Chapter 36: Falling Kingdom: Act One
3:16 P.M Day Fourteen
Techland
Command Center (Vent)
"Note à moi-même: si je survivrais à ça... je vais au régime. Mon cul devient trop gros. Les papillons auraient honte si je mourais parce que je me suis retrouvé pris au piège dans ce foutu évent," Chloe said under her breath. Her eyes widened marginally as the grating she rested on suddenly gave way. She gripped the inside of the vent before flipping and landing on her feet.
The dimly-lit room drew her attention as she quickly scrutinized her surroundings. It appeared to be a control room that contained a series of surveillance cameras and computers, as well as dozens of monitors. It cast a faint glow over the Femme Fatale, who soon realized she wasn't alone.
At the front of the room sat a single figure. Their back was turned at the moment, while another silhouette stood next to the chair. Both of them were quite obscured from her view.
Before Chloe could make any action, the voice addressed her.
"We Despairs really have to be more careful about where we put vents. First Horizon Station, and now this. That being said, it's nothing that wasn't accounted for," the figure said while the chair slowly spun around.
The Fashion Designer stared in disbelief. Her jaw fell open. "What the hell? H-How is this even possible? Is this some kind of joke?"
A snicker escaped the figure. "It depends. If it is, I guess it makes you the punchline. I mean, come on! Is it really that outlandish? Haven't you see enough bizarre things since you arrived in Kuma Kuma Land? If you knew what else existed in the world, seeing me here would seem quite trivial."
"Honestly, I could care less how you pulled this off. All that matters is that if I stop you here… it's all over. This game will finally come to an end." Chloe shifted her footing.
"Hah! You really think it's that simple, huh? You haven't been paying close attention to despair, have you? Even if you stop me, despair is legion. Meijikuma would just continue on as if nothing ever happened," the figure responded with a cheeky grin.
Chloe's gaze darkened. "You can play coy all you want, but we both know you don't want me to get a hold of those controls. Even if Meijikuma is still out there, I could use them to seize the park."
The figure giggled before hopping out of the chair. "Sure. By all means, have at it. But you know, I think I know someone who might have a teensy issue with that. Laris, could you come out for a second?"
The Fashion Designer felt a cold sweat form on her brow. The silhouette she'd seen earlier emerged into sight, revealing itself to be yet another kuma. This one sported a full set of shiny, white armor and a matching sword that was appropriate for the bear's size. The face-guard was up, showing a pair of beady blue eyes.
"I-Is this some kind of joke? I watched Lari die! You can't toy with me like this!" the Fashion Designer snapped.
"Are you sure about that, toots? Don't you remember what happened with Nagito? What's to say it hasn't been done before or since?" The figure chuckled. "Go on, Laris, introduce yourself! You might be a bear now, but I'm sure you still remember your manners!"
The armored bear offered a sullen expression before slowly bowing its head. "Chloe, you shouldn't have come here. I-I didn't want you to see me like this."
Chloe felt tears stinging her eyes. A mixture of horror, anger, and sadness overwhelmed her all at once. "Lari… dammit, how could you do this to her? Didn't she cooperate enough? Didn't she do everything you asked?"
"We're going to find out. You see, I've got a lot of work to do. Things are building to the grand finale. Laris, kill her and bring her to the workshop. We could always use a French bear to add to our island of misfits. It's nothing personal, but I can't have you spoiling the surprise prematurely. No one likes those kinds of people." The individual snickered, then disappeared through the single door in the room.
The Fashion Designer clicked her tongue in distaste and stepped forward, planning to chase after the retreating individual. However, she registered the sound of metal whizzing through the air and narrowly avoided a strike across her neck. She stared wide-eyed at the Laris bear. "L-Lari, what are you doing?"
A mournful sound escaped the bear. "I'm sorry, Chloe, but to resist… It's so painful. I have to obey. I'm so sorry it came to this. I never wanted to hurt you..."
4:31 P.M Day Fourteen
Techland
Mall (Karaoke Club)
Naruhiko tensed as the bright colors in the room washed over him.
The club was filled with dozens of tables, television screens, and a large stage, where a single bear could be seen singing.
The little bear was garbed in a frilly, pink idol outfit and adorned with white bows. She clutched a mic in one of her paws. Her lovely voice carried through the entire room.
The Musician, along with Kaizoku and Shiho, pushed towards the stage. "Kana? Jesus, is that really you?" he called out in a strained voice.
