks free. What do you say?

"....why would you tell me about this? Your game would be over"

Yes...that's true, but death is the most despair inducing incident in life. To feel that kind of despair! Oh I would just die in more ways than one!

"Forget about it!" Serenade put the bottle back in. "You're probably just lying about this. You just want me to commit suicide!"

Still don't believe me...? Alrighty then! Have it your way...but just remember...nobody can escape their fate... The voice faded away.

"Celestia dammit..."

*Bzzt!*

"...ugh, who could that possibly be...?" Serenade reluctantly opened to the door.

"Serenade. We need to talk." Beau said accompanied by Nimbus, Grimdark and Samurai.

"What's...going on...?"

"Just come with us!" Nimbus commanded.

"It's about the mastermind! It's really important!" Samurai tells him.

"T-the, uh...the Mastermind...? S-shame we have no way of knowing who it is..."

"Wrong. We think we might have just found something that could lead us to them..." Grimdark contradicts him.

"You...have?" Serenade gulped.

"C'mon!" Beau yells at him.

"A-alright..." Serenade closed his door and followed them to the cafeteria where Olive, B and Hammer were already waiting.

"So what's this evidence you found?" Olive asked.

"Alright. Everyone sit here at the centre table, I want everyone to see it..." Beau pulls out a recording device. "I managed to get something from behind the headmaster's office. I managed to slip this through the crack on the bottom of the door.."

"Ah...it's so fun to see this, their despair growing inside them as the days go on. I wonder how long it will take for one of them to go insane...doesn't matter, at this point. Nothing can go wrong, after all the previous failed attempts. This time...this time, Junko...you will succeed!

"J...Junko?" B repeated.

"But...none of us are named Junko here..." Olive points out.

"True, but this proves my theory even further...I thought from the beginning that Junko was behind this, she's one of us remember?"

"Well..." Hammer says. "What is 'she' if only pretending to be a girl...? What if they did see the recorder and used a fake voice to trick us...?"

"He's...he's got a point" B says.

"B-but! It has to be Junko! The only others I shared my theory with were Nimbus, who was with Orion at the time I recorded this and...Serenade..."

Oh shit

"Serenade...?" Olive looked at him.

"H-hey, c'mon, I'm not the mastermind!"

"With that high-pitched, feminine voice. It wouldn't be hard for you to create a fake female voice..." Grimdark says.

"W-w-well...yeah, but, that doesn't mean I'm the mastermind! What Hammer said is only a theory!"

"it's true, it's not definite...even I'll admit that..."

"Yeah! Serenade isn't the mastermind!" Samurai said.

"I agree!" B backs him up.

"Thanks you two..."

"Hmm...well I guess this evidence is questionable at best now..." Beau says disappointed.

"Terrible shame as well. That could have been very helpful to us" Orion said.

"I know! So now what...? How are we supposed to figure out who it is?!"

"Luck" Serenade says. "If we get lucky...that's the only way, right? No other way..."

"So you want us to take a gamble?!" Olive yelled. "That's insane!"

"I know, I know, but does anyone have any other option?" Everyone went quiet. "See...? Our only hope is that the victim tomorrow really is the mastermind..."

"Wow...someone became a real downer..." Grimdark said.

"Hai! This is a one-eighty for your personality" Nimbus comments. Serenade gave a shrug, there was no point in trying to say otherwise, this place had the ability to make people murderers, it isn't a stretch to make someone have a different personality.

"Serenade has a...different...personality...?" Olive repeated.

"Well...that's how he's acting" Beau says.

"Acting...?" Olive's eyes widened. "Serenade...are you really...?"

"I am...don't worry" Serenade knew what she was talking about, after the third class trial and revealing it to her.

"What is it?" Beau asked.

"It's private, between Olive and I..."

"Private? How private?" Orion asked.

"Very private....." Olive answered.

"But....honestly...let's just hope for the best tomorrow..." Serenade said nothing more than that before getting up and leaving, at the same time.

*Ding dong, bing bong!*

"Ahem! This is a school announcement!"

"It is now officially 10pm and is now Night-Time, as of such, the cafeteria doors shall be locked and entry to certain areas will be strictly prohibited...have a good night!" Serenade mumbled along to the same song and dance announcement as he entered his room.

Upupupu...good to know you've memorized it, you really enjoy my work!

"Shut up, Shadow..." Serenade laid on his bed.

Hehehe! I'm gonna love tomorrow's class trial, won't you? It will be so despair filling since I already have my money on who it'll be...

"And that would be...?"

That...is for me to know, Mr Stereo...and you to find out...

Day 12: Chapter 1

Day 12: The Mysterious Scene...

*Ding dong, bing bong!*

"Ahem! This is a school announcement, it is now 7am and as if such, Night-Time is officially over, let's make this another great day!" Serenade sighed. He was in the middle of changing into his other set of clothes when the announcement was made. Who's turning up dead today was the only thought that would go through his mind at this point. It was whoever didn't turn up this morning for the rendezvous in the cafeteria.

Exiting his door, he headed for the cafeteria to find Beau waiting in front. "Morning..." She greeted, it was unusual for her to initiate a conversation, someone would usually need to say hello to her first. "I want you to wait here..."

"Why...?" Serenade asked curiously.

"Because I want to prove that we still have some fight left in us and we won't give into anymore of Monokuma's motives..."

"That's a nice thing to say which is weird to come from you...but I know it's someone's turn today. Doesn't look like you're next though..." She let out a giggle and smirked.

"You certainly became a lot more pessimistic..."

"And you seem to optimistic and cheery...are you feeling alright?"

"Mmhm! Just wait..."

"Al...alright then...." A few minutes went by before another few sets of footsteps were heard, Samurai, Olive, B, Orion, Nimbus and Hammer came from the hall and finally, the one that made Serenade do a double-take, Beau. "Wait...wha...?" Serenade turned back to be greeted by Grimdark's towering figure. "Oh...."

"What is it?" Beau asked.

"Nothing...." Serenade said.

"Well, look at that...everyone's alive..." Grimdark says, everyone now throwing their gaze at Serenade.

"Now do you believe that we aren't going to go kill each other every single time a motive is made?" Olive asked him.

"It gives some reassurance, I guess..."

"Now, Stereo, try not to be so pessimistic all the time..." Nimbus tells him.

"Yeah, you're supposed to be the upbeat one!" Samurai says.

"Okay, I get it" Serenade half-laughs. "I'll try not to be such a killjoy now. Okay? Will that make everyone get off of my case?"

"Of course!" Hammer says. "Just have faith, we'll get out of here for sure. Together! I doubt one of us is really the mastermind that trapped us in here!"

"Yeah, if one of us was...what would all the time we spent in here mean?" B smiles.

"...oh please" Beau says. "Make no mistake, the Mastermind is one of us"

"Beau, can't you just drop it?" Grimdark folds his arms, slightly annoyed.

"Of course I can't! You want to get out of here to, right?!"

"Yes. I do, but I don't believe one of us is the mastermind. Simply that"

Of course.....they don't know.... Serenade rubbed his arm.

"Anyway, let's head inside...." Beau says, everyone following her command and headed into the cafeteria. As everyone went in, there was a small *Klink* but nobody paid any attention to it. Like something bumped into another thing. "I need to talk to everyone, there's something on the fifth floor that just seemed to have appeared."

"What would that be, might I ask?" Orion says.

"It's a set of lockers, not like the ones in the laundrette though...I checked inside the one that was labelled mine and it had one of my belongings in it along with my cell phone...seems we get no bars in here though" She pulls out her phone.

"So we can't call our way out of here?" Samurai asks.

"Nope. Unfortunately, we can't...though we should all head up, we can collect our things. Maybe we'll get lucky and something could break us out of here..."

"But..." Serenade says quickly. "Before we go...Beau, could you explain something to us?"

"Depends..."

"Why do you think the mastermind is among us?" Beau pauses at the question.

"Because of the first 'School Life of Mutual Killings'..."

"The first?" Grimdark repeats.

"Yes...there's a hidden library on the third floor, behind the swimming pool bleachers. I found some interesting books, one of them was labelled 'The First School Life of Mutual Killings', it listed all the details of what happened in that event in a place called 'Japan' in a different world to the one we live in. It gave me the Mastermind's true name, Junko, Junko Enoshima...the 'Super High School Level Despair', it couldn't be a coincidence that this was happening again so I just knew that somehow...somehow, Junko had made her way into our world..." Everyone was silent.

"Beau...." Nimbus starts. "You cannot be serious about that, can you? What are the chances of that book being true? It could be a made up story by Monokuma...."

"Wrong!" Beau yells. "It must be true! I know it is!"

"Why do you believe that?" Orion asked.

"I just...I just have that kind of feeling..." Beau says.

"A simple 'feeling' isn't going to be good enough" Grimdark says harshly.

"I know that!" Beau snaps. "But that doesn't mean I'm wrong!"

"We never said it did, even if it is unlikely, you could be right" Hammer supports.

"To be honest, we should be taking in any suggestions of what's going, no matter what they may be" Nimbus says.

"Well....anyway, I believe we have some lockers to inspect" Olive stands up.

"Right, let's get going..." Serenade and the others get up and head over to the door. There was a second *Klink* sound, slightly more noticeable this time but still, nobody paid any attention to it.

The group headed to the fifth floor, following Beau's directions to a new area that had been opened up to them in the corridor, like Beau had said, it was seventeen lockers that were lined up along the wall, each one had a students picture on it.

"Wow...where did this room even come from?" Hammer said in disbelief.

"Not sure, I just came up here and found it...." Beau explained. "I've already took my stuff so, go nuts..." Beau leans against the wall as everyone walks up to their locker.

"How are we supposed to open it?" Hammer asked.

"The ElectroIDs open them, there's a little slot where the lock would normally be" Beau answered. Serenade took out his ID and slipped it in the gap, there was a ding and the door opened slightly. Serenade slipped his Id back into his pocket and opened the door, he was surprised to find his old photo album on the ground and his cell phone sitting on top.

"What did you guys find? I got my katana" Samurai says, swinging the blade around.

"Hey! Try not to slice me! We don't another trial!" Olive yells at him.

"Hehe...sorry"

"I got my specially made 63. calibre shotgun" Grimdark smirks.

"Oh my Celestia, that thing actually works?" B asks.

"Oh yeah, this would shatter bones for any normal person, but I can handle this just fine!"

"I...I just got my old photo album" Serenade says, flicking through the pages.

"A photo album?" Beau repeats.

Serenade nodded his head. I hope they're all okay... pictures of his family, friends and even his own boyfriend were inside. "What the...?" Serenade flicked to one certain page. "This....this can't be right..." It was two pages full of pictures of him with all the other students.

"What's wrong?" Nimbus asks.

"Look at this!" Serenade turns the album around. "What the hell is this?!" Everyone's eyes widen at the photos.

"But how could you...I don't remember taking those photos!" Olive says.

"How...could that be remotely possible...?" Orion asked.

"The windows" Samurai points out. "They don't have the plating on them!"

"He's right" Nimbus says. "What sorcery is this?"

"It looks like...Serenade has a valuable clue in his possession...can I see that album?" Serenade closed it over as soon as Beau asked.

"No way!"

"Wha-? Why the hell not?" Beau folded her arms. Serenade tapped the album nervously.

"What's wrong? Is there something in there?" Olive asked.

"Y...yeah..."

"What is it?" Samurai tilted his head in confusion.

"...um...h-hey! M-maybe we could figure out who the Mastermind is if we look through this! Whoever doesn't have their picture in this becomes a suspect, right?"

"He's right" Nimbus says. "So? Who's in it?" Serenade opens the album and flicks back through the pages to where the photos of everyone were.

"Okay let's see....me, Zoom, Moonlight, Gold, Lock, Tickery, Grimdark, Punch, Digital, Wild, Beau, B, Samurai, Olive, Nimbus, Orion and Hammer...everyone is in here..."

"But that-" Beau seemed stunned. "Are you sure?"

"Yep, everyone is in here..." Serenade closed it over. "Guess that didn't help..."

"Hey, Serenade. Do you think those pics you found around the school are from the photo album?" Hammer suggested

"Well, they could be, I guess..."

"To bad it's not really a valuable clue..." Grimdark grunted.

"Hey, Grimdark, do you think that gun of yours could get us out of here?" Olive asked the changeling.

"Not a chance, the actual gun may be here...but there's no ammo"

"Dammit..." Beau said. "Well, I guess that's everything though...I'm gonna head back to my room..." Beau turned and left.

"Same here, I just need a rest..." Serenade heads off.

Serenade locked the door behind him, the photo album and his cell phone now in possession. He sat on his bed and opened the book to the page with him and the slightly older black Pegasus.

"...Thunder..." Serenade whispered his name. "I promise...I promise I'll get out of here..." He kept flicking through the pages and eventually got to the pages of him with the other students. Where the heck did these come from...? He looked at each individually, inspecting each corner of the photos. He stopped scanning when he got to the one with Beau, Punch, B and himself. Upon closer inspection he noticed something that made him gasp aloud.

His irises were red, not his usual blue.

Hey, look! It's me! The voice came.

"S-shut up...."

Yeah, since we share one mind, I know everything you think and remember and even the things you forgot and I can tell you right now, those are real photos you took with the others.

"They can't be though! I would remember!"

Yeah, yeah, that's what you think...

"Why are you doing this?"

Huh?

"Why are you doing this to me? Why are you doing this to everyone? What did they ever do to you?!"

I thought I told you already...it's all for despair...nothing more and nothing less

"Do you honestly just expect me to believe you?"

Duh, of course not but I'm telling the truth~ Serenade went quiet. It's a shame though...you'll be the only one alive meaning that you will be the reason for...hmm, how many would it be? I guess a maximum of eight people being executed for you to be left standing?

"No, nobody is going to kill anyone else..."

Are you so sure about that...? I thought you wanted to get back to your oh-so-precious friends and family and that boyfriend of yours. What was his name again? Thunderl-

"I'm not going to kill anyone! I know that's what you're trying to do and it won't work!"

...hmm His voice seemed more monotone at this point I don't think you'll be saying that forever...

"Did...did your voice just-"

*Bzzt!*

"Huh?"

Oh look...someone is at the door...

"No shit..." Serenade walked over and opened the door to find a rather panicked B

"Serenade! You need to come quick! In the cafeteria!" B ran off.

Hmm...? I wonder what that could be...

Serenade went pale at the thought, after all that was said this morning. He gulped and shut his door before heading off the cafeteria. Standing outside the door he took a deep breath knowing what was lying ahead.

He opened the door.

Day 12: Chapter 2

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Class Trial 5: Chapter 1

They took their places for their fifth trial. Serenade looked at the others individually. Someone here really took advantage of our trust...that, I can't forgive... He glanced at the two new stands. Hammer's and Punch's that had two boxing gloves...a rather strange mark...

"Alright! Now I shall briefly explain how this Class Trial works. You all pick a subject to discuss and then you try and find a killer through it. By then choosing a 'culprit' that 'culprit' will be seen as the 'villain'. At this point, you may start to vote for who you believe the true 'villain' is. If you are correct the 'villain' will be punished...but get it wrong. Everyone ASIDE from the villain shall be punished!" Monokuma put a paw in the air. "Now start debatin'!"

"Alright...this is defiantly the strangest scene we've had so far, right?" Olive starts. "I mean, that much is obvious..."

"Yes, with so many weapons, we can't really say what was used to kill Hammer...though, I don't think it would be relevant...why else would it be absent in the Monokuma File?" Grimdark points out.

"That's a good point...there's the knife, the globe and the hammer..." Beau recalls. "But without any way to say what killed him, we can only press on..."

"Why don't we talk about the murder weapon anyway? Clarification is important" Nimbus says.

"Also, Mr Darkness and myself did not get a chance to examine the crime scene, so it would be important to learn as much as we can..." Orion adds.

"Alright then..." Beau shrugs.

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Monokuma File 5

-Knife

-Globe

-Hammer

-Hammer's Spanner

Beau- The globe...the knife...and the hammer...those were the three weapons found along with Hammer's body.

Orion- And we have assumed that all three were most defiantly used in his murder?

Grimdark- That's right...the knife waslodged in his back... the globe was covered in blood on one side of him and the hammer wascovered in blood on the other side of him...

Nimbus- Did we have any reason to doubt any of these weapons?

Olive- Well as far as I can see...there's no reason...

You got that wrong!

"There could be one reason to cast suspicion on the blunt objects, Olive..." Serenade cut her off.

"There is...?" Olive asked rather confused.

"In the Monokuma File, it states that the two blows to Hammer's head are similar...but we come a problem, the globe is round and the hammer is flat..."

"Round...and flat...?" Olive repeated closing her eyes as if trying to remember something.

"So, there's defiantly no way the knife in his back isn't involved, right?" Grimdark asked.

"A...a knife in the back...?" Nimbus raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, the knife must be involved somehow...maybe it was the murder weapon? But if so, then what was the rope that was restraining his arms for?" Serenade said.

"His arms were restrained...?" Orion repeated.

What's with those three...? Have they figured something out....? Wait...they must be talking about...
That's it!

"Orion, Nimbus, Olive! You three figured it out to, didn't you? The similarities between this incident and the past murders, I mean?"

"Yes...they do seem to carry rather important-to-note similarities" Orion nods.

"Maybe...the motive was that they thought that Hammer was the mastermind so...they wanted him to feel the pain of the others that had died..." Beau suggests.

"W-would someone here really do that?" B asked.

"It's amazing what anger can do" Samurai says.

"What bothers me though about the whole similarities to other trials is...one victim is missing..." Beau says.

"Missing? Are you sure...?" Grimdark asks her.

"Yes, think of it, a knife for Gold, a globe for Moonlight, a rope for Lock and a hammer for the DigiBot..."

"She's right...Zoom isn't included in it!" B says.

"If this motive was for Hammer to suffer like the other victim's...why did they leave Zoom? I think the answer is in the culprit...Olive!" Beau points at the green earth pony.

"W-w-what?!"

"Think about it, who was Zoom's killer?"

"That was...Tickery, right?" Samurai recalls.

"Yes, and who was most devastated by Tickery's demise?" Beau then asks.

"That would be Olive..." Serenade answers. "But what does this have to do with the current murder?"

"Well, here is my hypothesis: the culprit couldn't bring herself to use to the shovel because it reminded her to much of what her best friend did....that makes sense, no?"

I know Olive...she would rather get out of here for Lock and Tickery than kill someone, even if they were the mastermind of this whole thing...

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Rope

-Hammer's spanner

-Knife

-Monokuma File 5

Beau- Since Zoom's murder isn't included....that makes Olive rather suspicious!

Olive- Are you serious?! I would never kill anyone! I mean, seriously? Didn't we already use me as a suspect?

Samurai- Yeah, but last time, you altered the scene to make it look like you...

Olive- N-not the point!

Nimbus- So since the murder her best friend committed was left out...that makes her the culprit automatically?

Beau- Obviously...she left her friend out of this!

You got that wrong!

"She left out her friends...? I don't think so, Beau!"

"Hm? What are you talking about?"

"Remember the rope that was used? That was from Lock's death, the suicide of Olive's own friend.....are you seriously saying she left out her friends?!"

"Ur...." Beau rubbed the back of head. "Fair...fair enough..."

"It's not like you to shout out an accusation like that, Beau..." B says.

"Why the fuck do you care?! Learn your place and shut up!"

"W-why do you hate me?!"

B says one thing....and Beau feels the need to be a total bitch.... "She is right though..." Serenade says. "You don't usually throw accusations around"

"True...but I just want this trial over fast..."

"Why...?"

"This is the fifth trial..." she simply says.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Samurai asks.

"....it doesn't matter...never mind..." She turns away.

"So, if it wasn't Olive...isn't there someone else that it could be...?" Grimdark says with a smirk.

"Oh geez, now you're gonna accuse someone?" Olive says annoyed.

"Of course....because there is someone rather suspicious...Orion!"

"I beg your pardon?!" The silver unicorn yelped.

"The circumstances of the crime scene can attest to my theory..."

"Circumstances...?" Serenade raises an eyebrow. "What do you mean...?"

"Allow me to elaborate...the hook on the ceiling..."

"The hook?" Samurai repeated. "Why the hook?"

"Because...I believe it was used to dangle one of the weapons...namely, the knife...they're in perfect alignment, that can't be a coincidence, right?"

"He's got a point...but what does this have to do with the murder...?"

"I remember hearing about Gold's murder from B" Grimdark looks at the deceased gamer's portrait. "Everyone had a weapon in their room...Orion...what was yours?" Orion seemed very composed up until now. "I believe it's a knife, am I wrong...?"

"N...no, you are not..." She says.

"But Orion is not the culprit, do not jump to such conclusions like that without any real basis for your claims!" Nimbus yells at Grimdark.

"Hmph....is that a challenge?"

"You...you better not!"

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Ceiling Hook

-Hammer

-Olive's Theory

-Hammer's Testimony

-Globe

Grimdark- If Olive isn't the culprit...then Orion is!

Nimbus- What kind of basis do you have for such a claim against her?!

