A New Despair:
Chapter 0:
Hope Comes to the Province of Pennsylvania
Date: Monday, April 19th, 2021
Location: Classroom 1-A, First Floor [HHPA]
Time: 8:00 AM
Hermione wasn't a morning person. That much was certain, she was more of an afternoon person. Though she loved the light of the morning sun just as much as everyone else, she also loved the warmth of her blankets in the morning. So, if she didn't need to wake up early, she wouldn't. Things changed once she was accepted into Class 63 of Hope Hills Prep. Now that she was in school, she had to set her alarm at the crack of dawn, an ungodly hour that no mortal should wake up at.
The halls were vibrant and full of life, the second, third and fourth year students moved around as if they were experts, greeting each other after the semester break. Some stared at her, wondering what kind of person she truly was. Others waved, recognizing her from the Grand Showcase that was held a few days ago. This environment was nice and lively, and welcoming. Some students wore the official HHPA Student Uniform, while others were content with wearing their normal clothes, modified with a patch of the school. Hermione was among them. She couldn't part with her outfit, it was part of her wild spirit after all.
She hummed a tune as she walked, her ponytail whipping about as she moved. Today was the first day of class. Students who had been accepted received their scrolls, which contained their schedules. The Headmaster had already given everyone the official greeting and had dismissed them for the weekend, expecting them to get their things together to move into the dorms. Hermione packed light, so she didn't have to worry much.
She scanned the Practical Arts building map for a few moments, matching up the metal signs with what the map was telling her. They wouldn't receive their Augma's until the end of the day, so they couldn't rely on the new holographic signs that came with the Augmented Reality system that had been installed. She had to find her homeroom the old fashioned way. It was a brand new experience, especially since she hadn't been in a position like this before.
"The Grand Showcase was awesome! There were so many cool talents, that A Capella kid, the Circus Showman, that cute girl with the fire dancing, even that puppeteer guy was sick. I wonder if they're in my Homeroom… I hope so. They seem like nice people to hang out with!"
The one thing she was looking forward to the most was making friends! After all, if she could unite them all under the flag of Environmentalism, then she would win. She wanted nothing more than to save the planet. That's why she wished to meet with people like Robin Winterbourne, who had the same thoughts and aspirations as her. To do everything possible to give the future generations a chance to live and thrive. It was honestly what motivated her into even coming to class today. Looking away from her map, she spotted a sign that read "Classroom 1-A" which happened to be her assigned homeroom. She grinned, breaking into a sprint as she raced toward the room.
"I can't wait! I wonder who's in this class, I'm so excited!"
That excitement wavered a bit as she entered the classroom, eyes widening a bit when she saw the state of disarray it was in. Her future classmates had gathered there alright, but the room looked like a storm had whipped through it. 34 desks were placed in neat rows, she knew her class had 29 assigned students, a little bigger than the normal 24 student class, but that didn't seem to matter. The students that were present were… a lively bunch, that was for sure.
"Everybody please!" the voice of Anton Grey said, trying to cut through the anarchy of the classroom. The Supreme Chosen One stood before the teacher's desk, a single hand raised as he tried to get everyone's attention. His hand was on the hilt of Excalibur, the legendary holy sword. "We must settle down alright? It won't be long until our instructor shows up, and we must be on our best behavior to-"
The man ducked as a paper airplane sailed by his face. He looked around the room for a moment, glaring at someone near the back of the room. "Miss Drahlstrom, will you cut it out? That is a waste of paper. Paper which you could be using to jot down notes and assignments!"
"Pfft~" the girl pulled on her eyelid a bit, blowing a raspberry at the boy. She grabbed another paper plane, throwing it into the air, joining the others that seemed to be flying in the room's air currents.
"Seems to me like you've got your hands full." the firm voice of Ezekiel said, causing Anton to look up at her. She was sitting in the front row, a pen in her hand as she wrote in her notebook. Her fancy dress was nice and clean, free of wrinkles. She didn't have a single hair out of place, and her mask was firmly affixed to her face. "If you'd like, I could give it a try."
"Nay, Miss King, you shouldn't trouble yourself. These unruly men and women just need someone firm. I happen to be a Lieutenant after all, I just need to make sure my voice is heard."
"That is unlikely, you've been trying to gain their attention for the last ten minutes. I doubt you'll get through to them. But if you wish to handle it yourself, then I will not stop you." she said, shrugging her shoulders.
"Ah, we shouldn't bother them too much!" the voice of Peter said, as he looked away from the window. He leaned on his cane, meeting eyes with Anton. He tipped his hat back a bit, giving the man a grin. "This is the kind of excitement I was hoping for! When I signed up for HHPA, I was honestly thinking it would be a drab establishment, but nay! It reminds me of home."
"Well… since you seem to have experience handling the unruly, then why don't you step up to the plate?" Sasha said, placing her camera back in her satchel. "I for one don't care much for the noise."
"WHAT?"
That one word tossed the entire room into silence. Everyone turned around, facing the back of the room. A beautiful young woman, with long crimson hair tied into twin-tails seemed to be the one who screamed. She was in a stereotypical School Girl Sailor Uniform, bearing the patch of HHPA, along with a UFC patch on her left shoulder. She was glaring at a sickly looking man, who had a sheepish look on his face.
He was wearing a snappy suit, with a white undershirt and loafers. He looked like he had stepped out of the 1920s. He was tall, though he looked rather awkward and gangly, the look on his face didn't seem to be helping him a lot either. He let out a small chuckle, forcing a smile onto his face.
"I didn't mean to insult you, Miss. I just wish to understand how someone of your dimiture stature was able to defeat a man stronger than her. Not only that, but also net the UFC Heavyweight Championship title."
"Dimi-what? Did you just call me an idiot? Why, I ought to-"
"No no no! Dimiture means little."
"I am NOT LITTLE!"
The girl wasted no time in grabbing the man's arm, and with physical strength no one would ever comprehend, threw him over her shoulder. The poor lad slammed into a nearby metal bookshelf, crumpling to the ground in a heap, several thick text books falling over his body. The redhead wiped her hands of invisible dirt, spitting in his direction.
"Don't fuck with me. The next time you call me little I'll do much more than throw you to the ground!"
"D-duly n-noted, Miss C-Chidori." the weak young man cried from the ground.
"Oh yeah… this class is definitely going to be lively." Hermione thought to herself, as she fully entered the room. Just as she did, a familiar looking blonde strode past her, snapping her gum. She looked up from her scroll, giving her a once over.
"The hell are you grinning about?"
"Huh?" Hermione said, taken completely off guard. "N-nothing… I'm just excited to be here. We're gonna be classmates after all, why wouldn't I be smiling?"
"Yeah, sure. That's what they all say, I bet you just want my nudes. I'll let you know right now, I am not going to hand those over. If you even think you can afford one, you'll have to talk to my associate. And even then I'm not willing to part with one. So get that sick thought out of your head, pervert." she snapped, before returning to her seat, near the Supreme Photographer. Sasha gave her an apologetic look, mouthing the words "I'm sorry" to her. Hermione brushed it off, turning up just in time for Anton to approach her.
"Good morning miss. I take it you found the classroom without incident?"
"Uh… I suppose… wasn't hard. Especially when you have a map." she said, gesturing to the compact scroll in her hands. "This is uh… a lively class!"
"It sure is… and it isn't all of us. We're still missing a few people. Classes here aren't mandatory, so the fact that so many of us showed up is a godsend. Ah, apologies, I haven't introduced myself yet, my name is-"
"Anton Grey, Supreme Chosen One, wielder of Excalibur. You've only said it like a gajillion times since getting here." the orchid-haired girl said, rolling her eyes.
"HA!" Freyja cried from across the room, earning a glare from the Chosen One.
"Erm… right. You must be Hermione Vasilykos correct?"
"You betcha! That's me alright, Environmentalist extraordinaire! I know I'm a little late but I hope we can all get along well together!" she said happily. No one else in the class seemed to acknowledge her statement. She shrugged her shoulders, knowing she'd make friends with them yet.
"An environmentalist? I don't suppose I've ever met one of those before."
Hermione let out a scream as she whipped around, seeing the smiling face of John Abbot behind her. The Supreme Thanatologist had managed to pick himself up after being tossed by Rin. Without anyone noticing, he had made his way to the front of the room. He held his hand out, in a gesture for a handshake. The Supreme Environmentalist stood back, a dry chuckle leaving her lips.
"Uh… hi… I'd rather you didn't do that again, okay?"
"O-of course, my mistake. I didn't mean to startle you, honestly." he said sadly, putting his hand down. "I was quite entertained by your speech during the Grand Showcase, I too believe we can save our planet. If only we didn't have to worry about our impending deaths that is. People would be able to team up to save the world."
"Death is inevitable, I'm afraid. It is a debt that all men pay," Anton said, sighing. "However, if we work together we can most certainly save our planet. After the Tragedy subsided, we all teamed up to rid ourselves of what was left of Ultimate Despair. It's a slow process but we're getting there."
"Pfft… I'll eradicate this despair bullshit with my own two fists!" Rin cried, from the other side of the room. She leaned back against the wall, arms crossed over her frame. "I have no idea what kind of plot this is, but if I have to, I will do it. After all, I can't find my daddy if he's all evil and shit."
