DANGAN RONPA Equestria: The Elements of Hope and Despair!

by Nyte-Blade

Ch.2 Class Trial Part 3

“Monobear... Get Twist in here!”

If I’m right, Monobear would actually comply...

“Uu~pupupu~ You’re quite callous...”

...or not...

“You... you...!” I knew Truffle would be set off... but this is for everypony’s sake. “You fool! How dare you suspect Twist!?”

“Seriously?! Shady, are you insane!?” Snails widened his eyes.

“What’s your basis for this? It’s mighty cruel to pin the crime on somepony who’s injured.” Ginger said.

“Heh, normally I’m willin’ to back you up, but if you ain’t got any proof, then you’re just bein’ a dick.” Grace added.

“You can thank the Crusaders for this one.” I said.

“What!?” Truffle made a quick glare at the crusaders, then back to me.

“Apple Bloom, your words throughout this trial got me to believe you three were defending her.” I answered.

“W-w... you don’t know a darn thing! What the hay you on about!?” Apple Bloom demanded, her southern accent growing more panicked by the minute.

“Yeah! Twist was hurt!” Sweetie Belle followed up.

“You’re right, she was hurt... and that’s precisely why she’s the culprit. You said it yourself, Apple Bloom; It’s impossible to use that brick as a weapon without getting hurt.”

“But a pegasus like Rumble-” I knew what Sweetie Belle was gonna say, and I had to shoot that down.

“That falls flat too. If a pegasus was responsible, they’d be seen flying away by the rest of us. The only way this murder could’ve been committed is if the culprit remained on ground-level the whole time to avoid being seen. Yet, in Twist’s case, she did get hurt, which in itself is a very solid alibi. This whole time, we thought of Twist as the victim, but we never considered the possibility that when she went to check on Dinky, she did commit the murder.”

“You can’t prove she did it though! There’s no evidence! It makes no sense!” Truffle desperately pleaded.

“Come on, you saw it too... this morning when the Harvester suddenly moved? I know you were there with Twist. I meant what I said when you should be thanking Apple Bloom for this new train of thought. She said that brick held the brakes in place. How else did it end up wrecked along with the barn?!”

“You’re really gonna need more than that to prove she did it...” Ginger sighed.

“So hey, murder-suicide’s a thing, ya know!” Pip blurted out.

“!” Scootaloo made a disgruntled gasp.

Scootaloo’s reaction just now... I see. I think she knew...

“Murder-suicide!? Pip you gotta be referencing horror stories again, huh?” Snails was surprised.

“Actually, I’m pretty sure he might be on to something here. In fact, it seems more likely given the circumstances and setup...” I answered, backing up Pip’s sudden claim.

“I wasn’t really saying that’s what happened, but it sure sounds like what Shady was getting at, ya know?” Pip partially denied. “I’m just thinking it’s a bit... weird, ya know? Twist was bleeding from her head and burned on the back, so-”

“WHY!? WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY?! Why would she want to kill herself?! Why why why why?! I don’t get it! You idiots! She may be shy, but she’d never want to-”

“Kill herself? We’ll know once we get her in here. Monobear?” Rumble turned his attention to the bear.

“Uu~pupupu~ Wow, didn’t think you all were heartless!” Monobear giggled.

“Whaddya mean?!” Truffle asked.

“Didn’t you forget? She’s hurt! If I got her in here, you wouldn’t want her to come in kicking and screaming, right? That’d get annoying really fast!” Monobear said.

“Yeah!” Truffle agreed... though most likely out of desperation.

“Ah’ can’t see’er bein’ the culprit! Ain’t no way! The culprit tried to kill her too! If she really tried to kill’er self like yer sayin’, she’d have only one injury!”

“Alright, if we can present enough evidence to connect her to the crime, then you get your guards to bring her here. Sounds like a good deal, right?” I asked. Knowing Monobear, he’d have to comply.

“Shady! You’re gambling with somepony’s life! That’s just too cruel!” Sweetie Belle seethed.

“We’re already gambling our lives, Sweetie Belle. If we’re wrong, we’re all dead.” I reminded.

“Just so you know, there IS evidence to support the murder-suicide theory. In addition, she may have simply let her injury act as an alibi.” Silver Spoon followed up.

“Then you’re gonna have to get through me! I’m not letting you hurt Twist anymore! NEVER EVER!”