The bear froze for a moment upon seeing the others approach the stage. "Naruhiko... I didn't want you to see me in this foolish outfit," Kanade muttered as she covered her face with her paws.
"Don't be silly! You know I don't give a shit about something like that. We just heard from Otto that you were down here. Kana, we never got to say goodbye. I-I just wanted to make sure you were alright," the Punk Musician said as he rested against the elevated stage.
Shiho offered the small bear a reassuring smile. "You don't have to worry about how you look with me, Kana. All I noticed was that you still have a beautiful voice. Even in that little body."
Kanade fidgeted a moment. "I-I'm so glad to see you all. I wish I could join you. I want to do anything but stand up here, but now… my only purpose is to stay here and sing."
"What do you mean by purpose, lass?" Kaizoku asked with a troubled expression.
"I'm sure you probably noticed with Otto, but all of us… We have very specific tasks. It's not impossible to go against that programming, but it causes us excruciating pain. That's why I have to stay up here and pray it all comes to an end soon."
Naruhiko gritted his teeth. "Kana, I swear we're gonna free you and the others. Mark my words, we won't let the bastard behind this get away with what they've done!"
"I will be cheering for all of you, then. I wish I could help, or that I knew something about the person behind this, but I just woke up and was guided here by Meijikuma," Kanade said in a timid tone.
The Runner shook her head. "You shouldn't apologize for anything, Kana. You haven't done anything wrong. Just leave it to us, okay? We'll make sure you and everyone else gets freed from this nightmare."
"Aye, that we will. Is there anything we can do for you, Lass? Simply name it, and we'll do our best to make it happen," the Sailor said with a weak smile.
The Composer shook her head slightly. "There is no helping me short of freeing me now. Oh, can you relay a message? Should any of you make it off this horrible island, please let Madison know that I don't blame her. What happened was an accident, and she shouldn't torture herself over it."
Naruhiko offered a solemn nod. "Don't you worry, Kana. We'll make sure she gets it, loud and clear. It's the least we can do."
6:15 P.M Day Fourteen
Techland
Mall (Foodcourt)
The food court on the first floor was absolutely massive. Dozens of smaller venues surrounded a huge area in the center with multiple tables, chairs, and couches scattered about.
Tomoko drummed her fingers against a long table with a clear level of annoyance. "We clearly stated 6 P.M., so where the hell are those two? Is it too much to ask that they follow basic instructions?"
"Relax, Tomoko. I mean, maybe they got caught up on a lead or some shit," Naruhiko said while wrapping his arms around Kaizoku and Shiho. "This place is pretty fucking big, too. Should try calling them?"
Tiana lowered her phone before frowning. "...Well, I tried Chloe first, and it went straight to voicemail. I'm pretty sure we have service in here. Maybe her phone is turned off?" She then flipped through the screen. "I'll call Seikatsu next. There's no harm in trying."
"While she does that, how about we share what we found? Then we can just catch them up to speed when they get here," Shiho said with a smile, despite looking worried.
A moment after Tiana finished dialing the number, a chiming could be heard growing closer. As the group peered at a nearby escalator they saw the Tarotologist descending it with a troubled look on her face.
"There's one of our missing girls. Should we wait till Seikatsu is with us before continuing?" Haruto suggested as he rested a hand on his shaking leg.
Kaizoku sat up in his chair. "Aye, though I've got a bad feeling about only seeing her here," he muttered.
Dolly shook her head and bit her bottom lip. "L-Let's not assume the worst. Chloe is one of the toughest people here. I'm sure she's alright," she said quietly.
The Tarotologist continued to walk calmly towards the group. Her face had become unreadable and she didn't seem to look at any of them in particular. Once Seikatsu was close to the group, she stopped and stood over them silently.
"Umm, Sei, are you alright? Did something happen to you and Chloe?" Annabelle asked as she watched the Tarotologist nervously. The woman didn't seem to acknowledge the question as she continued stoically looming over the group. The Investigator moved a little closer in her seat toward Tiana. "Alright, I'm starting to get a little creeped out now."
Naruhiko slowly pushed out of his seat before waving a hand in front of the girl's face. "Yo, Earth to Seikatsu! What the heck happened to you? And where's Chloe at, huh?"
Seikatsu raised her arm and, in a flash, struck the Musician in the chest. The poor boy was sent backwards, crashing onto the table. She returned to a neutral position and watched the downed man intently.
"W-What the shit?!" he choked out. He weakly lifted his chin to stare up at the girl with a dumbfounded expression.