Grimdark- Well, first of all, she's a unicorn, so she could dangle the knife above Hammer with the ceiling hook...

Samurai- But couldn't B or Nimbus do the same thing? They're both unicorns as well

Grimdark- Whilst that is true...she also had the same type of weapon in her room

Olive- That's true but...couldn't it be something else...?

Agreed!

Class Trial 5: Chapter 2

"Okay, this won't exactly clear Orion of suspicion, but it is something worth noting. Well you see it can't be the knife that was suspended above Hammer...it was more likely to be globe...the knife doesn't have any rope or string on it, you see, but the globe does have a little bit of rope attached to it......"

"So? Big deal, I got the wrong weapon that was above Hammer, why does it matter?" Grimdark shrugs the contradiction in his theory off. "That isn't putting Orion in the clear any time soon, we should just get this over with"

"Now hold on, Grimdark" Serenade interrupts. "We can't just jump to conclusions, you should know that by now!"

"You give me one other person that could have done it!"

"Y-you want me to make my accusation already?! I can't just throw stuff like that around all willy-nilly!"

"Yeah, use some common sense!" Olive adds. "We're talking about our lives here, we need to be cautious!"

"Alright, alright, fine...well, why don't we talk about Orion's suspicion then...?" Beau suggests.

"Well, even if I personally don't think she's the culprit, I suppose we should try to explore the possibility" B says.

"V-very well...let us hear the theory of which you have came up with, although, I still stand by my statement of not being the culprit in our case...." Orion says, still rather shaken by the accusation.

There must be something that is wrong in Grimdark's reasoning....

"Well then...Serenade, I trust that you'll be defending Orion?" Grimdark folds his arms.

"Yes, I don't think that she's our culprit"

"Alright then...prove it to me! Prove Orion isn't the culprit!"

PREPARE YOURSELF, MAGGOT!!!!

Cross-Swords

Evidence Blades

-Pulley system

-Wallpaper

-Olive's Theory

-Samurai's Testimony

-Hammer

Grimdark- I still insist that Orion is the culprit. As one with the right weapon and the right abilities, it's only natural to suspect her, right? Even you can see that, Serenade. Why continue this farce when the truth is so very clear?

Serenade- What kind of actual evidence do you have? The fact that her weapon is the same that was used in this murder? You must have something more decisive than that!

Grimdark- Well, obviously there's that but there's also the fact that we didn't notice the knife when we first went into the cafeteria, she must have simply...used magic to make it unseen

I'll cut that claim into pieces!

"Really? She used a spell so we couldn't see the knife...? I think that it would be slightly redundant for her to do that"

"Redundant? What are you talking about? She must have used magic, I know that you ponies learn three basic spells when you're younger: levitation, invisibility and teleportation. Am I wrong?" Grimdark asked him smugly.

"He isn't, those are the right spells..." Nimbus says.

"But spells don't have anything to do with it...do you remember the hanging piece of wallpaper we found?" Serenade asks Grimdark.

"Wallpaper?" B repeats. "You found wallpaper in the cafeteria?"

"Yes, it was in the corner of the room though...why are you bringing it up?" Beau asks.

"Well...what if the culprit had more than one piece of wallpaper? They could use it to cover up the knife, we probably wouldn't notice it since it wouldn't look out of place..." Serenade suggests.

"Where would they even get it though?" Olive asked.

"I think I saw some in the school store" Samurai says.

"So our culprit has went to the store at least once...Orion, have you ever went to the store...?" Beau asks.

"No, I have not, I did not see any reason to go there after all, since you can only go when you find Monokuma Medals and I have not come across one, I have yet to have a reason to venture there..."

"So someone, other than Orion went to the school store and got wallpaper..." Grimdark says.

"But why was that wallpaper there in the first place?" Samurai asks.

"What do you mean?" Beau says.

"Well, it was in the corner of the room, yet the actual knife was over the body...so what was that covering?"

Hmm....well, there is one thing it could have been covering....but...I'm not sure...

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Knife

-Globe

-Hammer

-Hammer's Spanner

-Pulley System

Nimbus- So a piece of wallpaper was hanging off the ceiling...?

Beau- Yes but we want to know what it's for

Samurai- It was hanging in the corner of the room...

Orion- Was there no way to tell what it was covering?

Samurai- It didn't seem like it...maybe it was one of the weapons?

Olive- Maybe Monokuma did some refurbishing! Nah, that's not it...

B- Or it could have been something else

Agreed!

"I don't think it was covering the weapon...but something like a trigger..."

"A trigger...?" Grimdark asks interested by Serenade's idea.

"Right, remember we found evidence of a pulley system in the cafeteria? It could have been covering up a part of it"

"That does seems to make sense" Nimbus admits. "Though, how do you suggest this pulley system was triggered?"

"Yes, it must have had something to trigger it..." Beau states the obvious. "But we don't exactly know what, do we?"

"Hmm....magic, maybe could have just triggered it...." Olive suggests.

"Then there would be no need for the wallpaper to cover it up" Grimdark retorts.

"Oh...right..."

So, now we need to figure out how the system was triggered...hmm...

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Samurai's Testimony

-Hammer's Testimony

-Olive's Theory

-Hammer's Spanner

Grimdark- So even if we know that there's the possibility of a pulley system being used...we still don't know how the culprit triggered it....

Olive- We've already eliminated magic...

Samurai- Right...so what would that leave...?

Olive- Well...a few possibilities...

B- Like what? There isn't much besides magic as an explanation...

Nimbus- Well, first we need the figure out if such a thing exists...did someone see it?

Olive- Or someone smelled it? I dunno, I'm just guessing...

Orion- Could somebody here have heard it?

Agreed!

"Actually someone here did hear the trigger...well, we all did, only one paid attention thought. Right, Samurai?"

"Huh...?" Samurai looked confused.

"Remember you mentioned to me the noise you heard when you entered the cafeteria?"

"Umm...yeah, I did...why?" Samurai asked him.

"I think that whatever you heard might have triggered the weapon...wait..." Samurai...heard the trigger...?

"Serenade? You've gone pale...did you figure something out? Do you know who the culprit is?" Beau asks him..

"N-no...guys! T-that trigger! Samurai heard it go off when he entered the cafeteria!"

"Right...but what about it...? Is it really relevant to what we're talking about?" Olive asks.

"Wait...if the trigger went off when Samurai entered, then..." Beau's eyes widen. "He triggered the weapon..."

"Wha...?" Samurai went pale instantly. "I did...I did...w-w-w-w-w-WHAT?!"

"Samurai caused Hammer's death?!" B yelled out.

"That...that...that....that that that that that that that....INSANE?!!!!!" Samurai gripped the sides of his head in frustration.

"Of course...there is one other that could have triggered it...Serenade, do you remember who that was?" Beau asks him.

"Someone else? There are two suspects?" Olive says.

Someone else...? Oh, yeah...one other entered the room with Samurai...and that student was...

It could only be you!

Class Trial 5: Chapter 3

"The second one that could have caused Hammer's death would have to be...B..."

"Whaaaaa....?!" B wailed stunned.

"I hate to say it but...you and Samurai entered the room at the same time, if the trigger was the door, and that's just a theory...then you or Samurai would end up as the culprit..."

"So our culprit is either B...or Samurai...?" Olive asks. "The two unlikeliest of us all to kill someone?!"

"Yeah, if it was Grimdark or Beau, I wouldn't be surprised..." Nimbus says.

"What was that?!" Grimdark gritted his teeth.

"Zip it, Nimrod" Beau says sternly.

"N-Nimrod...?"

"May I interrupt you, Mr Stereo?" Orion asks him.

"Um...yeah, is something wrong?"

"Well...I was going to offer another explanation for the murder, if you all are willing to listen?"

"Go ahead, Orion, any other explanation is greatly appreciated" Nimbus says.

Oh just make out already, geez!

"Well...what if, the culprit was hiding inside the cafeteria at the time of the arrival of Mr Blade and Ms Positive? Then they would prove innocent." Orion smiles at her theory.

"That does seem plausible..." Beau says. "But...is that what happened?"

"Yes, I feared one of you might ask that, unfortunately, I have no evidence to give to support this theory of mine...." Orion admits disappointingly.

"And I'm not sure if there is any evidence to refute that at the same time..." Grimdark adds.

The culprit hid behind the door? Is that what happened...?

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Monokuma File 5

-Hammer

-Hammer's Spanner

Orion- My theory is...the culprit hid behind the door...

Olive- Of course, there's no way to support or refute it...

Samurai- They must...they must...I wouldn't....I'd never...

Olive- Also, Samurai's having a nervous breakdown...

Beau- If the culprit really did hide behind the door...there should be evidence of that...

Nimbus- Of course...there was none...

Grimdark- So what do we do now?! Do we just guess?!

B- We can't just guess!

Samurai- What do we...? Who do we...? Why...?

Something about Orion's theory is off....but where would that leave us...?

Orion- My theory is...the culprit hid behind the door...

You got that wrong!

"It would be rather strange if that were the case, Orion, after all. Nobody has said anything about something suspicious behind the door"

"W-well, yes, that is correct but-"

"Actually..." Olive interrupts awkwardly.

"...Olive...please tell me that you didn't hide evidence..." Serenade asks wearily.

"Well....kind of, yeah"

"OLIVE!!!" Serenade yells. "Why didn't you say anything earlier?!"

"I'm sorry! I didn't think it was relevant!"

"Well, what was it?!" Nimbus asks her.

"Well, you know the rails behind the doors that prevent them from going right back? When you enter, the one on the right has some markings on it, like something was gripped onto it"

New Ammo: Door rails were loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"Hmm...something attached, you say?" Grimdark asks. "Okay...how did we not see that?"

"There could have been more wallpaper..." Beau suggests.

"How much wallpaper did this guy have?" Grimdark sighs.

"The limit does not exist apparently" Olive half-laughs.

.....the rails behind the door had something attached to it? What was it...?

"Serenade? Is something wrong?" B asks him, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Um..." I wonder...what if it was that...? "What was attached to the rails...? I think I might know..."

"Really?" Orion looks at him, obviously surprised. "You have a hypothesis?"

"I do..." Thanks to Olive...it must be this...
Of Course!

"Just before the trial started, Olive showed me Hammer's spanner that she had found under one of the tables in the cafeteria"

"What about it?" Beau says.

"Well, it's my theory that the culprit used that to hold the trigger in place, and that was the noise we kept hearing but paid no attention to, the door hitting against the spanner!"

That doesn't add up!

Everyone looked at Nimbus. "Now, Serenade. Where's the logic in that conclusion? It was HAMMER'S spanner, correct? Are you trying to say that Hammer is the culprit in this?"

"Well, no, Hammer isn't the culprit, he wouldn't plan his own death"

"Well then...prove that to me first! Prove Hammer did not plan this!"

Cross-Swords

Evidence Blades

-Neck Bruises

-Hammer's Testimony

-Hammer

-Samurai's Testimony

Nimbus- You say that Hammer isn't the culprit, yet you say his spanner was used in his murder, AND you claim it was premeditated?! You cannot lump all of those ideas together and call them facts without solid evidence!

Serenade- I know I need solid evidence, Nimbus, that's just common sense!

Nimbus- Well, with a stalling tactic like that...you most likely don't have evidence!

I'll cut that claim into pieces!

"Wrong, Nimbus, Hammer didn't plan this because.if he did, he shouldn't have those bruises on his neck..."

"He has bruising on his neck?" Nimbus raises an eyebrow.

"Right, makes sense after all..."

"Why would that make sense? He could have got those bruises anytime" Beau points out.

"True, but I have reason to suspect that Hammer got those bruises just before he was killed..."
Of course!

"He told us, when Orion channelled his spirit that he was anonymously called out by someone and was then attacked from behind, that was most likely when he got the bruises."

"That does hold some merit..." B admits. "But...if Samurai or I were the ones that caused the murder...does that mean that the one who attacked Hammer isn't the culprit...?"

"......that...that does seem like the right explanation at the moment..." Serenade bit his lip. I don't like this...Samurai and B are the two I'm closest to here...I don't want to pronounce either one of them guilty...

"Well...? I guess we need to answer that question next. 'Is the culprit the one that attacked Hammer?'" Beau says.

"Yes...but how do we figure that out?" Grimdark asks. "The trigger was activated by the door, right? How can we figure out if the one that attacked Hammer activated it...?"

"We use logic, of course" Orion answers.

"L-logic...?"

"Yes, by using our own logic, we can easily come to the right conclusion...are we all prepared...?" They all gave a nod. "Very good, now, what scenario shall we look at first, the culprit is Samurai or B...or the culprit is someone else...?"

Hmm...what...what do I say...?
Of course!

"Well, the scenario of the culprit being another is one we haven't really thought about yet...so we should start there..."

"Are we all in agreement?" Orion asks and answered with another set of nods. "Very well then...so, our understanding is that in this scenario, the culprit is the same person that attacked Mr Head, correct? Then they used what to attack him?"

"What they used to attack him...?" Olive asked. "Well...there are a few things they could have used..."

A few things, true...but it was most likely this...
Of course!

"Maybe they used the hammer? It's smaller than the one used in the DigiBot's murder so it wouldn't do much damage to him"

"Yes. I agree" Orion smiles.

"Really? Couldn't that spanner that Serenade showed us earlier be what was used?" B asked.

"No, this was used as a trigger by the culprit in this scenario, since Hammer was attacked, that must mean he lost his spanner beforehand, it was stolen or, it isn't Hammer's"

"That sounds right..." Samurai says. "But of course, the problem is where the culprit would be in the crime scene, right...? I mean, as much as I hate saying it. B and I came through the door, where were they hiding?"

Well, Samurai calmed down...but that is good question...where did the culprit hide?
Of course!

"Most likely...they hid behind the door..."

"Behind the door? Is that even possible?" Olive asks.

"What do you mean? There's a small space for someone to hide there, I suppose so I don't understand what you mean" Serenade asks.

"Well...when did they leave? Didn't B come and get you right away? So when did the culprit sneak out?"

"I was in the room the entire time, I didn't see anyone leave" Samurai admits. "So...that means...B...or I...We...one of us..."

D-dammit...who the hell could be a culprit in this scenario?! The culprit stayed hidden even with Samurai not seeing anyone leave the room, they must have hid behind the door, that was where the trigger was...wait...the culprit...that's it!
"I know who the culprit is!"

"W-what?!" Olive said, surprised. "How do you know?!"

"This should prove to be an interesting accusation" Nimbus looked at the Pegasus.

"Well, Serenade...who is it? Tell us the true culprit in this murder" Beau commanded.

"The culprit....."

It could only be you!

Class Trial 5: Chapter 4

"It's you Nimbus!" The pointed at the purple unicorn that gave no reaction the accusation.

"...it's me? You claim that I, Nimbus Darkness...am the culprit in Hammer Head's murder? I will grant you that in the scenario that you came up with, it would make sense for me to be the culprit but you have yet to give any evidence of this scenario being the one that happened...am I wrong?"

"M-Mr Darkness....he would never kill another!" Orion objected straight after.

"My thanks, Orion, but I can handle this on my own" Orion seemed stunned by Nimbus's tone with her. "Now, Serenade, be honest with us all right now. The only reason you believe I am the culprit is because you don't want to execute B or Samurai...am I wrong?"

"...you're...you're partially right, I don't want to pronounce Samurai or B guilty...but do you think I want to do that to anyone here?!"

"Feh, you're starting to let rage control your head, calm yourself or I shan't even acknowledge your arguments."

"Hey!" Grimdark intervenes. "You're being accused! You should at least try and defend yourself."

"Shut up, changeling."

"Wha-?!"

"Your opinion on the matter is invalid, if you actually escaped, you'd be arrested on the spot."

"...I could always pose as you, after we take your head clean off!"

"Your head would be coming off to, for I am not the culprit." Nimbus smirks.

"M-Mr Darkness...this is not like you."

"Didn't I tell you to stay out of this? Learn to listen!" Orion's eyes widened and her face went to something nobody here had seem from her. Pure anger.

"You...you....FUCKING SON OF A BITCH!!!" Everyone was instantly caught off guard by Orion's personality turn-around. "All this time in here with you, had that meant nothing to you, you ungrateful fucking swine?!"

"O-Orion, clam down" Samurai attempted.

"Shut the fuck up before I shove that practice sword up your ass!" She yelled at him.

"N-nyah..." Samurai flinched at the thought.

"Now, let me make one thing very...very...very clear. The culprit is not Nimbus" Orion says.

"But, even after what he said to you, you're still going to defend him?" B asked her.

"Yes. It must simply be the pressure of the accusation that's making him act like this" Orion gives a messed up smile.

"W-well...we sound discuss this a bit more, right? We can never be to sure...." Olive says.

"Hmmm....true, true, true." Orion agrees.

Damn, who knew Orion had this kind of side to her? I'd better tread lightly if I find anything wrong in her statements....

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Samurai's Testimony

-Wallpaper

-Hammer's Testimony

-Olive's Theory

-Pulley System

Orion- Clearly, Nimbus is not the culprit. Am I right? Like he said, there is no evidence of this scenario being the one that happened.

Beau- That may be true...but there's the possibility of this being the correct events.

Orion- Well show some proof!

Grimdark- Obviously....the culprit hid behind the door...and Nimbus has the right shape to do so...

Orion- Well so does, Serenade! You can't use that as evidence! I still fail to find any proof of his guilt.

Olive- ...well...there may have been something that happened...that only Nimbus could have done...

Agreed!

"There is something that happened that only Nimbus could have done...remember what Hammer said?"

"I remember going to the cafeteria kitchen, and feeling something hit me...I woke up later but couldn't move anything...I heard a noise and, everything went black...oh! Also, I saw someone go into the kitchen but when I entered, nobody was there...the kitchen is really small and there's only one door and no windows so I don't know where they escaped to..."

"The attacker disappeared from a tiny room with one door...who could have possibly pulled that off...?" Serenade said, rather smugly for his standards.

"Ur..." Nimbus tapped the stand annoyingly. "O-okay...so I attacked and strung up Hammer, big deal!"

"Big deal?!" Olive yelled at him. "Hello? You just confessed to killing Hammer!"

"Wrong! You still haven't shown me proof of this scenario being the correct one!"

"There is no proof..." Beau says.

"W-what?" B looks at her.

"Well, we don't have any proof do we? We have evidence that is circumstantial at best...and I'm talking about the words of a deceased pervert..."

"She...she's got a point. And that doesn't really show us what scenario is the right one...." Olive admits.

"So what do you expect us to do?!" Grimdark yells. "We have Samurai, B or Nimbus! What are we supposed to do..." His voice started to go smaller.

"Grimdark...who do you think it is...? Truthfully." Beau asks him.

"Wha-...? Why are you-?"

"Just tell me."

"...I...I think it was...Samurai or B..."

"Whaaaaaa?!" B squealed.

"Seriously?!" Samurai agave an angry look at Grimdark.

"I don't like saying it but...to me, that seems logical...I've been trying to think outside the box with this yet I can't think of anything..."

Think...outside the box? Wait...I've been thinking of evidence that proves Nimbus is the culprit... "What if we use the evidence to prove that Samurai and B aren't the culprits instead?!"

"I don't understand...isn't proving Nimbus as the culprit also proving Samurai and B aren't?" Olive points out.

"Yes...but we don't have direct evidence...but what if we do it indirectly like last time. By proving Samurai and B aren't the culprits, we indirectly prove that Nimbus is!"

"Urk..." Nimbus grunts.

"And of course...there's only one way to do that, right Serenade?" Beau says.

"Of course..." I'm ready to wrap this whole thing up, once and for all!

I cannot allow this!

Everyone turned to Orion. "Stop this madness! How many FUCKING times do I need to tell you that Nimbus ain't the culprit?!"

"Orion, please! Just-"

"You know the rules, Serenade, if you want to talk, use the evidence!"

She isn't going to let this end unless I go head-to-head with her...dammit Orion...why can't you just see the truth?!

Cross Swords

Evidence Blades

-Hammer's Testimony

-Olive's Theory

-Samurai's Testimony

-Overhead Hook

-Hammer's Spanner

Orion- You expect me to just sit idly by and watch you accuse Nimbus like that without any direct evidence of his guilt?! I know Nimbus better than any of you here so I know for a fact that Nimbus is more innocent than any of you here!

Serenade- Orion, please, just listen to what I have to say

Orion- I will not! Until you can show me real proof of Nimbus's guilt, I won't listen to anything that you have to say! I won't let you proceed since Nimbus couldn't have just set everything up like that!

I'll cut that claim into pieces!

"Actually, anyone here could have done so, this murder was premeditated after all"

"Where would you get that impression?" Orion asked.

"Olive gave me her theory on what she thought happened and I actually came to the same conclusion, you can't hold all of those weapons and not be seen by anyone, even if you are the Super High School Level Ninja!"

"Ur...." Orion frowned.

"Alright...now, Serenade, if you would..." Beau asked him again.

Now it's time...time to finally bring this class trial to a close!

Class Trial 5: Chapter 5

Here's How it Happened!

