Author's Note

TWs for this episode
Suicidic Themes, Typical danganronpa stuff

Chapter 5: Circle of Life; DaL 1

I woke up... This nightmare wasn't over... Sunny... who we found first, had killed Corriander - who we found later on, and the youngest of us alive had witnessed it... He ensured we could figure out a case... and was executed for "his crimes."
It's odd to think about it, the previous two "blackened" killed in self-defense. Sidirourgos, or Sid as everyone called him was hypnotized by the motive and had to defend himself from a fight gone too far, albeit a fight he started... Splash didn't kill maliciously either... However - Octavia... and Snap... Why am I even thinking about this... I just need to get up. I am great. I am powerful... I'm the Ultimate Illusionist...
**Knock Knock Knock**

"Trixie?"
Why can't I get up, why don't I want to...

"TRIXIE!"
I stumbled out of bed, hearing one meek voice and one boisterous voice outside. To my surprise, the meek voice was that of Dusty, who looked tired, hadn't put her makeup in, and just stared at the ground. The louder voice was that of Vinyl who normally didn't talk much.

"Breakfast is ready..." Dusty said in a quiet voice, her head not even bothering to look at me. Vinyl rushed into my room and pushed me out and into the kitchen only to hear bickering.

"PRINCESS GET OUT OF HIS KITCHEN!"

"I know how to cook - and I don't trust you on your own, you griffins are always so temperamental!" Twilight stamped her hoof.

"I don't care - not your kitchen - get out!" With a mighty roar, Gilda picked up Twilight and threw her out of the kitchen window and she slammed against a table, for a second everyone panicked thinking she might've just up and died - but to some's chagrin, Twilight grumbled, got herself up and limped out of the cafeteria, Cross, and Quibble squabbling close behind her.

"So... what's for breakfast?" Discord asked nonchalantly.
This got some glares but Gilda dusted herself off.

"Griffin scones, and curry with a sunny side egg on top, have complaints? Starve."
I took my plate without much complaints. I looked at the tables, nobody was sitting next to each other, save Vinyl Thorax and Discord. Everyone else looked sad and alone... It was a bold decision but I decided to sit next t-

"What in tarnation do you want, Trixie?" She asked, nonchalantly and bluntly at me.

"Can I not sit next to you?" I asked.

"Ya could, but ah'll probably leave if ya do," Applejack responded.

"Then Trixie shall stand and eat."

"... What. Do. Yew. Want?"

"Are you OK?"

"Wh-"

"Your husband got drawn and quartered, nobody ever asked you if you were ok... Trixie is - Trix - I'm sorry that I never did..."

"..." She paused after her silence. "Just stan' there eat and be quiet... Thank you very much."
That last part sounded blunt... I hope I'm not intruding too much... but it's nice to talk to Applejack again. I hope she feels the same... If I lost Starlight... would I'd be the same way? It's hard to feel Great and Powerful all the time, especially in a situation like this - but... I wouldn't know how it feels. I can't even imagine it...

"Applejack, after this-"

"Ah appreciate yer kindness, sugar, but it's best ya' just don't fer right now... I don't trust myself with any kind of future motive.. Ah just can't hurt anybody close to me... Stay away. Or else I'll make it an easy trial for everypony... Please..."
Applejack left the cafeteria after whipping me lightly with her tail.
If this is her way of protecting me... I also feel threatened... I don't - Trixie feels... like she wished she spent more time with her... Maybe it'd be different... maybe it'd be-
BING BONG BONG BING

"It's your favorite killing game host here... Monodence here to announce to come to your brand newly refurbished gymnasium... for the motive!"
A chill silence fell over those still in the cafeteria...

"Well, we must not waste any time, let's get this over with." Gilda nodded.

"But it seems so soon!" Thorax worriedly said.

"That must be part of the motive.... how chaotic." Discord chuckled, his nerves echoing through his laughs.

"Come on. Let's just get this stupid shit over with." Vinyl grunted.
We all walked somewhat single file line to the gymnasium Applejack was already inside and Cross, Quibble, and Twilight following close behind us. Once everyone was inside the doors suddenly slammed shut and locked.

"Celestia fucking damn it-" Twilight muttered.
Monodence appeared on the stage that's weirdly in most school gymnasiums and grinned as she pressed a button and three things slowly lowered. The replenishing fridge. A box of sleeping gear. A giant box of weapons.
WAIT WH-

"Your motive is simple. Kill someone in front of everyone else - for every day you don't kill the motive gets more tempting... Today's motive is such - you'll go to trial but everyone's memories aside from yours will be WIPED that this happened.

"Psh - not even I'd take that one. I could still die. No, thank you," Twilight rolled her eyes.

"Fer once, ah agree with Princess Pissyhooves over there." Applejack grunted.

"Hey, you should respect her, she keeps it real Ms Honesty!" Quibble retorted.

"YOU should stop sucking off her damn dick, Quibble." Applejack retorted back before we heard a gunshot.
We all jumped and looked around to see Dusty struggling to hold a gun with her magic. Nobody was dead but a bullet fell to the ground shortly after.

"I'm not letting Splash die in vain... This is WHAT they want. If I hear any more arguing I swear to god I'll shoot myself and make you all forget this.
This shut them up, Twilight began to speak but then Discord clonked her on the head. Finally, Monodence spoke up.

"Unicorns have regained enough magic to hold certain weapons, pegasai have enough flight to dodge certain weapons. Discord you still lack magic because... duh and obviously you still can't teleport... You must also all sit in a circle equidistant from each other until one goes to eat, grab their sleeping bags, or a weapon. If you grab a weapon you may use it for self-defense and don't have to use it immediately, but you may only go up to the boxes one at a time. Rule breakers will be punished with the loss of a limb of choice."

Twilight immediately dashed and grabbed a shotgun as soon as Dusty went back to "her spot." with her shotgun. Twilight went back to "her spot" and Dusty calmly went back, grabbed some food and a sleeping bag and sat on her sleeping bag, and glared a gare so cold around the room you would've thought her to be a Wendigo. By the nighttime announcement, I was horrified to find only Cross, myself, and Thorax hadn't gotten a weapon. Everyone else had a knife, or a type of gun, Discord had nunchucks somehow and Vinyl simply had a razor.

"Trixie is appalled at all of you."

"Don't act so high and mighty Trixie, we're trying to defend ourselves... What're you trying to do, look better in a situation like this? You're awfully and I'm surprised with how you've led some cases that you weren't murdered to make cases easier to get away with."

"Unlikeable pot can call the kettle unlikeable grey all they want, sugar, but Trixie has at least tried to be kind as she could while she's been here. What'd you do other than incite Snap to commit a murder." Applejack shot coldly.
Quibble shut right up mumbling something under his breath before finally the nighttime announcement hit and the lights shut off. Dusty, Vinyl, and I lit up our horns in case somecreature tried something in the middle of the night... We hoped nobody would be dead by morning.