“Hmph! Fatty’s so desperate! I’m a little let down it wasn’t those three, but Sil’s right. There’s pleeeeeeeeenty of evidence to support Twist being the culprit, and those blank flanks were in on it!”

“You sure you’re not being biased again?” Snails asked. “Besides, I’m... wondering, even if she did do it, how would you even explain her head injury? She can’t have hit herself that bad!”

“WHY WOULD WE HELP SOMEPONY KILL HERSELF?! What did we ever do to deserve that accusation!?” Sweetie Belle cried out.

“Should’ve never asked me to burn the motives...” Scootaloo said in the harshest tone possible.

“Alright Scoots, that’s it! We’re tryin’ to help you and yet you’re tryin’ to push us away! Why?! Take that hood off and talk to us!” Apple Bloom seethed.

“Because all you care about is your cutie mark... that’s why we burned the motives to begin with.”

“We were just tryin’ to help somepony!” Apple Bloom argued.

“Tsk tsk tsk...” Rumble shook his head, then let out a disappointed sigh. “You girls... I’m saddened. But your behavior and words throughout this whole trial... tells me you three were just pawns in the culprit’s plan and I’m sure Scootaloo was smart enough to figure it out.”

“If Scootaloo knew, why’d she help us anyway!? Why didn’t she stop us?!” Apple Bloom seethed. “Ah’ refuse to believe Twist would just use us to kill somepony!”

“Because she’s better off dead.” Scootaloo answered.

“Eh...?” Sweetie Belle was taken aback.

“You wanted her to join the Cutie Mark Crusaders just because you felt bad for not talking to her for a while.”

“What, yer jealous or somethin?! That’s stupid! Nopony was gonna repla-” Apple Bloom argued.

“I DIDN’T SAY REPLACEMENT.” Scootaloo curtly said after an audible slam on the stand.

“Stop it! STOP THIS ARGUING! Don’t you see!? This stupid game’s tearing us apart! I don’t want that! Stop it now!”

“And there we-”

“Don’t you dare, Rumble! I know what you’re gonna say! I won’t let you destroy our friendship like you did with Snips and Snails! No! Never!” Sweetie Belle hissed.

“On the contrary, I don’t have to. Scootaloo’s doing a perfectly fine job of that. I have no need to drop a pipe bomb on you three as a result. However, I can avenge your broken friendship... for seeing the damage on your bond is beginning to become the iron maiden that encloses my heart.” Rumble put a hoof to his chest. His eyes looked regretful, almost as if he were going to cry at any moment. “It’s the least I can do to atone for not wording my statements more carefully.”

“No need. I prefer to thank you.” Scootaloo gave Rumble a sinister smirk.

“You idiots... you three have made this trial all about you! Nopony cares about your stupid infighting right now! Besides, it’s your fault that everypony’s beginning to suspect Twist! You say she came to you for help so that I wouldn’t kill her, right!? Why would she kill herself just for that!? ANSWER ME!” Truffle roared.

His eyes are starting to become bloodshot...

“C-calm down! We were jus-” Apple Bloom nervously said, with her hooves matching the ‘calm down’ gesture.

“I will not! Not until I get answers!”

Evidence Bullets:
-Broken Lighter
-Combine Harvester
-Monobear File

Truffle Shuffle: Why would she kill herself?! How would she kill herself!?

Truffle Shuffle: She tore my motive away and gave it to you!

Truffle Shuffle: And then you burned it, right?! That’s what you said!

Scootaloo: That’s right.

Truffle Shuffle: THEN WHY?!

Ginger Snap: Nopony can answer, but the way the murder happened...

Sweetie Belle: Twist was burned on her back and injured on the head!

Sweetie Belle: How could she have done it!?

Snails: Sweetie Belle has a point... I don’t see why Twist would need to go so far...

Apple Bloom: Ah’ can’t see it either! Ol’ Shady’s gone nuts!

Truffle Shuffle: That’s right!

Truffle Shuffle: Dinky was burned to death, or maybe she was hit with the brick...

Truffle Shuffle: but how could Twist do it if she was knocked out!?

At least the facts are straight...

“You... You agree!? With what?!” Truffle asked.

“About Dinky’s death. It’s all according to the Monobear File after all. You’re right that it never outright stated the cause of death.”

“THEN WHY DO YOU KEEP SUSPECTING TWIST?!”

“Because in every scenario, Twist could’ve pulled it off. If the victim burned to death, then it’s because Twist set off the bombs. If the victim was killed via blunt force, Twist could’ve used the brick, but got injured trying to clean up her mess.” I answered.