"Daddy?" Hermione asked curiously. Anton shrugged, shaking his head.
"Don't you think it's weird though?" Freyja asked, as she strode to the front of the room, twirling her umbrella. The few that were still chatting among themselves stopped, as the Supreme Meteorologist made her way to the whiteboard.
"Weird? What's weird?" Jamila asked curiously, head tilted in curiosity. From beside her, Zalicka clicked her tongue.
"Don't pay too much attention to her dear, I've heard that one is off her rocker."
"Rude!" the girl cried, grabbing a hold of a marker.
"Well then, what is weird? You sort of have to elaborate on that bit before anyone can make an opinion." Robin said firmly.
"It's about Ultimate Despair dummy." Freyja said, clearing her throat. She started drawing something on the board as she spoke. "You see, before all of this went down, the world was in a nice and healthy state. All of this came about due to one single event, the Tragedy of Hope's Peak Academy."
"Yes, we all know that." Sasha said, leaning back in her seat. "It was an event that shook the academy to the core. The Reserve Course revolted, and that of course turned into "The Biggest, Most Awful, Most Tragic Event in Human History" or "The Tragedy" for short. That turned into several years of all of us surviving by the skin of our asses."
"I would rather not talk about this, please." Alivia said, from the back of the room. Her eyes were firmly glued on her drawing tablet. It was clear that she didn't want to be there. Next to her, her twin brother Aaron sat, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"She doesn't like remembering what happened. We lost a lot of friends, not to mention during the early stages of the Tragedy, a lot of things happened that we'd rather forget." he said.
"Oh boo-frickety-hoo. It's a major event in human history, this shit is going in history books. So you best get used to it. Because it's not going away anytime soon." Kevin snapped.
"God you are such a prick… seriously what the fuck is wrong with you? Do you not care about people's feelings?" Alessia shouted back. Kevin flipped her off, wanting to ignore her completely.
"Any-way… what I am trying to get at is simple. The one thing that led to all of this happening was the exposure of one project. The Izuru Kamukura Project." Freyja continued, as she kept drawing on the board. To everyone, it looked like a cat, a very detailed cat. "One by one, Talent institutions began closing their doors, hoping to hide from it all, and yet Hope Hills Prep remained in operation. Two classes graduated during the turmoil… don't you think that's weird?"
"Uh… not really?" Peter said, tilting his head a bit. "If I recall, Skyline Academy and Rose Academy in South Korea also remained in operation. America was hit hard, but not as hard as Japan, Russia and Europe. We managed to stave off huge waves of Despair."
"For the most part." Louise said, looking up from her magazine. Much like the Supreme Showman, she was wearing her own top hat, her lengthy black hair falling neatly on her lap to prevent it from dragging on the ground. "The United States suffered heavy losses. The Government toppled, and we lost several key places. The Hoover Dam was turned into a Killing Game facility, using students from three different schools. The New California Republic formed when the state left the Union, and Hawaii was almost entirely destroyed by short range ballistic missiles. To say we staved off despair entirely is a farce."
"Even still… the fact that HHPA remained in operation means nothing. In fact, I'm surprised that they were able to stay open in the first place... especially with how the other talent schools were doing." Anton said firmly. "Things went much worse for L.S.T.S. I can't even begin to describe the horrors that went there... I'm glad that things ended there before it could overtake the entire United Kingdom. Losing our Hope was... awful, it made for quite a trying time."
"Yes, but you are all missing the point here." Freyja said, turning around once she had finished her cat drawing. "The fact of the matter is, something fishy is going on here. Why would Hope's Peak Academy cease all operations but it's sister Academy remain open? The entire academy was destroyed during the Tragedy, and the Reserve Course is gone. Yet this place was able to remain operational once the overseas branch ceased communications?"
"Well… if I recall correctly, the Steering Committee for HHPA is different than the one in Hope's Peak. So theoretically, this academy could have kept it's operations ongoing." Sasha said.
"Ugh… can you get to the point kid? I don't have time to listen to you drone on and on. Why not predict the weather while you're at it? I gotta air out my titties later." Nodoka snapped, causing Freyja to giggle.
"Oh, you simple-minded cretins. What I am trying to propose here is simple. HHPA remained in operation during the Tragedy because HPA asked them too. While their students were safe and sound within the old school building, the people here took over the Kamukura Project. I am 100% certain there's some sort of Government lab beneath us right now! That also means that the Kamukura Project brought over several items from HPA, including Ultimate Despair!"
"Huh? Wait wait wait-" Rin said, causing several people to look at her. "What you are telling me is that this Academy is doing human experiments and shit? Because Hope's Peak or whatever asked them too?"
"Mhmm! That's exactly what I am saying… and the reason why these fucks remained in operation was to gather DNA, so that they could continue creating the Ultimate Hope, but with clones! Why else would they need urine and blood samples from all of us?" the plum haired girl said, jumping onto the desk. "It's all a conspiracy! They're getting our DNA to make perfect clones of us. Like those bastard aliens from Invasion of the Body Snatchers, except they don't snatch just your bodies! They snatch your life, your girlfriend, your cat, your fucking balls! Wake up people, we're all science experiments waiting to happen!"
During her tangent, Freyja failed to notice someone new entering the classroom. She had a satisfied look on her face as the class remained silent. She however noticed something dark out of the corner of her eye. She slowly turned her head, facing the new arrival.
A large, raven black creature that was completely out of this world. Its body was highlighted by dark skin and muscles, clearly visible through the shirt they were wearing. Long, lanky arms fell at its side, bearing sharpened claws. It's legs were covered by dark shredded jeans, its feet being completely bare. It's dome shaped head extended back a few feet, bearing nearly invisible eyes. It took a deep breath, a soft, click like hiss escaping its lips as it opened its mouth. A much smaller mouth slowly slid out, the tiniest of grins forming on it.
"Hello."
Freyja let out a scream, jumping from the desk right into Peter's arms. The man was forced to let go of his cane as the Supreme Meteorologist clung to his body. She was breathing hard, eyes widened in fear. The creature that walked into the room let out a boisterous laugh, clutching its sides.
"Shiiet… I didn't think this little kid was going to jump that high! Ey yo, sorry little sistah, didn't mean ta scare da shit outta ya."
"Piss off you ugly ass alien! God, I never thought I would have concrete proof that you bastards exist!" the girl cried, as she continued holding onto Peter, who couldn't help but sigh.
"Cleavance, maybe sneaking up on people isn't a good idea. Especially when they're frightened little girls like this one."
"Aye, that's my bad b. I didn't think she'd get all pissy and shit over a bitchass joke. Imma just take my ass to the back of the room where I belong." the man said, walking toward the back of the room, thumping a few things as he went.
"Well… I certainly made the right choice in getting out of bed today. I'm not that involved but I'm having a lot of fun here already!" Hermione said.
"I'm glad… you should find yourself a seat, the teacher should be here-"
"Alright students, settle down!" a peppy and upbeat voice called out. Everyone looked toward the doors, expecting a tall young woman to stride into the room. Instead, they were greeted by the sight of a small half human, half spider scurrying across the floor. With a single leap, she jumped onto the desk, a smile on her face as she greeted her students. "Hello everyone, my name is Riyo Arioka, and for the next four years, I shall be your homeroom teacher!"
The whole class remained silent as they slowly settled into their seats. Freyja finally released her hold on Peter, settling for the seat next to his if only because he could apparently protect her. Nodoka looked up from her phone, her eyes tracing the small arachnid woman before her. Sasha was secretly snapping pictures, wondering what kind of school would let a spider teach a class.
"Well… don't all greet me at once," the woman said jokingly, hoping to dissuade the silence. She cleared her throat, forcing a smile onto her face. "I'm so very glad to see you. I've been counting down the days until we finally met and I was able to become your teacher. It'll be here to teach you, to guide you and for anything else in between. So don't be afraid to approach me okay?"
"Ew… does anyone have a napkin?" Rin asked, glancing around the room. "No? Bug Spray? I really don't like spiders."
"Neither do I, they're so gross!" Freyja cried.
"Guys come on, you are hurting her feelings." Sasha snapped, glaring at her classmates. She turned to face her teacher, giving her a smile. "Don't worry, Miss Arioka, I think you are a kindhearted and adorable person."
"T-thank you, Miss Raymond-Reddington." Riyo said softly. She cleared her throat, brushing aside the comments as she straightened her back, firmly facing the class. "Now then, I'm certain you were expecting a human. Well, I am one… or was. I was on a business trip to London when the Incident took place. I've recently returned from my homeland in Brazil. I was offered a job here, not just as a Professor but to make use of my talents in Auditing. It'll take time to get used to, but please try not to discriminate against people like me, alright?"
"I agree with her, ladies and gents," Anton said, standing firmly by the side of her desk. He looked over the room, giving everyone a curt nod. "Right… we were selected to stay at this academy, through talent alone. We are far above and beyond petty name calling or racism. We are the brightest in America, nay, the world. So let us all help Miss Arioka, and make the next four years of our lives the best we can make them,"
"Yeah sure, as long as you aren't our Class Rep. I can't trust some preppy looking douchebag who was selected by some dumb sword," Nodoka said, snapping her gum as she set her phone down.
"That's what I'm talking about homie!" Cleavance added from the back of the room. "That hoe knows what the fuck she's talking about. Fuck authority!"
