I took every action I was suppose to. I stayed with Fluttershy, looked out for people that looked like they were plotting murder, everything. Even with all of this, someone managed to get killed. I was blaming myself because I thought I had stopped it, but in reality, I didn’t. There, on the ground before me, was a pony I never even knew. Derpy was dead and there was nothing I could do about it.

“How?” Bon Bon cried out from behind me, just as upset as I had been “I tried everything to make sure the murder didn’t happen, but I failed,”

Everyone looked at Bon Bon confused. “You mean you knew it was going to happen,” Gilda shouted angrily “and you didn’t tell ANY OF US,” Everyone seemed to be questioning Bon Bon right now. Was it really the right choice for her to keep it hidden? I would have said something if I had known she hadn’t told anyone about the threats, but I thought Bon Bon already told them.

“Bon Bon didn’t do it,” I said stepping up to protect her. “Early yesterday morning Fluttershy told her that she had received a threat from someone wanting to kill her. She didn’t know somepony else was going to be a victim,”

That helped a little bit but people were still very unsure. “Do you know who wrote the letter?” Doctor Whooves asked.

“I don’t know either, she just told me to keep Fluttershy and that was it,” I replied defensively. Not that I think it would help much, but I had to try to do something.

Everyone looked around, unsure of the people standing next to them. Honestly, the only two people I felt like I could trust right now was Fluttershy and Bon Bon. Fluttershy couldn’t have done it even if she tried and I trusted Bon Bon because she at least made sure to keep one pony alive. Before anyone else was able to question, we heard the sound of the loudspeaker in the room turn on and we were once again meet with the unpleasant surprise or Monokuma.

“Attention, would all students please report to the gymnasium,”

Following Monokuma’s orders, everyone headed to the gym wondering what Monokuma had to say. Everyone seemed to be keeping distance from each other, not wanting to be the next victim some how. When we entered the gymnasium, it was completely empty, making everyone wonder why we had come here. However not long after all of us had entered, Monokuma jump up onto the podium.

“So,” He started, a rather sinister tone coming from those words “I bet you are all wondering why I called you here. Of course, it shouldn’t be that much of a surprise after what you all encountered,”

“We’re here because of Derpy, Right?” Daring Do said stepping forward. “If I’m correct, then that pony gets to leave now,”

Monokuma and anyone else who read the rulebook would have immediately known that this incorrect. While it didn’t state it fully, the book mentioned something about the murder being considered the “blackened” and something like that. That was the moment I realize just what Monokuma meant earlier when he mentioned a trial. Luckily, Monokuma answered for me.

“Really? if it was that easy than why do you think they would have already left,” Monokuma pointed out. “You didn’t read the handbook did you Daring? If you did you would have known that a trial must be held in order to see who is and is not guilty,”

Everyone seemed to understand this, or at least those who read the book like they should have would know. This was more then just simply causing the murder then they had thought. If someone was to leave, then they had to commit the perfect murder. This meant causing it and getting away with it without anyone else knowing who it was.

“I’m guessing you must know who's the guilty party then,” Luna said unsure of just how fair it is.

“Hold on, I’m getting there,” Monokuma said wanting to continue. “Anyways, you will have a certain amount of time to question and search for evidence that might lead to the knowledge of who the killer is. After that you will all head to the elevator that none of you seem to have noticed near the dorms and will be taken to the small court where we will commence the class trial. If you find enough evidence to point to the blackened, then only they will receive punishment. If you fail however, then the only one who doesn’t get punished is the blackened and the rest of you will. Oh, and to answer your question, yes. That's why I have all those cameras installed around the school, to make sure this trial is as fair as possible,”

Once again, Luna spoke up “I suppose this punishment is fair as well?”

Monokuma seemed to laugh at this, whatever he had planned for punishment must have been either hilarious or really evil. “Well, considering that going easy on someone who committed murder in your world is punished by sending the pony to the sun or the moon, I don’t think that death is that bad of a punishment. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Despit his laugh, everypony seem to be trembling with this information. Honestly, he was right. It wasn’t that bad considering the alternative, if it was just the murderer, but killing everyone else if we got it wrong was worse in many ways. That being said, at least he was giving us time to find out who the murderer was, so at least he had some heart (if he had one to begin with).

“Um,” Rainbow Dash said, being the next one to ask questions “You do know that close to none of us here had ever been in a trial before right?”