Act 1

This started off at least a day before the murder actually took place, the culprit started working on a system to kill who he presumably thought was the Mastermind. A.K.A. Hammer. Wanting who he thought was the Mastermind to suffer, he collected various weapons such as a knife, like Gold's murder, a globe like in Moonlight's murder, a rope for Lock's murder and a hammer for the DigiBot's murder. Using the Monomono machine in the shop he also acquired a hook, pulleys, a spanner and wallpaper to complete his contraption.

Act 2

After setting up the scene, he wrote an anonymous note to Hammer, calling him to the cafeteria kitchen. Upon entering the cafeteria, Hammer saw the culprit enter the kitchen and followed him inside. When he entered the kitchen though, the culprit was hiding from him and attacked him from behind.

Act 3

The culprit dragged Hammer's body out and started to set it up with the rope he had got earlier so he could stop Hammer from moving away from the zone that he had set up the knife, hammer and the globe and stayed hidden, awaiting someone to come through the door so he could release the spanner that was holding onto the railings behind the door and finish the job.

Act 4

After a few minutes, Hammer regained consciousness and must have been dazed by the attack. Finding out that he was restrained he must have started calling for help, not knowing what would happen. At this point, Samurai and B must have been nearby and opened to door to see who was calling out for someone and why. That was the culprit's trap though.

Act 5

Upon the door opening, the culprit released the trigger and sent the hammer, globe and knife at Hammer, leaving him with no chance of survival from the three attacks. This left everyone else to believe that Samurai or B was the true culprit behind Hammer Head's murder.

I must admit you almost had us all fooled...but we saw through your tricks in the end...Nimbus Darkness!

"Have any counterarguments, Nimbus...?"

"Feh...don't act so confident...you have yet to prove this is the true scenario..."

Figures that he wouldn't give up so easily....

Nimbus- Foolishness!
Nimbus- You have no proof!
Nimbus- You can't execute me!
Nimbus- You dare challenge the great ninja?!
Nimbus- Impossible
Nimbus- I laugh at your accusation
Nimbus- You shall burn in a thousand hell-fires!

Enough!

Nimbus- Come now...what proof could you possibly have that proves this is the correct scenario?

Mysterious Noises!

"Remember whenever someone entered or left the cafeteria, we'd hear a clink noise? Now apply a bit of logic to that: it shows that opening the door isn't enough to trigger it, it had to be triggered by hand or it wouldn't work! Meaning...the culprit couldn't be Samurai or B!"

"Wah....?!" Nimbus gave a stunned expression.

"Alllllrighty then!" Monokuma put a paw up. "Seems we've reached our conclusion! In front of you are the sixteen ballot buttons, press the button of who you believe the culprit to be, majority wins remember! So will it be right? Or will it be oh so wrong?! It's ballot time!"

As the final button was pushed for voting, the huge slot machine appeared with 'Voting Machine' in red on the top. The three dials began to spin quickly for another few seconds before all three stop on Nimbus' face causing a red 'GUILTY' sign to flash and the two bouquets of flowers to pop out the sides.

"Here we go, number five and it's another good guess. The one that triggered the machine that caused Hammer's demise was none other than Nimbus!"

"N..no..." Orion whimpered, her normal voice returning. "How could this be...? I thought you..." Her speech pattern was going back to normal also.

"...I'm sorry, Orion. But I had to take my chance of getting us out of here, framing Samurai and B? That was just a failsafe..."

"Why did you think Hammer was the Mastermind?" B asked him.

"Why? Something about Hammer just always struck me as...off..."

"Off? What do you mean?" Olive raised an eyebrow.

"I checked the secret archive that Beau told us about and studied up on what she had learned...the mastermind...for some reason reminded me of Hammer, but I never figured out why..."

"So, I was the reason you did this...?" Beau asked.

"No. Don't say that, never believe that you are responsible, I did this for everyone, I thought that if I killed the Mastermind we could all escape, together...but, obviously, Hammer was the wrong one..."

"Nimbus...you were trying to protect us..." Serenade said quietly.

"Yes...ironic thought, isn't it?" Nimbus smirked. "I was the one who thought you were the culprit in the first ever class trial and now...you're the one that managed to catch me out in the class trial" He gave a small laugh.

"H-how can you laugh at a time like this?! You're gonna be executed!" Samurai reminded him.

"True, but at least I died trying to help everyone, right? I only didn't say anything because I gave into the fear of death...I apologise..." He gave a bow.

"Nimbus..." Serenade's ears drooped.

"You were a Nimrod...but at least you were a good soldier..." Grimdark gave a salute.

"Out of us all...Nimbus was one of the most likely to get out...and now..." B couldn't finish her sentence.

"Hey, Monokuma, can we just get this over with? I don't want to hold any of these guys up any longer...." Nimbus sighed.

"No..." Orion said. "Please do not go, Nimbus..."

"Orion...I'm sorry...but I must go now..."

"Alright then! I guess that means it's time for the main event!" Monokuma stands up.

"You do not understand Nimbus, you never did understand my words!"

"What are you talking about?" Nimbus raised an eyebrow.

Is Orion gonna....really...NOW OF ALL TIMES?! Is she insane?!

"I've come up with a very special punishment for the 'Super High School Level Ninja' Nimbus Darkness! And this is a really good one as well!"

"Nimbus, why did you never realize it?!"

"Let's get the ball rolling!" Monokuma started to spin.

"I love you, Nimbus!"

"W-what, you're telling me this now?!" Nimbus stood aback.

"You seriously didn't figure out the most cliché final words...ever?" Grimdark said.

"Orion...I lo-"

"It's PUNISHMENT TIME!!!"

"No, wait-!"

Class Trial 5: Execution

The podium rose from the ground for the fifth time, Monokuma took out his gavel and pressed the button to activate the execution.

Game over!
Nimbus Darkness is guilty!
Commencing Execution!

Orion ran for Nimbus but before he was in reach, the chain flew into the room and wrapped around Nimbus' neck, dragging him out of the room. The monitor flashed on, displayed Nimbus being released in a forest like area, it was completely silent yet Nimbus seemed on edge.

A Ninja's Senses

Nimbus went into a combat position and stood still, eyes closed. It was a few seconds before his ear twitched and he jumped. A shuriken had been thrown his way! A few more were being thrown but he still had no problem dodging them, aside from one that nicked his cheek.

The shuriken attack had stopped but he still seemed weary, he looked to his side and ducked as a bamboo spear shot out from the side. The spears started to fill the room, eventually leaving Nimbus trapped in the centre of the room but still relatively unharmed. Until sections on the floor opened up, expelling black gas.

Nimbus looked up at the ceiling and started to climb, using the bamboo spears as steps, he came to the top of the room, gas not far behind, and found a hatch. Climbing through and slamming it shut, he came face to face with the exact same room, the floor opened up again, letting the gas in. With nowhere left to run, Nimbus just folded his arms, tears forming in his eyes and accepted his fate...

"Nimbus...." Orion's knees buckled and she fell, sobbing into her palms.

"Orion...." Serenade tried to comfort her but was quickly thrown back by her magic.

"Stay away!" She yelled. "You all executed him! I had nothing to do with his death..."

"It's true" Monokuma confirms. "Orion is the only one that didn't vote for Nimbus, but unfortunately, voting for Serenade wasn't going to work."

"So you believed in him until the very end..." Grimdark says.

"Of course you ingrate! I could never doubt him..."

"That was your biggest weakness though..." Beau says.

"What are you...? What are you trying to say?" Orion looked at her.

"Because of your weakness, you were willing to sacrifice everyone to save him...well, that's not how it works around here, Orion. I thought you would have understood that..."

"Beau...you shouldn't be so harsh." Samurai says. "C'mon, have a heart."

"Having feelings for another is what got her into this mess..."

"So, what? You're telling us you have no feelings towards any of us?" Grimdark says angrily.

"Not the ones that you'd prefer...but this isn't about what I 'feel' about the rest of you...this is about Orion. I understand that she liked Nimbus...but were you really willing to sacrifice all of that just for him? Not even Olive did that for Tickery."

"It's true...as much as I hate to say it..." Olive confirmed.

"Orion, you need to toughen up from this. Let this fuel it...the fuel to stopping the true mastermind!"

"But...but I..."

"Hey..." Samurai walked over and crouched by her side. "Are you seriously gonna let the son of a bitch that trapped us in here get the better of you? Let him or her see the despair they crave? Or..." He stood up, hand reached out of her. "Are you gonna dry your eyes and help us out?" There was a moment of silence, the fact that Samurai was being the voice that could pull Orion out of despair was surprising enough, even more surprising was when Orion took Samurai's hand and stood up.

"Thank you...Mr Blade...." Orion gave a small bow.

"And ya can stop with the 'Mr' details...Samurai or Sammy is fine" He gave a goofy grin.

"Then...thank you Samurai..." She frowned. "I'm sorry for what happened with you and Ms Positive...."

"Aw, it isn't your fault"

"Yeah...I usually have bad luck anyway" B gives a weak smile.

"Same here." Samurai gave a thumbs up.

To think...Samurai has that sort of effect of Orion...wait a second...nah...

"Welp, to bad Nimbus' goal wasn't reached in the end!" Monokuma rubs the back of his head.

"You mean to kill the mastermind, right?" Grimdark asks.

"Well...there's that...but also to capture either of the two in his little trap that B and Samurai fell into..."

"Umm...'either of the two'?" Olive repeated wearily.

"Yeperdee! I'm talking about the 'Super High School Level Assassin' and the 'Super High School Level Mastermind'!" Everyone went silent.

"W...who?" Serenade asked him.

"The SHSL Assassin and Mastermind! They're hidden among you guys so...yah no..."

"An assassin?" Olive went pale.

"One of us is secretly that of all things?!" Samurai yelled.

"Yep! But who...just who? That will be answered soon...probably" And with those eerie words, Monokuma vanished.

"An...assassin..." B repeated.

"And a mastermind...? Are the SHSL Mastermind and the mastermind that trapped us in here the same person, I wonder?" Beau thought.

"It does seem likely..." Grimdark tapped his forearm.

"Things like this just don't end..." Olive mutters. "One of us is a professional killer..."

"What do we do now? After what we just heard..." Samurai fiddled shakily with his practice sword holder.

"We head back to our rooms...try to get some sleep, I have a feeling tomorrow will be a big day..." Beau speculates.

"What do you- hey! I'm talking!" Grimdark stomps his foot when Beau ignores him and head for the elevator.

Fuck...my...life... Serenade bites his lip. I'm sharing a school with two killers...the mastermind and the SHSL Assassin...

Day 13: Chapter 1

Day 13. The Final Chance...

Serenade had been awake since the class trial, he couldn't stop thinking about the SHSL assassin and mastermind that were hidden among them all. This was to much, these two had been deceiving everyone the entire time? His first thoughts? The SHSL Mastermind was...her...at least that was he was hoping for but the assassin, he had no clue.

*Ding dong, bing bong!*

"Alright, you bastards, it's 7am and as of such Night-Time is officially over! Let's make today great!"

"Fuck..." Serenade rubbed his eyes, he was tired but still didn't get to sleep, the trial ended at 11pm at night. "This isn't how I wanna spend my day..." He groaned, getting up and heading for the cafeteria.

"Oh! Serenade..." The familiar voice of B came from behind. "Were you able to get to sleep last night?" She asked, walking over to him.

"None...I'm exhausted..." He sighed.

"Really? Nothing at all?" Serenade shook his head. "After we meet up in the cafeteria-"

"Do you really still want to go in there?" B paused. "I mean, go in there and pretend Hammer's corpse wasn't strung up there?"

"...of course not...but I don't want to just avoid places because that's where we found bodies either..."

"Well, sure but still...it just feels...wrong to me..." Serenade sighed. B didn't say anything to that, she had no real way to answer back to it.

"Hey, guys" Samurai's upbeat voice greeted them.

"Morning, Samurai." B responded.

"So, how come you two aren't at the cafeteria yet? You're usually first there"

"We've just been talking here..." Serenade tells him.

"Oh, right...cool" Samurai gave a small smile. Samurai may not be the smartest but at least he's able to lighten the mood... "Well, c'mon! Knowing everyone else, Beau or Grimdark are probably there already..."

"True..." B agrees as the trio head to the cafeteria and just like Samurai had suspected, Beau and Grimdark had already gathered there.

"Morning" Samurai smiled.

"Why are you so happy?" Grimdark asked.

"Cause that was the fifth trial, right? So according to what Beau told me, we just need to uncover the mastermind and we get to leave!"

"Yes, that may be what I told you, but that doesn't mean that it'll happen in this occasion"

"What do you mean?"

"The mastermind has learned from the past mistakes, she knows what went wrong, do you seriously think it's going to be so easy to figure out who it is?"

"But we have you and Serenade! Finding out who it is will be totally easy!" Samurai protested.

"Well...we don't know that for sure..." B said.

"Seriously, B? You too?"

"Sorry, Samurai. But with everything that's happened we still have no evidence to figure out who did it..." B rubbed her forearm.

"That's true. The only one here that has any information on the mastermind is Beau and I suppose, Nimbus as well...but obviously he isn't here..." Grimdark said.

"Right, I showed Nimbus the archives yesterday...maybe later I'll show you all where it is" Beau folded her arms.

"You said it was behind the bleachers in the pool, right?" Serenade asked.

"Well, yes. But there's a secret to unlocking it..."

"So how did you figure it out then?" Samurai gave a suspicious look.

"I sorta just stumbled on it completely by chance. I wasn't expecting it to exist at all but it was a good source of information on our current situation."

"I see..." Grimdark closed his eyes. Serenade looked back at Beau and noticed a small pale tint to her face.

"Hey, is something wrong?" He asks her.

"Hmm?" She looks at him. "It's nothing..." She bites her nail.

She seemed fine just before she mentioned...the room... "Is there something about the archives?"

"No..." She answered almost to quickly, making it look like she was trying to hide something even more. At that point, the door opened and Olive walked in, accompanied by Orion.

"Good morning, guys. Did we miss anything?" Olive asks.

"Nothing much, but apparently, there's a secret to getting into the archives that Beau talked about." Grimdark explained.

"The one behind the bleachers in the pool?" Olive tilts her head.

"I don't think there are any other ones..." Samurai says.

"There could be, we just haven't found them..." Serenade says.

"Well...yeah, I suppose."

"...but, it doesn't look like we have much to discuss today, since the fifth floor was the final one, we have nowhere else to go..." Beau says.

"The archives?" B reminds her.

"...I'm only going to show those that I believe aren't the mastermind. It's only fair, right?"

"No way!" Samurai protests. "I'm not the mastermind, I don't need you doubting me about that!"

"Yeah, Beau. Why can't you just trust us for once?!" Olive adds. Beau closes her eyes and tilts her head down.

"Last time I trusted someone with something this big...a lot of people died..." She stood up and headed straight for the doors. "I'm not letting that happen again..." and with the vaguely eerie explanation she had provided, Beau took her leave.

"Ugh! Screw that!" Samurai said. "We should just go figure it out by ourselves!"

"Before that..." Orion interrupts, Samurai's hype. "I actually came across something rather...elusive when I was cleaning the victim rooms this morning..."

"Why were you doing that?" B asked.

"I was trying to take my mind off last nights class trial...but anyway, I was going through Zoom's room, it was a rather messy place...but I found this..." She pulls out what seems to be a newspaper.

....wait....oh fuck...

"Looks like Mr Stereo and Ms Love...have a little secret..." She turned it to them, showing the picture of Beau kissing Serenade during the first investigation. Everyone's eyes' widened as they looked over at Serenade who's faced had turned bright red.

"Well then...I didn't expect Serenade to be a womani-"

"I swear it isn't what you guys think!" Serenade cuts Grimdark off.

"The picture though, Serenade..." Samurai says.

"The pictuuuuureeee...." Olive and Samurai say creepily.

"I didn't expect you to be into gossip, Orion" B points out.

"Oh yes, I love these sorts of things. The article itself is hilarious, my apologies for my rudeness of course, Mr Stereo..." Everyone had a small grin or smile on their face.

I thought this had passed away a long time ago... Serenade sighed. I really hope that Samurai and Grimdark have no interest...

"Hey, why so glum?" Samurai asks. "C'mon, we have something to do, right?"

"Yeah, we need to find the arc-"

"We should celebrate Benade!" Samurai cuts him off.

"W-what?!"

"Whilst a party might be a little much, a simple congratulations would be better" Orion says.

"And what kind of a name is 'Benade'?" Grimdark raises an eyebrow.

"You know...like 'Beau' and 'Serenade' put together?"

"Maybe 'Sereau' would be better?" B asks.

"C-can we not talk about this?!" Serenade yells out. "We should be looking for the archives! Not looking at a gossip column!"

"...yeah, I guess he's right..." Grimdark agrees.

"Guess we got a little carried away..." Samurai admits sheepishly. "Sorry 'bout that."

"Let's just go, and never, ever talk about this again..."

The six gathered in the pool by the sideroom they found Grimdark in. "Alright, the archives are behind these bleachers." Serenade points to the bleachers over on the right side of the room. "But we need to figure out how exactly to get in there, so we won't stop until we find the switch. This might take a while though so-"

"I think I found something!" A voice called for the others attention.

"...Or you could do what Samurai did..." Serenade sighed.

"I think I found the switch..." He says hitting his knuckle against the wall. "This part sounds a little hollow..." He mumbled, pressing his ear up against the wall.

"Maybe it's a fake tile?" Olive suggests. Samurai shrugged and tried to remove it but his efforts were in vain.

"It's really stuck in there...." Samurai says.

"Try sliding it?" Orion says.

"Hmm..." Samurai turned back to the tile and tried to slip it through any gap that could have been there but it still refused to budge from its position.

"Well, we know what this calls for..." Grimdark smirks. "When there's an obstacle in your way...PUNCH IT DOWN!!!" Samurai jumped out of the way as Grimdark, suddenly readied his fist and punched the tile with his entire force. There was a click as the tile went back and a section of the wall behind the bleachers slid away.

"...Well that worked..." Serenade said.

"And the army doubted my regimen. Shows how much they know!" Grimdark chuckled.

"Nice work, Grimsey!" Samurai gave a thumbs up.

"...don't call me that ever again..." Grimdark shot a glare at the earth pony.

"Alright then. Let's see what we've got in here..." The six head over to the section in the wall. The room was as suspected, covered wall-to-wall with old looking books, it was rather large as well. Seeing it stretch back a little bit.

"So these are the archives, eh? How do we find the books Beau used?" Olive asks.

"We just search?" B says.

"Looks that way..." Samurai rubs the back of his head.

"Alright then, let's-" Serenade cut himself off as he took one step into the room. He could feel something staring at him, an eerie presence from inside the room.

"Is something-?" "Shh!" Serenade cut B off. Serenade slowly walked forward, squinting his eyes to see if he could make out anything in the darkness. Then he saw it: behind the bookshelf in the centre of the room, in a gap between the books, Serenade could easily see something he hoped he would never have to see again.

A familiar pair of emerald green eyes.

Author's Note

Oh my god people, it's the final day of the fic. This is coming to a close soon! Actually...that is kind of sad to think about...But hey, if anyone has any theories as to who the SHSL Mastermind or Assassin is then please. Let me hear your theories. And I don't think your first impressions will be correct...

Day 13: Chapter 2

Author's Note

WARNING! THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS SPOILERS OF THE FIRST GAME AND A LITTLE BIT OF THE SECOND GAME IN THE DANGANRONPA SERIES. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SPOILED, CLICK AWAY!

Day 13: Chapter 2

"D...Digital...?" Serenade stutters out barely. "But..." Flashbacks of his execution went through his mind.

"Serenade? You alright...?" Samurai asked from the entrance. Serenade shakily pointed to the bookshelf.

"I...he...over there..." He said.

"You look like you saw a ghost..." Olive says.

"I think I'm seeing one just now..."

"Pardon?" Orion raises an eyebrow. "I do not detect any spirits in the room..."

"T-then...who's that behind the bookshelf...b-because...only Digital Code has green eyes...." As if on command, the eyes moved to one side and disappeared from sight. D-did I just imagine that or...?

"What are you talking about? Did you hit your head or something?" Grimdark half-laughs.

"Yeah Serenade...we saw Digital die, remember?" Olive reminded him.

"Well...I didn't..." Grimdark contradicted.

"Whatever. The point is that you probably just imagined it..." Serenade paused at Olive's words. He took a deep breath before continuing into the room.

"I'll prove to you all...Digital is alive..." He muttered. "Hey! Orion, B. Do you guys think you could light up the room?" The two unicorns nodded before lighting up their horns, giving a slightly clearer view of the room. He edged around the bookshelf to see if the black unicorn that should have been dead was still around. He saw nothing. "That doesn't make any sense..."

"Seeing ghosts, eh?" Grimdark smirked. "But, onto the main issue...the mastermind, we need to find books on them..."

"Yes, Mr Sirens is correct, but first we should find a way to turn on the lights." Orion says.

"I'll look for the switch." B says venturing into the dark room.