"Did you just call me a hoe? I better have heard wrong you fucking sci-fi movie reject!"
"Ugh… I swear, I am not looking forward to the next four years here," Ezekiel mumbled under her breath, as she tried to drown out the noise behind her. Sasha nodded, agreeing with her statement.
"You and me both."
"Settle down class! I need to take attendance… I can already tell there are a few of you missing. Fantastic, I was hoping we could do a class-building activity today. Guess we'll have to wait until they show up."
"Oh oh! I volunteer to go look for them!" Hermione said, shooting up from her seat. "I wanna meet and make new friends, so it'll be fun tracking them down. Not to mention I'm kind of fast!"
"I wonder if she's fast in certain other aspects," Kevin said, earning a glare from Alessia.
"You are just a lovely person to be around, aren't you?"
"I know right? I'm totally awesome. Even a guttersnipe, disgusting, salted fish like you has no choice but to agree with me."
"That's it!" Alessia shouted, jumping over Rin's desk as she tackled Kevin to the ground. "I'm going to shove your violin so far up your ass you'll be able to play "Leck mich am Arsch" with your fucking tongue!"
Riyo sighed, pinching her eyes as she took a deep breath. "Miss Vasilykos, if you wish to search the campus for the others, be my guest. I have a rowdy class to bend into shape. Do hurry along, I'd like to prepare things before it gets too late. Official classes start tomorrow and I'd like for all of my students to be here."
"Yes ma'am! I'll get them here faster than jackrabbit on a hot greasy griddle in the middle of August!" she said, giving the woman a salute as she bolted out of the room. She let out a sigh, brushing her bangs out of her eyes as she slowed down to a walk. "Jesus, I never thought I would get out of there, and I thought I was overly energetic."
She heard three beeps coming from her scroll, and rapidly pulled it out of her back pocket, flicking the top part outward. The holographic screen came to life as she looked the device over. She noticed the blinking envelope at the top. When she clicked it, she noticed it was a message from Miss Arioka. "Attached are the pictures of the missing students, I wish you luck, Miss Vasilykos!"
"Poor little spider, she has her tiny hands and all eight of her tiny little legs full. I'll make sure to lessen the load. She's just so cute, I can't help myself!" she said happily. Thankfully, the Student Scrolls had the ability to mark a person's location on the school's map for easy access. Finding them wouldn't be too much of an issue for her. She was a fleet-foot after all, she'd get them back there in an hour tops.
Date: Monday, April 19th, 2021
Location: Grand Music Hall [Classical Arts Building: Second Floor]
Time: 8:30 AM
"You may refer to me as a weeb if you wish, but I hardly think the label fits me. After all, being from Japan doesn't make me a weeb. If anything, my love of Japan makes me a bonafide Japanophile, desu~"
Naveen honestly didn't know how to react. He had made an off comment to the young woman and had gotten that as a reply. He had been prepared for the more out there talents of HHPA, but he wasn't expecting such an odd looking young woman. The expression on her face was one he couldn't exactly describe. It was as if her face was frozen in that one solitary expression. Her monotone voice didn't help her emote at all. This young lady was an enigma, one that he didn't know if he could actually figure out.
"Yes, yes of course. How silly of me to label someone such as yourself by such a derogatory term. I am a bad, bad man for doing that!" he said, hoping to move the conversation along.
Naveen wasn't a tall man by any means of the word, he was more average. However, that didn't mean he didn't stand out. He wore a grand outfit, consisting of a low cut blouse with a small collar and pearl studded buttons. Over it, he wore a crimson waistcoat with many embellishments. He wore a pair of dark brown trousers, rolled up to reveal his lower legs, showing off his footwear, a pair of sandals with straps that snaked around his legs.
He was a handsome young man, and he was sure his charms would swoon most of the girls in HHPA. But he had hit a wall with this one. Yes, he found the young mantid quite attractive, in fact when he first met her, he assumed her face was a mask, something that annoyed her. Of course since she couldn't emote, he didn't know she was annoyed. He wished to get to know her better, but it seemed as if he wasn't going to get anywhere with her.
"Naveen old boy, you are barking up the wrong tree. It seems to me like Miss Hertzel-Hanada is not at all interested in your flirting." another voice said.
This came from another young man, who sat before the large pipe organ. A young man with a rather skinny figure, and pitch black colored hair that covered the top of his head. He was wearing a silk silver button down shirt, with golden cufflinks. Over it, he wore a violet vest with golden trimmings. He was wearing matching black trousers and black and silver wing tipped shoes.
"I can clearly see that," the Supreme Puppeteer said, rolling his eyes. "Still, to find ourselves in such a Grand Music Hall… the likes of which I have never seen. It's so alluring! This organ might be the loveliest instrument I have ever seen."
"I've seen better. There are a lot of other really cool instruments in the world desu. Especially the electronic ones that make a bunch of really nice sounds. They are all so totally kawaii." Clara said, turning to face the large organ. "Though I must admit, this might just be the heart of this academy, which is perhaps why I find myself here."
"Leave it to the Supreme Cardiologist to find herself in a place considered the heart of the academy. It makes quite a lot of sense when I think about it," the raven haired lad said, turning to face the two. "Ah, but we haven't fully met have we? My name is Ernest Anerson, Supreme Magician, at your service." he said, giving the woman a wink.
"I can't hear your heartbeat desu. Are you perhaps one of the living dead? That would be so totally awesome uwu~"
"What the hell is wrong with this girl? What's up with this desu and uwu bullshit?" Naveen thought, looking the young woman over.
She was wearing a rather frilly top, made from chiffon if he were to guess. The sleeves seemed to extend over her fragile looking arms, covering her hands entirely. Her top was paired with a matching pastel blue skirt that reached down to her mid thigh, leaving her part of her pale thighs completely exposed. She was wearing a pair of thigh-high stockings, her feet being adorned with cute kitten heels.
Her lavish hair was styled into a pair of twin-tails, contrasting the original hairdo she was wearing when he first met her. Her face was perfectly still, decorated with a bit of makeup to accent her cheeks. She was dressed rather vibrantly but her personality was anything but, at least in his opinion.
"I do not know what you are talking about miss," Ernest said, giving her a smile. "I have a heartbeat just like everyone else. I do have one question though, why aren't you in class? I figured after that presentation the other day, you'd be eager to attend."
Clara remained silent, pondering his question. After a moment, she shrugged her shoulders, looking away from the man. "I am not prepared for class desu. There are a lot of people there and I am a bit shy."
"That's a load of bullshit!" Naveen said, causing the young woman to shift her gaze toward him. He stepped forward, tugging on his coat a bit. "Someone who catheterizes their own heart on stage before not only 3,000 people but an entire nation, is not shy."
If Clara could have rolled her eyes, she would have. She remembered to blink, not wanting to creep out the Supreme Puppeteer, though with his nature, she doubted he would have. "You caught me in a lie. It is not that I am shy, I just wish to be at peace for a moment before we begin class. I get tired quite easily, so I cannot afford to waste too much energy," she elaborated, gesturing a bit with her hands. "Even so, I wish to make friends with you both, which is why I am here, desu. You have interested me."
"Me? Interest you? That is quite surprising… Perhaps it's because I know what card you are thinking of?" Ernest said, a smirk on his lips. "Be a dear and check your left sleeve."
Clara did as she was told, pulling out a crimson playing card. "Gasp" she said, as she realized the card was the Ace of Spades, the exact card that was in her mind. "How did you know? Did you read my mind uwu? I have a lot of dirty thoughts in there,"
"It's a simple trick, admittedly, I don't know it works. But hey, a magician never reveals his secrets, correct?" Naveen asked, earning a chuckle from Ernest. The man turned around, pulling a few of the stops in the organ before resting his hands on it.
"Hmm… perhaps a somber song? Yes, I think that will do," he said, as his fingers met the keys. The organ whirled to life, the soft ringing of the pipes drifting to the room. It was a soft and soothing sound, filled with innocence and curiosity. The two were impressed with his skill, not having expected the magician to know how to play the organ.
"Haah! Finally!"
Naveen and Clara turned to the entrance of the Music Hall, noticing a young woman standing at the threshold. She was panting a bit, a grin on her face as she walked down the aisle, stopping before the two. "Naveen Celestin, Clara Hertzel-Hanada and Ernest Anerson, correct?"
"That would be us, yes," Naveen said, clearly confused.
"Uwu, what do you require of me? Are you perhaps in cardiac arrest? If not, I'm certain my cuteness may cause you to fall into acute cardiac arrhythmia, desu."
"What? No… I'm here to get the three of you to class. Miss Arioka is expecting all of you to show up, she wants everyone to be present so we could learn how to be a class or whatever." she said, placing a hand at her hip. "The name's Hermione by the way, pleasure to meet'cha!"
"It's nice to meet you too…" Clara said, turning to fully face her. Hermione shuddered a bit as she looked her outfit over. She notices the orchids tied to the straps of her sandals. She let out an audible gasp, kneeling down before her. "How quaint… orchids are my favorite flower. They are so uber kawaii desu."
"O-oh?" the Environmentalist said softly. She knelt down, plucking one of the flowers from her leg, handing it to Clara. "Whelp, if you like them you can have them. A token of my friendship!"
"T-thank you, smiley face."
