I couldn’t get much sleep the night after the motive that Mono bear gave us. I was so restless that I even ended up waking up about an hour early. I just couldn’t stop thinking about the photo that I got from him. That picture... Seeing her in that situation... I wanted to say it wasn’t real but I just couldn’t convince myself. I tried to forget about it but… HOW COULD I JUST FORGET? My daughter was possibly in horrible danger and I was stuck there, forced against my will to live there until I murdered someone. Once the clock hit 7 am, the monitor turned on and Mono bear appeared as usual.
“Alright everybody, it’s time to rise and shine as you have a big day. Now go and live life and hope you avoid any accidents.” It seemed that he was enjoying the paranoia he caused. I really hated that bear. After eating my breakfast, I headed to the school Cafeteria, where and the atmosphere was a lot more heavy than before. Everybody seemed to be in a horrible mood.
Snails took a deep breath. “Oh Man.”
Sweetie Belle began to cry. “I don’t want to stay here anymore.”
“Hey hey!” Snails tried to calm her down. “Don’t worry so much. I mean that bear most likely faked those photos, right?”
“Please!” Scootaloo shouted. “Like I’d ever take them as the real thing.”
It looked like a few people weren’t as bad off as I’d initially assumed. That was good, at least.
“Yeah, besides, after everything else, I wouldn’t be surprised if he could make a few fake photos.” Applebloom sounded very calm compared to the rest of us.
“Is there something wrong with your brain?” Diamond Tiara asked in anger.
“Yeah!” Silver spoon shouted. “Aren’t you worried?”
“Of course not!” Apple Bloom seemed almost gleeful. “The Apple family always has each others’ backs.” She puts her hands on her hips. “When you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us, just me disappearing could be chalked up to something at the school, but if my sister, brother, and granny all vanished too, my aunts, uncles, and cousins would turn the whole country upside down looking for us and whoever’s responsible.”
Wow, the determination this kid had! It must be a trait that runs in the family.
“Besides, I know that Apple Bloom here would never let Monokuma get to her.” Scootaloo smiled. “She’s stronger than you think.”
“I wish I could be like you right now.” Bon Bon looked down at herself with a sad look on her face.
“Trixie is just as sad as you are.” She pulls her hat down over her eyes. “Trixie wishes that she could say this is a magic trick of some kind.”
As I shook my head and tried to push myself out of depression, I noticed that someone was missing, someone who I always expected to be here.
“Hey where is Berry Punch?” I asked. from the looks on everyone’s faces, no one knew.
“Sorry to say, but she is not here.” I turned around and saw Sunset walking up to me slowly. “She hasn’t been herself since she saw her photo.” She giggled. “Wow talk about a weak person.”
I got angry and shot back. “HEY! You can’t talk about my friend like that!”
She just laughed. “Really, you are the most pathetic of all. Can’t you see that everybody can’t let go of this situation. I can see why the bear call this fun.”
“Fun!?” the Doctor cut in, looking furious. “You think this is all a game to you?”
“Well, that is how the bear put it.” She smirked. “When you’re in a competition, what is the first thing that comes to mind?” She paused for a moment. “You want to win. That is my goal here. I’m not gonna be the princess that expect a knight and shining armor to rescue me!” She laughs a little. “I mean who thought that I was that kind of person anyway!?”
“I kind of thought that.” Vinyl raised her hand.
“Well this princess here will triumph in this game. I will be the last one standing and don’t you forget it!” She leaves the Cafeteria once she finished what she had to say.
“I’m sorry about that.” The Doctor looked very worn out.
I put my hand on his shoulder and smiled. “Hey, its ok Doc. Besides, I know how you feel and we can both agree that Sunset is a brat.” He snickered a little.
“But you know she has a point.” Silver Spoon said, adjusting her glasses. “No matter how you look at it, we’re in a game.”
Diamond Tiara was shocked at what she said. “Um… are you ok Silver Spoon?”
“Not only that, but not everyone here is that confident that those pictures were fake.” Lyra looks nervous. “I bet at this very moment, someone is at least thinking on how they might kill someone.”
Everybody started to look at each other. I started to wish for something to take our minds off this.
“Hey, I think I got something that could take our minds off this!” Vinyl Scratch effortlessly commanded everyone’s attention. “How about we have a party?”
“A party? Really Vinyl?” Octavia looked annoyed.
“Hey, I think we need it after what happened last night.” Vinyl insisted.