"Alright, let's see what we've...huh?" Samurai paused. "Check this out...'Case UH-9: The Missing Students'."

"Missing students? What's that about?" Olive asked.

"I think the better query is: why are police case files in here?" Orion says looking at the file over Samurai's shoulder.

"Yeah. What's with that?" Samurai flicked through the pages. "Um...oh! Here's the case summary: 'On August 25th 2014'-"

"That's the day we entered the school!" Olive interrupts.

"Shh!" Samurai silenced the earth pony. "...'32 students disappeared from Hope's...Peak...Academy'..."

"W...what...?" Orion's eyes widened.

"That's what it says." Samurai tells them.

"Is that a file on us?!" Serenade asks.

"What's wrong?" B asked coming back. "I found a light switch by the way, but it doesn't work..."

"Well we found a file on our disappearance!" Olive told her.

"A, a file?"

"Hold on, listen to this...'We managed to find half of the students later, most found dead in a separate building but a few blocks away from the school. We suspect the rest to be inside the school somewhere because on today August 27th, the doors locked themselves and entry was unobtainable. Later that same day, weaponry systems positioned themselves automatically outside the door, threatening to shoot whoever attempted to enter the school'."

"There were other students?!" Olive said.

"...not exactly, apparently they were collage students that used to attend Hope's Peak. They were here for a class reunion which happens at the start of every school year apparently." Samurai explained.

"College students, eh?" Grimdark repeats. Serenade bit his lip when they mentioned that.

"Something wrong, Serenade?" B asked him.

"It's just...I had an older brother who attended Hope's Peak and...I think he just graduated from college."

"You have an older brother?" Olive asked.

"Yeah...I don't really see much of him though."

"Why is that?" Orion inquired.

"Um...personal matters...but, you see, he's a prosecutor and graduated from Hope Peak a few years ago but he wanted to take some time to feel like he really finished school so he went to college."

"So he was a Super High School Level Prosecutor?" Grimdark asked.

"All Rounder." Serenade corrected.

"A what?" Samurai raised an eyebrow.

"It's a special talent that only comes second to 'Super High School Level Hope', it's basically that but with less talents that he's good at. If I remember right it was fencing, prosecuting, bowling-"

"Bowling?" Grimdark repeated.

"Yeah, not sure how they added that but they did..." Serenade smiled. "Wait...does it say the survivors?"

"Um...no, it didn't mention their names..." Samurai checked.

"Oh...so...he might be dead right now..." Everyone was silent for a few seconds.

"I'm sure he's fine..." Samurai reassured him.

"But we don't really have a way to know, do we?"

"Oh, Serenade...try to look on the brighter side of things. He could have easily survived this, y'know?" B said.

"Or he could have been brutally murdered...we've seen what high school students can do in here...Celestia knows what college students could do to one another..."

"Well...we should try to get out of here as soon as possible then, right? Let's look for books on the Mastermind!" Olive smiled.

"Right..." Serenade gave a small nod before returning to their search. There were a few more police files here and there along the shelves but none of them gave any information on the mastermind or the past events that Beau had talked about.

*THUD!* Everyone turned to Serenade's side where a book had fallen to his feet from one of the very top shelves.

"Whoops..." Serenade said. Why did I say that? I'm searching the bottom this is from the top...

"What does that one say?" B asked him. Serenade picked up the book and read the title.

"The...School Life of...Mutual...Killings..." Everyone paused for a few seconds before crowding around him.

"What does it say?! What does it say?!" Samurai shook him slightly in anticipation.

"Alright, alright...um...the School Life of Mutual Killings took place in a high school apparently, just like our situation and students of Hope's Peak Academy were forced to brutally murder each other in hope of escaping the school."

"Hope's Peak had an incident before this? You'd think we would have heard of it..." Olive points out.

"Yeah..." Serenade agreed before continuing. "In total, ten students of the class had been slaughtered, including the one that was behind it all...." Serenade paused before reading the name. "Junko...Junko Enoshima...."

"The same suspect that Beau had came up with..." Grimdark recalls.

"But, if she's dead, how can she be the one behind this?" B asked.

"What if it is a sort of doppelganger?" Orion suggests. "Somebody has been using this...'Junko Enoshima' Modus Operandi to trick us all into thinking she was the one behind this?"

"That would seem more...huh...?" Serenade looked back at the book. "What's this...? Location: 'Japan'?"

"What's a 'Japan'? Can I eat it?" Olive asked.

"There is nowhere in Equestria, Cheerag, Gryphonia, Grasslands or Badlands that goes by the name 'Japan'." Orion says.

"Check the survivor page...." Grimdark tells him. Serenade nods and flicks through the pages before finding six profiles on one of the pages.

"What the...? Look at this...they're all earth ponies with the same colour of fur and...their ears are weird..." Serenade raises an eyebrow.

"Creepy..." Samurai shivered.

"What the heck kind of case was this...?"

"It's from the human realm...." Beau's voice comes from the entrance.

"Human realm? I've heard the myths of it but...I never suspected it of really existing...." Grimdark says.

"It couldn't, right? I mean, that would mean this book is from a completely different dimension than ours and that's impossible..." Samurai argues.

"Not really..." Beau says.

"What do you mean...?" Beau stays quiet.

"Never mind...anyway..." She puts on her scowl and glares at the six. "I told you all to leave this area alone! What part of that didn't you all understand?!"

"But, Beau. You have to admit, we're kind of desperate for information on what exactly is happening here." B says.

"Shut up!" She yelled at the blue unicorn. "You realize that the mastermind is one of us, right?! That means you could have just ruined everything by opening the way here!"

"We couldn't just sit around though and wait until another murder occurred, could we?!" Olive yelled. "Seriously, if you just gave us a little trust we could just go and beat the mastermind now!"

"She's seen the books, she knows that we know things about her, it's not going to be so easy now!"

"And you still assume that Junko Enoshima is the mastermind and not a copy?" Grimdark asked.

"Yes." Beau simply stated.

"It would make sense for her to think that..." B says. "I mean...who could really create such despair other than the original mastermind?"

"But, humans don't exist, they're just fiction, B..." Samurai tells her.

"Then...it might be a copycat?" She asks.

"No. She's the real deal...no doubt about it..." Beau says sternly.

"Why do you believe that?" Serenade asked. She can think what she wants....doesn't change what I know though...

"Call it a gut feeling..." She rubbed the back of her neck.

"Hey, Beau? Why were you so worried about us coming in here?" Samurai asked.

"What do you mean?"

"I remember you went a little pale when you mention it."

"It...it's nothing..."

"Him..." Serenade said, causing Beau to look at him swiftly.

"What?"

"Him...the one in here...?" Everyone was the silent for a small time before Beau sighed.

"Alright then...come on out then..." Beau looked back as a figure stepped out of the darkness.

"....hello again..." The black unicorn smirked. "Long time no see...I've just been DYING without you all..."

Day 13: Chapter 3

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Day 13: Chapter 4

Author's Note

SPOILERS FOR THE FIRST DANGANRONPA GAME SO, IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW IT ENDS, DON'T READ THIS!

Day 13: Chapter 4

All eyes went to Serenade as soon as he said that, eyes wide, shocked expression and all absorbed in the deadly silence.

"...care to repeat that?" Monokuma asked.

"Digital..." Serenade clenched his fists. "Digital didn't kill Gold!"

"Serenade, what the fuck are you saying?!" Beau yelled at him.

"So, who do you suppose actually murdered Gold then?" Monokuma sharpened his claws. "Pick wisely...."

"It...it was the Mastermind!"

"Oh really? And who, pray tell, is the mastermind?"

"Let...let us take it to one last class trial! If we uncover the mastermind and therefore the true culprit of Gold's murder...you let us all go!"

"And if you guess wrongly?"

"Then it's just game over, right? That's how it works..." Monokuma was silent for a few seconds.

"Alright then...you have yourself a deal...you all have time to investigate the school with no restrictions, go to whatever room you want to go to and try to find evidence of the mastermind...search to your hearts content! I'll even simulate Gold's murder so better collect evidence of that too...byeeee!" Monokuma disappeared.

"What the hell are you thinking?!" Beau yelled instantly.

"I'm sorry!" Serenade yelled back. "I wasn't thinking straight but now we really have no choice..."

"You practically just gave the mastermind the win!"

"Not necessarily..." Grimdark says. "If we figure out the who the mastermind is...we win..."

"But, don't we need to figure out the true murderer of Gold as well?" B asked.

"Well that'll probably be easier to find than the mastermind's identity...so let's just investigate and hope for the best..." Grimdark walked off.

"Hmm...well, Monokuma will give us the Monokuma File soon so we don't need to worry about trying to remember that...I'll go with Grimdark since he wasn't here for Gold's trial..." Olive ran after the changeling.

"Alright people, spread out, we covered as much ground as we could with Gold's murder, try and find evidence for the mastermind's identity." Beau said, Orion nodded before heading off. "Serenade, you stay with Digital. He was the original culprit so we have to make sure he doesn't tamper with any evidence..." Beau told him before walking off.

"..you should know that I've already accepted that I am the culprit, Serenade..." Digital told him. "I don't think tampering with anything will change that..."

I've finally got a chance to get everyone out of here...but if I've messed up, it's really game over...

"Well then, Serenade...investigation start..."

"Digital, since you were the culprit last time we investigated Gold's murder. Can you tell me what you remember?"

"Of course: I was walking through the dormitory, thinking about the motives we had received. Just as I was passing by Tickery's room, I saw Gold coming down the hallway. I...I don't remember what had happened from then until he was dead, it's all just a big blur..."

Come to think of it...Tickery told me something interesting too...

As soon as Tickery heard the announcement, Tickery began her own special investigation!"

"Are you even sad?"

"Hm? I'm never sad, if Tickery is always sad, what happens to happiness!?" Sweet Celestia, what is wrong with this girl? "I guess it is kind of sad that he was killed...but we have to push on and find the killer, right!?"

"Um...right? Well did you find anything on your 'special investigation'?"

"Nope, but I ran into some of the other students. Like Hammer and Olive and Digital and Wild and B...and you!"

Maybe even in death, Tickery could still help us all with the case...

New Ammo: Digital's Testimony was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID
New Ammo: Tickery's Testimony was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"Remember, we need information on the mastermind as well so...this will come in handy..." Digital handed him the 'School Life of Mutual Killings' book. "And, the second edition..." He looked around and took down one more book entitled 'The Field Trip of Mutual Killings'. "That one is basically the same thing only it was on an island...read over it..." Serenade flicked through the pages.

"Sixteen high school students trapped on an island eh? I'll keep that in mind..."

New Ammo: School Life4 of Mutual Killings was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID
New Ammo: Field Trip of Mutual Killings was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"Serenade...I'm sorry for what happened to Samurai...it looked like you two had developed quite a friendship from your time in here..."

"It's not fault, Digital...don't think that..."

"I should let you know some things though...since I've spent my time here in the archives, I've been studying religiously on the mastermind, trying to figure out who they are...and here's what I gathered. The mastermind is Junko Enoshima, a human which are in alternate dimensions from our own. She is supposed to be dead at the moment but managed to find a way here, maybe through a reincarnation or possession and she is known as the 'Super High School Level Despair'."

"Thanks Digital, that should come in handy..."

New Ammo: The Mastermind was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"We should search elsewhere. See what the others can tell us...re-collect the evidence from the trial..." Digital suggested.

"You're right...we should go to Gold's room, that's where most of the evidence was..."

"Right, let's go."

Upon entering the deceased unicorn's room, the wall had a projection of Gold on it to simulate the crime scene for the investigation.

"So, do you remember what evidence you collected from then?" Digital asked.

"Well...I remember these spears: They had come from the weapons museum."

New Ammo: Spears were loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"Also, with the force, I doubted that he died without a fight..."

New Ammo: Signs of a Struggle were loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"But, I killed him with one stab, remember? He died instantly..." Digital says.

"You said you don't remember exactly what happened, right? You can't say that for sure..."

"I suppose not..."

"There was also the gaming handheld that was on his person which ended up having the hypnosis chip inside."

"I don't think the actual handheld would be relevant but the chip would..."

New Ammo: Hypnosis Chip was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"Now...I remember the knife that was used to stab Gold was Tickery's knife and was her weapon. Come to think of it, if the knife Beau found in here was Tickery's, where's Gold's weapon?"

"That's a good point...I wonder what it was..."

New Ammo: Gold's Weapon was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID
New Ammo: Knife and Other Hidden Weapons were loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"Oh, so you two are here..." Grimdark's voice came from the shower room. "Olive just showed me around the crime scene and headed off to see if she could find new clues...looks like the shower was used during the murder? Doesn't loon like the projection has wet hair or anything..."

"That's true...but that just proved that the weapon was washed, nothing more..." Serenade told him.

"Still, any information is good, right?" Grimdark folded his arms. Well...he's right about that I suppose...

New Ammo: Gold's Shower was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"So, Grimdark, was it?" Digital asked. "Did you find anything useful in here?"

"Well, since you asked, I looked under the bed and found a poster under there with blood on it...obviously it was just a projection though..." Serenade looked under the bed and sure enough, a poster had been slid under there with visible blood splattered over it.

"This is new..." Serenade said. "Though, I guess nobody looked under the bed during the investigation..."

New Ammo: Bloody Poster was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"Also, I've been thinking..." Grimdark said. "And I want to know who you two think the assassin is..." Digital and Serenade seemed caught off guard by the question.

"Why do you ask?" Digital raised an eyebrow.

"How do you know about the assassin?" Serenade looked at him.

"Beau told me today before you all found me. But as for your question...I'm not really in any position to say...since the student records went missing..."

"Student records?" Grimdark asked.

"Yes, they show the names of the students, a photo of them and their talent is displayed as well...it most defiantly would have revealed the SHSL Assassin...but to think that Hope's Peak would someone with such a title in here?"

"They probably gave them a fake title..." Grimdark said.

"True...but I guess we just need to figure it out later, it's not the most important topic right now."

"Unless they're the mastermind!" Grimdark said.

"Not a chance, with a SHSL Mastermind on the run as well...which do you think is running the show?" Serenade asked him.

"Oh, right..."

"Serenade, we should head to the weapons museum...recollect evidence from there." Digital suggested.

"You're right, let's go..."

The two entered the museum to see Orion and B over by where the spears once were.

"Oh, Serenade and Digital..." B greeted. "I take it that you two are here to remember the evidence here, right?"

"Yeah." Digital confirmed. "Though, there's still no way that I didn't kill Gold so this is a pointless class trial."

"Uncovering the identity of the mastermind." Orion objects. "That is the true purpose of this, is it not?"

"It is, if we uncover the mastermind, we get to go home!" Serenade says.

"But I still would have killed someone..." Digital looks down.

"Digital...I didn't think you killed Gold at any point..." B says.

"Huh? But the vote was unanimous..." Digital's eyes widened.

"True, I just followed everyone's lead back then though so...I'm sorry about that. But I never thought that you would have it in you to kill someone, I don't think you're that kind of person..."

"B, I...thank you..." He gave a soft smile.

"Alright, did you guys get the evidence?" Serenade asked

"Indeed, we found the piece of laminate that we assumed was from Digital's badge..." Orion told him.

New Ammo: Laminate was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"There was the glass arrangement..." She continued.

New Ammo: Glass Arrangement was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"And I believe that was it..." She gave a smile.

"Hmm...what about info on the mastermind?" Serenade asked.

"No, but when I saw Ms Love earlier...she seemed to have something clutched in her hand...like a tape recorder..."

"A tape recorder?" B asked.

"Yes, I'm not sure where it came from though..." Orion admitted.

Why would Beau have a tape recorder...?

New Ammo: Tape Recorder was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

Just then the doors opened and Olive came running in.

"Guys, guys, guys! You won't believe what I found when I was looking through the media room!"

"What is it?" Orion asked her.

"I found Gold's video!"

"You mean the motive?" Digital asked.

"Yeah, problem is though...the disk is broken..."

"What?" Serenade raised an eyebrow.

"I found it in pieces, and I could tell it was Gold's because of these." She held up two pieces with the label still attached. One with the letter 'i' and the other with 'o'. "See? The letter 'i' and the letter 'o' like in Gold Coin!"

"Well...it may come in use...I suppose..." Digital said unsure of the 'evidence' Olive had delivered.

New Ammo: Motive Disk was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"Also, don't you think these projections are pretty high tech?" Olive asked them. "I mean, since they're 3D? It would totally hard to pull this off otherwise!"

"Yes, it is quite state of the art, but with other things in this school it isn't so surprising..." Digital said.

"I know but it is still freakin' cool!"

"Hey, Serenade...? There's just one more place I'd like to check out..." Digital said.

"Where would that be?" Orion inquired.

"It's none of your concern, don't fret..."

One more place...?

"Let's go..." Digital headed off.

The two stood in the hallway of the dormitory in front of an unexpected room: Serenade's.

"Why are we here?" Serenade asked confused on why Digital wanted to come here.

"Well, it's right across from Gold's room so it may have some connection to the case...plus I think I stored the body in here, remember?"

"Oh right...you did...maybe..."

"Defiantly..." Digital corrected before entering the room alongside Serenade. "Now let's see..." He looks at the ground. "The blood pools are here...so the body must have been pulled in here. I guess that confirms my suspicions...."

New Ammo: Blood Pools were loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"Hmm?" Digital walked over to the bedside table and picked up Serenade's photo album. "What's this?"

"Ack! G-give it here!" Serenade snatched it away quickly. He held it close to his chest so it wouldn't leave his grasp.

"What's wrong? Is there something in there?"

"N-no...it's just a little...private..." Serenade's voice got quieter and quieter as he spoke. "So, can you leave this alone? I don't want other looking in it..." By the end of the sentence he just sounded like he was begging with his now almost silent, meek voice. Digital raise an eyebrow but didn't argue about it.

That was too close...

New Ammo: Photo Album was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

*Ding dong, Bing bong!*

"Looks like...we're out of time..." Digital says ominously.

"Alright, bastards, time to get this show started! Head to the red door and we can get this final trial over with!"

"Did he say...'final trial'?" Digital gave a nervous look.

"Looks like he has something planned for this..." Serenade says.

"Well, we can't waste time, let's go. We have no idea what he'll do if we're late..."

When Digital and Serenade arrived, the other five had already turned up.

"So, this is it?" Grimdark asked.

"It seems so, otherwise 'final trial' would not make any sense..." Orion says.

"Yes, it does seem that he has some sort of plan for this..." Beau folds her arms.

"Beau? Where have you been during the investigation? I don't think anyone saw you..." Olive asked her.

"....I was in the media room, I saw you leave with that broken disk." She answered.

"Did you find something?" B asked her.

"...I'll explain when necessary..." She answered vaguely.

"Alllllllright everyone! Time to finish this here and now! Step into the magic elevator and get ready for the final showdown!" Monokuma's voice echoed from nowhere as the elevator door slid open for them all.

"Well then...it's now or never everyone...we have one shot at this so let's make it count..." Grimdark says.

"We don't need the motivational speech, sergeant." Digital told him.

"Well excuse me!"

"Can we not argue now...?" Olive asked. "We should just get this over with, right? I don't want any of this to continue and neither do any of you, right?"

"Of course...let us proceed..." Orion stepped into the elevator first, a fire in her eyes that seemed to just scream: 'This is for you' which could only mean Nimbus.

"Tickery...Lock...I'm gonna help you two rest in peace..." Olive said quietly before joining her.

"Gold..." Digital folded his arms and ventured in.

And everyone else... The rest joined them all the elevator started moving downwards. For Gold, Moonlight, Wild, Lock, Zoom, Tickery, Punch, Hammer and Nimbus...and Samurai...we have to win this!

I won't let the mastermind win!

Final Class Trial: Chapter 1

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Final Class Trial: Chapter 2

"Maybe...maybe Digital did kill Gold..."

"So...you finally agree." Digital folded his arms. "I suspected you would eventually."

"No, not in the way you've been thinking of..."

"W...what?"

"I think Digital killed Gold, doing so though, was outside of his control!"

"I don't follow..." Beau says. "You first say that Digital isn't the culprit...but he killed Gold?"

"Yes, that's what happened, because Digital wasn't the assailant...he was the murder weapon!"

"M-murder weapon?!" Digital's eyes widened with horror. "S-someone used me as a murder weapon?! W-where's your proof?! There's absolutely no way I would become a simple tool to kill another! The thought is beyond belief, outside the realm of possibility!"

"Actually...it isn't so hard to believe when you think about what else was involved in this case..."

"What are you saying?! Explain it, Serenade because I'm having trouble with believing your logic!"

"Well...to be honest, you should know better than anyone here that you could become a murder weapon..."

"But you need a basis for your claim!" Digital yelled angrily.

"A basis...if that's what you want..."

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Digital's Testimony

-Hypnosis Chip

-Signs of a Struggle

-Spears

-Bloody Poster

Digital- I am not a simple murder weapon! I admit that I could have been put under control to make me think I was the culprit...but to that to such is level is unthinkable!

Olive- Y-yeah, there's no way...remember how the murder played out? The culprit went into Gold's room, that we know because of the bloody poster right?