“No matter how you would try to spin this story, Twist is the culprit... I’m certain of that. Everything adds up when you remember one key element that I’m sure the crusaders would know.” Rumble added.

“Then they’re the culprits, not Twist! They roped her into their scheme and...!” Truffle frantically denied.

“Guess having a criminally deranged girlfriend is your dream...” Scootaloo muttered.

“She’s not crazy! I’m crazy! I’m criminally insane, not Twist! Stop suspecting her! What if I am the culprit?! You’ll stop suspecting Twist then, right?! I DID IT!” Truffle shouted, pounding his chest

“Whoa, he admitted it!” Snails widened his eyes in shock.

“Lemmie at’em!” Grace prepared to punch Truffle.

“Don’t be a fool, you two. He’s just trying to redirect suspicion. A futile attempt I may add.” Silver Spoon sighed.

“Hmph. You’re both idiots, really. Both you and that mare of yours. But hey, if you value Twist so much, let her defend herself! I’m sure she’s a strong mare like you think, ri~ght?” Diamond Tiara impishly smiled, requesting in her condescending tone.

“Monobear, let Twist defend herself. She’s not dead, so she needs to participate along with the rest of us!” I shouted.

“Hmmmmmm...” Monobear pondered, rolling over to his side, then sitting up and crossing his leg in a thinking pose...

And then turned his back to us and pondered... and then a handstand... then laid on his side... then random push-ups...

Okay, this is getting stupid.

“MONOBEAR!” I shouted.

“Geez, so impatient! I was just trying to stretch!~ Even bears need to exercise!”

“What the heck was the thinking poses then?!” Tiara seethed.

“Thinking about my exercise regimen for tonight!”

........

... is it wrong that I somehow get what he means...?

“Fine, fine, I’ll get her here!” With a double clap of his paws, Monobear summoned the Monoguards to the trial room. He then turns his attention to our teacher in the dog suit, then pulled out a picture of Twist, shoving it against her nose.

“Oh crap...” Pip said, shocked at Monobear’s actions.

“Got a good whiff? Go get her, girl!”

With those words, the Monoguards abduct Miss Cheerilee and take her out through the roof!

Ah... suddenly I’m regretting my decision to bring Twist here...

No backing out now though.

“WHY’D YOU MAKE MISS CHEERILEE DO IT?!” Truffle screamed, unable to hold back his tears this time.

“Don’t you watch crime TV shows? Police always get their dogs to hunt down the culprits! Don’t worry, your dog will have your culprit soon enough!”

“Shady, I think this was a really bad idea, ya know...” Pipsqueak scratched the back of his head.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be okay with this...” Silver Spoon sighed.

“You stupid bear! Just use the guards! What makes you think Miss Cheerilee will even do it?!” Tiara hissed.

“You bastards wanted Twist in here, not me! And since you nicely asked your benevolent king, I decided to honor your request!” Monobear reminded. “You should be glad!”

“I never wanted this! This is too cruel!” Sweetie Belle cried. “And you all should be ashamed!”

“Can’t we stop this?!” Apple Bloom angrily asked.

Her anguish directed mainly at me, since I directed suspicion on Twist to begin with...

But I can’t turn away from the truth. We may have to endure more despair, but I won’t turn away from the truth.

Soon enough, after a few minutes, Miss Cheerilee is returned to the trial room with an injured Twist in her arms. The guards are using their metallic hooves to force our teacher into holding Twist in place.

Once the white mare with the curly red mane took her place at her stand, Truffle’s lips quivered as he saw the fear in the eyes of the mare his heart yearns for. Miss Cheerilee however, was returned to her stand, sobbing at what she was forced to do to her own student.

Monobear even sighed in annoyance hearing the artificial dog whines. “I should’ve tweaked the noises a bit.”

Twist looked just like she did at the crime scene; injured with burns on her back and with the bandages on her head to indicate her head injury.

“Shady, this is a bit much, right? Like, let her defend herself, then we can just let her go back and heal, right?” Snails hesitantly asked.

I didn’t like how Twist was brought in, but she’s here now. I need to hear her testimony.

“Twist... we got you in here because we think you killed Dinky Doo. We want to hear your side of the story.”

“We?” Apple Bloom directed her glare at me.

“You sound like a reporter getting his next big scoop... is that all this is to you? Dinky really shouldn’t trust you bullies from the media.” Scootaloo calmly said.