“You know, that is not such a bad idea,” Photo Finish agreed.
“I’m all go for a party.” Gilda sounded happy. “After everything that’s happened I need to lay loose.”
“I’m game.” Flash said. “Something to keep myself calm after seeing those photos would be nice.”
“YA!” Both Snips and Snails shouted.
“Hey! That is my line” Snowflake isn’t kind to those who takes his catchphrase which soon followed with him shouting his line. “YEAH!”
“Ok then, it’s settled!” Vinyl shouted with excitement. “But where should we have it?”
“I! Photo Finish, suggest using the area around the boutique.”
“Brilliant!” Vinyl clapped her hands together. “Now I’m gonna need at least 10 people to help me set up. Any takers?”
The TMC, Photo Finish, Bon Bon, Snowflake, Snips, Snails, and Trixie all volunteered to help.
“Alright, you guys will do nicely...” Vinyl pulled Octavia in close. “And Octy makes ten!”
“Please Vinyl don’t make do this… and don’t call me Octy.” Octavia rolled her eyes.
“Oh come on, this will be fun for all of us,” Vinyl said. With a little more effort, Octavia conceded. “Alright everybody, let’s get this started and hope we can get this done before tonight!”
I couldn’t help but smile. That was the kind of thing that could get us through this! However, I realized that I had forgotten one person. Berry was still missing, probably at her house. I quickly left the cafeteria and headed to her place. Once there, I tried to open the door, but it was locked.
*Track use: Welcome to despair school*
“Dammit!” I banged on the door hoping for a response, but didn’t get an answer. “Berry, I know you’re in there. Please come out and talk to me!” I waited for a while but still nothing. “Berry, I want you to listen to me. No matter what happens, friends always stick together. Please just let me help you!” I stood there hoping that she would open the door, but she refused to talk.
I felt something on my shoulder and turned to see the Doctor next to me. “Come on Derpy, let her deal with this on her own. I think it might be for the best.” The Doctor left and I started to follow, but at the last second I went back to tell her one more thing.
“Berry, we’re having a party tonight at the boutique, so please be there. I know you’re worried, but I want to spend time with my best friend.” I went home with the Doctor. As soon as I got to my house, the Doctor went on his search around the area.
When I looked at the clock, I saw that it was 10 am. I figured since it would be a while before the party started I should talk to some of the people I hadn’t gotten to know yet. The first place I went was to the cloud house Photo Finish had shown us a picture of. Once I got there, I couldn’t help but gawk at it. I knew there were weird things here, but it was even more beautiful and mysterious in person. Meanwhile, I saw Silver Spoon nearby checking out the house as well.
“I wonder if I can make a profit out of this?” Silver Spoon ask to herself.
“Hey there, Silver Spoon.” I waved at her.
“Oh! Hey there, Derpy. Tell me, how much would you pay to live in a house made of clouds?” It really struck me hard that just a few days ago I would have looked at her like she was crazy if she asked me that. Now though, I wouldn’t be surprised at anything...
“Say you want to hang out for a bit?” I ask her.
“Well I guess, but not here. I suggest we head to the spa.”
We both went back to town and entered the spa. We changed into bathrobes and tried out the sauna. As the steam surrounded us, I felt that despite everything else, I could just lay back and relax a bit.
“This steam really is something. It feels a lot better compared to spa I have back home.” She laid on her back, looking relaxed.
I realized that this would probably be the only time for a good while that I’d be able to talk to her in private. “Hey, can I ask you something?” I asked “How does a civil person like you end up following a brat like Tiara? ... Please don’t tell her I said that!”
She acknowledged me, but seemed to relax even more. “I don’t have much to say about it right now, but let’s just say we have a connection with each other.”
“Connection?” I was bit a confused there.
“Well, you know that saying that opposites attract? It’s sorta something like that.” She smiled. “I guess that no matter how different we are, we’re just compatible.”
“I see. You must be like a saint to handle her bitterness.” I laughed a little but I noticed that she seemed to take offence to it. “Sorry about that.”
“You know, I hate it when society can’t see how a person is deep inside.” She takes a deep breath. “Sometimes makes it hard for the both of us.”
I started to see that there may have been more to her than meets the eye. Maybe there was something about Diamond Tiara that made Silver Spoon feel similar to her. “I’m sorry for what I said there.”
She smiled. “Oh. that’s alright. I’ve already seen that you’re pretty different from most other people. Not quite so judgemental.” She stood up and headed to the door of the Sauna. “Its nice talking to you, but it’s getting too hot for me. I hope we can do this again sometime.”