Orion- And when Mr Coin's back was turned, presumably to grab his handheld and hypnotise the culprit...the culprit simply stabbed him in his back with no problems.

Grimdark- Besides...we have no reason to doubt Digital...

You got that wrong!

"I find it hard to believe that we could trust Digital's memories entirely. I mean, I guess we can't blame you for not knowing but...from seeing Gold in the hallway, too Gold's dead body at his feet, Digital had no recollection of that time period!"

"No...recollection?"

"Meaning that, anything could have happened...including him being turned into a murder weapon!"

"Quit saying that!" Digital yelled. "I'm not the fucking murder weapon!"

"Digital." Beau said. "Just accept it..."

"Wha-what? H-how can you just expect me to accept it?"

"Because, if you don't we'll never get onto the real reason this trial is happening...finding the mastermind among us!"

"...gah...d-dammit..." Digital grunted. "Fine...I accept it...I'm the murder weapon..."

"Good, now we just need to figure out the mastermind and therefore the culprit..."

"But...what if the mastermind isn't the culprit?" B said. "What if it was someone else...?"

"Someone else? Care to explain...?" Beau asked.

"I think you should know who I'm talking about...the Super High School Level Assassin..."

"W-why are you bringing them into this?!" Olive asked.

"Ms Positive does have good reason, it is a shock that somebody with such a title would not prove that they are 'worthy' of keeping it..." Orion says.

"The Super High School Level Assassin...without the student records, we won't be able to figure out who it is..." Grimdark says. "An if I remember correctly...they were taken from the archives..."

"But wait..." Olive interrupts. "The only people that knew of the archives' existence were...Digital...and Beau..."

"S-so...one of you two are the Super High School Level Assassin?" Serenade went pale. The two didn't respond and gave blank expressions.

"No." They said in unison.

"I couldn't have taken the records because I couldn't risk being seen by Monokuma, even if I had such a title, it wouldn't be worth it..." Digital explains.

"And I simply couldn't have took it since the archives have been watched by Digital this whole time." Beau adds.

"Yes, Beau did not take any books or files out of the archives...ever since I went there, nobody came in or out aside from Beau..."

"T-then maybe the mastermind took it!" Olive says. "I mean, if they infiltrated the school, there shouldn't be any records of them...right?"

No record of them...?

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Digital's Testimony

-The Mastermind

-The School Life of Mutual Killings

-Photo Album

-Motive Disk

Digital- So, since the mastermind infiltrated us students in Hope's Peak...there shouldn't be any record of them existing...

Olive- Right...that does make sense, doesn't it?

Beau- To some extent, yes...

Olive- So we can all agree? The mastermind took the record because they wouldn't have been in it?

You got that wrong!

"I wouldn't be to sure about that being the case."

"Huh? Why not...?"

"Because of my photo album..."

"Oh, so when I touch it, you have a freaking nervous breakdown. but you'll present it as evidence just like 'that'?" Digital says.

"Serenade...freaked out when you touched it...?" Beau asked.

"Yeah, why?"

"Serenade...let me see that photo album for a second..."

"Wha-? No! This is mine!"

"Don't be such a child, just hand it over..."

"No, back off!"

"...where were you even keeping that...?" Olive asked.

"It was sitting next to my stand...I hid under my shirt until we got here, but that isn't the point, I'm not letting you near this!"

"I wonder why you won't...?" She says suspiciously.

"Beau...what are you thinking...?" Grimdark asks cautiously.

"Serenade won't let anybody see the photo album, that's rather suspicious, right?" Beau folds her arms and closes her eyes. "Maybe the reason is...because he isn't in it..."

Wha...?

"You aren't implying...?" Digital started. "That Serenade is the mastermind, are you...?"

"I think it's up for a debate...if he isn't willing to share the evidence with us..."

"I just can't show you it, okay?! It...it relates to the third motive..."

"The third motive? You mean the dark secrets?" Orion asks.

"Y-yeah..."

"Interesting...Serenade has a dark secret that stops him from showing us the photo album..." Beau smirks. "Should we interpret that as a confession?"

"Serenade isn't the mastermind!" Olive yells.

"Oh? And why are you so sure?" Beau turns to the farmer.

"Because...I saw what was written on his card!"

"Olive..." Serenade says wearily. "Calm down...be careful what you tell them..."

"You saw Serenade's card? What was written on it?" Digital asks.

"I can't tell you that! But I have a feeling of which secret is stopping him from showing us it...is it the one to do with your 'friend'?"

"Friend?" Beau repeats. "This dork has actual friends outside of the school walls? Life really is full of surprises."

Bitch... "It...it isn't about the friend...but they're a part of it..."

"Did you say...'they'? Are you avoiding something about this friend of yours...?" Grimdark asked.

D-dammit...

"Upupupupu!" Monokuma laughed. "You reeeeally wanna know what secret is stopping Serenade from letting you all see it...?"

Wha...? N-no...he wouldn't...

"Well, if this'll help the class trial get more exciting, them I'll gladly tell you all!"

"M-Monokuma! Stop it!" Serenade yelled. "P-please don't say it!"

"Upupupupu! And there it is, because you know very well what I'm referring too! I love it when your despair starts to grow from this..."

"S-shut up! You can't tell them it!"

"Allllrightly then guys, here is comes! The plain old musician from Ponyville you all thought you knew had a very dark secret..."

"Please..." Serenade pleaded.

"And that secret is..."

"STOP IT!"

"Serenade Stereo has MPD!" Then there was an ear-splitting silence. Serenade froze, shaking slightly with still breathe.

He...he said it...

"Multiple...personality...disorder...?" Beau said. "He had that...all along...?"

"Yeperdee!" Monokuma cheered. "Pretty big deal if you ask me!"

"Unbelievable..." Digital said.

"I should...probably say what I was most afraid of when I heard he might reveal this..." Serenade said, his head looking downwards. "It's because...my other personality...he told me who the mastermind was..."

"What?" Beau said. "You...you know who the mastermind is? Well out with it! Who's the one pulling the strings among us?! Who killed Samurai and Gold?! Who is the mastermind?!"

"The true identity of the mastermind..."
It could only be you!

Final Class Trial: Chapter 3

"I'm...I'm sorry everyone...it's me...I'm the mastermind..."

"What?!" Digital's eyes widened.

"Serenade....Serenade's the mastermind...?" Olive put her hand over her mouth in shock. The only one that didn't have any reaction was Beau.

"You...you aren't the mastermind, Serenade..." Beau told him forcefully.

"Beau, please...I've known for a while now..."

"A while?" Orion asks. "H-how long is a 'while'?"

"Since before Hammer was murdered..."

"And you didn't say anything?!"

"What was I supposed to do?!" Serenade yelled in response to Beau's angered statement. "You're all my friends! I was scared, alright? I didn't know what to do, I didn't want to die, I just wanted to leave like everyone else but now I'm stuck in this position...w-what did you expect me to do...?" Serenade started getting misty eyed.

"No...no! This can't be right!" Grimdark shook his head in frustration.

"If you all want...I'll let you hear it from him personally..." Serenade said.

"You mean...? You're gonna let him out?" B said in shock.

"If it settles these killings forever...then I'll gladly do it..." Serenade shut his eyes and stepped back from the podium. He brought a hand up to his hair and took one turf of his fringe that sat to the side and placed it over his right eye. After a few seconds of silence. The familiar laugh that they had all come to despise emerged.

"Upupupupu!" Serenade's eyes shot open but instead of their regular blue colour, they had turned into a menacing dark red. "Alright you bastards! Good to finally fuckin' meet'cha all! HAHAHAHA! Just kidding! You're all assholes!"

"This...is Serenade's split personality...?" Grimdark paled at how different the two were.

"Serenade? Feh, forget him, Shadow Rain is in the house and he's here too stay! Say hello to the Super High School Level Mastermind!"

Shadow Rain Super High School Level Mastermind

"You...you're the mastermind? The one behind the mutual killings?!" Digital questioned him immediately.

"Hey, hey, don't get your panties in a wad, alright? S'all good, I mean, who didn't see this coming? The main character being the villain? PLOT TWIST CENTRAL!! Am I right?"

"M...main character?" Orion repeated.

"Oop! Said too much!" Shadow laughed a little. "Anyway, voting time, right? You found the mastermind so ya gotta execute him!"

"Wait...you want us to execute you?" B asked.

"Well, that's how this works! So sorry I can't stay for long but gotta get this show on the road!"

"At least explain why you did all this!" Grimdark said.

"...why?" Shadow gave a straight face. "Hmm...why I did it...? You wanna know why...? Because I wanted to make Serenade suffer...feel the despair I felt for so many years after he locked me up in his mind with no means of escaping ever again...but the more I tried to break out, the weaker he got...that's why he's so scrawny now, he doesn't have any strength after keeping me back...no wonder he always got bullied for being short...or weak...or stupid...he couldn't do anything about it, so he latched onto others, bringing them despair as well. A shame, but it was nothing compared to what I felt..."

"So, what?" Beau asked. "What's happening to Serenade now?"

"Hmm? Oh...he's juuuust fine..."

Serenade awoke, standing upright in a trial room just like the one he had been in a few moments ago, there were the other seventeen empty slots of the courtroom in the circle formation...wait, seventeen?

"W-where...am I...?" He said still slightly distraught.

"Hahaha...it's just your mind, no big deal!" Shadow's voice came from the other side on the circle of podiums. "But of course...you don't really remember what that looks like, do you, ya little bastard?"

"What do you want?"

"Oh nothing." Another Shadow appeared at Beau's podium, the figure was Beau but the voice and eyes proved it was just Shadow trying to torment him, soon: Grimdark, Digital, Orion, Olive and B joined the Shadow clones. "Just for you to feel the pain that I did for all those years."

"When I let you out...do you even realize what you did?!"

"Yeah, I got those douchebag bullies off of your case, and what was my reward? Imprisonment!" The real Shadow threw his arms up in the air to emphasise what he was saying.

"The entire flight camp was terrified of me! My best friend was terrified of me!"

"Oh yeah, speaking of which, shame what happened to him whilst he was in here..."

"What?" Serenade raised an eyebrow.

"You mean you don't remember your orange little friend? Lock Heart? You two were inseparable!"

"L-Lock Heart? As in...?"

"Yep! Super High School Level Matchmaker and suicide guy, Locky!"

"N-no, you're lying!" Serenade yelled in anger.

"Not really, go check your memory banks afterwards. Best part is, he remembered exactly who you were the entire time but you had no idea who he was since I repressed the memories of him!"

"Wha-?"

"Anyway, it's a shame that this is the end of the line for you, right? Not for me but, y'know! Details, details!"

E-end...of the line...?

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Nothingness

Shadow- Aw...end of the road...

Shadow Beau- You were useless anyway...

Shadow Digital- They all must hate, hate, HATE you right now!

Shadow Grimdark- You were just being used, let's face reality

Shadow B- Say hello to your despair!

Shadow Orion- You should have been dead a long time ago, but you're alive cause your the mastermind!

Shadow Olive- Goodbye to the rest of your life...goodbye Serenade Stereo...

Is this...is this really the end...?

Shadow- Aw...end of the road...

Shadow Beau- You were useless anyway...

Shadow Digital- They all must hate, hate, HATE you right now!

Shadow Grimdark- You were just being used, let's face reality

Shadow B- Say hello to your despair!

Shadow Orion- You should have been dead a long time ago, but you're alive cause your the mastermind!

Shadow Olive- Goodbye to the rest of your life...goodbye Serenade Stereo...

This must be it...I'm gone...forever...

"HAHAHAHA! So you've accepted it! Good, give into despair, your hope is finished!"

Never lose at the last hurdle!

There was a shimmer and a yellow translucent unicorn appeared next to Shadow Beau.

"G...Gold?" Serenade's eyes widened.

"Come on, I know you can do better than this! Now if this were a video game...this boss right here would have a second phase...which I guess I just activated..."

"What the hell?" Shadow was taken aback. "Where the fuck did that come from? Ahem! No matter...despair always wins!"

My information reads differently!

There was another light as the black Pegasus appeared at her podium.

"This reporter refuses to believe that Mr Stereo will give up hope so easily!"

Moon...light...?

Let's tame this beast for good!

"C'mon, Serenade, after everything?" Wild said appearing at his position.

What's...going on...?

I won't let you give up!

"Serenade...what he said was true, we were friends in flight camp...so don't let my death go to waste, I'm begging you!" Lock pleaded.

"L...Lock..." It flooded back quickly. The memories of flight camp alongside Lock Heart. "I...remember now..."

"Doesn't matter!" Shadow interrupted. "No matter how many images you create, you won't win!"

That reasoning is out of focus!

"No matter what he says...don't listen to his lies!" The pink earth pony smiled.

I don't wanna wait for any responses!

"Give me an 'S'! Give me an 'E'! Give me a 'RENADE'! What does that spell? Tickery says 'SERENADE'!"

"Tickery, you have to make everything awkward..." Lock sighed.

Don't let'em win!

"C'mon you son of a bitch! As if my first kiss is gonna be with someone who'll give into this guy!" Punch motivated him in her own way.

Don't let him get'cha down, man!

"Dude, you're still a virgin, that should be your hope: hope you get laid soon!" Hammer chuckled.

From the depths beyond, I have returned!

"Serenade...please...don't lose now, I ask you this as a friend...and tell Orion...tell her that I love her..." Nimbus said, facing away from Serenade.

"Thank you guys but...even with your support...what am I supposed to do...? I'm just a musician..."

"Y-yeah! Just a musician, nothing special at all!" Shadow agreed.

I'll cut that claim into pieces!

Samurai appeared next to Serenade.

"Serenade...as your friend...I wanted to be helpful to you...so let me just say this: you aren't just some musician that got into Hope's Peak by chance, you're a great person that has hope radiating off of you at all times...so please...please don't let that go to waste...I believe in you..."

"S-Samurai..." Serenade looked down.

"What...the...fuck...?" Shadow said. "M-my introduction just happened and already they wanna push me away?! Fuck that!" Shadow yelled out! I've still got some energy left in me! I can draw out a few debates!"

"Serenade, our friendship will always go beyond the graves...so take our strength, use it to defeat him! Win for us!" Samurai yelled at him.

New Ammo: Class Friendship was loaded into Serenade's ElectroID

"You're done, Stereo! You're legacy is finished!" Shadow cackled.

No...the battle is just beginning!

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Class Friendship

Shadow- Aw...end of the road...

Shadow Beau- You were useless anyway...

Shadow Digital- They all must hate, hate, HATE you right now!

Shadow Grimdark- You were just being used, let's face reality

Shadow B- Say hello to your despair!

Shadow Orion- You should have been dead a long time ago, but you're alive cause your the mastermind! I....

Shadow Olive- Goodbye to the rest of your life...goodbye Serenade Stereo...

I won't lose to you!

Final Class Trial: Chapter 4

Author's Note

WARNING SPOILERS OF THE FIRST DANGANRONPA GAME IN THIS CHAPTER!!!

Final Class Trial: Chapter 4

"No matter what happens...as long as the spirits of the others are around me...I won't let your despair infect me!"

"What the...?" Shadow gave a confused look. "How is this possible...she calculated everything...she said this would work...WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS?!!!" Shadow slammed his fist on the podium in front of him. "You shouldn't have a speck of hope left within you! So why...?"

"Because, Serenade has something you don't..." Gold says. "And that something is our friendship with him."

"Friend...ship...?" Shadow spat. "What a wasteful word! You don't need friends, friends are meaningless! This is a despair environment! Only despair can exist!"

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Class Friendship

-Recording Tape

-The Mastermind

-The School Life of Mutual Killings

-Photo Album

-Digital's Testimony

Shadow- They don't want you...friends just abandon each other when one does something the other doesn't like!

Moonlight- That may exist for you...but this reporter will always be friends with Ms Lens!

Shadow- Just wait, I'm telling you all...friends are worthless...friendship shouldn't exist or be spoken of!

Lock- I was friends with Serenade a long time ago, seeing him again, it made me realise how close we were back then!

Shadow- But you left him! You abandoned him in his time of need!

Tickery- Everyone makes mistakes! Even Tickery!

Shadow- And I wonder how many friendships failed because of that!

Gold- I never really had any friends...so to be here and be considered a friend was like an acceptance to me!

Shadow- They probably felt sorry for you...

Wild- Oh just fuck off!

Shadow- You fuck off!

Zoom- Stop fighting, both of you! Wild, I know you just wanna defend Serenade, but...

Shadow- It's all fake!

Punch- Friendships will always grow...maybe into something deeper...

Shadow- And maybe you'll realize how much you hate that person!

Hammer- I'll always keep in contact with my friends, even when I had to move from Fillydelphia to Trottingham!

Shadow- Friends will just forget about you...

Nimbus- You will always have a deep connection the ones that you call 'friend'

Shadow- But they can be faked very easily!

Samurai- So tell us then...why are you so against friendship...?

Shadow- Because...I have nobody to consider a friend!

You got that wrong!

"You're saying that you never had any friends? Not even one...?"

"Yes, what of it?!"

"Well, looking through my photo album, the one photo you're in...that would be with B, are you saying that you didn't have some sort of friendship with her?" Shadow gave a blank expression.

"Friendship with B? B Positive? Fehahahahahahahah! You crack me up!"

"What's so funny?" Wild asked angrily.

"Sure, I knew B, but we didn't have a friendship!"

"Wait...you knew, B?" Serenade asked.

"Oh right...you don't know about your school life...."

"What are you talking about? School life?" Zoom yelled.

"You realise that you have the answer there in your ElectroID, right? Just look, you'll see what I mean..."

What is Shadow talking about...?
Of course!

"You're talking about the human world's School Life of Mutual Killings, right?"

"Ding! We have a winner! You see, in the human world's mutual killings, they had to take away the memories of the students to give them the ultimate despair, which was...well, you could play the game for yourself but I already spoiled to much, y'know?"

"Spoiled? Game?" Gold repeated.

"Shh....just pretend I never said anything..."

"Are you saying...you stole our memories...?" Punch asked. Shadow smirked and gave a shrug.

"Who knows...? Maybe I did...maybe I didn't..."

"What kind of a response is that?!" Zoom yelled.

"A normal yet cryptic answer, you honestly think that I would just reveal the secret to everything just like that? Oh no, there has to be some fun in this game."

"Is that all this was to you...?" Nimbus asked. "Just a game...?"

"Yeah, pretty much, it was great fun to see you all murder one another to only be executed in the end...ah...the despair you all must have felt..."

"Wait...Gold, do you know who killed you?" Serenade asked.

"...sorry, Serenade...but we're just projections that your mind created...so I don't really know, but if this was a video game, I could've probably told you with no problems...."

"You guys are just projections...?" Serenade asked.

"But, your mind was able to create based on even the stolen memories, this just shows how strong our bond were with you!" Gold responded. "That in itself is awesome, better than any game I've ever played."

"But the real goal right now...is defeating him..." Wild pointed to Shadow. "And stopping the spread of despair forever!"

"Feh! You're all just fakes!"

"This coming from you?!" Moonlight snapped. "This reporter believes that Mr Rain will pay for his crimes!"

"So, you want Serenade to pay as well then?"

"Wh-what...?" Serenade stuttered.

"You didn't realise something so simple? Celestia dammit, you're retarded...I'm saying that if I get punished...then you do as well..."

Nrg...! That can't be true...there has to be some way around it...

"No, there's another way!" Samurai interjected.

"Oh really? Alright then...tell me what that would be?" Shadow folded his arms.

"If we trapped you in here one more time...and made sure you were sealed away forever...then Serenade wins and you get punished for your crimes!"

"Yeah...to bad that's not gonna happen..." Shadow sighed. "I mean, feeling that despair was nice and all but I need something much more refreshing...basically...the despair of death..."

"D-death...?" Serenade paled.

"Yeah, as we speak, I'm convincing everyone else to vote for you as the mastermind and kill you off..."

"You son of a bitch!" Wild yelled.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever...let's just finish this..." Shadow smirked. "Well, Serenade? Are you prepared to face off against me?"

"Come on Serenade...don't let him get the better of you..." Samurai encouraged.

If I am the mastermind...then what's the use...? But still...I won't let Shadow defeat me!

Cross-Swords

Evidence Blades

-Recording Tape

-Class Friendship

-The Mastermind

Shadow- It's all over for you now, no matter what you do or say. You can't change the fact that you're the mastermind, right? Basically, what I'm trying to say is that you have no hope left to cling onto.

Serenade- No hope left? You seem pretty sure of that.

Shadow- You never had hope to begin with, you just latched onto others and brought them despair because you wouldn't fend for yourself, could you?

Serenade- That was then...I admit, I am weaker than a lot of people...but that doesn't mean I'll lose to you!

Shadow- Why are you still fighting this? You're the mastermind! You'll get executed no matter what you do, you fit the mastermind's MO perfectly after all...

I can't listen to your lies!

"I fit the mastermind's MO? Not in the slightest!"

"Are you kidding me? The mastermind has split personalities just like you!"

