Ponganronpa: Harmonious Killings

I woke up to another day in this hell hole... That's six creatures... dead due to this stupid killing game.

Octavia butchered Petunia, an innocent filly with a talent for Paleontology, thinking she was Vinyl, who from her memories, was her marefriend, all worried by notes sent by Prissy and the motive and played her final swan song on her cello.

Zecora, a skilled Herbalist was slammed against a wall by a survivalist and a father. Trying to protect his kid... Snap then died hugging a bomb that was shaped like his kid...

Spike, a young 24-year-old Ambassador to all pony and dragon kind, along with being a husband, was killed in self-defense due to the Opposite Disease spread by the Monos... Sidirourgous also fell for this and went from a kind-hearted Blacksmith veteran... to a racist bitter veteran with a thirst for death to himself... What would I know anyways, I'm just an Illusionist. All I know is lies, and I'm starting to think everything here is nothing but such. So we wake up another day, it's not gonna chang-

knock knock

"Trixie is asking whos at the door."

"It's... Derpy... Vinyl asked me to get everyone who wasn't up yet for breakfast..."

"Give me a minute to get dressed."

"We don't normally wear cloth-"

"You don't, I do, that aside, thanks for getting me, Trixie feels... we need to remain positive."

"I agree... but... it seems Applejack, Twilight, and Thorax had other plans..."

'Thorax, But why?" I paused for a moment... Despite all that happened here... they didn't seem part of who'd be a shut-in.

"Well, they didn't answ-"

I burst through the door, nearly knocking Derpy back, and ran towards Thorax's room. There was no motive... But with all that's happened, It wouldn't be a surprise. We had no motive, but if Thorax didn't even respond he could be dead. I got to his room and knocked loudly on the door, only for it to slowly push open to reveal
A horrible horrible sight...
TW: Blood https://www.deviantart.com/pandaisqued/art/Ponganronpa-Chapter-4-943059898
https://www.deviantart.com/pandaisqued/art/Ponganronpa-Chapter-4-Pt2-943060044

"THORAX?!" I shouted worriedly before they opened their eyes and yawned.

"Morning, Trixie... I got stuck and bonked my head which I tried to tell Derpy.. but she flew off quicker than I could utter."
I went over to Thorax and kind of... plonked them out of the hole.
Trixie facepalmed as Thorax exited. Derpy must've not heard them...

"Thanks... I'll see you at breakfast."

"Wait - heavens to Celestia, you're bleeding!

"Shi- alright... fine, let's go then."

I walked Thorax over to the Infirmary/Nurse's Office having them hold a rag from his in-dorm-bathroom and Cross walked in.

"Thorax need something?"

"Yeah, he hit his head getting up and it's bleeding, you need some help?"

"No, I ate already and I should be good, smart having them hold a clean rag to it... Go on and eat breakfast, I'll make sure Thorax gets some food."

I wonder who I should join at Breakfast...
I took my time and arrived late... aside from The Priss, The Chaos, and The Widow... and at that point, it was just Gilda and Corriander eating together.

"Oh hey, Trix, your meals keeping warm in the heater. Go ahead and grab it." Gilda pointed with her head.

"Come come, join us in eating our Tasty Treats~!"
Gilda snorted.

"Tasty Treats?"

"It's the name of my daughter Saffron's and I's restaurant... she's-"

"I'm sorry... I didn't know."

"Bah! Nah! No need to feel so down, it is cutesy, it's what she called my dishes when she was very little, we both laugh at it... We need to keep smiling, I know you meant no harm"

The quiet noises of the kitchen eventually draw out their talking as I grab the food from the heater using an oven mitt, typically I'd use a horn mitt, but weak magic and flying means, at most, you could barely lift something, almost like our magic was reduced to that of a filly. Luckily, it wasn't too hot and I was able to get my quiche to the table and sit down. Enjoying the eggy and cheesy mixture they'd baked up.
-- I decide to hang out with Gilda and Corriander --

"Good morning, Trixie, you certainly were out cold... I'm not too sure about the other three."

"Honestly, coming from my small, not sassy side... I get why Applejack's not coming. She legit lost her former mate, and presumably, they were best friends before... But Prissy and Mr. Draco Malfoy Dracula Draconaconaquai have no excuse, they're just being bitchy or chaotic as per the fucking usual."

"They must have their reasons... but I won't say I disagree about Twilight and Discord..."

"So... what got you two into baking and cooking"

"Well, back in Griffinstone, I was always the town's go-to baker, as I'm one of the few that actually knows how to work a fucking oven, and one day some... tourists, either it was a while ago or I don't remember... came in and brought this thing called sugar, and they'd get 3 percent of our weekly sales, and in return, they sent us a month's worth of sugar... I laughed at first - but they were dead set on the deal, and to their loyalwords, the sugar came monthly after the 4th week's payment... It sounds weird that we don't have sugar but... Griffonstone ain't exactly known for nice comraderies and friendship... and even though' I'm not a pony... at that point... being the Ultimate Baker... felt like destiny, y'nknow?"

