I never thought my life would have changed like this. If you would have said I would be imprisoned in a school by a stuffed animal forced to kill for my freedom, I would have laughed in your face and trotted away, never thinking about it again. Now, if you say it, It would bring back horrible, gruesome memories. I would see blood, guts and the horrified looks on the faces of my "classmates" as they were being brutally exterminated. I would push you off of your hooves and bolt away, crying.
I should probably introduce myself. My names is Lyra Heartstrings. I lived and grew up in the town of Ponyville. I was accepted into Hope's Peak academy in Equestria's capital of Canterlot when the administrators there were extremely impressed with my skills on the lyre, a harp-like musical instrument. My friend, named Bon Bon, was accepted into the academy as well, due to her amazing ability to make delicious candies. My parents were overjoyed with the fact that I would be going to a top-class school for prestigious ponies. I was very happy as well. However, once I stepped onto the school grounds, my life changed forever. This is my story.
PROLOGUE: WELCOME TO HOPE'S PEAK
It was my first day at Hope's Peak Academy in Canterlot. The cool air seemed to signify hope for the future. I was confident that I would get a scholarship for a high-grade college once I graduated. I stepped forward, not hesitating for a moment. My life was about to change. I took in the invigorating air for one last time before stepping onto the school grounds.
My vision started to blur, and I was getting disoriented. I tried to step back through the gate, but it was no use. The gate had closed and locked by itself. Stumbling around for a few more seconds, I tripped over the sidewalk and fell flat on my face. The last thing I saw was a short, black and white figure before me. Then, I blacked out.
**************************************************
I woke up in a room full of other ponies. The room seemed to be a hospital room, due to there being a sharps collector and a few other hospital-related appliances.
"Ugh... Where am I?" I said. When I woke up, I expected to have a headache that made me feel like my head was being chopped in half with an axe, but surprisingly, I had no such headache.
"She's awake!" A familiar voice squealed from across the room. It was Bon Bon! She quickly trotted over to me. I got of the hospital bed.
"Bon Bon!" I gave her a big hug. "How are you doing?"
"I'm doing great! Except for the fact that I passed out once I stepped onto the school grounds."
"You too? I thought I was the only one. I thought maybe there was an extreme difference in atmosphere from the outside." I was very suspicious at this point. We both blacked out when we stepped onto the school grounds? That can't be good.
"Hey, I'd love to stay and catch up, but I saw some posters outside of the intensive care units that the students are supposed to meet up in the gym at 8:00 AM sharp!" Bon Bon informs me. I look up at the clock. It reads 7:57 AM.
"Oh no! I'm going to be late!" I quickly trot out of the clinic and around the corner. Where do I go!? I look up to the ceiling and notice a sign pointing me in the right direction. Thank Celestia... I dash down the hallway and open the doors to the gym. My fellow classmates follow.
"Wow... Its enormous..." I say, in awe. The gym was huge! There were bleachers on both sides, with a massive area for playing sports. There were multiple basketball hoops hanging down from the ceiling and even a stage on the back side of the gym.
"Yeah..." Bon Bon says. "I guess now that we are all here, we should all get to know each other. I nod in agreement.
Bon Bon: Super High School Level Candy-Maker
I walk over to the next pony and shake hooves with her. She is a gray Pegasus with a yellow mane. "My name is Lyra Heartstrings. What's your name?" I ask.
"My name is Derpy Hooves! It's a pleasure to meet you!"
Derpy Hooves: Super High School Level Bubble Artist
"Hey Lyra, do you like bubbles?"
"Yeah! I love bubbles!"
"So do I! I also love muffins! I make the best bubbles and muffins around!" A pony that can make bubbles and muffins top-grade!? She's gonna be fun to be around!
"Care to show off your bubble-blowing skills?"
"Sure!" Derpy pulled a bubble wand and a bubble-soap bottle out of her mane and dipped the bubble wand into the soap. She started blowing the bubble. I couldn't make out what it was at first, but when I stepped back and the bubble got bigger, It was a giant elephant! The bubble left the wand and floated to the ceiling where it finally popped. I walked back over to Derpy.
"Wow, Derpy! That's amazing! How do you do that?"
"I don't know! I guess its just my talent! I mean, my Cutie Mark says it all, doesn't it?" Her flank was adorned with a bunch of bubbles.
"It was nice talking to you, Derpy! I hope we become good friends sometime!"
"I hope so too, Lyra! Bye for now!" I turn around to see a light blue Unicorn mare, with a blue and white mane, almost like toothpaste! I walk over to the pony and give her a hoofshake.
"My name is Lyra! It is nice to meet you!"
"I'm Colgate! I'm the master dentist around here!"