“Scootaloo, you know damn well this isn’t just some scoop for me!”

“Can’t you see she’s hurt?! Ah’ knew even gettin’ curious was bad! We gotta let her finish healin’!” Apple Bloom demanded.

“Not until we hear what she has to say!” I retorted.

“Well? We’re all ears.” Rumble dropped his smile the moment he asked.

“Yeah, tell us!” Tiara demanded.

“I... I was attacked by somepony...”

“So you didn’t hurt yourself on the harvester!?” Pip asked.

“N-no! Why would I even go to the harvester!? I just wanted to see if Dinky was okay! She tried to kill her after all!” Twist pointed her hoof my way.

“S-she’s right! She had every right to see if you had done anything!” Sweetie Belle followed up.

“I never got to the barn by the time I was stopped.” I reminded.

“I can attest to that one and so can you, Sweetie Belle.” Ginger added.

You should know that better than anypony. You’re sounding desperate, Sweetie Belle...

Evidence Bullets:
-Broken Lighter
-Combine Harvester
-Dynamite
-Monobear File
-Bloodstained Brick

Twist: I told Ginger that I wanted to ch-check up on Dinky...

Twist: When I went in there...

Twist: I was attacked with a blunt object...

Twist: When I came to, the fuse was set and the harvester had broken in...

Twist: The harvester rammed me just as the explosives went off...!

Twist: So... why am I here...?!

Twist: It hurts... WHY AM I STILL HERE?!

Twist: IT HURTS IT HURTS IT HURTS IT HURTS!!

Twist: AAAAAAGH!

Sweetie Belle: .........

Rumble: You’re here because we think you killed Dinky, that’s all.

Apple Bloom: .......................

Twist: But the culprit attacked me! I was dazed...!

Diamond Tiara: Should’ve never talked to those blank flanks.

Scootaloo: ...............

Truffle Shuffle: LAY OFF OF TWIST! I was the one who knocked her out! I hurt Twist!

Snails: Uh, weren’t you in such hard denial earlier...?

Pipsqueak: We can let her finish recovering, right? I already feel a little bad doing this, ya know.

Twist... it’s over. Just stop it.

“Eh...?” Twist widened her eyes.

“You’re wrong Twist. There’s just so much wrong with that alibi now... but one part stood out.” I started. “You said ‘the harvester had suddenly broken in’... but yet you never noticed anything. It’s as if you had your back turned. You said you were knocked unconscious with the brick, but that’s impossible! If that were the case, you should’ve heard the harvester move the second it was lifted from the brake!”

“AAAAAAAAGH! It hurts it hurts it hurts!” Twist grabbed her head, trembling with each shot fired.

“STOP IT!” Truffle demanded.

No, I’m not gonna stop.

“Shady’s right, but there is one problem...” Silver Spoon began.

“Huh?”

“Suppose if we are going with the murder-suicide theory...” Silver Spoon carried on, “how did Twist receive her head injury? We’ve yet to tackle this issue. I’m sure that she’d have to be abnormally fast to strike herself and the victim. How do you propose that would be possible?”

“That’s also a good point... I mean, we’re already pretty mean suspecting her, and I feel worse getting her out of... wherever she was!” Snails added.

“That means there was another culprit! ME! HA!” Truffle boasted.

He thinks he’s already won, but I have two bullets left that just came to mind...

“What if Dinky did it?”

“Huh...?” Sweetie Belle opened her eyes suddenly.

“N-no... no!” Twist shrieked.

“You’re saying Dinky regained consciousness...?” Pip asked worriedly.

“Well...” Ginger trailed off. “When I kicked Dinky into that wooden post, I didn’t do it with killing intent. I just wanted to subdue her. And besides, It’s just like with Featherweight. Can’t Grace Lightning attest to this? Hmm?” Ginger asked.

“Gah, you’re makin’ me feel bad! Damn it all!” Grace clicked her tongue, then let out a sigh of defeat. “But yeah, coulda sworn we established that guy was conscious after I kicked him.”

Featherweight...

“So you propose that Dinky herself was the one to wake up and attack Twist... perhaps because she saw her lighting the dynamite?” Rumble asked. “Sounds good. In fact, I think this works out, and it’d explain why we have a bloodstained brick.”

“I thought Dinky died due to blunt force!” Truffle insisted. “You’re saying that the explosion killed her?!”