As she exit out, It got me thinking what the rich life is? So far as I could tell it seems something to not be proud. I mean you can be a spoil brat and think everybody is below you but today I see a fine example of being mature about it.
A little while later, I got tired of the spa as well, so I changed back into my clothes and went back home for a bit. I checked the time and it was about 1 PM. There was still time for me to check out another location before the party started. I headed to the town train station that Bon Bon found at the other end of town.
Once I got there, I saw a weird looking train stationed there. The colors and design were like nothing I’d ever seen, though after Monoguards and cloud houses, a strange train was relatively mild. I took a look inside and it seemed completely normal for the most part. The seats were the only thing that was weird. Its flat with a wavy winding glass in the middle. I had to wonder why just that was different... I went through every part of the train until I reached the engine room, where I found Lyra. I suppose she wanted to check this place out too.
“Oh, hey there, Derpy. You’re just the person I was hoping to see.” Her happiness was welcome, but her overeagerness was honestly a little creepy.
“Oh really? Great.” I kind of felt uncomfortable here but I figured that I should try to be friendly with her. Besides, I’d probably get used to her strangeness once I got to know her. “So you want to hang out?”
“Sure!” She said quickly, as if she’d been hoing for me to ask.“Let’s go sit down over there.” She grabs my hand and takes me to one of the seats.
“So tell me Derpy, have you ever had an interest in zoology?” I wondered what made her think that.
“Um, no, not really to be honest, though I heard you have interest in it.”
“Well duh!” she said. “I’ve been interested ever since I was a little.”
“Hm… but if you’re that into it, why are you the Super High School Level Harpist and not a zoologist?”
She looks away, looking a little sad. “Let’s just say that my parents didn’t want me to waste my talent...”
“Talent...You mean your musical talent with the harp?” How could she not be happy with that? Didn’t she have a contract with a producer because of it?
“Yes, I really didn’t want that to be my main focus.” She rested her head in her hands. “It was supposed to be just a little distraction. but it seems fate had other things in mind for me.”
I kinda wonder if fate could be blamed for us being here. “I see. Well sometime we might not get what we want in life, but we can always make the best of what we have.”
When I said that, it seemed to make her a bit angry. “I just hate it when people don’t appreciate my choices.” She took a deep breath to calm herself down. “Tell me Derpy, you support my right to make my own decisions in life, right?”
“Well of course you should do what you want in your life. I’d support whatever you wanted to do.”
She smiled. “Thanks Derpy.”
I sensed the conversation starting to wind down, but there was one other thing I wanted to know. “Wait, what kind of zoology do you want to do again? I know I heard it, but it sort of slipped my mind.”
“I want to focus on equines. You know, horses and ponies.”
“I see, so you like horses, I presume?”
She gave a little smile. “Yeah, you could say that.”
After talking with her a little longer I headed back to my house. Once there I checked the time and it was about 5 pm. Suddenly a loud knocking came at my door. When I opened it, I saw the Doctor standing there.
“Oh, Doc!” I blushed. “What are you doing here?”
“I just thought I’d come let you know that the party is set up and starting, and perhaps take you there myself.” He ran a hand through his hair, blushing. “Well, shall we get going?”
As soon as he offered, I quickly took hold of his arm. “Sure!” With that, I walk with him to the party. Once I got to the Boutique, it was clear that the place was ready for action. They’d set up a stage in the front yard along with tables, balloons, and a huge banner.
Welcome, One And All, to the Annual Fashion Show
*Track use: Beautiful morning*
I never thought it would be this big. Come to think of it, where did they get a stage like that? I was soon greeted by Photo Finish.
“Welcome you two to my first fashion show!” She shouted with excitement. “Please make yourself welcome.”
The party seems to be lively as expected. “Well, I see that everybody is having fun here. But where did you get the stage?”
“I! Photo Finish, found a button that summons this stage in the front yard of the boutique.” Even she seemed amazed by it. “This boutique has pretty much everything for me.”
The smile she wore infected me too, and several others, it seemed. It looked like that bear wouldn't be getting us to kill each other any time soon!
“You two must tired and hungry. Why don’t you go and take a seat?.” She showed us an entire rows of tables that we could pick from.
Me and the Doctor head to the table that has bowl of fruit on it. As I sat down, I took a look around to see if Berry was here. I was disappointed that she wasn’t.