Colgate: Super High School Level Dentist
"Hi, Colgate! How are you?"
"I'm great! Thanks for asking! Do you need a tooth cleaning?"
"No, I think my teeth are fine. See?" I show her my teeth. They have no dental plaque and my teeth are shiny like diamonds.
"Wow! I don't think I've seen teeth as clean as yours! You take great care of your teeth, ya hear me?"
"I will! It was nice meeting you!" I walk over to the next pony. He is a white Pegasus stallion. His muscles are more buff than normal, and his wings are smaller than usual. He is lifting weights.
"HEY THERE! HOW ARE YOU!?" He yells down to me. This frightens me, and I back away. "Sorry about that. I was just doing a workout and I'm usually really pumped after workouts. My name is Bulk Biceps, but I like to go by Snowflake.
Snowflake: Super High School Level Athlete
I inch towards him, still trembling because of the surprise. "Hey, don'tchya worry. I aint gonna hurt ya."
"H-hi... I'm Lyra..."
"Hey, Lyra. I'm sorry for scarin' ya like that. Why don't you go talk to the others and we can talk later, OK?
"O-OK..." I back away and quickly recover from my surprise. Turning around, I see a brown earth pony approaching me.
"Hello, my name is Doctor Whooves. I can manipulate time.
Doctor Whooves: Super High School Level Time Lord
"Y-you can!? That's amazing!" I exclaim. I think recall hearing a few other ponies shout like that when they met him.
"Yes, I can. But right now, I am not yet very skilled. I can slow down time, but I cannot do things like turn back time." Wow! This guy is amazing!
"Wow! That's so cool! It's nice to meet you! My name is Lyra!"
"Nice to meet you, Lyra."
"I would really like to know more about you! Do you think you could tell me more?"
"I would love to," He said. "But I cannot tell you everything right now. Maybe we can talk later?"
"Sure! It was awesome meeting you!"
"Same here. Now I must go meet the others. Goodbye!"
"Bye, Doctor!" Wow! He was really interesting! I should talk to him more. I walk over to the next pony. She was a earth pony with a white coat and a pink mane.
"Hello, My name is Nurse Redheart. The school system said that I was the best high school-aged nurse.
Nurse Redheart: Super High School Level Nurse
"Hi! I'm Lyra!"
"Nice to meet you, Lyra. I gave you some aspirin while you were asleep. That's why you didn't have a headache when you woke up."
"Wait... How did you-"
"I know how basic medications work." She gave me a smile."
"Wow! Thanks!"
"You're welcome! If you get hurt, just come to me. I'll help ya." Next was a purple pony with a purple mane.
"Hi there, my name's Berry Punch!"
Berry Punch: Super High School Level Juice-Mixer
"Hi! My name is Lyra!" I say. "So, I'm assuming you like berries?"
"Yeah, I like berries. But I LOVE to mix them up into juice. Want some?"
"I would love some!" Berry pulled a blender and berries out of her pocket. She tossed a bunch of them into the blender. There were strawberries, grapes, you name it. They all got blended up into a drink. She poured some into a glass she pulled out of her mane. I drink some. It was the best juice I have ever drank.
"Mmmmm! This is amazing juice! I love it!" I say. Berry blushed.
"Thanks! I love it when ponies enjoy my drinks!"
"No, thank YOU! Its wonderful!"
"You're welcome!" I shake hooves with her and then go on to the next pony. She was an orange Pegasus with an yellow and orange mane.
"Hello, my name is Spitfire. I used to be the Captain of the Wonderbolts.
Spitfire: Super High School Level Racer
"Hey! I know you! I saw you at the show near here a few months ago. Why are you in a high-school?"
"I never finished high school. I dropped out and joined the Equestrian National Guard. There, I got promoted higher and higher. Since the Wonderbolts are part of the National Guard, I was promoted to captain. But I got bored of being the captain, so I went back to finish high school."
"Oh! Well good luck!"
"Thanks! I'll need it. I don't know the first thing about academics."
"Aww, I'm sure you'll pull through." I say. "You've got a bunch of supportive classmates here to help." I give a smile and trot away. Next were two ponies, both mares. One was a Unicorn and the other was an earth pony. The Unicorn had a white coat, wore purple shades and had a blue and light blue mane. The earth pony was gray and had a dark gray mane. They seemed to be best friends with each other, like Bon Bon and I.
"Hello!" I say. I get the Unicorn's attention.
"Hey, sup. My name's Vinyl Scratch. Her name is Octavia Melody." She points to the gray pony.
"H-hi," Octavia says. Wow, Octavia seems really shy.
"Hi Octavia," I say. "What are your special talents?" Vinyl Scratch jumps sky-high and answers.