The group suddenly jumped as the tone of Ernest's song became sharp. His hands were flying across the keys, as each pipe sung it's tune. His hair was whipping about wildly as his body moved to the music. It was as if he was performing for a full house, yet the seats were completely empty. His legs moved about wildly, hitting the pedals right beneath him with poise and practice. They had to admit, he was passionate about his music.
"A-anyway… you guys should get going. I've got a few stragglers to find. Don't keep Miss Arioka waiting alright?"
"Of course. I'll make sure they get to class, it was a pleasure meeting you, Hermione. I look forward to getting to know you a little better." Naveen said, a charming smile on his face. The woman nodded, swiveling around her foot.
"I don't exactly want to get to know you better, weirdo. I better avoid him, I didn't like how he was staring at my puppies. Now then, where the hell do I have to do? Ah right… the Traditional Building. How fun… Thank god Teleportation Pads are a thing."
Date: Monday, April 19th, 2021
Location: Staff Lounge and Bar [Traditional Building: Third Floor]
Time: 9:03 AM
"What the hell did I get myself into?"
This was the general thought Ashe Langdon had when she stepped into the bar. It was a facility that was offered to Students and Staff over the age of eighteen. It was a beautiful establishment, the back of the room was filled to the brim with alcohol from all corners of the globe. Before it was the aforementioned bar, a wooden island that was polished to a glimmering shine. There were neon signs and clocks all around the room, along with a pair of billiards tables. A roaring fireplace was located across the room, despite it being late April, people still enjoyed the sight of the fire.
The Former Supreme Aerodynamics Expert had been offered a cushy job not long after the expansion to the academy was completed. Being the only one in recent years to have graduated with her talent, she was at the top of the list. And she couldn't deny a job offer at her former Alma Mater. So she packed her bags, bid goodbye to her family and drove to Philadelphia as fast as possible. She had been expecting to start bright and early, but her class was entirely absent.
Of course, Senior Students didn't need to attend class on the first day. They usually came about a week or two after the term. So she had her hands completely empty. She decided to come to the bar to get a drink, and of course, she found something she had not been expecting.
"I said I want whiskey on the rocks bar keep. The fuck are you staring at me with that expression for?" the booming voice of the Supreme Viking snapped. The person behind the bar nodded, fumbling around with some glasses.
She wasn't expecting the man to be so… so huge! He was ten feet tall, far taller than anyone in the entirety of the student body and the faculty. She had heard the rumors that this man had managed to sail from Scandinavia to the New World, on a boat of his own design. He hand delivered his audition tape to the board, boasting about how he was going to be accepted no matter what. And he was right, he had been accepted. And now he was here, making some poor barkeep's life miserable.
As if noticing her, the large man turned to face her, causing her to freeze in place. His eyes traced her figure, taking in her very appearance. She wasn't wearing anything special. Her grayish-silver hair was tied in a side ponytail. She was wearing a simple black tee shirt, underneath an oversized hoodie, a pair of jeans and sneakers. She looked more like a student than she did a teacher. In fact, if it wasn't for her Staff ID, she would have been roped into some classroom and forced to sit down against her will.
"May I help you, miss?" the man asked firmly, as he scrutinized her.
"Um… well no, not particularly," Ashe said, as she moved toward the bar. She took a seat four barstools down. Briar was so big that he was sitting on the ground in front of the other stools.
"It's alright… I understand. My stature is so amazing that you just have to stare, believe me little girl, I don't mind."
"Little?" the woman snapped, glaring at the giant. "I'll have you know, I am not little. I happen to be 34 years old Mister. And aren't you supposed to be in class?" she snapped with authority in her voice. Briar let out a chuckle, rolling his eyes.
"Are you gonna force me?" he asked, looking down at her. "I don't think you are, and besides you aren't my teacher. Not only that, classes aren't mandatory here."
"I… suppose you got a point there," the woman said, sighing. She placed her face in her hand, rubbing her eyes with her fingers. "Barkeep, a bottle of Jack."
"Y-yes madam." the young man said, turning around. He grabbed a bottle of Jack Daniels from the high shelf, sliding it over to the woman, along with a glass and some ice. She cracked the bottle open, filling the glass to the brim.
"Airing out your troubles?" Briar asked curiously, earning a sigh from the woman. She took a gulp from the cup, sighing contently.
"I'm just… it's my first year teaching here… well actually, my first day," she said, setting her glass down. "I'm the leading expert in aerodynamics, and yet I don't even have class. No one showed up. I got this state of the art room, simulators, the whole shebang, but I got no one to teach. It feels like I'm just wasting my time here."
"Maybe you should go home then," the man said firmly, holding back the urge to laugh. "You say you are the supposed leading expert on aerodynamics, yet here you are being a whiny little bitch. If you wanna teach, then fuckin do it. Don't come here to bitch and moan."
"H-here's your w-whisky sir," the barkeep said, placing the large bucket of whiskey before the man. Ashe's eyes widened a bit when she saw it, but remember a bucket of whiskey to Briar was nothing more than a shot. The man drank it in one go, sighing.
"That's the stuff, haven't gotten good whiskey since I left home."
"You know, you got a shitty way of making friends. Didn't anyone ever teach you that speaking to your Professors that way is wrong?" Ashe asked, earning a chuckle from the man.
"You aren't my professor, so no," the man replied.
"I suppose you win this round then. Not like I can do anything, you have a point." the woman said, downing the last of her whiskey. She sighed, feeling the warm amber liquid slowly dropping into her stomach. "Still, you should at least go to class. Maybe you'll meet some other people, make some friends or some shit. I remember my professor telling me friends would be important in the future."
"I don't need any friends, I got here on my own didn't I? I became the Supreme Viking because I wanted to. I proved myself and tested my skills. The only reason I'm here is because I want to be here. Because I belong here. Do you belong here? If the answer is no, then why are you here?"
"Of course I belong here! I'm a graduate of this fine institution!" Ashe cried, glaring at the blue skinned man. "I've already proved myself, I don't need to prove myself to anyone else, let alone some snot-nosed class skippers!"
"Good… like I said before, don't come here to bitch and moan. If you wanna go be a professor, then fucking do it. Wrangle your kids in, drag them in by the ear if you have to."
The Supreme Viking grabbed his refilled bucket, just as the barkeep topped it off, downing it in a single go. "I on the other-hand will remain here. I could care less about the midgets in my class, all that matters in the end, is me."
"He's so full of himself, no wonder he's here. He's probably such an ass he's scared to even attempt at making friends."
Ashe took a deep breath, about to say something when a light buzzing filled her ears. She slowly shifted her gaze away from the back of the bar, toward a nearby neon clock. Her eyes widened a bit when she saw a girl rubbing her face against the clock. Her wings fluttered a bit as she hugged the device, a bright smile on her face.
"What the fuck?"
"Oh yeah her," Briar said, grabbing his freshly refilled bucket. The barkeep was struggling to get rid of all the bottles he was using. "She's been hugging that damned thing since I showed up. Got no idea what her name is, or what the hell she's even doing here."
"Such a cute and vibrant time lamp~" the woman whispered, as she continued robbing her face against it. Ashe gave a lone languid blink, sighing under her breath. She forced herself to stand up, moving toward the brunette. She tapped her shoulder, causing her to open her eyes. She gave the woman a vibrant smile "Hello sister! How may I help you?"
"Any reason why you are hugging this neon clock?" she asked curiously. The brunette nodded, rubbing her face against the device.
"Because it has pink light, this time lamp is my favorite. But I like that beer lamp too… all lamps are my favorite kind of lamp." she said happily.
"You like lamps?" the aerodynamics expert asked, earning a nod from the woman.
"I adore lamps, sister. They help keep me safe." she said happily.
"Heads up Professor, that chick is some sort of moth girl. She's like me, a victim of that shit that went down in London. I think she studies them or some shit, probably explains why she loves lamps so fuckin much," Briar said, shaking his head as he downed his fourth shot of whiskey.
"Oh I see… that would explain the wings," she said, giving the young woman a once over. She had to admit, this girl was adorable. Her outfit was provocative yet fluffy, soft and adorable. And her wings were absolutely beautiful. She was jealous of her. She yearned to have wings herself so she could fly under her own power.
"Broother is right… My name is Ninian Llyn Ogwen. I happen to be the Supreme Aurelian, I study butterflies and moths. But mostly moths… it's nice to meet you, sister!"
"Aurelian… that's an interesting name for that talent, I always thought the study of moths and butterflies was lepidopterology."
"It is… but I like Aurelian better, it makes me sound more important." the brunette said, finally letting go of the clock. She stood firmly before the professor, giving her a smile. It was rather awkward for Ashe to meet her gaze, especially due to how shiny her eyes were. "I heard your conversation with broother, sister. I agree, you shouldn't feel sad. You should be happy that you get to teach here. Eventually, you'll have your own students, and if not, then I shall learn from you. After all, I wish to fly with my brethren as well."
"I'm happy to hear that, Ninian. It makes me glad that there are people out there that genuinely want to learn about aerodynamics. Tell ya what, if you have a free class period, why don't you swing by the Aerodynamics Room? I likely won't have any classes to teach for awhile. So I'll teach you anything you'd like. Maybe you can help me design a few things based off of your wings!"