“You're still worried about your friend, aren't you?” The Doctor noticed my sudden change in mood.
“Yeah. I think I should go and check up on her. I’ll be right back.” I got up and quickly headed out, but as soon as I did, to my surprise I saw her standing just at the entrance of the party. “Berry!” I said happily.
“Yeah, I’m here,” she smiled. “Well, I couldn’t just stay at home and moan and feel sad all day.”
I shed a few tears of joy. “I’m glad to see you happy.” I never like to see my friends in pain.
“Hey, don’t cry!” She wiped off the tears of my face. “Let’s enjoy the party as much as we we can alright?”
I led her to sit down with the Doctor. It soon started to be the most fun I’ve had in a while. All the students were having the time of their lives. Friends talked like there was no tomorrow and ate like they’d never eaten before. Things started to get happier, and it seemed that people had completely forgotten what happened yesterday.
As I was talk with Berry and the Doctor, I noticed Photo Finish heading in our direction, waving at us.
“Hey, Photo Finish! What’s up?” I asked.
“I need you and Berry to come with me asap!” She grabs my arm and begins dragging me.
“Hey wait...WAHH”
“Oh, I guess I should go as well.” Berry soon followed.
Photo Finish dragged me all the way inside the boutique, and it appeared that I wasn’t not the only there.
“What is going on?” Berry asked the same question that I was thinking. The other people there were Trixie, Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, and the Talent Mark Crusaders.
“Ok, now that we are here, I! Photo Finish will fill in the details. You see, I set up a Fashion show and I have chosen all of you to be in it.”
“Oh, this should be fun!” Diamond Tiara seemed genuinely excited.
“Really?” It seemed Scoots doesn’t want in. “I don’t want to go in front of a crowd in a dress.”
“Looks like someone is afraid losing, am I right?” Silver Spoon gave a condescending glare. “Afraid that everyone else will end up looking better than you?”
“What did you just say?” Scootaloo snapped.
“Well that’s what it sounds like. Not that I’d expect any different from someone like you.” Diamond Tiara smirked at her.
“ALL RIGHT, YOU'RE ON!” She shouted with determination.
“Well none of you will hold a candle to the great and powerful Trixie!” Trixie raised her hands, her cape fluttering triumphantly in a breeze that seemingly came from nowhere.
“Oh, this sounds fun!” Berry jumped with excitement. “Derpy, let’s do this!”
My face quickly got pale. “Oh no!” I tried to wave her off. “I’m a little too nervous.” I couldn’t go out there in front of a crowd. Especially since a certain someone was out there.
“Oh come on, Derpy! We haven't done anything really fun together. Besides, don’t you want impress that boy that you like?” She smiled, giving me a dastardly look.
It seemed that she won’t let it go, so I figured I had no choice. “Alright, fine. I’ll do it.”
“Good!” She turned to Photo Finish. “Alright, where are the dresses!?” she asked with excitement.
“Follow me upstairs, I’ve got each of your outfits ready.” Photo Finish said.
Upstairs, we saw the dresses laid out on the bed. She pointed out which ones were meant for each of us. I was still a bit nervous about it, but I was willing to do it for Berry’s sake.
I put on the dress, which was light blue dress with gold trim that goes all the way down to my leg as well as gold shoes and gloves. I also put on the curve shades which are a little uncomfortable and walking in this dress is even more uncomfortable but I was able to walk straight despite of it. Berry’s was a purple dress with a strawberry and fruit badge and dark purple boots. She seemed to like the color a lot.
A few minutes later, we were all ready. Photo Finish led us behind the stage and begin to talk to the others through a microphone.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, I! Photo Finish announce that the fashion show will now start!”
Everybody began to cheer. My stage fright soon reached nearly uncontrollable levels. I took a deep breath and managed to calm myself down for a bit. I just had to tell myself I could do this!
“Alright, everybody enjoy the show.” Photo Finish got off stage and began to start up the camera’s she’d set up.
Vinyl begins to drop the tunes.
Trixie came in first, accompanied by several special effects that she seemed to have added on her own at some point. Fire works pop up behind creating some neat looking effects. She wore a blue and white tuxedo with a light blue top hat. She walked up the stage and began to pose in front of the crowd.
“Come one, come all to see the great and powerful Trixie now in a cool new style!” she said. The crowd begin to cheer for the show she put on, especially snails. But one isn’t easy to please.
“BOOOOO, YOU SUCK!” Gilda shouted.