“Don’t worry, don’t worry,” Monokuma said assuring her. “For those of you who aren’t experts at this like the two little princess’ are, I have something to help you start off. I give to you all, the MONOKUMA FILE,”

Just like he did with the handbags on the first day, Monokuma threw out to everyone a small folder with a piece of paper in it. I sat down and picked up the folder that read the words “Monokuma File #1” on it. Looking inside, I saw a picture of the murder site as well as some basic facts about the wound, time of murder, and other stuff.

“This here file was made to help you get the basic information you need to start on getting find out who the murder is,” Monokuma pointed out. Once again, he at least was giving us a chance. “With that, I bid you all farewell and hope you the best of luck for the class trial. See you then,” With that, Monokuma was gone... again… for the fourth time.

Bon Bon tapped me, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Cheerilee, and Daring Do over to the side for some reason. She brought us over to the edge to a corner of the gym away from the others as she started to explain.

“Listen,” Her voice urgent but calm at the same time. “The reason I brought the five of you over here was because I now none of you did it. Therefore, I think it’s best if we work together to solve this on our own terms,” We were all okay with this, and I could understand why she thought that we didn’t do it.

“First off,” I stated, confident in our group “Let’s check the Monokuma File to see what it said about the murder,”

I opened the file and read the content located inside to the others in the room.

Murder Victim: Derpy Hooves

Time of Death: Roughly 10:15 pm

Location of Murder: Kitchen

Cause of Death: Single blow to the stomach with sharp object. No organs or other external injuries found on body.

Monokuma File #1 added to Truth Bullets

The rest was just overall facts on the victim from height to age and other stuff. How did Monokuma find out all that stuff? I honestly didn’t want to know. That being said he gave use some good evidence to start off with, but now it was up to us to figure out the rest.

Knowing that most of the evidence would be at the crime scene, we made our way to the kitchen to investigate. When we arrived, we were meet with a surprise to see Gilda and Flash Sentry standing in front of the door.

“Sorry losers,” Guilda said surprisingly happy “No one’s allowed in here,”

“Why?” Was the only question that could come to my mind.

“Princess Luna and Cadance are inside investigating,” Flash explained “To make sure the crime scene is untouched, we are to allow no one in no matter what the case,” I heard Cadance yells something at Flash, but was unable to make out what it was. Luckily, I didn’t have to wait to find out. “Let me correct myself, Twilight is allowed in but the rest of you aren’t. Cadance trusts you enough to help,”

I told them to give me a minute as I turned to the group and whispered a new plan of investigation. After sometime, we came to an agreement. I would search the crime scene with Luna and Cadance sense I was allowed in, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Bon Bon would search for clues around the school, and Daring Do and Cheerilee would ask others around the school to see. After that we would meet back up here and discuss our findings with each other. Before hand, however, we each asked each other if there was anything that happened last night. While four of us were clueless, Fluttershy and Cheerilee actually had something to say.

“I don’t really know if this was related or not,” Fluttershy mention explain her possible evidence. “but I woke up to the sound of something in the ceiling last night. I don’t know if it is important, but it might help. Right?”

Cheerilee was next “Twilight,” She turned to me as she continued “You remember how I was waiting outside of the dorms last night,” I nodded “Well, the reason was so I could make sure that everyone got back to the room so I could make sure no one was in trouble. I heard that Derpy was in her room already so I just assumed she was. However, there were three ponies up and around during the time of death,”

When ask them who they were she said that Gilda, Pinkie, and Doctor Whooves was the ones that were up.

Sound in the Ceiling was added to Truth Bullets

Late arrivers was added to Truth Bullets

With this in mind we separated to do our tasks. Flash Sentry and Gilda let me through to the Kitchen to find that Luna and Cadance were already searching. Instead of asking them straight off what they found, I decided to look around and check things for myself.

One of the first things I wanted to look at was the body to see if there was anything Monokuma hadn’t put down in his report. When I got close to the body, the first thing I check was the wound. According to the Monokuma File the cause of death was a single blow to the stomach, but I wanted to see if there was anything about it that he didn’t tell us. After studying it for a few minutes, I was able to come up with a good idea on what the wound was really like.

Just like Monokuma put down, it was a single blow and that no other injuries was on the body. To be more in depth then he was, the wound was long but at the same time very thin. It didn’t seem like the pony who did it was able to clear right through the skin however, as there was no show of Derpy’s insides visible. This meant that she didn’t die instantly and was bleeding to depth before that time.