"Do you have a lamp in the Aerodynamics Room?" she asked, a hint of seriousness in her voice. Ashe gave her a small nod. "Excellent! Then I shall definitely show up!"
"Ahem. Hope I'm not interrupting anything."
Ashe looked back at the entrance to the bar, seeing a young woman standing at the threshold, a sheepish smile on her face. "I can't be in here, my Scroll won't let me open the bottom half of this door. I'm here for Ninian Llyn Ogwen and Briar Alling?"
"Who the hell are you?" Briar asked, glancing over his shoulder at the young (tiny) woman. The girl stood firmly, being a bit frightened by his size.
"I uh… I'm a classmate, H-Hermione! Miss Arioka wants everyone to be present for class today. She wants to explain some things to everyone that we'll need for the school year," she said firmly. Briar nodded, forcing himself to stand up. He, of course, had to slouch just so his head didn't hit the ceiling. He reached down beside him, grabbing the gigantic axe he had brought along with him from the floor.
"Aye… let's get this shit over with. Hey Teach, don't sell yourself short yeah? I don't really give a shit about what happens to you or your class. But if you think you are the leading expert in your field, then own it. Don't drown your sorrows away."
"I… I will, thanks Briar. Perhaps we can meet again soon, for class of course," Ashe said happily.
"I will see you soon Professor Sister!" Ninian said happily, as she grabbed the neon clock from the wall, yanking it clean off. It flicked off, making her frown. "Aw… the pink lamp died… oh well, I'll save it for my collection."
Ashe watched the three go, holding onto the bar to prevent herself from falling from Briar's booming steps. She grabbed a hold of her bottle of whiskey, pouring herself one final drink.
"Those kids aren't half bad… I definitely make sure I'm the best teacher here. I am the Aerodynamics Extraordinaire after all! That's a title I wear proudly! This one is for you Christophe, momma's gonna make you proud!"
Date: Monday, April 19th, 2021
Location: Back Courtyard [Traditional Building: Ground Floor]
Time: 1:00 PM
"It's such a lovely day isn't it? It's a pleasure being here with all of you. It's a good thing my church service ended when it did, or I may have missed the sun's rays when they're at their peak," a soothing voice said, as he stood before the entirety of his class.
He was a rather tall man, with long rich burgundy colored hair, reaching down to the middle of his back, his bangs neatly parted, revealing his cerulean blue eyes to the world. He was wearing a firmly pressed silvery-white suit, with a vibrant violet tie. He wore a pair of matching white slacks and black Oxford shoes.
Describing this man as an angel would be correct, as the man not only looked like one, but was in fact one. His most alluring feature was his beautiful wings, which were nicely folded behind his back. One was a pure alabaster white, the pearly white feathers glimmered in the sun. Like a turtle dove, this wing shined, a symbol of his angelic power. Yet to contrast, his raven black wing was dark, standing out against his otherwise white outfit. One could consider it a blemish, and yet Lyonel didn't. He was quite glad to have his wings, white or black, it didn't matter to him.
"I must agree with you there, Lyonel. It is quite a lovely day," Riyo said happily, as she stood at the top of the picnic table. Everyone else was either sitting on the soft grass, on blankets provided by the woman, or at the nearby picnic tables. For someone like Briar, he sat on the ground, being unable to find a blanket large enough for him to sit on. He had a bored expression on his face, and clearly didn't want to be there. "I'm quite glad you offered to help me, Lyonel. I didn't mean to cut your service short when I asked for you."
"It's quite alright, Miss Arioka. Helping out my fellow students and my homeroom teacher is a pleasure, it's quite a joy being here." he said, giving the woman a brilliant smile. She flushed, patting her tiny hands on her hips as she looked at the gathered students.
"Alright, ladies and gentlemen of Class 63-A! I would like to thank you all for coming today."
"Pfft… what? You forced us to be here lady, if it had been my call, I would have stayed in my dorm sleeping!" Nodoka cried, glaring at her homeroom teacher.
"Aw come on Doka! It's a pretty day, and look! I can see a bit of blue in the sky, that means it's going to be an awesome day!" Sasha said, pointing up to the sky, where a tiny patch of blue was visible, contrasting against the otherwise crimson skies.
"It's been such a long time since I've seen a blue sky… it makes me so happy." Robin said.
"Hey kid, I need more ice for my coke." Kevin snapped, holding his cup out to the Glaciologist. He shook his cup a bit, a smirk on his face. "Chop-Chop!"
"Y-yes, of course… s-sorry, Kevin." the boy meekly replied, using his powers to create several ice cubes for the man. From the nearby tree, Alessia growled, glaring at the Violinist.
"I for one wasn't expecting Miss Vasilykos to actually round everyone up… hey wait a minute, where is Hermione?" Peter asked, looking around the gathered crowd. Riyo tugged on her gloves, a sheepish smile on her face.
"As it turns out, we have two more students in this class. Two students that decided it would be a good idea not to show up for class at all. So I sent her to look for them. She managed to find the others at such a record speed that I figured she'd handle it."
"I'm quite impressed by her running skills." Jamila said, twirling a strand of hair around her fingertip. "She managed to beat me in a foot-race, and I'm one of the more physically fit students here."
"Aye! She's got a good pair-o-legs that one. She'd definitely make a man happy in the future." an accented voice said. This came from the Supreme Wedding Planner, Ophelia Driscoll, who sat at the base of a nearby tree, taking sips from a rainbow colored flask.
She had thick, wavy rose colored hair, with a visible rainbow streak on the side. She was wearing a rolled up, white blouse with a black corset over it. A matching black skirt adorned her bottom, ending at mid-thigh. She wore a pair of long white knee-socks and combat boots. At her side was a binder labeled "Wedding Plans" which she was actively writing in. She sighed constantly, stuffing her flask back in her bra.
"Already planning a wedding Ophi?" Joel asked, earning a giggle from the woman.
"Perhaps? I'm always plannin' little get togethers. You never know when someone might need to get hitched!"
"So what you are telling me is that aliens naturally like to dance?" Freyja asked, holding her pen firmly to her small pad. Cleavence sighed, as he fiddled around with his Scroll. It was connected to the speakers built to his jacket. He was currently trying to find a song, having felt the need to dance a bit.
"Little sistah, I told ya before, I ain't a real alien. I'm just a product of that bullshit from London. I used to be a brother like every other bastard in South Detroit."
"Right sure, but you didn't answer my question. Do your people like to dance, and if so can you teach others how to get funky? What is the true nature of Area 50? Were you freed during the raid? Did you run like Naturo?"
"Ay homies, can someone shut this little shit up? She's startin' to cramp my style yo." the man said, glancing at one of the others, hoping to take Freyja away, sadly no one paid attention to him. He sighed, playing his song. "Whatever… if I show you the Whirlin' Steel Shreedah will you shut the fuck up?"
"Oh yeah sure, whatever you say. So long as you don't try to probe me when I'm not looking. The last thing I need is someone like you spreading my cheeks in the middle of the night." the young woman said. If Cleavance had normal eyes, he would have rolled them.
Once the music began in earnest, he started moving around to the beat. He clapped his hands, popping his shoulders to the rhythm, moving his body, keeping himself balanced. Finally, when the time came, he jumped into the air, doing several wild corkscrew spins, sending sparks flying in all directions. "Hell yeah! This is where it's at homies, my spinning Whirlin' Steel Shreddah is here to steal yo' hearts!"
"Wow! That's super cool! Ridley Scott needs jot down some fuckin notes because this needs to be in the next Alien Movie!" the plum haired girl cried, a grin on her face as the man continued showing off his moves.
"I must admit," Riyo began, getting Lyonel's attention. She had been busy pulling out red solo cups from the picnic basket she had brought along. Of course, Lyonel had been the one to carry it, but she swore she could handle everything else herself. "I wasn't expecting to be given such a large group of kids. All of them are so nice and talented, even the ones who seem a bit rough around the edges. I look forward to seeing you all grow as people!"
"As do I… I'm so very thankful I was accepted into HHPA. A lot of people don't seem to trust me, because of my talent. But I wish to spread joy across this nation. It's why I asked for permission to host my sermons here. So many tourists visit this place on a daily basis, I felt it was the perfect way to spread my teachings all over the nation, and maybe the world." the man said happily. "Perhaps I can use my special pills to cure what's left of Ultimate Despair."
"Yes, that would be nice. I myself am not very religious, I don't think I ever was, even before when I was fully human." the woman said softly. She placed a hand on her cheek, holding back her sniffles. "All I care about now is finding a partner, but no one wants to be with someone who's all spider underneath. It's just so hard!"
"My apologies, Miss Arioka. I didn't know you had trouble in the love department… I am of the opinion that there is someone out there for everyone. I am not aware how Spider Physiology works, but perhaps there's a nice gentleman spider out there for you?"
"I… I would hope so… it's just difficult. Most spiders end up eating their male counterparts after their done breeding, I find that so disgusting you know? If anything, I'd be satisfied with someone fertilizing my eggs. But, I know that won't happen… so I'll raise all of you as my children instead! I'll be the best Momma Spider in the world!"
"Ehehe… of course, of course! I'm certain you'll do just fine." Lyonel said, looking away from the woman. He grabbed a cup and filled it with a bit of cherry soda, taking a gulp from the cup. "This woman certainly does make me want to drink the kool-aid. But she's a strong person, and my cult does need strong people. How else would we spread our message of joy and peace?"