“Well, of course. Otherwise this theory wouldn’t work! I’ve been thinking it too actually!” Rumble followed up. “Think of it this way: You wake up alone in a dark place to find somepony planning to blow you up... what would you do?”

“Kick their asses to Tartarus and back, that’s what!” Grace happily answered.

“As would anypony. A perfectly valid self-defense option.” Rumble backed her up.

“Hmph! I coulda said all of that! Dinky could’ve used her magic to lift the brick from a distance too as long as she had sight of it!” Tiara said, twirling her mane.

“Oh, so my hole is useful again! Whoo hoo!” Pip cheered.

“OH MY GOD.” Snails groaned.

I’m not gonna think about what went on in his head just now...

“YOU CAN’T PROVE IT! Even if Dinky woke up, that means Dinky could’ve been the one to kill herself and Twist nearly died! You can’t prove it was the other way around!”

“Goddamn it, Fatass! First you were on the Fangirl’s ass, then on your own ass, now you’re on that momma’s girl’s ass! Make up your goddamn mind!” Grace chided.

“Dinky definitely blew herself up! She had the lighter and set it off by accident!”

“Never thought I’d agree with the fatty, but he’s got a point. You remember how her mom is, right?” Tiara followed up.

“Now that’s just low blow, ya know?” Pip commented.

“Actually, I can prove otherwise.” I said, putting my left hoof into my pocket to take out the broken lighter.

“T-That’s just the lighter that Dinky could’ve used to blow herself up!” Truffle said.

“Yep... and if Twist held this lighter and was injured by Dinky in the process... then there should be a bloodstain if I activate the the Luminol Bubble.”

“Then Dinky held it and Twist struck her trying to defend herself!”

Defend herself from what? The whole crime scene would’ve been entirely different if that were the case.

“No... there’s nothing on it!” Twist hesitantly said, but the way her lips tremble says a lot.

“STOP CHEATING AND USE REAL EVIDENCE!” Truffle demanded.

“Permission granted! Uu~pupupu~”

If there’s blood on here... we win.

If there’s no blood on here, we lose...

Either way, Monobear gets some form of satisfaction from this gamble.

But I have to do it!

I hold out my left hoof, open the menu, and activate the Luminol Bubble, enveloping the trial room in a dark green tint...

To my left, I can see Twist’s head injury, but that’s not my focus. My focus should be on that lighter.

I open my eyes... and...

YES! There’s blood on the lighter, just as I hoped!

“Ah... AH...! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!” Truffle cried in defeat, slumping to his knees.

“So... you were right...” Sweetie Belle admitted.

“Hmph. Talk about decisive evidence.” Tiara folded her forearms.

“That blood can only belong to the one that held the lighter, all because that pony was struck with a blunt object... talk about luck!” Rumble said.

“Err, you sure it wasn’t because Scootaloo transferred her bad luck or something like that?” Snails asked, only to feel Scootaloo staring daggers into him. “M-maybe not...”

“This is kinda hard to take in, ya know?” Pip sighed.

I deactivated the bubble.

Rumble sighed, then focused on Twist. “There you have it; decisive evidence... and to think this would’ve never happened if you had succeeded in convincing Truffle to not read his motive. That’s what drove you mad, yes?”

“Rumble...?” Truffle looked at the dark gray-coated pegasus with eyes of anxiousness...

“Come now, aren’t you the least bit disappointed? Twist claimed that she didn’t want you to kill anypony, yet she’s a murderer, all because of your motive! You’re a failure of a friend, and she is no different.”

He’s doing that “pipebomb” thing again!

“Rumble, stop!” I demanded.

“Let him.” Scootaloo said, much to the surprise of her friends.

“W-why!?”

Rumble continued his lecture, “Twist basically talked about you behind your back... she probably told them that you’ve been a bad boyfriend.”

“Ah... wha...!”

“I NEVER SAID THAT ABOUT HIM!” Twist vehemently denied. “Please, believe me!”

“Are you sure? Why didn’t you successfully convince him to not read his motive? Why did you let him? Why go through all of this? And worst of all, why would you let the darkness within take over when Miss Cheerilee was brought up?”

“......”

“Truffle, I didn’t say anything to those three! You have to believe me!”

“You did. It’s pretty obvious. You told us he might kill you, so you took away the motive before he could read it. That sounded so fishy, but I kept silent... because I thought he came off as a creepy stallion anyway.” Scootaloo said.

