Shadow Over Trolberg

A Hilda/Persona 4 AU

By Daring D.D. Danger

17: The School Festival

Randall awoke to the train car, heading to its unknown destination through the impenetrable fog. He was alone once more, often a bad omen in his experience. He laid back in his seat, beckoning for an exit from the Velvet Room.

10/26

The school festival was coming up soon. Each of the upper classes at the Ahlberg school would host an event in their classrooms during the festival. The class rep of Randall's class was now standing in front of the room.

"Okay, we've tallied the votes and this year, our class will host a group date cafe."

"What? You're kidding me!" Hilda protested.

"That was supposed to be a joke." David said, with his head on his desk.

"Of course this is your fault." Hilda said.

"I think it'll be funny." Frida added.

"I mean, we had fun playing the King's Game." Randall also added.

"You idiots voted for it, didn't you?" Hilda asked. Randall and Frida nodded. Hilda returned to her desk and settled in for the day.

Lunchtime came around and Hilda joined the group last. She looked particularly excited.

"Hilda, why do you have that look on your face?" Trevor asked. She just smiled.

"I have bad news for you, Trevor, David, and Randall." Alfur said from her hair. "She entered you three in the school festival drag show."

"She did what!?" David said.

"Hilda, why?!" Trevor asked.

"It was to get back at those two for the group date cafe." Hilda said.

"Why me, then?" Trevor pressed.

"I needed another person to reach the minimum number of entrants." Hilda said.

"I'm not doing it." David said. "Back me up, bro." He looked at Randall, who had been silent.

"I am going to be the most beautiful girl in Trolberg!" Randall announced.

"You have no shame." David replied.

10/28

"Hilda, what are you doing?" Trevor asked with a tired tone. Hilda was measuring his waist.

"You're really big, so finding you a dress is going to be difficult." Hilda said. She'd signed up to be Trevor's assistant at the drag show after Trevor tried to back out several times. David began snickering as Hilda zoomed around Trevor.

"What're you laughing at, David? You need a dress too." Trevor yelled to David on the other side of the Junes women's department.

"David will be fine. He's already worn tights and a skirt in public." Frida assured.

"Why?" Trevor asked.

"He needed to look like me, so me and him switched clothes once. I think it's the best he's ever looked." Hilda said.

"Of course you'd think that Hilda, he was dressed as you." Frida said.

"I had great fashion taste when I was eleven." Hilda continued.

"Unfortunately that was the day I learned my ability to fit well into trousers worked on tights, too." David grumbled.

"Don't you want us to help you pick something, Randall?" Frida asked.

"I have my own plan." Randall said, leaning against a support beam, separate from both pairs.

10/29

The school was bustling with activity as the festival began, all except for Randall's class, which only contained Hilda, David, Frida, Trevor, Alfur and Randall.

"I think this is a bust," Trevor said.

"Yeah. Hey Randall, what are you doing?" Hilda asked. Randall flipped around to show he had numbered some King's Game sticks.

"We won't be using those." Frida grimaced.

"I think we need to show people how much fun a group date cafe is." David suggested.

"So if they see us having fun, then they'll wanna join." Frida continued.

"I'll take Trevor." Hilda said.

"What?" Trevor said as Hilda pulled him to a table.

"So, Randall or me?" David asked Frida.

"I'll take Alfur." Frida said, picking up the elf.

"Why, thank you, milady." Alfur replied.

"Well great, now there's two guys and no more girls." David said.

"Come take a seat, sweetie." Randall said in his best girl voice, gesturing David to sit across from him.

"So, do you have any hobbies?" Trevor asked Hilda.

"Well, I like adventuring..." Hilda trailed off, laughing a little

"Okay uh Ran- I mean Rebecca… do you have any hobbies?" David asked.

"I like to uh… fuse Personas?" Randall said.

"That's not a hobby." David groaned. "So which one of us would you choose as a boyfriend?"

"That's a little personal." Frida said.

"Boys are dumb." Hilda added. David looked back to Randall, who immediately locked eyes with him. The room went silent.

"Okay, group date over!" David shot out of his chair and went to grab a drink.

10/30

Randall walked to the outside of town, the Marra hotel coming into view.

"Oh no, what do you want?" Twin Tail complained as she saw him approach.

"Is that Randall?!" Euryale's voice came from a window. Soon every Marra in Trolberg was at the front door.

"I need a favor." Randall stated.

"What kind of favor?" Twin Tail asked.

"Today is the Miss Ahlberg drag show." he said.

"And?" Kelly gestured.

"I need a makeover." Randall said. Suddenly 13 sets of green Marra eyes set upon him, he was lifted into the hotel, possibly never to be seen again.

"Welcome to day two of the festival! And the Miss Ahlberg Drag Show!" A younger boy was on the gym stage yelling into the microphone. "First up, we have one of the toughest girls in the school, it's Trevor!"

Trevor walked onstage. Hilda had put him in a white dress and a blonde wig. The crowd was murmuring. Randall watched from behind the stage. He did not make a very pretty girl. Trevor was making an angry face.

"What are you looking at?" Trevor said to the crowd.

"Now for our second entry, it's David!" David walked onstage. Frida had gone for a schoolgirl look. The crowd began cheering. David was right, he really could fit into anything. Despite the cheers, David didn't look entirely thrilled to be onstage.

"And now for our final contestant- she's visiting us from the big city, it's Randall!" With that Randall went onto stage and the crowd gasped. The Marra had given him a blue sundress. And taught him to walk in heels. They'd also straightened his hair so it flowed behind him.

"Is that really Randall?" Hilda whispered.

"Is that really a guy?" Another person whispered. He'd done it, Randall was the prettiest girl in Trolberg.

"Well, it's no contest! The winner of the pageant is Randall! She'll get to help choose the winner of the real pageant right after this!" The announcer bellowed. Randall stepped forward to accept his award when he noticed Frida waving him down.

"What's up, Frida?" Randall asked as he walked over.

"I can't find Hilda." she replied.

"That's not entirely abnormal." he shrugged.

"I convinced her to enter the beauty pageant and I think she got scared." Frida said, looking down.

"That doesn't seem like her thing, why would she do that?" Randall pondered.

"She was telling me I should do it, because of how pretty I was, so I suggested we do it together." Frida explained. "I think you understand her better than any of us lately, Randall. Also, you can track her." He nodded and left the gymnasium. Randall headed over to the tree Hilda was hiding behind.

"Hey, Randall, I felt you coming." Hilda said bleakly as Randall sat down next to her.

"Frida told me about the pageant." He said.

"Frida is really beautiful and I know she'll do well, I just wanted her to have some fun too." Hilda said.

"But?" Randall pressed.

"I don't think I can do the same. I'm not really… pretty." Hilda said.

"You've said yourself you don't care much about that." Randall pointed out.

"I still don't want the entire school reminding me while I'm onstage." Hilda said, gesturing angrily with her hands.

"Then don't do it." Randall suggested.

"Won't Frida be mad?" She asked.

"Sometimes you have to do things for yourself before you start worrying about the needs of others." Randall said.

"Maybe you're right." she said.

"Let's go watch Frida kill it." Randall said, reaching out a hand to his friend.

"I can't believe you are still wearing that dress." she said, laughing as she got up.

"Hot, right?" He joked.

"Maybe in your dreams." Hilda joked back. "Who did your hair, by the way?" She asked.

"Kelly." he replied.

"You look good with straight hair." Hilda said. "Maybe I should get a new style."

"Sure, we can go together." Randall said, walking his friend back into the school.

To Be Continued