Haruto's brow furrowed as he protectively extended an arm in front of Tiana and Annabelle. "What's wrong with her?"
Kaizoku sprang out of his seat and made his way to Naruhiko's side. Shiho followed suit and they both helped the Musician sit up. "Shit, Naru, are you alright?" Kaizoku spared a glance back over his shoulder towards Seikatsu.
The Musician grunted as the pair helped him up. "Yeah, I'm great. Never better! My pride, though? Maybe not so much..."
"Death. She's reverted back to that persona." Tomoko's voice carried a hint of fear.
"What do we do, then? I know she warned us Death could come back, but what now?" Shiho gripped onto Naruhiko's arm.
Dolly shakily rose to her feet. "S-Seikatsu, please. You have to defeat Death. You created all of your other personas just to stave it off… but you have to face it head on. Everything that's happened is a part of you now," she said as she nervously wrung her hands together.
Seikatsu started to take a step forward before her body seemed to freeze up in shock. Her hands curled into fists but, besides some small twitches, she seemed like she was unable to move.
After a few moments of this, Seikatsu's legs practically dropped out from under her. She landed with a thud onto the hard floor. "Ugh, my head... CHLOE!" She suddenly shouted as she looked around the room in confusion. "Huh? Where... How?"
The Shogi Player let out a relieved sigh and let her shoulders relax. "Your Death persona took over. Try to relax, and tell us what the hell happened..."
Seikatsu slowly stood up off the ground and hugged herself. "We had gone to the command center to investigate, but we found it locked. Chloe found a vent and decided to see if she could break in, so I lifted her in, and she told me to wait outside," the Tarotologist explained. She sat down, looking more visibly tired than before. "After a while, an alarm sounded and a bunch of those grey kumas arrived wearing riot gear. I remembered trying to call Chloe's phone, but it went straight to voicemail. After that, it's all black."
"So that's what triggered your change? You must have been forced to fight and it brought out Death," Tiana surmised. "I-I had the same luck when I tried calling her too."
"My god, she must have done something to really set them off," Haruto mused as he slumped into his chair and shook his head.
A giggle filled the food court as Meijikuma floated into view while being flanked by Mizukuma and Saishikuma. "Yeah, she entered a forbidden section, so corporal punishment had to be dealt. It's so sad! She was doing such a good job, but what can you do? Punishment had to be given..." TRUTH BULLET
"You're fucking joking! You killed her over some bullshit like that?!" Naruhiko spat as he gritted his teeth. "She was only trying to help us!"
"Ah, turn that frown upside down and look on the bright side. I'm going to give you all a final game to play. This one has some pretty substantial stakes," the green bear said with a tiny smirk.
Annabelle leaned forward in her seat as she stared at the bear. "A final game? Is this going to be like the Hope's Peak game? Will we have to figure out everything going on in this place?"
"You got it! What a bright mind you have. You're nothing like the rest of the demons here!" Mejikuma words of praise were accompanied by a pleasant smile. Soon after that, the entire mall began to shudder slightly. TRUTH BULLET
"What the fuck was that?" Tomoko snapped. She braced against the table as the entire structure continued to tremble.
"Silence, demon! Allow the master to speak!" Saishikuma firmly stamped his scythe against the ground.
Meijikuma grinned deviously. "Aww, what an honorable Prie - uh - Reaper you are. It's pretty simple. Kuma Kuma Land is slowly on a trajectory for landfall. By 2 A.M, it will land directly over Tokyo. Needless to say, anyone here or below us is gonna be toast. We might not be moving fast enough to wipe out all humanity like those nice folks at FF think, but we can still go out with a bang. Of course, if you can solve the mystery of KKL, including who's behind all of this, you might just be able to stop it all. You have until midnight to investigate. I suggest you get moving," she said before turning and floating away.
Saishikuma wordlessly followed after her while Mizukuma lingered for a moment.
"Take the warning seriously. There is nothing she wouldn't do for despair," said the blue-tinted bear. After those words, he hurriedly followed after his companions.
Naruhiko rubbed at his face before groaning while the room continued to shake. "This is just fucking great! Chloe is dead, we're falling from the sky, and we bite the big one if we screw up!"
"All we have to do is not screw up. Let's make sure that Chloe's death is the last one on our hands." Tomoko sighed as she bit the inside of her cheek. "I know it's asking a lot, but just… We have to focus. We have to work together. Let's start by going over what we know about Techland, and then we can check every area we can reach with the remaining time we have."