Monokuma File #1 was updated

That’s when I remembered that there was blood on the floor leading to her body. To make sure I wasn’t making that up I check behind me to see a stream of hardened blood leading to Derpy’s body. This allowed me to conclude that Derpy had not died instantly, and make another hopefully crucial discovery.

Bleed to death was added to Truth Bullets

With that in mind, I was then able to pinpoint exactly where the injury had occurred, but wondered how they had managed to sneak up behind Derpy. Wouldn’t she have known somepony was coming from the sound of their hooves behind her. It seemed strange that there was no sign of struggle in the room.

“Look up,” Luna requested from behind me. Doing as she told I was able to realize that there was a hole in the ceiling. “Strange isn’t it?”

I had to agree, it seemed strange that there was a hole in the ceiling. It may of been how Derpy got caught by surprise before her death. Still, it didn’t seem possible that a pony was able to get up into the ceiling at all. Where would they have been able to get up their?

Ceiling Hole was added to Truth Bullets

With that being said, I went back to the body one last time to make sure I didn’t miss anything. When it was clear that there was nothing left, I decided to check around to see if there was anything else noteworthy at the scene of the crime. When I couldn’t find much else to look for, I decided to question Luna and Cadance about anything they found.

“Well,” Cadance said when asked if she found anything. She was looking around the sink area for a possible murder weapon that could have caused it. “I think I may have found the murder weapon. It’s used for cutting, and is sharp enough to pierce the skin meaning that any of the knifes in this kitchen could have easily been the murder weapon as well”

She pointed at a wet knife that was in the sink. It didn’t seem to have any blood on it, but given its location it was safe to assume some had washed it.

Washed knife was added to Truth Bullets

“Now that I think of it,” I said, suddenly realizing something. “Why was Derpy in the kitchen in the first place?”

“From what I heard she loved muffins,” Cadance said “I remember that she and Pinkie made some yesterday and put them in the fridge. It’s possible she came in here to quickly get one before heading off to bed last night,”

Muffins was added to Truth Bullets… apparently

Getting nothing new out of Luna I made my way out of the kitchen. As I exited, I saw that the others had returned from the investigations already. We decided to discuss in Bon Bon’s room what we had found out. I told them what I had saw and they then took their turns telling me what they found out. Saddly, Cheerilee and Daring Do had come up empty with their side of it, not here anything more then “I was asleep” from everyone at the time. The others, though, had made a notable discoveries on their investigation of the school.

“Only one thing was really worth noticing,” Rainbow Dash said “We found that one of the washers had been running all night,”

“And why do you think that this had to do with the murder?” Daring Do said, confused as to why she thought something like that was actual evidence.

“Who ever did it must have been hiding something doing with her murder,” Bon Bon explained “It might have gotten on to an article of clothing or an item of value they keep with them. Of course we could have just found nothing, but it's can be little pieces of evidence like that which can be the difference between finding the truth and being falsely accused,”

Running washer was added to Truth Bullets

Just as Bon Bon finished, we heard the sound of the monitor turn on. After the usual short jingle, Monokuma appeared.

“Investigation time is now over, all students please report to the elevator and be ready to start the first class trial,”

We made our way over to the giant elevator like Monokuma had instructed us. Everyone tense as we hoped that our efforts would be enough to keep us safe. When we arrived, we found that the party from the kitchen was already there, waiting for everyone to arrive. Once everyone had, we watched as the giant gate slow open to the elevator on the other side. Everyone climbed in and we started our descent down. I took one last look at Fluttershy (who had come to my side) and she gave me a confident nod.

“Let’s do this,” She said as the elevator stopped and we saw another giant metal gate open to a circular room, Monokuma was waiting on the side opposite from us all in a throne.

“Please come in and find your place,” Monokuma requested of us, pointing to the round railings the curved in and out in the middle of the room. “The trial will commence momentarily,”

We all obeyed and found our spot, mine right next to Trixie (on the left) and Daring Do (on my right). Feeling confident about the evidence I had gather, I knew I had a chance in finding the culprit being the murder. This is our only chance to survive now, the class trial has begun.

Author's Note

and so, we find ourselves about to enter the first trial of the game. I know this game isn't that well known here in the U.S. but I'm going to keep writing this because of how much fun I did writing the first three chapters of it. That being said I will be uploading the class trial before the second Life of Stardust chapter. So, who do you think kill Derpy? Write in the comment section who you think it is and anything that could make this story better. Also leave a like and you might as well follow me to stay updated on all my fan fics if you like them. See ya!