"I'm a DJ!" she says.
"Oh, that's so cool!
"Yeah! Its the most fun talent to have!" She says, sounding proud as hell. "Octavia is the best in the world with the cello.
Vinyl Scratch: Super High School Level DJ
Octavia Melody: Super High School Level Cellist
"Do you perform your music in front of other ponies?" I ask. "Because I want to hear you play!"
"Yeah! Although we do different types of music, we still both perform!"
"Cool! I'll be sure to listen to your performances! See ya later!"
"Hey, you're cool! We should totally hang out later!"
"I'll have to take you up on that offer! Bye!" The next pony was an orange stallion. He was a Pegasus and was quite tall.
"Hello, there!" I call out, since he was far away and wandering about. He walks over to me.
"Hello, my name is Flash Sentry. I aim to be part of the Royal Guard.
Flash Sentry: Super High School Level Royal Guard
"Really? That's awesome!" I say. I'm quite astonished.
"Yes. It is. Although, that's not why I want to join. I want to defend Equestria and its leaders. I love my country with full devotion!" He proudly exclaims.
"That's great! I hope you achieve your dreams!"
"Oh, they are not dreams. I believe I am destined to defend Equestria. I mean, my cutie mark says so." His cutie mark was a shield with a bolt of lightning through it.
"Then be the best guard you can be!" Oh jeez, that sounded really cliche...
"I will! Go meet the others, orientation could be at any moment!" I spot a mare in the distance. She was yellow-brownish. She was wearing a gray sun hat and a dark purple cape. She almost seemed like a shady pony. I trot over to her.
"Hello?" I ask. "My name's Lyra."
"Hello. My name is A.K. Yearling. I strive to be an author."
A.K. Yearling: Super High School Level Author
"Oh, cool! I love books! What do you plan on publishing?" I ask. I was very interested in books, but not as much as the librarian of Ponyville. Twilight Sparkle seemed to have an obsession with books.
"Oh, I write children's books, novels, most everything. But I'm most proud of the book series I planned first. I call it 'Daring Do'."
"Daring Do? What's that about?"
"Daring Do goes on dangerous adventures and faces mighty enemies to retrieve treasure!"
"Well, when you publish the books, I'll make sure to pick up a copy of each! I'm sure they will be great!"
"Thanks, Lyra. I'm gonna need a lot of help if I'm gonna get this series popular."
"HI!" A new voice calls out, which is really loud. The surprise knocks me flat on my face. "Oh, I'm sorry! Let me help you." She grabs my hoof and pulls me up. She is an earth pony, she's orange with a brighter orange mane. Her cutie mark was a bunch of carrots.
"Thanks. My name's Lyra. What's yours?" I say, still a little mad from the surprise.
"I'm Carrot Top! I love carrots and farming carrots!"
Carrot Top: Super High School Farmer
"Do you like carrots, Lyra? Because I love carrots!"
"Carrots are OK..."
"CARROTS ARE OK!? HOW ARE THEY JUST OK!? CARROTS ARE AMAZ..." Carrot Top rambled on about carrots until I left. What was that about? Apparently she really likes carrots. I walk over to the last pony. She has a white coat and a red mane. Her cutie mark is a rose with two leaves on the stem.
"Hi, My name is Lyra. What's yours?"
"Hello, I'm Roseluck. It's nice to meet you. I love roses."
"Oh, please tell me you don't have an obsession with roses like Carrot Top does with carrots..." I give her a worried expression.
"Oh, don't worry. I don't have an obsession. I just like flowers, but roses are my favorite.
Roseluck: Super High School Level Florist
"I have a shop set up in Ponyville." Roseluck informs me. "Have you ever been to my shop?"
"I think I've seen it a few times and I've seen you around town, but I don't think I've ever been in your shop. I'll make an effort to though."
"Thanks! My business could always use help." I gave my final goodbye and trotted off to hang out with some other ponies. (Mainly Bon Bon, Vinyl Scratch, Derpy and Doctor Whooves). After about fifteen minutes, a medium-high pitched voice rang through the gymnasium.
"Hello, students of Hope's Peak Academy! I am your principal!" We all look to the stage, and all of a sudden, a big cloud of smoke appears up on stage. When the smoke clears, it revealed a teddy bear... except it was black on one side and white on the other. It had a white belly, and its mouth was shaped into an evil grin on one half. On the same half, there was an evil looking glowing eye.
"What the hell!?" Somepony called out. All of us had surprised and confused expressions.
"Is this some kind of a joke?" Another voice rang out. The bear began again.
"Why, this is no joke at all! I am your principal! My name is Monokuma!"