“Twist... but it... it adds up...!” Truffle averted his eyes from Twist.

“And Truffle... why did you act as if Miss Cheerilee was more important to you than Twist? You’re both friends now, so I think saying this much is fine. I don’t understand things such as love... so care to enlighten me?”

“But... how can I... I’m... I’m a failure... I was never fit... for Twist.”

“YOU’RE WRONG!”

“No, he’s right! I’M A FAILURE! I should’ve never read that motive!”

No... damn it, Rumble! It’s happening AGAIN!?

I have to stop this. I’ll listen first, then end it with evidence...

SINKING FRIENDSHIP BATTLE

Twist: Don’t listen to them!

Truffle Shuffle: But I saw you go to the CMC anyway! I overlooked it but...

Twist: I only wanted their help!

Truffle Shuffle: To keep me from killing you!?

Twist: I never said that!

Truffle Shuffle: Then why!? WHY?!

Twist: Your motive had details about our relationship!

Truffle Shuffle: But I told you that Miss Cheerilee’s like the mother I always wanted!

Twist: And I apologized for that, but I remember what I did to you...! I just wanna die!

Truffle Shuffle: You don’t need to die! You could’ve just killed me if you were so scared of me!

Twist: I could never kill you! I will never kill you!

Truffle Shuffle: Then why would you do this!? Why even say I’d kill you when I never would!?

Twist: Because you have every right to!

Truffle Shuffle: I don’t get it!

Twist: It’s better you don’t know! I’m just a danger to you! I can’t keep living and making you miserable!

Truffle Shuffle: What are you talking about!?

Twist: It’s better that you don’t know! That’s why I had the CMC get rid of it!

Truffle Shuffle: I don’t get it! You didn’t need to drag them into our problems!

Twist: What should I have done?!

Truffle Shuffle: STOP RUNNING AWAY FROM ME!

Loaded Bullet: Dinky Doo’s Motive.

“Stop it.” I requested. “Twist, he’s right. You didn’t need to involve the CMC. And you damn sure didn’t need to involve the victim.”

And you didn’t need to involve me either.

“You...! THIS IS YOUR FAULT! You wrote that paper! You reporters...! You made me look like a monster! You just wanted revenge on Dinky, right?! You always want revenge! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT!”

“I don’t even know what you’re talking about, but that may explain why I was the perfect distraction.” I sighed.

“Yeah, I'm gonna remove the clothing on this mare’s secret.” Scootaloo rose her head.

“Sheesh, what the heck’s with the metaphors?” Snails asked.

“Don’t say it! You know nothing! NOTHING!” Twist’s eyes suddenly became bloodshot.

“She thought he was cheating on her with the teach apparently... which resulted in a case of domestic violence. Fa~ntastic.” Scootaloo answered.

“Stop talking! Just stop it!” Twist demanded, covering her ears.

But with the way Scootaloo is now, I can't see her stopping.

“Then Dinky butted in our plans and snagged Truffle Shuffle’s motive and looked at it. She started saying things like, ‘oh wow, you probably had a good reason to hit him, huh? Good job’!”

“Domestic violence?” Snails asked.

“Looks like the motive really WAS designed to make Truffle kill Twist. She was telling the truth, but the article gave birth to a level of shame that words can’t describe.” Rumble said.

“Shut up... Shut up...! You’re just as much at fault!” Twist seethed at Rumble, but of course, he didn’t drop his cold smirk.

“Ah... Twist, hurt me? hahaha.... sure, she had her moments, but... sh... she’d never hurt me. I even felt unworthy, and she just denied how much she’d hurt me... so... well...” Truffle nervously trailed off.

“You probably lost your memory because of it.” I said.

“I’d remember if Twist attacked me!” Truffle slammed his hooves on the stand, then held his head in anguish.

“Truffle, read this last part.”

I showed him the very article he gave me... or what was left of it.

--immediate surgery to close the wounds found on the victim’s head.

Upon recovery, the victim seems to have lost his memory about the incident.

Twist promptly snatched it, balled it up, threw it on the ground and furiously stomped on it to the point where the paper began to wear and tear.

“YOU...! WHY DID YOU WRITE THIS STORY?!” Twist glared with her teary bloodshot eyes.

“Twist...”

“That... I don’t know what to say... that implies a little too much if you knew about this all along, ya know...” Pipsqueak put a hoof to his chin, “Maybe that’s why she always acted standoff-ish around Truffle, ya know?”