"Miss Nyan Nyan, do you think I could trouble you for something?" the voice of Joel said, causing Nodoka to look up from her cellphone. She had decided to dress in her idol-get up while she was outside, just in case any fans happened to spot her. The difference between Rika and Nodoka was night and day. She had already signed plenty of autographs, all while dodging the fat pervert from Orrtanna.
"Sure thing Joey! What can Rika Nyan Nyan do for you?" she asked, in her overly saccharine tone. Joel grimaced a bit, but kept the smile on his face. He pulled out his laptop, fiddling with it for a moment before showing her what was on screen.
"I wrote a song! It's sort of a duet, so I wanted to know if you wanted to practice it? Maybe we could do a single or something."
The young idol looked the lyrics over, brow furrowing a bit as she read them. "This is all in Japanese, you wanna sing a song in another language?"
"Sure why not? I've received extensive language tutoring while in school. I know how to speak five different languages, including Japanese. I figured we could do a sort of idol meets western pop star song. Do you like it?" the young boy asked. Nodoka remained silent for a moment, giving him a nod.
"Sure I do! I'm surprised too, you work fast. You managed to mix the song quicker than Rika changes panties! If you'd like we can practice it now, that way we can get the lyrics down. All we would have to do is record it!"
"Y-you wanna practice it now? I mean...sure yes! That would be awesome. Maybe when we get our Augma's we can host an AR Concert! It's so fun to work with that technology, I'll show you how to use it!"
"Rika Nyan Nyan isn't tech savvy, so she appreciates learning new things! Rika may be an old kitty but that doesn't mean she can't learn new tricks!" she said happily, giving the boy a bright smile.
"C-cool, I guess we can get started on this now!" he said excitedly, taking the girl over to the base of an empty tree. Sasha meanwhile was fiddling with her camera, having brought her tripod along with her. She stood next to Riyo and Lyonel, who were all but finished preparing the food the woman had brought along.
"Ugh… this is gonna suck, trying to get the big guy in a photo is gonna be a pain in the ass." she mumbled under her breath.
"Perhaps I can take it for you." a firm voice said, causing her to jump a bit. She turned around, looking up at the tall, nearly seven foot man that had appeared behind her.
"O-oh? I would appreciate that. I don't think we've met sir."
"My name is Tanzo Burckhard, I'm a teacher here. I happen to be the Homeroom Teacher of Class 63-B. However, it seems my students are elsewhere, only three of them showed up. So I sent them back to their dorms. I spotted Miss Arioka and decided to stop by to say hello."
"Hello, Mr. Burckhard!" the woman happily greeted. She fixed her glasses as she approached the edge of the table. "I'm sorry to hear your students are missing, I have a few stragglers myself. One of my other students is rounding them up." she said. The man nodded, brow set as he glanced around the courtyard.
"I must admit… I wasn't expecting you to get so many students. Compared to myself, I have about 16 or so. You are quite lucky, you get to have the happy family of students you yearned for." the man said firmly.
"Hmm… I am lucky aren't I? It's time to prove myself. This is the first year I'll have such a large class, they're my kids for the next four years. So I have to treat them right!"
"Yeah, just don't go full den mother on us, I don't think people want someone like that breathing down their necks." Sasha said, putting the final touches on her camera. "Well, this is all set. All we gotta do is wait for the last two students and we can take the first group photo!"
"Ah… I look forward to that. I wish to build an album of all my experiences here in HHPA. They will serve to carry me for the rest of my life." Lyonel said, a peaceful look on his face. Sasha shook her head, shuddering a bit at his statement.
"Yeah… I don't like this guy at all… something about how he speaks rubs me the wrong way."
"Well, for your sakes, I hope you all get along and have a good time here. I'll hang around, not like I have anything better to do." Tanzo said, stepping away from the group. Riyo clapped her tiny hands, managing to get everyone's attention.
"Alright kids! While we get for the last two stragglers, you can all help yourselves to some food! I'll get started on everything soon. Let's use this picnic as a means to make friends! You'll be a class for 4 years, so it's important for all of you to bond!"
"Do those sandwiches have anchovies in them? I'm highly allergic to them and I would rather not risk my life." Kevin called out, earning a growl from Alessia.
"Yeah yeah, keep making fun of my nickname asshole, you'll see who comes out on top soon enough." she mumbled under her breath. She knew Kevin was just saying things to annoy her, so she would do her best to ignore him, at least for now.
"Sustenance! Oh how I crave thee! I hope these scorpion filet sandwiches are out of this world!" Freyja said, taking a bite from her food. Riyo had to wonder where the young Meteorologist got that idea from. Of course, she'd rather not find out.
"Oh boy! Looks like we made it just in time!" Hermione cried, as she dragged two people by the wrist. One a green haired young man and the other, a rainbow haired young woman. Riyo's face lit up, as she clapped her tiny hands in joy.
"Excellent! You managed to find Mr. Quinn and Miss Gonzales after all!"
"Well duh… the fact that you doubted me hurts miss," the Environmentalist said, giving her a sassy wink. "These two were walking around the halls, so it was hard to pin-point them."
"Is it wrong that I wished to familiarize myself with my surroundings?" Lugh said, crossing his arms once he had been released. "After all, classes aren't mandatory, I didn't think it would be such a bad thing to explore."
"Yup-yup! I wasn't expecting the halls of Canterlot High to be so nice and chipper! I had to make sure I was in the right place you know? I've got so many ideas for little pony carvings too!" Heather said, a grin on her face as she shrugged her backpack off. She pulled out her wood carving set, sitting at the edge of the table. "I'm gonna start right away! I got some nice people that deserve their own little ponies!"
"Uh… what?" Hermione mumbled, tilting her head in confusion. "Is she serious?"
"As a heart-attack, I'm afraid." the alchemist said. "I met her a few weeks ago, apparently she wanted me to turn her little pony figures into solid gold. She doesn't seem to understand how my powers work."
"You are just a big fat phony! I saw that video on YouTube you liar!" Heather cried, pointing her wood chisel at the boy, a look of anger on her face. "You said you could turn anything to gold!"
"No… I said I can turn anything metal into gold. Metal! Nothing else."
"Right sure, that's what all liars say, you magicians are all the same." she cried, as she started carving a piece of wood.
"I am not a magician! I am an alchemist!" he said, shifting his gaze elsewhere. He froze in place when he saw Sasha, chatting with Peter and his sister Veronica. He noticed her little pet, Fou, was on Sasha's shoulder. She was laughing at some sort of joke, but stopped the moment their gazes met. She held his gaze for a moment, before looking away, seemingly carrying on with her previous conversation.
"You wanna make friends don't you?" Riyo asked, grabbing his attention. He was thankful she couldn't actually read the situation to understand what was going on. "Why don't you mingle with the others? I'm sure you'll be making plenty of friends soon!"
"I'd rather not. I'd like to keep an eye on Heather here, the last thing I want is for her to cut herself." he said firmly, sitting down across from Heather. Riyo sighed, shaking her head.
"Suit yourself sweetheart, help yourself to anything you'd like. I brought cookies too if you'd like something sweet."
"Oh can I get a fruit cup and a juice box?" Heather asked, holding her hand up high, a grin on her face. Riyo gave her a smile.
"Sure thing sweetie, Mr. Burckhard, do you mind getting some juice boxes from the School Store for me?"
Tanzo sighed, tossing aside his cigarette. He gave the woman a thumbs up as he walked back toward the Cafeteria.
xxx
"So, why is it that you've called me here?" Kaguya asked, as she sat in front of Headmaster Xiao Long.
He was a tall, muscular man, with lemon yellow hair. He had a neatly trimmed beard, a thin pair of glasses sat on the bridge of his nose. He was wearing a firmly pressed, neon blue suit with various pins on the lapel, one of which being the Crest of HHPA. He was sitting behind an oak desk, which was littered with knick-knacks, photo albums and various other things. The man gave her a smile, making her relax a bit.
"Miss Kagami, I've called you here for a very special task. You see, every year, we select someone new to replace a member of our student council. Last year, our former Chief of Staff graduated, so it's title is being prepared to be given out. Since you ate the Supreme Sociologist, I figured you were the perfect candidate for this role."
Kaguya's eyes widened in surprise, as she sat up in her seat. She pushed her glasses up her nose, twirling a small strand of her raven black hair. "Are you serious… you want to put me in the Student Council as a Chief of Staff member?"
"Indeed… you would be a trusted advisor to the Supreme Student Council President. Not only that, but you would oversee everyone in the HHPA Staff, approving council funding, class funding, trips and everything else." the man said firmly, his grin growing. "It is a massive responsibility, but I don't think anyone but you can handle it."
The young teen couldn't help but wonder why she was being put in this position of power. Why her of all people? Why not someone more outspoken like Peter, Sasha or even Nodoka? It didn't make any sense to her. This wasn't the first time meeting this man, in fact she had met him when she had gotten invited to attend HHPA. But she hadn't been expecting him to make her an offer like this though.
"Forgive me for being presumptuous sir, but why me? I'm just a lanky anti-social louse. Why would you make me the Chief of Staff of the Student Council? I'm not outspoken, in fact I would rather be in my room reading books. I personally think this role should go to someone else, someone like Peter, Sasha, Briar or hell, even Kevin. I am not fit for this task."