"Yes...but I am not the mastermind..."

"What...?"

"In all honesty...I think you know who I'm referring to...Junko Enoshima. The real mastermind!" Shadow scoffed.

"I just used Junko Enoshima as a basis for my plan...why would you think that she's actually in our dimension?"

"Because this is something nobody could construct on their own..."

"And what makes you say that exactly?" Shadow grinned.

What makes me say that...are the previous attempts!
Of course!

"I mean, the first ever School Life of Mutual Killings, that was constructed by two Super High School Level Despairs. But you aren't a Super High School Level at all!"

"Oh? What makes you say that...? You didn't actually hear it but...I already introduced myself to the others as the Super High School Level Mastermind..."

"Y-you're...the SHSL Mastermind...?" Nimbus asked stunned.

"Well duh! I just went through this ninja boy! Anyway, the point is...the one that's been conducting all of this...has been me...and therefore, you, Serenade..."

N...no...no! That can't be true! Why did it have to be me?! Why do I have to be the mastermind in all of this?!

"Serenade." Samurai looked at him. "Listen, it doesn't matter what he says because for you there are two options whether he's telling the truth or not. If he's lying...you can defeat him and find the real mastermind...or if he's telling the truth...I think you should already know the answer...because you don't want despair to win, right?"

I don't want despair to win...no, I don't. Why would I want something like that getting the better of me? I need to do something...I need to stop Shadow once and for all!

"That...fire in your eyes, surely you still don't want to continue?!"

"I will fight you, I won't let your despair bring me down anymore! You've been a thorn in everybody's side from the start and I will end you!"

"P...piece of shit..." Shadow grunted.

Machinegun Talk Battle

Shadow- You're hopeless!

Shadow- You're the real mastermind!

Shadow- You've trapped everyone!

Shadow- Friendship is meaningless!

Shadow- Despair! Despair! DESPAIR!

Shadow- Perish before me!

Shadow- I am victorious!

Shadow- You're finished!

Enough!

Shadow- You're the mastermind...why would you continue to fight?!

For everybody's future!

"Even if you are telling the truth, you've already lost, Shadow!"

"Wh...what? I've lost already?"

"No matter what kind of despair you would throw at Serenade, he would always rise above it with his hope!" Zoom explained.

"Even in the face of death...Serenade would fight for everyone else to have a future, to have hope emanating from them!" Wild smiled. There was a screech as Shadow Beau faded away.

"No! Shut up! All of you!"

"Hope is the reason Serenade still lives right now!" Gold adds.

"Hope will always triumph over despair!" Moonlight points at Shadow with her microphone. Another screech was heard as Shadow Grimdark disappeared.

"Tickery knows that Serenade is the strongest of the strong!"

"Yeah, with willpower anyway..." Punch gives a small laugh as Shadow Olive vanished.

"This...this isn't happening!" Shadow yelled.

"It is, no force on this planet will sit by and watch as you spread your despair across the world!" Nimbus twirls a shuriken.

"Yeah! You better back off forever!" Hammer adds, causing Shadow Orion to disappear.

"Serenade's hope isn't the only thing inside of him that's strong either..." Lock smirks making Shadow Digital disappear with another screech.

"Serenade has strong bonds with whoever he meets...in all honesty, Serenade is like the embodiment of hope!" Samurai draws his katana, leaps across the trial room and cuts Shadow B down before jumping back to his place beside Serenade.

"See, Shadow? Because of my friends, I've been able to make it through everything you've put me through...friends are meaningless, they're worth fighting for! They're worth dying for!"

Shadow just gave a wide eyed expression. "A-after...everything...? You're telling me that I....that I....that I...lost...?"

"So is it true...? Are you the real mastermind?" Serenade asked.

"...you already have the evidence to say if I am or not...I just wonder if you'll be able to figure it out..."

"I have the evidence?" Serenade repeated.

"What is it?! What's the evidence?!" Punch demanded.

"...figure that out...yourself..." Shadow disappeared and as soon as he did, everything went dark.

Did I...win...? There was a glow as Samurai's figure slowly drifted towards Serenade.

"Well done..." He gave a small smile.

"S-Samurai..." Serenade gave a sad expression.

"What's wrong? You just beat Shadow, the devil side of you. Why aren't you happy?"

"I am...it's just...what happened to you...I feel a little bit responsible..."

"Why do feel like that? It was my own arrogance that got me killed..."

"But, I could have helped you...I could have saved you...I feel like it's my fault that you felt useless..."

"Serenade...that isn't your fault. That was just my inferiority complex. I hate how useless I always feel, that's what it was about, you shouldn't feel bad about what happened."

"But..." Samurai silenced him.

"Look. That doesn't matter, what matters now...is finishing this all off once and for all...and I guess I was helpful in end..."

"What do you mean?"

"I got you the trial that you needed...so go win it for everyone!" Samurai gave a goofy grin and a thumbs up as a bright light consumed Serenade's vision.

Serenade's eyes flew open, he was standing upright again but this time he was in the real trial room with the real Beau, Grimdark, B, Olive, Digital and Orion.

"Serenade...? Are you okay...?" Beau asked.

"Shadow Rain..." Serenade started. "I stopped him..."

"Huh? Olive tilted her head. "You beat Shadow Rain without being here?"

"Are you talking about inside your mind?" Grimdark asked.

"Yes...though I did have some help...oh, which reminds me, Orion?"

"Yes, Mr Stereo...?"

"Nimbus...Nimbus says he loves you back."

"What...?" Orion's eyes widened. "T-to think! I sensed spiritual activity in the room but...I never thought..."

Spiritual activity...? But didn't Gold say...?

"...sorry, Serenade...but we're just projections that your mind created...so I don't really know, but if this was a video game, I could've probably told you with no problems...."

Was that...the mastermind's doing...?

"So, are you really the mastermind...?" Beau asked.

"I..." Am I...? Shadow Rain said I had the evidence...wait...no, it couldn't be...could it... "I am not the mastermind! Junko Enoshima is!"

"What?! You can prove that?!" B yelled out.

"Yes I can...the real identity of the mastermind is..."
It's been you all along!

Final Class Trial: Chapter 5

"It's really been you...B Positive!"

"Huueeee?!" B yelped. "M-me?!"

"M-Ms Positive is the mastermind?!" Orion asked quickly. "T-that is impossible!"

"Think about it! B doesn't do much in the way of talking, helping or just downright anything, right? She's always in the shadows...just like the mastermind has been!"

"Hwawawa?!" B yelped again. "H-how can you say that, Serenade? I thought we were friends?"

"I wish I could say that I thought we were...you were the first one out of all the students that I properly got to talk to...I did think you were my friend, but in actuality...you've been deceiving us all along!"

"N-n-n-n-no! It's not true!"

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Photo Album

-Digital's Testimony

-Tickery's Testimony

-Glass Arrangement

-Laminate

-The Mastermind

-Tape Recorder

B- P-please believe me...I'm not the mastermind!

Beau- To be honest...I have to say that Serenade does have a solid argument...

B- Wh-wha...?

Grimdark- Are you saying...There's evidence to support Serenade's claim?!

Digital- I-Impossible...

Beau- Is it really that impossible to believe?

Orion- Are you perhaps suggesting that you found evidence of Ms Positive's guilt?

Agreed!

"That's true...Beau has yet to present the tape recorder that she has!"

"Oh...so you know about that?" Beau asked in surprise.

"Orion saw you with it during the investigation. What was on the tape recorder?"

"Well, if you must know, it turns out it's not a tape recorder...it's a receiver."

"Receiver?" Olive repeated.

"It was connected to one of the other rooms in the school...the headmaster's room."

"Isn't that a locked room though?" Grimdark asked.

"Well, it was, but you all forgot that the rooms were unlocked for the investigation...so I got in with no problems..."

"So, what did you find?" Orion gave a curious look.

"Turns out that the headmaster's office...is where the mastermind has been keeping watch over us, and controlling Monokuma..."

"That's the control room?! All this time?!" Digital yelled. "We should have guessed!"

"I don't see why you're so angry...it was a locked room so we had no access to it..." Beau said.

"I know but, I should have been able to figure that out, dammit! I'm such an idiot!"

Okay...then...?

"Anyway, back to the matter at hand..." Orion says. "What exactly did you discover on the tape recorder- or...receiver...?"

"Well, I found the transmitter in there along with...the student records...and what made me suspicious was that for one: the page with everybody's profiles were blank and...it clearly stated that 'Class #78 of Hope's Peak Academy' also known as our class, students total up to sixteen...yet in Serenade's photo album...there are seventeen students that appear..."

"So, one of the students...isn't a student...?" Grimdark asked.

"So it would seem..."

"So the mastermind must be the one that is the fake student, no? Monokuma does call himself the school 'headmaster'." Orion points out.

"Speaking of which..." Olive says, off topic. "Not to backtrack but...Monokuma has a male voice but...B is a girl...so, was there a voice modifier in the headmasters office...?"

"Hmm...I think the transmitter had a setting to alter the users voice, why do you ask?"

"I was just confused on it...that's all..."

...that's true...if the voice Monokuma has is male...and a voice modifier was on it, of course we'd think it's a girl...

"But what if that is what the mastermind wants us to think?" Orion asks. "That is what you were thinking, no?"

"...y-yeah...it was..."

"That could be a possibility, yes..." Beau admits. "But think about how high pitched and carefree, Monokuma's voice is...that does imply that it's a girl..."

"Or maybe the voice modifier is built for it to project that voice no matter who speaks into it...?" Orion suggests.

"Y-yes! J-just because my voice is slightly higher than everybody else's voice, that doesn't make me the mastermind! W-where's your real proof?!" B yelled out, unexpectedly.

"You want proof...I can give you proof!"

"W-what?!" B almost stumbled back in shock.

"Proof of B, being the mastermind is..."
Of course!
"In my photo album...I have one photo of me with each student...aside from B." Serenade turned the photo album to face everybody.

"Serenade, hate to break it to ya'. But B is clearly in there." Grimdark points out.

"I didn't say she wasn't...all I said was I wasn't in a photo with her...Shadow Rain is, and that is the only one with Shadow in it. When I had to face off against him, I heard him say something about 'she calculated everything'. This means that the mastermind is indeed female and combine that with the photo...it can give you the easy assumption of B being the true culprit!"

B paused. "It's just a coincidence..." She says simply. "Just because your alternate personality is in a photo with me...that doesn't make me the mastermind...so where's your real proof...?"

Real...proof...?

"Because if you don't have any...you have no real way to make an accusation..." B smirked.

"M-Ms Positive...you are defiantly changing your attitude at the incorrect time." Orion says.

"So what? Doesn't matter. Sometimes you have to go into an offensive position to stop the accusations coming your way...of course that didn't really work out for you when you tried defending Nimbus, did it?"

"Y-you...!"

"T-t-today junior! Movie references are the best, am I right?"

B...is completely different now...is this because she feels cornered...? No...the mastermind wouldn't be so easily cornered...so what is it...?

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Tape Recorder

-Tickery's Testimony

-Laminate

-Broken Disk

-Photo Album

-School Life of Mutual Killings

-Field Trip of Mutual Killings

B- Of I ain't the mastermind! You guys don't have anything to prove it with!

Beau- Are we really gonna go through the same song and dance...? Your accused, you feel threatened, we use decisive evidence and you're done!

B- But that's not gonna happen...the mastermind was responsible for the other mutual killings in that human world, right? But I'm just a nurse...I don't have any connections!

You got that wrong!

"There is one small connection that you have...in the 'Field Trip of Mutual Killings'. One of the students was a timid nurse that had a tendency to stutter a lot...sound like anyone we know?"

"B-bu...!" B's eyes widened. "That's just another coincidence!"

"Two coincidences in a row? Are you really gonna just shove that off...?" Beau asked her.

"It's just a coincidence, I'm telling you!" She yelled angrily.

"No, it isn't." Serenade contradicts.

"Excuse me?!"

"It's game over for you B...or should I say...Junk Enoshima?!" There was a long silence as Serenade pointed at the light blue unicorn.

"I...lost...?" B said slowly. "You...don't even know when the real battle begins, do you? Because, Serenade. I can let you in on a little secret...allow me to show you." B stepped away from the podium and stood beside the Monokuma was at. Monokuma, on response got up and stood in front of B. Immediately, the border of black and white on Monokuma's head separated as a small cylinder appeared, spraying out a white gas, consuming the room and making it impossible to see.

"W-what going on?!" Olive half-said half-coughed.

"I-is she trying to get away?!" Grimdark yelled.

"Get away...?" An unfamiliar voice echoed as the smoke began to clear. "I'm afraid that I won't be running away." The smoked cleared completely and in B's place of the trial room, a light blue unicorn with pink hair still stood there but unlike B, her hair was in two big pigtails with a white Monokuma and a black Monokuma hair tie. She had a rather small black shirt with a mainly white and somewhat black tie that stretched down over her extremely short red skirt. She gave a smirk as she backed up and sat on Monokuma's throne, her black boots with red laces now visible. "I won't be running away again." She didn't have any expression in her voice, it was absolute monotone. Beau clenched her fist and began yelling.

"I knew it! I really has been you all along! Junko! Junko Enoshima!"

"...surprise, I guess?"

Final Class Trial: Chapter 6

The girl gave a posh laugh and before anyone realised it, a crown appeared on her head.

"We have been expecting our discovery, we just thought it would have been later. You peasants have very much surprised us!" Suddenly, her look switched again to her having mushrooms that seemed to be growing out of her head with her now speaking in a depressing voice. "Although, I can't say I'm surprised...Serenade was able to beat Shadow even after all the planning we had done together..."

T-this...is the mastermind...?

"I did tell you all she wasn't right in the head..." Digital says. "But to think that all this time, B was actually Junko...that's just insane!"

"Oh, you peasants be having trouble comprehending our gorgeous plan!" She switched from her crown to her hair in one ponytail and sudden glasses appearing. "Of course, I'll gladly educate you about it. You see, when my plans in the human world had failed miserably, I had to find a new beginning, you see, I had already died at that point so my only chance was to use my spiritual strength to be reincarnated...the strangest thing though, I was reincarnated at the same age I died at. I thought that with my newly acquired magical abilities I could easily take over this hope filled world and fill it with the despair it needed but unfortunately, I had no information on the four alicorn princesses in this world so that ended up as an impossible option, so I built this world's Hope's Peak Academy, based on my world's Hope's Peak Academy. The next problem was finding someone with so much despair that could possibly help me create this world. So I looked for the most despair filled high schoolers in Equestria. Which is where I found Serenade. The reason I was so attracted to him was because of his multiple personality disorder - the source of his despair. So I forced out Shadow Rain and convinced him to help me with this despair filled cause...that about covers it. Any questions?"

"I do." Beau says. "Why did you leave the last two Mutual Killings books in plain sight?"

"I don't believe I did." Junko said on the contrary. "You see, I put them there to keep them hidden. I wasn't expecting anyone to find the archives, you see."

"Also." Serenade said. "Why did you wait a few years because, my brother was a part of your other little killing game."

"Well, I had to build up to my plan. I wasn't expecting the reunion party so I had to improvise on that one..."

"So, she's been the mastermind all along, right?! C'mon then! Let's get to the vote already!" Grimdark said.

"Hmm?" Junko suddenly had huge eyes and her two pigtails back with a now cutesy high voice that you would here from a character in an anime. "Why would you wanna kill me off Sirens-Senpai?"

"S-Senpai?" Grimdark seemed caught off guard by Junko saying that.

"Yeah, I mean, this is a trial for Gold Coin's killer, right? You still have to prove that I killed him! Sorry Senpais!"

"Are you really planning to drag this on...?" Beau asked.

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"We already know you're the killer, you might as well give up."

"Oh, well, I didn't wanna have to do this..." She switched back to her teacher-like look. "It seems you all leave me no choice...I will not allow the ballot to start until you have given some evidence of my guilt. Am I clear?"

"Y-you can't do that!" Olive yelled.

"And why not...?" Junko raised an eyebrow.

"W-well...geez, why can't she do that...?"

"D-don't just raise an objections with no basis!" Digital criticized her.

"Sorry..."

So unless I can prove that Junko has a connection to this crime...she won't let us proceed...?

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Monokuma File 1

-The Mastermind

-Spears

-Hypnosis Chip

-Digital's Testimony

-Tickery's Testimony

Junko- Whilst I may be the mastermind...I am not the killer...

Beau- Yeah right! You've been conducting everything the entire time!

Digital- It does seem like you would be the most likely culprit....

Grimdark- But that doesn't mean she is...right?

Junko- Oh! I knew I could count on you, Sirens-Senpai!

Grimdark- Q-quit it with the Senpai bullshit!

Orion- Either way...there must be a way to connect her to this...A relation to the weapon? or...Did she meet with someone...?

Agreed!

"I think Junko...or rather, B, did meet up with somebody at some point, that person being Tickery! She had been walking aimlessly throughout the floor and she bumped into a variety of people, one of them being B. Now, where would Tickery tell us she met B I wonder...?"

"If you need me to, I shall channel her spirit." Orion says.

"No need..." Junko stops her. "Okay, I'll give you that one...I met her in the dormitory..." She had resumed to her neutral position. "And I had came out of Gold's room..."

"So you did kill Gold!" Grimdark said.

"I didn't say that." She contradicted. "All I said was that I went to Gold's room...nothing more...nothing less..."

"Nothing more...? I wouldn't be convinced if you said that..." Beau smirked.

"Hmm? And why would that be...?"

"Because, you took something out of Gold's room, didn't you?" Junko didn't respond.

She took something from Gold's room...? I wonder if she's referring to that...?
Of course!

"Beau, are you talking about the motive disk that belonged to Gold?"

"Yes, I saw Olive with it and figured that the mastermind must have taken it...Gold probably didn't want anyone to see what was on his, based on his reaction to it..."

"Yes, if I remember correctly, he had a rather brutal spook from it." Digital recalled

"Brutal spook is an understatement..." Olive added.

"Anyway, the mastermind had some reason for taking it and breaking it, right? I wonder if it was because she was caught on camera...?" Junko still had her neutral poker face on. "Anything to say?"

"That's a rather compelling theory, Beau." Junko says, reverting to her teacher stance. "As I would expect from somebody with a title such as yours..."

"Yes, that's true...but my title isn't the issue..."

"Actually...what is your title, Beau?" Serenade asked. "You never told us it..."

"W-what are you saying...? It's the 'Super High School Level Model'."

"No, after the fourth class trial...you were going to say something else...the Super High School Level A-. and you cut off there...were you going to say-?"

"No." Beau stopped him. "I will tell you now that I am not the assassin...after this whole ordeal is over though...maybe I'll consider telling you all...everything and anything you wish to know..."

...so she is hiding something from us...

"Right now...we should focus on proving she's the killer!" Beau pointed at Junko who just responded with a coy smile.

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Gold's Weapon

-Digital's Testimony

-Laminate

-Spears

-Gold's Shower

-Hypnosis Chip

Beau- Proving Junko is the true culprit...that is our main focus right now!

Junko- It wouldn't matter whether I was the culprit or not...you wouldn't want to leave anyway...

Orion- And what exactly does that mean?

Junko- ...

Olive- Fine! Don't tell us!

Junko- The point of this is...you have a distinct lack of evidence to name me as the culprit

Grimdark- Well...? Any objections to that statement...?

Junko- And of course...I never set foot inside the media room either...

Agreed!

"As much as I hate agreeing with this lunatic...she is right about one thing, she didn't set foot inside the media room..."

"Oh yes!" Junko started to drool. "There's that hot seed of despair starting to sink in!"

"W-wha...? No! I'm saying that because you didn't have to!"

"What do you mean?" She went to her teacher stance.

"I mean, you had the hypnosis chip, right? You never would have needed to go inside the room, all you needed to do was send Digital inside to hack into the system...in fact that clears up something I was curious about in the first trial...how did the culprit move so fast?"

"Because, Junko was already waiting in the weaponry museum whilst Digital was at work. She smashed the glass and made it look like something else had broken it by arranging the glass and then grabbed the spears and headed to finish off the job in Gold's room..." Beau answers. "Does that sound right?"

"That sounds like exactly what happened..."

"Oh really?" Junko asked. "Then do tell, Serenade, what exactly did happen...?"

Is she...asking for my closing argument...? What is she planning...?

"Fine! The sooner this is done, the better!"

Here's how it Happened!

Act 1

It was right after we had all received our motives, we had started searching for Gold who I presume at the time was in his room. The motives had hit him the hardest, so hard that he was willing to do something we never thought one of us could do. Kill someone. He must have had some plan to use the hypnosis chip he had, put it inside his handheld and hypnotise someone to either kill themselves or kill another, so he had to pick someone. That ended up being our culprit.

Act 2

Gold called the culprit into his room and prepared to use someone else's, Tickery's to be exact as the weapon for the one under hypnosis to use. He was about to use the handheld to hypnotise the culprit but before he could, she fought back. The culprit disarmed Gold during the fight and must have figured out what he was trying to do, she found the hidden knife and attacked Gold with it.