“Uu~pupupu... the bastards are right! You need a better taste in girls! Unless yanderes are your thing! They’re quite devoted if you’re willing to pay with everyone else’s lives!”

“What the heck do you mean!? And what the heck is a yandere!?” Truffle was more confused by that last part...

As am I.

“I could explain it ya know...” Pip looked away, hiding his obvious desire to ramble about it.

Suddenly, Monobear hopped on Truffle’s head, knocking him down to his chest.

“BEHOLD, THE SHOCKING SCAR OF TRUTH!” Monobear declared as he pulled Truffle’s mane apart, exposing a part of his head that revealed a particularly nasty scar, held together by stitches...

“G-get off of me! HEY!” Truffle struggled. “W-what?! Why isn’t anypony getting him off?!”

“Can’t put our hooves on the king! It’s in the rules, remember? Hmph!” Tiara reminded.

“It’s a pity... turns out you were perhaps in a poisonous relationship.” Silver Spoon sighed. “It’s probably for the best that family business keeps me from seeking a relationship with anypony.”

“I’ve never had to stitch wounds that bad before...” Ginger looked away in disgust. “Makes me wonder when this happened?”

“Those two have been silent for a while, huh?” Pip’s eyes were filled with an ambiguous worry for Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle.

Even though Scootaloo didn’t really help matters much, she did force the truth out.

Once Monobear hopped back in his throne, he suddenly cackled, “With a scar like that, it wouldn’t be surprising that a monster attacked you! The guy with the monster girlfriend! And here I thought monster girls were cute!”

“She’s not a monster!” Truffle immediately got up.

“Shady, you know what to do. Conclude this trial.” Rumble said.

Damn it... he’s right, but damn it...!

I can’t stand to see Truffle like this anymore.

THIS IS HOW IT HAPPENED!

It started with the motive reading. Fairly early in the day, after Rumble read his motive, Truffle Shuffle read his.

The culprit caught wind of what the motive was after a quick peek and took it away from him.

Knowing Truffle, he couldn’t chase after the culprit for long, who was soon approached by Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo.

The culprit decided to ask a favor to the Cutie Mark Crusaders, and knowing Apple Bloom, she bought into it immediately. That’s where our victim, Dinky Doo comes in.

She suddenly walked on by, read the incriminating article, and gave it back like it was nothing. This is what made the Culprit begin the plan of taking out a mare who was never supposed to know the secret.

Once the victim read her motive, and learned that it was a Ponyville Express paper, she decided with that alone that I’d be the perfect distraction by turning me into a villain...

After failed attempt on my life, I snapped just as the culprit hoped, because this too relied on the fact that I read my motive, act, and be stopped just before committing a murder. Meanwhile, the culprit would use the excuse to check on Dinky Doo while I had to calm down.

It was then that the second phase was put into motion. With a lighter from the First-Aid kit, the culprit began to light a fuse on the dynamite to take them both out.

However, Dinky Doo regained consciousness in the middle of this plan and attacked the culprit by taking the brick off the brake of the harvester outside. She reached that through the broken hole in the wall, and used a simple levitation spell. Unfortunately, the fuse had already been lit and the harvester began to move.

The culprit of course, was flung outside of the house, while Dinky Doo unfortunately didn’t make it...

“Despite the serious injuries, the only one who could’ve done it... is you, Twist!”

..........

“...........Ah...!”

Twist suddenly pressed her hooves against the stand... reeled her head back and...!

*BAM!*

“What the shit?!” Grace widened her eyes.

Twist suddenly bashed her head against the panel with all her might... reeled her head back again, and out came another loud slam against the hard, wooden stand..

*BAM* *BAM!* *SLAM!*

Truffle dashed to her side and held her tightly, begging her to stop. She desperately struggled to free herself, despite her head bleeding profusely.

“I... I don’t wanna die... not like this...! NOT LIKE THIS!” She cried.

Hesitantly sticking out her tongue, she prepared to bite down with all her might like a guillotine.

“Geh... no...!” Truffle immediately shoved her tongue back with his forearm, taking the full force of her bite. He winced as he saw the deep gash she made, weakening his grip.

Twist, with her eyes widened to the horrible act she committed, frantically crawled into a corner, quivering like a cornered mouse. Truffle tried to go to her, but... “STAY AWAY!”

“W-what... it’s... just a flesh wound!” Truffle tried to play it off, but he’s not fooling anypony... not with all that blood coming out of his right forehoof...