"Agreed. We need to keep our heads on straight," Kaizoku said as he ran a hand through his hair. "As for this mall, there wasn't anything really notable about the stores here, save for one thing: We learned that a few stores here, as well as places in the other districts, are being operated by the others who died. I don't just mean the poor ones who died on that coaster; I mean everyone. That means Otto, Kanade, and all the others." TRUTH BULLET
The Musician offered a somber nod. "Kana could hardly do anything but stand on a platform and sing. Doing anything against their programming hurts them. They're just slaves to the asshole behind this."
Shiho buried her head into the boy's side. "It's okay, Naru. We're gonna figure this out. We'll make sure they all are freed from this."
"It must be awful to be trapped in that kind of existence. At least I black out when Death or Justice take control. To be conscious when you can't control yourself must truly be hell," Seikatsu said with a sigh. She numbly took out a deck of tarot cards and looked over them idly before regarding the group. "I think it's safe to say that the command tower is off limits to us. We'd just be asking for death if we went there during the investigation."
The Shogi Player sighed. "I guess it's safe to assume the only thing of value was likely wherever Chloe met her fate," she murmured. She allowed her gaze to shift around the table. "Dolly and I found a lot of information on the origins of this park. It seems the Towa Group was behind the technology, and almost all of the students that began on the coaster were used as labor. I guess they continued to serve as labor for the park itself despite dying at the beginning of this game."
"Y-Yes, but there's something I'm confused about. I recall seeing bears right after we got off that sick coaster. It's impossible to turn them into those kumas so quickly, right?" Dolly asked with a puzzled expression.
The Parental Figure frowned. "It's obvious that the bears harbor no love for adults. It's likely there were victims before anyone died on that coaster." TRUTH BULLET
"Yeah, I wouldn't put it past these fuckheads. Anyways, what did you guys find at the science lab?" Naruhiko asked.
Tiana offered a guilty expression. "To be honest, we didn't find anything that really lends any credence to what's going on here. However, we know that our captor has access to incredibly advanced science. If a flying island wasn't enough, they also have access to portal technology."
"Portal tech? You're gonna have to clarify that one, lass," Kaizoku requested with a furrowed brow.
The Forensic Investigator cleared her throat. "It's just what it sounds like, Captain. You can enter one part of space before reemerging elsewhere. I thought that kind of science was only fiction, but it isn't. There were plenty of other crazy gadgets, too. There were even some scary things like a missile that could deliver a bio-weapon to any target on the planet. Oh, and there was this crazy cool design we found for an underwater facility. It looked like a city under the ocean!"
"As interesting as all of that sounds, it doesn't help us with finding an answer to who's behind all of this," Seikatsu pointed out as she folded her arms.
"Then we've reached the limit of what we have from this district. Let's fan out and try to cover as much ground as we can before the deadline. We'll meet in the hotel lobby before midnight. I know I haven't always been the most popular person here, but I do care about all of you. We get one last chance to turn the tables. Let's not waste it," Tomoko declared. With that, everyone rose to their feet. The investigation was underway.
7:44 P.M Day Fourteen
Spookyland
Haunted Mansion
The Ultimate Ventriloquist gazed around the empty room with a curious expression. "Uh, isn't this where Lachlan was found?"
"Yes. I'm not particularly happy to be back here. However, I remember that we never found what was removed from this room. We just know someone had gutted it. Laris likely knew the answer, but she was so concerned with her own deal that she took that secret to her grave. Unless, of course, she is still somewhere in the park. She could've been turned into a bear. She might know the truth or, conversely, if we could find Lach, he might be able to tell us what he knew that lead to his death," the Shogi Player responded. TRUTH BULLET
"Going by what the Captain and the others said, the mastermind may have taken steps with Lachlan's bear to keep us from learning what he knew," Annabelle said with a pout while crossing her arms.
Tomoko scowled. "Then, going by that logic, both of those bears might be out of reach. Dammit. I just wish I knew what Lach had seen. There had to be something that led him to the truth."
"Don't be so quick to give up. If he discovered the truth, I'm sure we can piece it together, too. That is, unless any relevant clues have already been disposed of," Dolly said as she hung her head. "Considering the state of this room, that's entirely possible."
"Well, there's only one way to know for certain," Annabelle stated as she pulled down her goggles. The small girl smirked and began messing with the switches on the sides. "Alrighty, I'm gonna give this place a clean sweep!"
As the pint-sized investigator scanned the room, she was initially met with nothing. However, after several minutes of searching, she discovered a glass eye that was wedged between a floorboard.