"Don't sell yourself short sweetheart, I see something in you many don't. I'm the one who is offering you this. The Student Council President is quite impressed with your talents as well as your grades from your former school. She wishes for you to join the staff alongside her. Not to mention you'd be the one approving funding for classes all across the board. You could abuse this power and make your next four years here quite cushy."
"Seriously? You actually want kids to abuse the system?" the woman asked, earning a chuckle from the man.
"America is a capitalist country, is it not? That means we must make and do things for our own self interests. Money makes the world go round, and believe me, this school has a lot of it. You and your class could have comfortable positions here, and even well into the future. But if you wish for someone else to take the spot, I can recommend someone for it."
Kaguya sighed, shaking her head. "That won't be necessary sir… while it is odd that you would offer me this, I'll happily accept it. If it means helping my fellow classmates get by of course."
"Excellent… you won't be sorry, Miss Kagami. All of our facilities are open to you, in fact, you will be receiving your own Staff Scroll as well as an Augma 2.5, the first series of its kind. Only those in the Student Council are set to receive them. I'm sure it will make things for you a lot easier."
The young woman remained silent as the man pulled a black scroll from inside the desk. He connected it to its charging port, which was hooked up to his PC. after a few keystrokes, he had registered it to her name. He handed it over to her, allowing her to look it over. It was much bigger than the student variant, and a lot slimmer as well. She flicked the top outward, seeing her profile, along with the shiny badge next to her name that marked her as part of the Student Council.
"Thank you sir… this is a momentous occasion for me."
"As well it should be, it isn't every day a new member of the Council is chosen. They take things very seriously, but I think you'll fit right in. Now, while I prepare your personal Augma, you can return to your class, I'm sure they're wondering where you are." the man said firmly, she gave him a nod, stuffing her scroll into her back pocket.
"Thank you, Headmaster… I'm sure this will help me… improve… my social skills. I can't be an antisocial sociologist now can I?" she asked, holding back the urge to laugh.
"No you cannot… have a nice afternoon, Miss Kagami, I'll see you soon!" he said, with that, the young woman left his office, wondering why she had even accepted his offer in the first place. The man sighed as he looked around his office, a small smile on his face. "I never would have dreamed the Province of Pennsylvania would be picked to house such a wonderful academy. It's so full of life and hope... I'm certain these next few years will be great. This country has suffered a lot... but even now, I can see the hope in their eyes. Let's make these four years great, shall we?" the man said, to no one in particular.
Date: Tuesday, April 19th, 2021
Location: HHPA
Time: 8:00 PM
From the top Floor of Hope Hills Preparatory Academy, she could see the entire complex. It was her own personal throne, her seat above the world. She had been setting this up for months, and now the fruits of her labor were about to take shape. She stood at the edge of the building, grinning as she peered down at the city of Philadelphia, one who would soon change. She heard footsteps behind her, making her glance over her shoulder. She could see vibrant green lights in the darkness, a pair of eyes, along with an equally brilliant smile.
"Is everything in place?"
"Indeed! Class 63-A is in the Grand Auditorium as we speak. It wasn't hard to send a message to that spider wench and have them remain there. They all think they're going to see a live play anyway." the young woman said.
"Excellent, what of the others?" the woman asked firmly. Her underling reached into her pocket for a scroll, holding it out for her.
"The Students from Classes 60-62 are all present and accounted for. All Staff members are also present. We're ready to begin whenever you are!"
"Good work, I think I made the right choice in having you be our host. Nicky, are things set for you as well?"
"Nyahahaha! Things are all ready to go toots! All I need is the go ahead and I'll blow that place to smithereens!" the mechanical cat cried. The Mastermind nodded, giving the city of Philadelphia one final glance.
"Let's… get this show on the road. The United States of America will be forever changed after tonight… it's delusion has been collected and catalogued." she said, a small laugh leaving her lips. "This is what you wanted me to do, isn't it? I see your vision now, and in order for our plans to succeed, we must bring down Hope. One academy at a time. Penny, your on."
"Understood!" the young woman, known as Penny, said. She activated the rocket thrusters in her feet, shooting off into the sky.
"Idabashi… your technology has served me well, shame that it had to be used for such an evil purpose. Oh well, when it comes to morals, who am I to question someone's intentions?" she mumbled, reaching inside her jacket for a Scroll. This one was pink in color, far different than the ones the students or staff had. She let out a giggle, pressing a glowing red button on the center of the screen.
xxx
"When the hell is the show gonna start? I'm getting bored!" Kevin shouted angrily.
"Settle down, I'm sure it'll begin momentarily."
"I hope so… if we're gonna do this class bullshit from here on out, I wanna get my beauty sleep!" Nodoka cried out.
"So do I! I gotta get up bright and early to help the Student Council with the weather report! I gotta look extra cute! But I also gotta make sure my windows are sealed nice and tight so the aliens don't kidnap me." Freyja added, glaring at Cleavance.
"Ey yo, for the last time little sistah, I am not a real alien. How many fuckin' times to I gotta say dat?" Cleavance cried back.
"Try to remain calm, Cleavance, she is just trying to rile you up." Zalicka said softly, as she gave Seath and Veeza a loving pat. "If you'd like, I could take care of her for you. I'm sure my darlings wouldn't mind."
"Nah… I'm not a fan of murder." the man said, backing away slightly from the snake charmer.
"The stage is empty, perhaps I could treat you all to one of my kabuki plays while we wait. I have a few stories left to tell," Yoshi said, an almost excited look on his face.
"Everything will be okay kids… I'm sure there's an explanation for why we were called here. The Headmaster said a special show was about to begin. We just have to wait until-" Riyo was cut off by the white screen coming down, startling her and several of the other students. She turned to face it, a frown on her face. "-The white screen… wonder what that's for?"
"Miss Arioka? Why are you here?" a familiar voice called out, causing everyone to turn back. Standing at the threshold was Tanzo Burckhard, along with Ashe Langdon, the two staff members had looks of confusion on their faces as they walked further into the auditorium.
"I could be asking you the same question… I thought the two of you had work to handle for your classes?" the blue haired woman said, tilting her head. "Why would you show up here?"
"Not sure, the Headmaster sent us both a message, telling us to go to the Auditorium. Aside from that, nothing." Ashe said firmly.
"I don't like this… being told where to be without much else on the matter… something fishy is going on here." Sasha said. Peter stood up from his seat, fixing his hat a bit as he looked at the gathered crowd.
"Now, let's just remain calm. I'm sure there's a reason for us being here, we just gotta wait for the Headmaster to address us."
"I'm not sure, big brother… I'm starting to get scared myself. So is Fou… maybe we should just go back to our dorms." Veronica said, hugging her little buddy tightly. Before anyone could reply, the screen whirled to life, making everyone jump in fear.
"Testing, Testing! Mic check 1, mic check 2! Oh good… everything is working!"
"Uh… what?" Robin mumbled, glancing at the screen. The image on the camera seemed to be moving a bit, the sound of the whipping wind echoing through the auditorium. It finally died down, enough for them to hear clearly.
"Excellent! It seems everything is operational. Salutations Class 63 of Hope Hills Preparatory Academy! You must all be wondering why you were called here right? Well, that's because you guys are important! See, there's something that a friend of mine asked of me, and that's to become your Hostess!"
"Hostess?" Lugh asked, glaring at the screen. "The fuck you mean, hostess?"
"It's exactly what you think it means bub! I'm going to be hosting the best and most well recognized Reality Game Show on the planet! Did you think the alumni of the prestigious American Academy of Hope would be spared? Nay, what a farce, what total malarkey!"
"Alright young lady, whoever you are, you need to stop playing around. You could get hurt or worse." Riyo snapped angrily. A giggle filled the speakers, as the camera turned to face what seemed to be Hope Hills Prep.
"Oh Miss Arioka, you certainly do know how to make funny jokes. Believe me… I'm not the one who is going to get hurt… but there are a few people here that might. Turn your attention to the screen right now! Oh, and ignore the cameras that are currently recording you!"
Everyone in the auditorium looked around, noticing the television cameras were all on, recording a live feed. Where it was going, no one knew. Everyone in the room was tense. A few of the monitors in the auditorium had sparked to life, showing images of the class within the auditorium, proof that they were being filmed live.
"What the hell is going on?" Ophelia cried in anger.
"Not sure Ophi, but I'm pretty sure I can take a guess," Hermione replied, her eyes firmly affixed to the screen.
One by one, students and staff of HHPA were forced to walk out of the Traditional Building, forced to line up in neat rows before Independence Hall. The person filming made sure to get images from every angle. She shifted the camera to the top of the building, where a robed figure could be seen, holding something in their hand.
"Students and Staff of Hope Hills Preparatory Academy. You all came here with a single dream, to become Supreme enough to matter in the world. You came here, showed off your talents, and thought that was the end of it. But you were wrong…
For far too long, this academy has laughed at the dreams of the students who apply here. For far too long, the Government uses this institution for sick experiments that people aren't even aware of. For too long, you exploit those that apply to this prestigious academy, and make money from the Grand Showcase, which you use to fund your own sick science projects. Well no longer. This Nation was Founded by 55 men, all who declared their independence against the tyranny of the king. So I come here tonight, to do the same. This nation's Hope ends here, for tonight! One Person will bring it to its knees. Tonight is the last day of the United States of America!"