“N-no...! Not again! I... I can’t keep hurting you!”

“Wow! Looks like you’re certain on the culprit! It’s that time again! Vote for who you think is the culprit on the panel in front of you!”

A hatch in front of me opened at the stand, displaying the voting panel with those eight-bit portraits of us. We have to vote the culprit...

“NOOOOOOOOOO!” Truffle let go of Twist and made a mad dash for me! “Don’t vote for her! DON’T!”

But his advance was halted thanks to the Monoguards landing on him like a pile-up.

I really shouldn’t be saying thanks though. I understand why he’d want to stop any of us, but...

I’m sorry.

“I... I can’t...! This is our fault...” Apple Bloom hesitated. “Ah’ can’t do that to mah first friend!”

“Just do it. Unless you want us all to die.” Scootaloo reminded, sounding irritated, and pressing a button without hesitation. Of course Scootaloo’s still in her dark mode. “Think of it as putting her out of her misery. Do you want to send her home filled to the brim with guilt and shame?”

“....she’s right...” Twist finally broke down. “Just... do it. I... don’t want to live anymore.”

“But Twist!” Sweetie Belle cried.

“JUST DO IT!” Twist demanded. “Please, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, just do it... You too, Truffle.”

“Never!” Truffle vehemently denied, seemingly pressing a button at random.

I voted for Twist, just as everypony else did...

We’re then shown a slot machine on the monitors against the walls. The slots spin fast, but slowly stop on Twist, displaying “GUILTY!” in those flashy red colors.

“Truffle, voting for yourself won’t do any good! In fact, your vote’s invalid! You should be glad that everypony’s majority vote was on a guilty monster!”

“I’m... not a monster...!” Twist half-heartedly denied.

“You’re right, you’re not a monster... you’re a Super High-School Level Candy Maker, and I have a special execution for cowards who try to run away by killing themselves!” Monobear happily declared.

“NO! SHE DOESN’T DESERVE TO DIE! LEAVE HER ALONE! TAKE ME INSTEAD!!” Truffle screamed as he struggled to free himself from the weight of the Monoguards.

“Nope! Didn’t your heroes ever tell you? You mustn’t run away!” Monobear chided Truffle. “Geez, this is the second time someone tried to escape their punishment...”

“Because she wants to live!”

“If that were the case, she would’ve never tried to kill herself! I watched it all, remember?” Monobear reminded us of the security cameras. “Now with the voting out of the way...”

“I’m sorry... Truffle... for everything...” Twist apologized repeatedly in a hushed tone.

“Don’t apologize... I still love you!”

“Please... live on... you don’t need somepony like me...!” Twist cried, forcing one last smile...

“EXECUTION TIME!” Monobear shouted, as a big red switch rose up from the ground.

“I NEED YOU!” Truffle reached out for the mare in front of him, despite being held down by the Monoguards...

I... I just don’t feel happy about this at all.

Pulling out a hammer, Monobear whacks the switch, and it displays a black screen showing an eight-bit version of the courtroom and Twist standing in the middle, then getting dragged away by Monobear...

With that, Twist was taken away, and the monitors are switched on to display the execution.

Twist suddenly found herself wrapped up by the waist, hanging in a dark area. The first thing to splash on her, is a dark, orange-ish goop...

Then followed by a sudden burst of feathers and confetti that clung to her body.

After that, she’s quickly lowered to a certain length, and stopped suddenly.

Several lights turn on to brighten the room, revealing what appeared to be a party in progress.

As Twist hung in mid-air, tarred and feathered, she’s surrounded by several robots, including a blind-folded Monobear holding a bat...

The robot pony spins Monobear around and around, until he’s spinning furiously like a tornado, which slowly approached Twist, and... Wham!

A strike to the face. And then a strike to the flank...

Another hit on the knee, causing a very severe bruise.

He rapidly bats her again and again, splattering blood in the party room, painting the drinks the very same color...

Monobear suddenly stops spinning and lifts his blindfold just a little bit to cheat at his little game. He then makes a jumping strike for Twist’s belly.

As he flew straight at her, his bat suddenly became spiked! The spiked edges sunk their way into Twist’s belly, tearing her open...

At that second, an assortment of blood-stained candy came falling out of her like a downpour, with each hard piece rolling all over, some even hitting her broken glasses on the floor...

Meanwhile, Monobear is getting scolded by the fake Twilight for ‘cheating’, expressing his own embarrassment...