Act 3

The culprit had to think fast because someone could have seen her. She took the handheld and waited for someone to walk by, that person had ended up being Digital. She pounced and hit the power button which triggered the hypnosis chip. She sent Digital off to do her bidding and had him disable the security around the boxes in the weaponry museum before having him head back since Gold getting mounded on the wall took place after Digital was released.

Act 4

Next, the culprit had to make Digital think he was the culprit so other wouldn't get suspicious at the trial. She transported the body from Gold's room and slid what had stained the floor under the bed, meaning, the bloody poster. She placed Gold's body by Digital's feet, put the handheld in his hand and released him from his hypnotised state.

Act 5

As Digital panicked after believing he had murdered Gold. He quickly got to work by disabling the already disabled security in the museum, grabbing the spears and hanging Gold on the wall. With the help of one hypnotised Tickery, all so it would seem like he was innocent, and he was as well.

There's only one person here that could have pulled all of this off...and that's you! Junko Enoshima! This is checkmate!

Final Class Trial: Chpater 7

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Final Class Trial: Chapter 8

Author's Note

Warning! Spoilers of the first Dangan Ronpa game! If you don't know how the final class trial ends, click away!

Final Class Trial: Chapter 8

"All you wanted...was despair...?" Serenade asked.

"Yes. You see, even at birth, all that mattered to me was despair, despair to others, despair to myself..." She switched to her cutesy stance. "And I love, love, love it when I spread my despair to everyone, even my sister felt the despair! It was sooooo good!" She switched again to her depression stance. "But of course, my sister can't really spread her despair anymore...not after what happened to her..."

"What happened? Did she lose the despair?" Serenade asked.

"Hell fucking no!" Junko switched to her hot headed stance. "She just got killed off, that's all!"

"She was...killed?"

"Yep!" She switched to her neutral stance. "Although it doesn't seem to matter anymore...because for once, I finally win...I beat the fragments of hope that were your class..."

No...no...I can't let that happen! But...what am I supposed to do?
Of course!

"I shouldn't even have to question it...I have to fight against you and your despair! I don't believe that the world out there is as it is!"

"Hmm? Are you calling me a liar?" She switched to her teacher stance.

"I ain't calling you a truther!" Serenade paused before clearing his throat. "I mean...yes, I am! I don't think the world out there is how you're portraying it!"

"Well...I wonder if your friends feel the same way...?" Serenade looked at everyone individually. They all were either looking at the ground or had a disturbed, pale look on their face.

"Guys..." Serenade's ears drooped.

"How wonderful..." Junko smirked. "To see your friends prepared to sacrifice you so they may live on until the day they die...it's rather despair-inducing...wouldn't you say so?"

D-dammit...she's got all of them wrapped around her fingers...what do I do...? If I don't act now...it's the end of the line for everyone!

"So who do you think it will be? Who's despair will sign your death warrant?"

"....nobody! Nobody will give into your despair, because...because, living in despair isn't really living!" Junko gave a blank expression.

"You really as stubborn as him...no matter, you are not even close to the level he was on...your death is just moments away...sit back and enjoy your last few moments on this plant, 'kay?"

Non-Stop Debate

Evidence Bullets

-Class Friendship

-Monokuma File 1

-Laminate

-The Mastermind

-Tape Recorder

-The School Life of Mutual Killings

-Gold's Shower

-Gold's Weapon

Serenade- I can't let you win...not when I still have hope swirling inside of me!

Junko- Y'know, if I die, the air purifiers in the physics lab will shut down...forcing you all to leave this place...

Grimdark- ...

Don't give up just yet!

"...goddammit...no matter what way I look at this...I'm gonna be fucked royally either way...oh well, I can always rebuild my home and start afresh...am I thinking so positively because I met Serenade...ah, who cares?!"

Serenade- I can't let you win...not when I still have hope swirling inside of me!

Junko- Y'know, if I die, the air purifiers in the physics lab will shut down...forcing you all to leave this place...

Grimdark- Doesn't matter what you say...I ain't staying in this hell-hole!

Junko- Your entire lives have been destroyed, why on earth would you want to live in isolation?

Orion- ...

Don't give up just yet!

"Hmm...it is rather curious of me to be thinking about this...but...what if us getting trapped in here was no accident? I mean, it was not an accident that it was our class? Does anyone else believe that too...? No, I don't need to hear another opinion: Serenade has taught me that the only opinion that should matter to me...is my own..."

Serenade- I can't let you win...not when I still have hope swirling inside of me!

Junko- Y'know, if I die, the air purifiers in the physics lab will shut down...forcing you all to leave this place...

Grimdark- Doesn't matter what you say...I ain't staying in this hell-hole!

Junko- Your entire lives have been destroyed, why on earth would you want to live in isolation?

Orion- We have all been through to much to say that we are defeated by you.

Junko- Your families hate you now, y'know? So, honestly, you may as well stay somewhere with shelter and food and warmth...

Olive- ...

Don't give up just yet!

"...I've been thinking, which is usually a bad thing, but...Lock and Tickery both fought for their freedom in here...and they both died...so, is it my job to carry on the wishes of my best friends? Well, whether it is or it isn't, I need to get out of here...for their sacrifices...so that their deaths weren't pointless!"

Serenade- I can't let you win...not when I still have hope swirling inside of me!

Junko- Y'know, if I die, the air purifiers in the physics lab will shut down...forcing you all to leave this place...

Grimdark- Doesn't matter what you say...I ain't staying in this hell-hole!

Junko- Your entire lives have been destroyed, why on earth would you want to live in isolation?

Orion- We have all been through to much to say that we are defeated by you.

Junko- Your families hate you now, y'know? So, honestly, you may as well stay somewhere with shelter and food and warmth...

Olive- Even if I have nowhere to go...it would still be better than living in here!

Junko- But none of that is there in the outside world, whatever shall you do when you're forced to live on the streets?

Digital- ...

Don't give up just yet!

"...you remember the first class trial? I almost died at the hands of you, you made me believe that I had killed an innocent pony...and you honestly think that I will let that go unnoticed? Leaving here will be a minor issue...the main topic? That is defeating the mastermind!"

Serenade- I can't let you win...not when I still have hope swirling inside of me!

Junko- Y'know, if I die, the air purifiers in the physics lab will shut down...forcing you all to leave this place...

Grimdark- Doesn't matter what you say...I ain't staying in this hell-hole!

Junko- Your entire lives have been destroyed, why on earth would you want to live in isolation?

Orion- We have all been through to much to say that we are defeated by you.

Junko- Your families hate you now, y'know? So, honestly, you may as well stay somewhere with shelter and food and warmth...

Olive- Even if I have nowhere to go...it would still be better than living in here!

Junko- But none of that is there in the outside world, whatever shall you do when you're forced to live on the streets?

Digital- I will beat despair! I will beat you! I will not lose to a simpleton like you!

Junko- You all killed your friends off one-by-one...but by staying in here after this trial...I will no longer give you reasons to murder one another...

Beau- ....

Don't give in to despair!

"....what? You think I need words of encouragement to carry on? Oh please, I came this far with one intention, leaving this hell of a school...your death doesn't mean anything to me, Serenade. So don't mistake this for some heartfelt hope."

"What the...?" Junko's face darkened. "What the hell is this?!"

"You see, Junko? No matter what kind of despair you attempt to infest us with, we won't give in to it!"

"You're all freakin' annoying, why don't you all just crawl up and die?!"

Cross-Swords

Evidence Blades

-Class Friendship

-The Mastermind

-Photo Album

-The School Life of Mutual Killings

-The Field Trip of Mutual Killings

Junko- The only thing waiting for you on the other side of those doors is death and despair, nothing more, nothing less! Why would you all want to live in a world you all have no hope of surviving in?!

Serenade- No matter what you try to say to talk us out of it...none of us would want to stay in this hell hole you created

Junko- Shut up, shut up, SHUT UP!!! There's nothing waiting for you, you think your family will be there for you...? Hope always dies out!

Hope never loses!

"You really think we'll listen to what you have to say? In the first School Life of Mutual Killings, it said that those students brought hope back into their despair ridden world...and what if we were this dimensions versions of them? That would make us symbols of hope as well...strong enough to defeat you!" Junko's eyes flashed for a second as she took a step back.

"Did...did I just see...?" She had went slightly pale. "No...that's impossible, he isn't in this world! He could never have found me here!"

"What's gotten into her...?" Olive asked.

"Wha-? Y-you as well...? Are all of you just some reincarnations?! No, no, no, no! I won't let them beat me again! Despair...despair...that is the only true way to live!"

"Serenade." Beau smirked. "It's all up to you now...only you can finish these class trials once and for all..."

Beau... Serenade looked at everyone individually again, this time their faces shone with the hope they had been given. Grimdark...Digital...Olive...Orion...I won't lose now! Not at the final hurdles!

Hope's Connection Shootout

Evidence bullets

-Class Friendship

-Photo Album

-Digital's Testimony

Olive- My hope...that's for me to avenge my friends and escape...

Grimdark- I'll have to rebuild everything...but my heart tells me that it's worth the trouble!

Orion- I cannot allow the one that had murdered so many innocent people, and made me feel so useless to win!

Digital- I can't let Serenade meet the fate I almost did...that just isn't right!

Beau- I want to discover myself...who am I really? Why do I feel like...why do I feel like I know everyone...?

Olive- Now that you've mentioned it...I've felt the same way too...

Grimdark- That we met one another...before we had met one another...

Orion- Before all the killings had begun...?

Digital- It seems that way, doesn't it...? None of us could have formed a bond like this any other way...

Beau- Then...is it possible...?

All- That...We have met before?

Try to remember!

"The photo album!" Olive said suddenly. "Those pictures are real, right? So maybe we did meet each other before the killings begun!"

"Whilst that does make it worse of us killing one another off when we were friends...it does show why we all feel so close..." Grimdark folded his arms and smiled.

"I hope...I hope that if it is true...Nimbus felt that way for me before...hold on...was one of those pictures Digital holding hands with Tickery?" Orion asked.

"W-what?! M-me and Tickery...? Well...she did seem like a nice girl..." Digital admitted.

"Then maybe...maybe we had been in Hope's Peak as a class..."

"Junko erased everyone's memories of that time..." Serenade informed them. "We've been friends for a whole year it seems...we just had a little brain problem..."

"The that just makes me more pumped!" Olive says. "We need to stop this psycho once and for all!"

"Together...we are...the Hope's Peak Academy's Hope...." Orion smiled.

"Hope's Peak...Academy Hope...?" Junko repeated. "How...lame...lame...lame, lame, lame, lame, lame, lame, lame, lame, LAME, LAME, LAME!!! You guys aren't symbols of hope! You're vessels of despair, why can't you see that?! Why won't you just accept despair already?!

Don't listen to her words... There was a voice in Serenade's head. Not Shadow's though, it sounded a lot higher, like a teenagers voice. Unfortunately...her despair is to strong, we can't save her from it...but we can save everyone else from being consumed by it!

Who...who are you...?

That doesn't matter...just end this once and for all...it's up to you, Serenade!

Despair Vs. Hope-Machinegun Showdown!

Junko- Lame, lame, LAME!!!
Junko- You're icky!
Junko- Your lives are fucking messed up now!
Junko- Just give into despair!
Junko- It doesn't matter what you attempt to do!
Junko- Upupupupupu!
Junko- Despair is the only way to live...
Junko- Despair! Despair!
Junko- What...are you...?
Junko- Hope is useless!
Junko- You dare to stand against us?!

I'm done listening to you!

Junko- Despair into tomorrow! Despair into your memories! Despair into nothingness!

Hope will always move forward!

"Look...I don't have much going for me at all. The only thing I'm good at is music, I'm not the strongest, I'm the smartest, I'm the most athletic...but, none of that matter because even without all those things...one thing I'll always have going for me...is my will to live on!"

"What...what's happening?!" Junko screamed.

"Hmph!" Digital smirked. "Looks like...we've finally reached the climax of this trial..."

"We just gotta push the button that says 'despair' and Junko gets punished...right?" Grimdark asks.

"Yep! And I'm ready to go!" Olive says.

"This is...the moment we all fought for..." Orion smiles sweetly.

"Then let's put an end to these trials...and an end to all the killings..." Beau says. "And it'll be by our own hands..."

Everyone looked at each other before pressing 'Despair' simultaneously, causing the slot machine to activate. The spun the three dials for the last time, landing on B...or rather, landing on Junko's face with the coins pouring out of the dispenser and the red bouquets blossoming outwards.

"The hell...?" Junko gave a stunned expression.

"You've lost for a third time, Junko...actually, no...I suppose it would be four if you count the college students you trapped elsewhere..." Beau smirks.

"A-again...? Seriously?! Even in this world?!"

"What? Still can't accept it?" Grimdark closes his eyes.

"It looks like our 'Super High School Level Despair' is more vulnerable than we first thought..." Digital says.

"But she can't fight it now, right?!" Olive asks.

"Well that juuuuust...! The best thing ever!" Junko started to drool.

"What?" Serenade's eyes widened.

"I...I remember this amount of despair...it was when I went to that school...I created my amazing plan...and it was a failure in the end...I even killed my own sister...and now...to feel this failure again?! It's defiantly rather despair-inducing!"

"Wh-what are you talking about?!" Serenade yelled from the other side of the trial room.

"You see, I get bored very easily...ever since I was born, I was bored. That's why I love these sort of luscious moments...the colossal despair that is death! I love feeling this despair over and over again...for some reason. This is the one thing that never gets boring! I am just so hopelessly happy right now!"

"Why is she...enjoying this...?" Olive asked.

"Anyway, you're prepared to admit your defeat?" Beau asked.

"Ahahahahaha....you think I care that I lost...? It doesn't change a thing! Outside, inside - both are despair inducing places!"

"That's not true..." Serenade told her.

"You're wrong..." Digital interrupts.

"D-Digital...?" Serenade looked at the black unicorn.

"Listen...after almost dying, I no longer fear despair...and nobody else fears it either..."

"Yeah! Because we're leaving here as symbols of hope!" Olive joined in.

"Yeah! Serenade really helped us out in that final moment!" Grimdark smiled.

"Yes, Mr Stereo...if quite something..." Orion says.

"E-everyone..." Serenade looks at them all as if they were total strangers.

"Despair is as contagious as any disease..." Beau says. "But that's also true for hope..."

"Yeah! Looks at us, for example!" Olive says. "We were almost sucked into your despair...but were contaminated by the hope that Serenade had given us!"

"B-Beau! Olive!" Serenade looked at the two.

"Ugh! Would you all stop it with those hideous faces you're making?!" Junko scoffed. "Seeing those looks causes me great pain! But...fine, let me just say one thing...if you're all so hung up on hope, that's not a problem to me...but be warned...only despair will exist in the world you're about to enter...no matter what you do...or where you run...despair is always lurking in the shadows...are you still gonna cling onto your precious hope now?!"

"Of course! Because we-"

"That was rhetorical, idiot! You weren't joking when you said you weren't very bright...I'm almost done with my monologue now though, so whatever...because...isn't it almost punishment time...?"

"You're really gonna execute yourself?" Beau asked.

"Well, when I make a deal, I stick to it!" Junko replied, not even phased by what was about to happen.

"H-hang on!" Serenade leaped over the stand and ran over to Junko. "It's not like any of us want you to die-" Junko shoved him away.

"Shut up!" She yelled.

"W-what?"

"How many times do I have to tell you?! Living gives me no hope! I just wanna feel the despair of death again...so you better not get in my way! So then...let's do this...I've reserved an extra special punishment for last! So let's give it everything we've got, alrighty?! It's PUNISHMENT TIME!!!"

Final Class Trial: Execution

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Epilouge

The six stood at the sealed off entrance. Serenade had his photo album tucked under his arm and the button left by the mastermind in his hand.

"Do...do you guys really think this'll open the doors...?" He asked them all.

"It must." Orion says. "After all, we were told that we had to leave here is we wished for despair to be punished, correct? Then this button opening the doors is the only explanation..."

"Plus...we don't really have a choice but to press it." Digital reminds them. "The air purifiers have been switched off now, we'll run out of oxygen quickly."

"Besides, the only way to live is to move forward and we can't do that with these doors in our way!" Grimdark chuckles.

"Oh! Serenade!" Olive looks at Serenade's hand. "You...you still have some of Samurai's blood on your hand..."

"...I know..." Serenade looked at it. "I think this is what kept me motivated to win during the class trial..."

"You wanted to win for Samurai?" Orion asked.

"Mmhm..." Serenade sighed. "He was so close to making it out of here as well..."

"But, in a sense, he saved us all, right?" Grimdark asked. "He may not have done much beforehand...but Samurai was what we needed in the end..."

"Right! Samurai was also our friend, that's enough to show his strength...we'll be his friends even in his death, right?" Olive asked.

"For sure!" Digital smiled. "I didn't really get to know him...but according to you guys...he seemed like a good guy..."

"He was indeed..." Orion said. "He helped me when Nimbus had met his demise...he was...a true symbol of hope...."

"...we should tell the news that when we get out of here! Samurai's story, I can see it as a big hit as a book...or maybe a movie?" Olive smiled.

"We can't just pretend all the other deaths didn't happen though, everyone should get their bit in the news as well...we all had individual experiences with a few of the victims, right?" Digital asked.

"I did." Serenade said.

"Same here!" Olive added.

"As did I." Orion smiled.

"I didn't have much time to...but I hung with that Hammer guy..." Grimdark folded his arms.

"What about you, Beau?" Serenade turned to the red Pegasus.

"Hmm?" Beau, who had yet to speak looked at him. "Well...the thing is...I've been so focused on the mastermind that I didn't really spend time with anyone else...I deeply regret it now as well because..." There was a sniffle. "B-because..." She turned to them all, tears streaming down her face but a content smile beaming at them. "I don't have to pretend I don't care...I don't have to be strong for everyone..." Everyone looked at her dumbfounded.

"You...you acted like that...to be strong for everyone else...?" Serenade said astonished. Beau replied with a nod as she dried her eyes.

"Why would you feel the need to do that?" Digital asked her.

"Because...my father always told me that when there are those that are weaker and that need your help...never cry, be strong for their sake...I will always live by my fathers words..."

"Beau..." Serenade started. "You should have said so earlier...maybe I wouldn't have misunderstood you..."

"I couldn't say anything...it's not I didn't want to...I just would never break my promise to my father...'only cry and tell when it's all over' and that's exactly what this moment is...the time that everything comes to a close..."

"Yeah...an end to the killings..." Olive smiles.

"End to the despair..." Grimdark added.

"You know...thinking more about it...what do you think she meant when she said that we were 'the most despair induced students in Equestria'?" Digital asked.

"...maybe we all have our secrets...and that's alright, isn't it?" Olive said.

"Yes, indeed...but we never solved the mystery of the Super High School Level Assassin...did we...?" Orion pointed out.

"Oh yeah! You're right! I mean...we all thought it was Beau but..."

"It isn't me, I assure you, Serenade..." Beau cut him off.

"So, what is your real title?" Grimdark asked.

"...that, I can't reveal...I apologise from the bottom of my hear but...it could put my life in jeopardy if you all knew..."

"Your life...?" Digital repeated.

"Yes...but like I said, you don't need to know..."

There still are a few unsolved mysteries in this school...but, does that really matter in the end? Does it really concern any of us...? Probably not...

"Guys...can I be honest for a second...?" Olive asked. "I'm really scared of leaving...no, not scared...terrified...what if what we were told is true? What if we have nowhere to go?"

"...we'll find out soon enough, right?" Beau said. "I mean...it's not like we'll be completely alone...we have each other...as friends, do we not?"

"Yeah. No matter what, we have got to stay in contact after this!" Grimdark smiled.

"It would a lovely event if we all got to meet again as a group." Orion smiled.

"I'll have to rebuild my farm if what we were told is true, y'know?"

"Well, I always have some spare time. I could help out with that." Grimdark offers.

"R-really?"

"Yeah, why not? Sounds like fun!"

"That's great! I'd really appreciate any help I could get!" Olive cheered.

"Then, I will be forced to start over my spirit channelling work..." Orion says, showing everyone a bag that contained her equipment.

"Well, I'll need a place to live if our lives have gone to shit...so I could always be there to help out." Digital says.

"Perfect! You would be the perfect candidate for my work!"

"That's good to hear..."

"So, that just leaves us..." Serenade says, turning to Beau.

"Hmm? Oh, I guess so..." Beau said, slightly embarrassed. "But...don't you have that club of yours...?"

"Well yeah but-...wait...I never told you about my club..."

"H-huh?"

"How did you know about me owning a club without me telling you about it?"

"Did I not explain it to you when we did our very first investigation...? Ms Love knows much more than she lets on..." Orion giggled.

"Sh-shut up you creepy goth!" Beau yelled out, a blush visible even on her red coat. Everyone laughed a little bit.

"So, does this mean we just...open the doors?" Olive asked. They all looked at each other individually.

"You know...this might sound weird...but I'm gonna miss this place..." Digital says. "This is where we made most of our friends right...? That's gotta mean something..."