She got angry. “You just don’t appreciate what the great and powerful Trixie is made off!”
“Yeah right! I bet people find you annoying!” Gilda continued to mock her as she headed off stage.
Next up was Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon who were wearing yellow dresses with pink trim and bows on the chests.
“Come on, let’s hear some cheers!” Silver Spoon begin waving at the audience.
“Aren’t we both the prettiest girls you’ve ever seen?” Tiara gloated.
They both did some kind of weird secret handshake: bumping their fists together one at a time before bumping their bottoms together chanting “Bump, bump, sugar lump rump!” They ended with a chuckle as they walked back offstage, giving the TMC their best ‘top that’ look.
Speaking of the TMC, they were up next. Applebloom was wearing a cowgirl get up. It was everything that you’d expect, with a hat, boots, and a belt buckle to go with it. Sweetie Belle was wearing a pure white dress with a sunflower hat. Finally, Scootaloo wore a school uniform type outfit with a blue skirt, white shirt, yellow ascot, tube socks, and brown shoes.
“This is fun!” Applebloom shouted with joy.
Sweetie Belle couldn’t help but smile. “Are you enjoying this well, Scootaloo!?” she asked.
It seemed she was the only one who didn’t it. “This is so embarrassing.” Scootaloo blushed and tried to hide behind the other two.
“Oh come one Scootaloo, don’t you feel pretty?” Sweetie Belle asked.
Scootaloo turns around with an angry look. “I don’t wear dresses and you are despicable for making me wear this!” Her face shows how grumpy she is.
“Oh come on Scoots, don’t be that way. After all you do look good in that school uniform.” Applebloom tried to lighten her mood.
Scootaloo took a deep breath. “I’m so glad Rainbow Dash isn’t here to see this right now.”
The crowd began to cheer for the Crusaders, some more than was reasonable.
“WOO HOO! GO SWEETIE BELLE!” Snails shouted as he clapped even harder than he had for Trixie.
Snips couldn’t help but be annoyed by this. “Yeah that’s really subtle there, Snails.” He rolled his eyes.
The three head backstage. Now it was Berry Punch’s turn. But when I looked around, she wasn’t there. “Hey, has anybody seen where Berry went?” I asked, concerned again.
“Trixie has saw her go back into the boutique” Trixie answered.
“Oh ok.” I quickly headed inside to try and find her. When she wasn’t on the first floor, I decided to check upstairs. “Berry, are you up here… HUH?” Upstairs, the room was a mess, like there was a struggle. The pony shaped mannequins were knocked over, clothes and tailoring equipment were strewn about, and the mirror was shattered.
“What happened here?” I asked myself. As I looked around, I noticed an open window to my left. I took a look through it and didn’t see anything other than some garbage cans spilled on the ground. But what could have happened to Berry? Her gone, and the room like this, it didn’t bode well. I ran out of the boutique as fast as possible.
“Derpy where are you going!” the Doctor called after me as he catches up. “What is going on? Something on your mind.”
I quickly inform the details for him. “Doctor something is wrong. Berry! She was in trouble!”
I was sporadic with my word but the Doctor caught on on what I’m saying. “Ok! I’ll go tell the others about this alright.”
“Sure.” I quickly left the party.
I went to her house, assuming she would have gone there first in an emergency. When I tried the door, to my surprise it was already open. When I looked inside, it was trashed. I had no idea what to do! Where could she have gone? As I turned around and ran, I didn't notice that someone was watching me passing by.
I went back to the boutique as quickly as I could, making a beeline for the Doctor when I saw him. “Doctor!” I shouted, “Berry Punch is gone and I’m worried she-” Before I could finish my sentence, he held up his hand to stop me.
“Derpy,” he said grimly, “I’m….I’m sorry”
I didn’t like the tone in his voice when he said that, but I followed him, wondering what he was going to show me. We walked until we saw the bridge over the river that was on the way to the Boutique. We turned right and kept going from there until we found Sweetie Belle, who was crying..
“Sweetie Belle, would you mind getting the others here. I think they need to see this as well.” The Doctor asked politely.
Sweetie Belle didn’t say a word but nodded and went to get the others.
“Derpy… take a look.” He pointed at something in the river just of my sight. The river was only few inches deep that you’ll be able to see the bottom floor. When I took a closer look, I couldn’t believe on what I saw.
*Track use: Despair pollution noise*
Berry Punch was face down in the river, blood pooling around her and a knife at her side.
I couldn’t look away. All I could do was scream in terror.