"Even as a savory cook, I can't imagine never having had sugar before... I just got my start because my mother loved to cook, and eventually, I just took over her old place and turned the upstairs into living quarters of sorts since we lost Saffron's mother... my sister, her mother, she doesn't know... Saffron was so young at the time... Barely even one..."

"That's awful Corriander... What happened if I may ask...?" Gilda asked in an oddly delicate voice for her.

"She and her husband were murdered... This whole situation feels like that all over again... Killed by the uncaught serial killer known as "Prey.""

"Prey?" Gilda cocked her head.

"Prey... as in the Prey" I gawked.
Prey is a notorious unknown masked serial killer. Not even their race is known. They marked all of their victims with the Letter P viciously carved into them around 27-29 years ago... Shortly before I was born. In their time of two years, they managed 101 victims and left no evidence behind other than The P's they left behind, and on victim 101. the blood spelled out R E Y on the wall beside the victim... Ponies were in fear while Celestia, as per usual, didn't do much other than give warnings and head everyone to stay inside. They were never caught and to this day, apart from all the world destroyers, are one of Equestria's Most Wanted.

"Yes... It's not something I typically talk about, but I trust you two."

"You... trust... me?" Gilda gawks.

"Of course, trust is the number one thing in the kitchen!"
We all sort of got to smile at the kinship of cooking, I feel like I got to know Gilda and Corriander a little better.
BING BONG BONG BING

"It's Monoluna here... and it's not a motive yet... but I am going to announce that the basement has been opened, the hidden staircase in the white room has been unhidden... Head there if you wish, or not... I don't care as long as you all eventually suffer one... by... one..."
Corriander shuddered.

"I don't know who's worse... The blatant psychopathic Monodence or the sociopathic Monoluna..." I groaned.

"They both suck donkey ass." Gilda rolled her eyes.

"Not to be blunt or anything-" The three talking ponies turned around at the voice to see Dusty and Splash.

"Dusty and I wanna go check the basement... we were going to ask you and Applejack Trixie but when we asked her..." Splash started.

"I get she's pissed but she had no right to say that to Splash," Dusty grumbled.

"What did she say?" Corriander cocked his head.
Splash rubbed his front hoof and futzed with his mane. He was about to speak before Dusty said what she'd said. The room went silent. Coriander's, Gilda's, and my mouth dropped. Before we could say anything Gilda slammed down on the table, nearly breaking it before we could give chase we heard a banging on a door and screaming. We all chased after to see Applejack standing in front of Gilda, practically emotionless as Gilda seethed, before Applejack could even talk, Gilda had picked her up and slammed her against a wall.

"How DARE, you even call Splash that. He is not an-"

"Kill me," Applejack said, emotionless.
Gildas grip slightly loosened as Gilda was taken aback.

"I'm honest, ain't I?" Applejack asked a question that got no answer.

"Well, I said the truth."

"He's not an inbred mistake and a waste of oxygen..." Dusty seethed loud enough for everyone nearby to hear.

"His parents didn't plan it, and currently we're all gonna die so we're all wasting oxygen. I said what I said, kill me and reunite me if ya please, you'll die too but quite frankly I don-"
Gilda just dropped Applejack before slamming her fist into the wall, right where she had her, damaging it as she walked away, Splash and Dusty following suit. Coriander and I just stood there glaring at her.

"Now what in Tirek are you two gaw-"

You could hear the crows swarm and caw as if this were an old cartoon somehow as the slap that knocked the Orchardist back and actually caught her off guard echoed across the halls. I stood there above her seething, my horn glowing as the other unicorn with me gasped audibly, their eyes growing shocked as I did this. I was shocked as well, I didn't think I was capable of that anymore as I slammed my front left hoof down and snorted. I stepped forward and kicked Applejack hard enough to hopefully knock some sense into her, but not hard enough to really... damage her.

It was all kind of a blur, to be honest, I hope I didn't damage my relationship with the unicorn next to me. I took a deep breath and backed away... She always said that was a good tactic to remain calm. But it would be of no help for anycreature for me to have an outburst again, I may even wind up with a target on my back. I don't think I could do that and leave her in this game alone... I couldn't. She's really opened up because of me... I couldn't do that to Gilda. On my watch, nocreature would hurt her...

Being what I do isn't just that, it's also being a leader... As I am Coriander Cumin, The Ultimate Cook, to me Gilda is my Sous-Chef and therefore I won't have her messed with. I have no qualms about hitting Applejack... And I'm going to go find my best friend in this stupid game...