"How the hell could a stuffed animal be our principal!?" Snowflake asked, sounding angry and confused at the same time.
"I'm not a stuffed animal! I'm Monokuma! I am your principal, and this school will have strict rules and punishments!"
"Rules? What kind of rules?" I ask.
"I was just getting to that. You see, you will live out a communal lifestyle in this building. You will never be allowed to leave!"
"WHAT!?" Most of us call out.
"You can't just hold us here against our will!" Roseluck informs him.
"Hey, your all lucky! There's an exception to this rule! A principal that didn't care wouldn't put in an exception."
"Exception?" I ask.
"Yes, an exception! To leave this place... You must successfully murder another one of your fellow classmates!" We all gasp in horror, as the reality sank in.
"T-this is a joke... Right?" A.K. asks.
"Nope! It's the whole truth! I'm a beary honest principal!"
"Oh sweet Celestia... Get me out of here please!" Bon Bon cried.
"Nopony will save you! You are trapped! Only one way out! But there's a catch to this rule too! You can't just simply murder another classmate! You have to go through a trial! If you are found guilty, you receive punishment!"
"Uhh... W-what would this punishment be?" Derpy asked.
"I'm glad you asked! The punishment for being found guilty of murder is... EXECUTION!" We all gasp in horror again.
"E-execution? You mean... The Death Penalty?" Derpy replies, still in shock.
"Yeah! It could be gassing, hanging, being crushed, electrocution, whatever you can think of! And this punishment is for ANY violation of the rules." He throws a bunch of rectangular objects with screens onto the ground, almost like smartphones.
"These things are called ElectroIDs. They are your identification card, information hub, basically, anything that gives you information. Pick one up. You can pick up any, and they will automatically be assigned to you. After that, press the tab on it that says 'Rules'." We all pick up our ElectroIDs and click on the 'Rules' tab.
1. Violence against the principal is strictly forbidden.
2. Times between 10:00 PM and 7:00 AM are considered 'Night Time'. Some areas of the school will be locked during Night Time.
3. Intentionally falling asleep in an area in the school other than the dorms is forbidden.
4. Students will live out a communal lifestyle in the school. The only way out is to not be found guilty of a murder.
5. Destruction of surveillance cameras is strictly forbidden.
6. Only after three ponies discover a body, an announcement will be made.
7. If found guilty of murder, you will be executed.
8. If the culprit is not found guilty, everypony except the culprit will be executed.
9. More rules will be added if necessary.
"T-this is bullshit! I'm not taking this shit from you!" Snowflake says as he rushes up to Monokuma.
"Snowflake! No!" We all scream to him, knowing what would happen next.
"You say I have to kill somepony to get out of here, well I'm gonna kill you!" He grabs Monokuma by the throat and lifts him up. Monokuma gives no resistance.
"Violence against the principal is strictly forbidden." And with that, Monokuma began to glow a bright orange. Monokuma exploded, killing Snowflake instantly, sending him (or at least his blood and insides) flying across the stage and onto the floor. We all scream in horror.
"Snowflake!" A few of us scream. Most of us are crying at the horror we just witnessed. Monokuma rises up from the stage again.
"As you can see, I'm beary serious about this."
"Wh-what have you done!?" I say, still crying. Sweet Celestia... What the hell happened!?
"As I said before, violence against the principal is forbidden. Now, go! Begin your new life! Enjoy it before it ends!" We all leave the gymnasium to investigate the school, still in shock. Lots of the school are locked or blocked from entry. I find a stairwell with a locked door.
"Come on... Open!" I yell.
"Its not going to open!" A familiar voice says behind me. I turn around.
"Monokuma!? What are you doing here!?"
"Hey, why are you so mad at me? I'm here to tell you why it won't open!"
"I'm angry because you murdered my friend!"
"Friend? I thought you two weren't friends! I mean, what he did to you when you two met didn't seem like friendship to me!" That made my blood boil.
"SHUT UP! JUST TELL ME WHY IT WONT OPEN AND LEAVE!"
"Fine, be that way," he says in a sarcastic tone. "Its locked because you aren't far enough into the game!"
"This is a game to you!?"
"Yes, and so far, the game has been action packed!" I wanted to sock that bear so hard in the face that his face would flip inside out. "After a murder occurs, the stairwell will open up to the next floor!"
"What makes you think we are going to murder each other!?"
"You all want to leave so bad! I mean, you should of heard the voices of your friends after the orientation! They were so sad, and sounded like they wanted out!"
"They want out, but they were crying because you murdered snowflake!"
"I didn't murder him! He attacked me. I also have another reason somepony will kill another classmate."
"Why?"
"Because..." He began. "I'll give you all a motive!"