"But it's also where we saw our friends kill each other off one-by-one..." Grimdark points out. "But even so...there was some enjoyment in here...getting to meet everyone...I've never really had friends. I had been born and raised in an army environment my whole life..."

"So that's why you're so rough around the edges?" Digital asks.

"R-rough around the edges...? Y-yeah...I guess so..."

"It seems that even when we leave...the spirits of those that perished will wish to watch over this building..." Orion informs them.

"Umm...speaking of which...during the trial...did anyone hear a voice whispering to them...?" Olive asked.

"Y-you heard one too?" Beau asked.

"I did as well..." Digital says.

"We all heard a voice...?" Grimdark's eyes widened.

"It was just when I was gonna give up...I heard this upbeat girl talking to me...saying that my friends sacrifices shouldn't be wasted!"

"Mine was some older guy saying that I need to beat despair...and there was somethin' about the occult in there..." Grimdark rubbed the back of his head.

"Mine just sounded like a stuck up rich prick." Digital laughs.

"A girl with a rather noticeable stutter...and then a rather scary cackle..." Orion shuddered.

"Monotone...but forceful..." Beau says.

"Mine...mine just encouraged me...encouraged me to not give into despair, saying that Junko was too far gone to save..." Serenade finishes the discussion of the voices.

"Then...do you think that when the mastermind was talking about who Serenade looked like...she meant the voices...? Like we reminded her of someone...?" Olive asked.

"It is certainly possible..." Orion admits.

"Well...is that everything...because we need to leave..." Beau says.

"She's right...without the air purifiers, we'll suffocate..." Grimdark says.

"Then, Serenade...will you do the honor?" Digital looks at him. The six stood with a smile each on their faces in a line in front of the door.

"We fought for this guys...we should be proud..." Serenade raised the button. Because...we did fight for this, we deserve this, everyone deserved to leave here...but even so. They helped us in their own way. I probably wouldn't be here without these six...this is their victory as much as it is mine...but, it's like I said in the trial, I'm not the smartest, I'm not the strongest, I'm not the most athletic...I'm completely normal...well, not completely normal, but one thing I can say is... Serenade looked down and pressed the button, the alarms went off as the locks of the doors released one-by-one, opening the metal guarding on the door. Leaving a light to shine through as the world re-opened to them.

I'm Serenade Stereo...and I'm just a musician...

Author's Note

And so...this entire story comes to a close. I want to thank everyone that took their time to read this long, long journey that was Dangan RonPonya. I want to give a shout out to ClickClackTheBrony who always gave me constructive criticism (Even if I wasn't the best at following it). I also want to thank those that commented regularly, you guys are my motivation to write and yet...I think I'll let you imagine what happened after those doors opened...so I want to thank everyone once more for taking their time to read. Dangan RonPonya...

Day 1: Chapter 1

Day 1: Welcome to Despair...

"So..this is it..." Serenade Stereo, a young, talented, teen muttered to himself as he stood in awe outside a building that towered over him.

He had heard about this place, they only ever accepted ponies that exceeded in some talent. It could be, computing, acting or music like Serenade. It didn't matter just as long as you were above the best.

"I hope the others like me...aw come, Serenade. You have likeability!" He tried to give himself some confidence, he didn't have the best social skills compared to others he knew. He took a deep breath and looked at his feet, where the line between the world he knew and the world of new beginnings were separated. He lifted one foot and stepped over.

That's when it happened.

He felt the weight of his body increase and at same time, he couldn't breathe. Like something had a grip on his lungs. It didn't take long for him to fall and lose consciousness.

"...He.....dead?"

"....Unconscious....!"

"Hey! His....moved!"

"He must....up!" There were to many voices surrounding him for him to focus as he forced his eyes open.

His vision was blurry for a few seconds but it quickly came into focus, he only saw one thing though. A black unicorn looming over him, his glasses shielding his emerald eyes. "...I take you have awoken?" Serenade sat up, confused and dazed. He looked around and saw that he was sitting on what looked like the bleachers in a school gym...so he WAS in the school. He investigated his surroundings and saw many more ponies around him in the gym, 12...13...14, counting the one he saw already. 15. Plus himself made 16 of them

"Hmm..." The black unicorn had said whilst pushing up his glasses "...You were accepted into this school to then?" He asked, Serenade stayed silent after he realized everyone else was looking at him, he hated it when all attention was fixed on him. He simply nodded. "Well...you aren't the only one here..." That's when he pointed to the badge clipped onto his jacket "We are all...Super High School Level students...only difference is...I have a badge" He smirked

Digital Code. Super High School Level Hacker

"Heeeeeeey~" A smaller, female White earth pony appeared from behind Serenade, causing him to jump slightly "whoa! No need to get all scared on me" She whispered strangely into his ear

Tickery Clock Super High School Level Watch Maker

"Oh Tick, try not to scare the poor guy, he just woke up after all..." A female green earth pony emerged

Olive Field Super High School Level Farmer

"Awwww...Olive, you're just no fun!" A new male orange Pegasus whispers into the girl's ear "Haha! Locky agrees with me!" The orange pony shakes his head as if to say 'no I didn't'

Lock Heart Super High School Level Matchmaker

"Hey keep it down would you!? I'm so close to beating my high score!" A male, yellow unicorn complains

Gold Coin Super High School Level Gamer

"I always wanted to try and dismantle one of these things, there so old now though that you can't even find them in stores now though!" A light grey male earth pony says with a glint in his eye

Hammer Head Super High School Level Mechanic

Serenade's gaze falls on a red Pegasus with beautiful golden hair and sapphire eyes. She looks at him "...Can I help you with something?" She asks. Serenade only manages to shake his head

Beau Love Super High School Level Model

"Ah...that girl may look like a spring flower...but she seems to have a severe attitude..." a dark purple, male unicorn said a few steps away from Serenade

Nimbus Darkness Super High School Level Ninja

"U-Um...." A meek looking female, light blue unicorn sat next to Serenade "I...I w-was...s-sorry, it doesn't m-matter"

B Positive Super High School Level Nurse

There was a click and a flash causing B to yelp and a giggle to be heard "Sorry about that, you two look so CUTE together though!" said a girl with a pink coat and what seemed like a permanent smile plastered on the earth pony's face

Zoom Lens Super High School Level Photographer

A small gerbil appeared on her shoulder as she screamed out "Get it away!" A dark grey Pegasus picked the animal off her shoulder

"I'm so sorry about him" He apologizes

Wild Beast Super High School Level Animal Tamer

"Hey!" A roar came from the centre of the room as a crimson, female, earth pony stomped her foot on the ground "if I don't get blood on my knuckles soon, I'm gonna totally flip!"

Punch Out Super High School Level Fighter

"This just in!" A female, black Pegasus says a few steps away. "Ms Out is urging the others to fight her for the fifth time since the reporter has got here.

Moonlight Exclusive Super High School Level Reporter

Withdrawal symptoms Serenade thinks to himself.

"You are quite right actually" a silver unicorn says to him "Don't be alarmed, I can read minds...if I keep my strength up of course"

Orion Ghost Super High School Level Spirit Chaneller

"Whatever...she's just desperate to hurt somepony..." A brown earth pony said in the corner

Samurai Blade Super High School Level Swordsman

There was a sudden strange laugh that went throughout the gym hall "Upupupupu! Don't worry, you'll have blood on your knuckles...if you want to take the risk...!" They all turn to the stage, where they had figured the voice was emanating from

"Hey! Who the hell is that!?" Punch yells out only to be responded with the laugh again and a small trapdoor to open on the stage. All the students had started to walk over to the stage at this point. They waited in silence until a black and white figure flew out and landed on a nearby podium

"Surprise Bastards!" He cackled. Serenade paused as he saw what exactly the figure was. He looked like a plush bear doll. One half was cute and friendly whilst the other seemed demonic and sinister "How do you like the gym? I put a lot of work into this place!"

"W-what are you?" Olive asks, stunned like the rest. "Some sort of bear?"

"Ack!? Not just any bear! I am MONOKUMA!!!" He yells out his name. "Also known as...your principle!". P-principle? This thing? It hardly looks like it could teach...

"Hey...why exactly are we here?" Digital asks. The newly introduced, Monokuma looks at him.

"Well Mr. 'Glasses-Pushed-Up-And-Ready-For-Action'" He hops off the podium "You are all here for a special game!"

"Game?" Digital presses for details

"Yes! The best game that yours truly could create!" He does a big jump onto the podium again "'The School Life of Mutual Killings!'" The sixteen of the students start to worry

"What do you mean half-demon? A 'School Life of Mutual Killings'? What kind of joke is this!?" Nimbus says angrily

"It's simple, you sixteen over-achievers will stay here in this isolated buildings, for now only the bottom floor can be explored, to unlock more of the building and to 'graduate' this school with flying-colours!" He cackles "You have to kill another student!" They sixteen are taken aback

"K...kill...another student?" Olive stutters out

"Upupupupu! Yes! Isn't it brilliant? Everyday you'll get to live on the edge of your seats, who will die next, who will be the one that kills the victim!? Upupupupu!" He continues to laugh as Serenade starts to walk backwards. Unfortunately Monokuna sees him before he can run "Oh? Is something wrong? Why are you so afraid? Just stay out of everybody's way and don't kill anyone!" He feels his mind go blank. What is he supposed to do now? Survival of the fittest...he had no chance.

"I..." They all look at him "I...I've....I'VE GOT TO GET OUTTA HERE!" He cries out running to the nearest blocked off door, banging on it repeatedly "LET ME OUT!"

"Upupupupu! How exciting! Not even ten minutes and he's already broke down!" Monokuma laughs at Serenade's fear.

"Quiet..." Digital speaks as Monokuma looks at him curiously, Serenade, paying no attention "Kid...its no use...we already tried..." He didn't listen. Digital sighs as he walks up to him and grabs his arms to restrain him "Stop that...you'll give us all migraines...then you won't be on anyone's good side..." He lets go of Serenade's arms and turns back to the rest of them "Besides...we won't give this thing the satisfaction of seeing us slaughter each other. We just don't kill each other. Simple" He smirks

"Upupupupu! Yes, I like the optimism...oh wait...NO I FUCKING DON'T!!! You won't be able to resist forever, I'll always find ways..." He didn't seem to be able to move his mouth, but if he could, he would be grinning sadistically. "But for now, I'll give you these!" A desk appears, seemingly out of nowhere with small gadgets laid out on it "Your student ElectroID Cards! Your personal records and, they can record evidence for the inevitable murders. Not to mention it has the school rules!" They all, including a very hesitant Serenade, collected the IDs and turned them on.

Serenade looked at the photo of himself, where did they get it? It didn't make sense on how they could have possibly got it. He scrolled through the options to the rules section.

The Students will live a communal lifestyle with no time limit inside the school

The time between 10pm and 7am is called “Night Time”. During Night Time there are places that are forbidden to enter, so please take care.

Sleeping is only permitted in the personal rooms prepared for you. Anyone intentionally falling asleep elsewhere will be punished.

You may investigate the school as you please. There are no special restrictions on your actions.

No violence is permitted against Principle Monokuma. Destruction of the surveillance flowers and cameras is forbidden.

A “culprit” who kills a fellow students will be promoted. However, they must not let any other students know they are the culprit.

Additional rules may be added by the principle at any time.

He raises an eyebrow So...we have to make sure other students don't find about the murder? And...additional rules can be added.... Monokuma puts his paws in the air "Remember everyone, violence against me will result in PUNISHMENT!" Serenade starts cautiously

"What...happens if the culprit is found? What happens to them, is it the same punishment for violence against you?" They all look at Serenade suspiciously "N-no! I didn't mean it like that!"

"Upupupupu! Well it looks like you have someone to keep an eye on, the SUPER HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL MUSICIAN! SERENADE STEREO!!!" he cackles as the others glare at Serenade. How did he get in this mess? "But as for your question...the punishment is the same and that punishment is...execution!"

"W-what!?" Serenade stutters out

"Well it's only fair, right? If you take a life, then yours gets taken!"

"An eye for eye...so to speak" Orion says. He nods in response

"Well...I'd better let you all get to know each other more...let you explore and find your rooms and such...good luck!" and with that, he vanished and the metal plates guarding the doors slide away. In less than five seconds after the doors are revealed a hand grabs Serenade's shirt collar and spins him to face. Punch Out.

"What the FUCK!? Are you planning to kill someone you dilweed!?" She spat making Serenade cower "Well...how about a teach you a little lesson on what happens if you try..." She raises her fist and grins as she swings, nailing Serenade on his eye, knocking him out cold...

Class Trial 1: Execution

Monokuma drew a small gavel as a big red button had risen from the floor. He hit the button lightly.

Game Over
Digital Code is Guilty
Commencing Execution

A chain flew in from a door behind Monokuma, wrapping around Digital and dragging him away. The giant monitor in the class trial room switched on to see what was happening.

It was Digital chained by his legs in front of several computers and a ring of liquid around his. Suddenly from above, Monokuma can be seen, he pulls out a small box and the there is a visible red light. He drops the light onto the liquid and a circle of fire surrounds Digital

The Firewall

Digital begins to try and break free of the shackles but to no avail. He looks at the screens as the box 'Firewall shutdown?' pops up. He reaches for it but two more shackles fire out of the floor restraining his arms. As the fires gets closer he pushed harder to reach the keyboard. He almost reached it but then the flames on the other side engulf the computers. Digital sighs as he hangs his head in defeat and the flame engulf him also.

Back in the class trial room. The monitor switches off leaving the students in a horrified state.

"N-no..." B, now standing by Serenade, turns, burying her face in Serenade's chest and begins sobbing at the sight that they had just seen.

"D-Digital...." Punch says in disbelief like the others.

"So...that was the punishment awaiting us..." Nimbus says.

"Upupupupu! Wrong! That was Digital's punishment, everyone has their own special punishment depending on their 'Super High School Level'"

"Hey..." Beau starts "I've been wondering something...that hypno chip. Couldn't any of us used it?"

"Wrong again!" Momokuma interrupts "that chip was Digital's weapon I placed in his room, he was the only one that had access to it"

"But he got Tickery's knife, right?" Samurai asked

"She left her door unlocked, her lose"

"I lost my key..." She explained. I can't believe they're talking about this right after Digital's death...

"Well. you'd better head back to your rooms now! I have business to attend to!" And in a final puff of smoke, Monokuma was gone. The now 14 students stood in silence. Beau turned and walked away

"To be honest...it's best not to dwell on this. There'll be more where that comes from and none of us can deny it..." as she speak, Nimbus steals a few glances at Serenade. "Now come on...remember what Momokuma said? Every time we got pass a class trial, a new floor would be open to us the next day...so that means that we could find a way out..." She stepped into the elevator followed by everyone else.

Getting out of here is the most important thing...but to just push the murder away like it never happened... but what position was he really in to disagree? He had no choice but to find a way out.

The mutual killings had begun...

Day 4: Chapter 2- Free time

I've been wearing this outfit for the last four days...wait, B said something about there being a laundry room next to the cafeteria. He left his room and headed for the laundry room.

There were six washing machines lined up on the opposite side of the door, clotheslines overhead and 16 lockers. One for each student. Serenade walked up to his. There was a locking mechanism on it.

"How the hell am I supposed to open this?" he paused "Wait a second..." He pulled out his ElectroID and put it up against the lock and just as he did the door to his locker clicked open. Inside there was a full set of clothes for him. He picked them up and quickly went back to his room to change. Before taking the dirty clothes back to the laundry room.

He shoved them in one of the empty ones, closed the door and turned it on. That's when he heard someone walk in.

"Ah...it's you..." Nimbus. He knew the voice all to well. He had gone through a costume change as well. Instead of his all black uniform he had a more casual look to him but he still had the black scarf covering half his face up. "What is it Beau might say about what you are wearing...? 'That's some dangerous double-denim'?"

Is he serious? Nimbus just leaned against the wall, twirling one of his shuriken

"Is there anything you needed?" He asked. Should I hang out with Nimbus? Serenade gave a smile and sat on the bench that was positioned next to Nimbus. "Hmm? Well...if want to stay my presence then by all means...go ahead.

I stayed in Nimbus's presence

Nimbus and I bonded....I think "Oh!" Serenade reaches into his pocket and pulls out a black shuriken "I got this from the Monokuma machine after the class trial yesterday, here" He gave it to Nimbus.

"W-well...I must say that if you think my opinion of you has changed, you are greatly mistaken! But even so...I will graciously take it off your hands..."

I think he liked it

"...why did you choose to spend with me?"

"What do you mean?"

"After the first class trial? How I judged you, thinking that you were the culprit! How could you stand to be around me?! How could you not hate me?!"

"I guess it isn't in my nature to do something like that"

"Not...in your nature?"

"Yeah I mean. When I was younger I was bullied a lot for a few things but for some reason I could never just hate them no matter what they did, the only exception to that is you-know-who" Serenade motions to the security camera. "I mean, I'm even friends with one of those ex-bullies"

"Interesting....so you also wanted to spend time with me because you want to get to know me?"

"Well that's a part-"

"Childs play"

"Huh?" Serenade tilted his head as Nimbus chuckled.

"Alright then. I enrolled here as the 'Super High School Level Ninja' but are you actually able to tell me what a ninja is?"

A ninja? Well...if I remember right thanks to the power of the internet... "A ninja is a Neighponese assassin, right?"

"Correct...wait...Y-you actually knew?!"

"Well, yeah...why are you so shocked?"

"N-nobody has ever gotten that question correct before...you...I'll be keeping my eye on you Mr Stereo..."

"So what about you?"

"What about me?"

"How would you usually view people?" Nimbus was silent when he was asked

"I view people on their actions and personality, since I didn't know you that much...I jumped to conclusions...I apologise..."

"It's fine, that's in the past so forget about it"

"You're odd, Serenade...very odd...but I think I've taken up enough of your time now so I shall take my leave..." Nimbus turned and left the room and that's when the washing machine that contained Serenade's other outfit finished its work. He took them out and hung his clothes over the clotheslines that were overhead and headed out to let them dry.

He walked around the hall and stopped at the room he saw on the first day. The music room.

I've been meaning to stop by here... he opened the door and saw a sea of instruments. Guitars, violins, double bass, piano, the list goes on.

"This. Is...paradise..." He walked in and grabbed one of the guitars some sheet music and a music stand. "Let's see what they have...oh my Celestia...they have Tonight Alive, Green Day, My Chemical Romance. I love these bands!!" He squealed hoping nobody would hear.

He started to concentrate on the music in front of him and started strumming the guitar. It was perfectly in tune. That was good at least. He started to sing a song he remembered that would always cheer him up when he felt down. He sat there playing away felling entranced by the song. He was about halfway through.

The door slowly opened as Punch emerged from behind.

"Heard ya' singing from outside. I can see why they accepted you in here"

"O-oh, thanks..."

"What's the name of that song? Sounds pretty cool"

"The Other Side..."

"...by...?"

"T-Tonight Alive" Even though Punch said they were friends. She still terrified him to pieces. W-well...should I hang out with Punch...?

"Do you want me to play you something...?"

"Um...sure, why not?"

I played a few songs for Punch

Punch I bonded, even if she doesn't think it herself "Hey, hold on..." Serenade's wings unfold and two boxing gloves fall out "I got these from the Monokuma Slot Machine after the first class trial, you want them?"

"A-are you serious? Aw, Serenade you are freakin' awesome!"

Well with a reaction like that, she must have liked them!

"Say, Serenade? What kind of music do you usually listen to?"

"What kind? Um...I like a lot of punk rock, even if I don't look like it. I like pop music and a little bit from every other genre aside from dubstep. I hate dubstep. What about you?"

"U-umm...well, what if I told you I liked 'Don't Rain On My Parade' or 'Defying Gravity'? Does that give you a hint?"

Don't Rain On My Parade and Defying Gravity...both of those are..

"Musicals?"

"Y-yeah, I don't know why but I like it when there's a legit story that goes along with the songs. I freakin' love Wicked and Funny Girl." She paused "But if you tell someone else, I'll pound your face in!"

"R-right, I won't tell anyone"

"Good" She smiles

*Ding Dong, Bing Bong*

"Ahem, may I have your attention? It is now 10pm and officially night-time, the cafeteria shall be locked soon and entry will be strictly prohibited. Have a nice night everyone!"

"Well...it looks like we should head for bed now" Serenade says to Punch

"Yep, I'll see you in the morning..." Punch give one last nod before leaving the room before Serenade proceeds to his own room.

He sits on his bed and pulls out his ElectroID, flicking it to the students report

I should update Nimbus's and Punch's reports...

For Nimbus he wrote in

A ninja is a Neighponese assassin.
I view people on their actions and personality but since I didn't know much about you, I misjudged you. I apologise.

And for Punch:

What I told you I liked 'Don't Rain On My Parade' and 'Defying Gravity'? Does that give you a hint?
Y-yeah, I don't know why but I like it when there's a legit story that goes along with the songs. I freakin' love Wicked and Funny Girl
But if you tell anyone, I'll pound your face in!

Serenade switched his ID off before laying on his bed and falling asleep.