As if on cue, several mounted turrets sprung to life, firing into the gathered crowd below. People started running and screaming in all directions. The large mounted guns swept the area, making sure its .50 caliber rounds tore every single gathered human apart. Blood and guts flew in all directions as people tried to find cover. Those that managed to get into vehicles were swiftly dealt with by the Academy's mounted rocket launchers. This went on, for what felt like an hour but was in fact just 60 seconds. In a single minute, every student, staff and unlucky civilian to be caught in the action had been killed. The machine guns slowed to a stop, clouds of smoke coming from its barrels.
"It is done… Class 63 is the final class of this academy. The final group of kids. The final Hope for the United States of America. But they have their own part to play in all of this… their delusions have become my playthings! So let's begin this in earnest, this was after all, one bite of the giant cookie of despair!"
The woman snapped her fingers, a grin on her face. "Nicky, the floor is yours!"
"You got it boss! Penny and I will take it from here nyaa!"
The students within the auditorium jumped a bit, as loud alarms started blaring all throughout the facility. The fire lights started blinking, glowing a vibrant red rather than their normal white. The entire complex seemed to be shaking, as if something was beginning to happen. Riyo shook her head, eyes wide as she realized what was going on.
"Tanzo, Ashe! Whoever activated the failsafe, we have to get the kids out of here before the complex is locked down!"
"Right! This way kids, we gotta get you out of here right now!" Tanzo shouted, springing into action. He held the auditorium doors open, urging everyone to make a swift escape. Ashe took the lead, racing down the hallway toward the doors, only to find them locked.
"Shit! This way, there's a tunnel that leads to the Traditional Building, we'll run out the front doors!"
"And into the turret fire? Hell no! Let's just use the fire escape!" Joel cried, as he tried pushing the door open. Just as he did, several audible clicks filled his ears. "What?"
"The school is being put under lockdown, that means even the fire doors are being locked. That's why I suggested the tunnel, now let's go!" Ashe cried, leading the group down to the stairwell, throwing the basement door open.
They continued to run, a desperate attempt to find an exit to the academy. Finally making it to the Traditional Building, Ashe continued leading the charge, leading the group down up the stairs to the first floor. Just as they were about to make it to the front atrium, a young woman appeared before them, quite literally landing in front of them.
"Hey now! We can't have you escape just yet!" she cried, her vibrant orange hair swaying a bit from her landing. "Can't you see? The main event is about to begin!"
"Yeah well, I don't want to be a part of it!" Peter shouted, throwing his cane at the young woman, striking her right in the face. She stumbled back in surprise, allowing him and a few others to get past her.
He noticed a large gate beginning to come down over the front door, and realized he wasn't going to make it in time. He tightened his grip on Veronica's hand, knowing what he had to do. The moment he made it, he threw the glass door open and tossed his sister out, much to her surprise. She groaned in pain, realizing what he had just done.
"Peter… Peter? What the hell are you doing?" she cried. The man knelt down a bit, the shutter being far too low for him to crawl under.
"Get out of here! Go and find some help, stay safe alright? Don't let this deter you! Find Olivia, I'll figure out how to get out of here!" he cried.
"No! Big brother!" she cried, trying to reach for his hand, only for the shutter to slam on the ground. The ground beneath her started to shake, as a large bomb proof door started rising from the ground. She rapidly stood up, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. "I gotta get out of here… alright Fou, let's… Fou? Oh no… please tell me I didn't leave him in there!"
She looked up at the academy, a look of hopelessness on her face. She rose to her feet and ran, trying her hardest not to trip on the corpses of the deceased Supreme students and staff.
xxx
"Oh, you little bastard!" the orange haired woman cried, delivering a firm kick to the Showman's ribs, slamming him into the glass doors. She grabbed a hold of his jacket, pulling him to his knees. "If it wasn't because my Master needs you alive, I would fucking kill you!"
"Now, now Penny, that is not how we treat our guests." a voice said, causing her to look up at the nearby monitor. The silhouette of a woman was clearly visible. Penny let the boy go, standing firmly before the screen.
"Yes ma'am… tell me what I should do."
"Make sure our guests are… prepared… for what is about to begin. Oh but before we start, I wish for them to see this. So everyone, gather around the screen, the game is just about to begin."
"What is the meaning of this? You have no right to trap us in here." Riyo shouted angrily.
"Must be one of those despair loving freaks… is this some sort of sick game? You gonna have us kill each other?" Naveen snapped angrily. He felt someone grab his shoulder, and turned to see it was Lyonel.
"Remain calm friend… reacting in an angry manner is only going to make things worse."
"Listen to the angel. After this you are going to wish you were as peppy and upbeat as him."
The image of the mastermind changed to what seemed to be an aerial view. The whirling sound of a helicopter could be heard in the feed. It didn't take people long to realize what city it was. Sasha cleared her throat, pointing at the screen.
"Look at that, the Washington Monument… this is a live feed from the Capital!"
"Correct! I wanted you all to see the moment your old lives died… along with the rest of the country. And you were all scared of someone else pushing the big red button. Guess it's time for me to figure out what it actually does."
The woman let out a laugh as she pressed a few keys in her panel. Another loud alarm began blaring throughout the academy, what sounded like jet thrusters quickly overtook the air, as if something had jettisoned into the atmosphere. At the same time, the feed from the chopper shifted to that of the White House, the symbol of power and the home of the President. It only took a few minutes, 5 at most before a bright light streaked across the sky. In that instant, the entire building exploded, a bright orange light filled the screen, as the chopper tried to remain stable. Once it was, the camera turned back to the White House, only to show a bright orange mushroom cloud where it once stood. Several more explosions rang throughout the city, as more bombs continued to fall.
"No way…" Jamila mumbled under her breath.
"Did she just… nuke Washington?"
"This isn't happening, this isn't happening! This can't be happening!"
"Calm down! She can't have access to nuclear weapons… those are strictly under lock and key. Only the President has those authorization codes, she's bluffing." Tanzo said, trying to reassure the class.
"Oh if only… let me clue you in on something bud, I happen to have said codes. Did you know HHPA has its own missile silos? I just sent the academy's entire payload to key points in the country. So you can kiss Washington D.C. goodbye. Oh right… if you liked Hollywood… well you're gonna have to settle for movies from somewhere else."
"Eh… I can live with that."
"Kevin are you shitting me? People just got nuked, there are people dying! Take it seriously for once in your pathetic life!" Alessia shouted. Kevin shrugged his shoulders, a grin on his face.
"I couldn't care less if the entire world was burning to the ground. As long as I'm alive, that's all that matters!"
"Imbecile." Zalicka shouted. A loud hissing filled the room, as the front atrium started filling with a thick cloud of smoke.
"What the… is this… sleeping gas?" Hermione asked, as she hastily covered her mouth.
"Indeed it is! All of you are going to be prepped for our little game. It won't be long now, when you awakened you'll be greeted by a brand new world! So sleep tight!" Penny said cheerfully, as the students all passed out, one by one dropping to the ground.
"Nyahahaha! I've been waiting for so long for this. It's been such a long time since I've hosted a Killing Game. It's time to get this show on the road nya!" Nicky cried, a grin on her face as she looked at the sleeping students.
The Killing Game had begun anew, in the Land of the Free. But would these people be Brave enough to face what was to come? Only time would tell.
xxx(End of Chapter 0)xxx
Surviving Students 29
Surviving Staff Members 4
A/N: Ladies and Gentlemen, children of all ages, I welcome you one and all to this, the first chapter in a series that is going to be filled with despair. As of now, everyone has been introduced and the game has finally begun! Oh how I've waited for this momentous occasion! So many days of planning, so many motives and ideas and they're all coming to fruition! Ever since I joined LoD, I wanted to take my own story, Morning Hope Academy and bring it into the series, but I couldn't just give it a new coat of paint and call it a day. No, it needed an overhaul. I've quite literally been planning this for a year, maybe more at this rate. I wanted to get used to LoD before I made such a move, and here it is. Our New Semester of Killing can officially begin! So sit back, relax and get ready for a show, because it's not going to be fun for anyone. No prizes will be won, and no one will get out without sacrificing something. Despair comes for everyone, why don't you do yourself a favor and embrace it?
I'm dedicating this one to two people, the first being Crit Fail. I wanna thank you for the work you've done dude. This community quite literally pulled me out of depression. It's had it's highs and lows, and there have been times where I wanna outright quit. But I'm still here, because I love what I do and I love this crazy family of ours. As a member of the Hand, it makes me happy that I can give back to this community, no matter how small it may be, even if it's through writing, I will do my best to keep this Legacy, your Legacy, alive and kicking! Thanks for the memories dude! And may we make more in the future!
The second person I wanna dedicate this too is my friend Abitat Eco, the nurse from across the pond who's turning 21! I assure you, I didn't mean to make that rhyme, it just happened to work out that way haha. Happy Birthday Girl! I hope you had a fabulous day, and I wish you more happy birthdays in the future!
I'll see you all next time. I'm not sure when the next chapter will be out, but it will be out soon I hope. I gotta strike while the iron is hot after all! Thanks for being patient with me everyone! On with the show!