"Find anything, kid?" Tomoko called out as she watched the girl crouch and remove something from the floor.
Annabelle straightened up and looked over the eye carefully. After a moment, she turned to face the pair and made her way back. "Sure did, but I'm not too sure what it means. It's a glass eye. Don't know why it's here, though, or how it got stuck in the floorboards." TRUTH BULLET
"Let's not look a gift horse in the mouth. Maybe it's a clue," Dolly suggested as her brow knitted together. "This mansion is massive. We should sweep the rest of it while we still have time."
The Ultimate Shogi Player merely nodded as she regarded her watch. "She's right. We only have a little over four hours remaining. We don't have time to dawdle about."
"Definitely. Are there any other places specifically here you would suggest, Tomoko? Did Lachlan show any interest in any of the other rooms here?" Annabelle asked as she slipped the eye into her pocket.
"I-I don't remember. If I'm being honest, I was kind of scared, so I held onto his arm most of the time. I didn't want him to think I was a coward though, so I..." Tomoko trailed off as she registered movement.
The door cracked open, revealing a small bear with a pipe in his hand and a long trench coat. His mouth was stitched shut, and yet he had a very surly-looking demeanor.
"Speak of the devil," Dolly said with a surprised expression. "If that's not Lachlan, I don't know who else it could be."
"Yeah, but it looks like we were right about them keeping us from knowing what he knows," the Investigator replied. She looked at the bear dejectedly for a moment before her face lit up in realization. "Wait, maybe he can just write it down for us!"
"Lach," Tomoko whispered as she took several steps forward before crouching down. The bear waddled forward. "C-Can you tell us who did this to you? What did you discover?"
The bear stomped in place a moment as he tried to move his limbs, only for them to remain glued to his side. He slowly shook his head, looking downcast.
"I-I don't think he can move his arms from that position. Someone went to a lot of trouble to make sure he couldn't warn us," the Ventriloquist pointed out. TRUTH BULLET
Annabelle covered her mouth as she stared at the bear. "That's horrible. It's bad enough that they've done this to those that died, but to put them in these kinds of conditions..."
"This is like a stint of purgatory. It's neither life or death." Tomoko choked back tears as she promptly pulled the little bear into a tight hug. She wasn't sure, but she swore she could hear a muted sigh from creature.
8:26 P.M Day Fourteen
Waterworld
Hospital
"Whelp, daddy-o, we've checked the patient rooms, filing rooms, x-ray rooms, and storage. Looks like our only place left to check is the operating rooms. I hope the others are faring better than we are right now," Naruhiko remarked as he folded his hands behind his head.
"I hope so, too," Haruto said. "We haven't found anything so far."
The Punk Musician elbowed the boy next to him playfully. "Hey, lighten up, buddy. We're gonna get to the bottom of this, and then we'll all get to live happily ever fucking after. Hah! You and Tiana can get hitched and make plenty of cute fucking babies." He snorted as the pair neared the entrance leading into one of the surgical rooms.
"I'm sorry, Naruhiko, but can you please not say those things? I'm not that kind of person..." The Parental Figure looked away from him, his face ripe with embarrassment. "That being said, having a child is something I'd like to do," he said under his breath.
"Hah, what's wrong with expressing yourself? Modesty is all well and good, but you should be honest when you feel something! The only reason I'm going slow with Zoku and Shi is I want them to feel comfortable. I'm just saying, if I were you, I'd plant a kiss on your girl before we face this shit tonight. I know I'm not very smart, but shit, I don't wanna die having regrets." Naruhiko offered a low chuckle as he paused outside the shut door.
"There's expressing yourself, and then there's having tact," Haruto said in a lighthearted, inoffensive tone. "But thank you for the advice. Now, is the door locked?"
"Only one way to find out! BAM!" the Musician exclaimed, kicking his leg outwards.
The door flew open and revealed a bloodied room.
Inside, the pair saw a bear wearing scrubs and a face mask. On the table lay a motionless bear while nine other unique-looking bears sat motionless on the floor, each of them bearing an eerie resemblance to one of the survivors. TRUTH BULLET
The blue-haired boy turned slightly pale, but he kept his composure. "I guess those would be for us..."
"Th-Then the one on the fucking table is..." Naruhiko trailed off as he clutched at his chest.
"For Miss Bellemort, I'm afraid," the bear responded in a somber manner before shifting to face the pair. One of its eyes was missing. "I did not anticipate our reunion would be like this."
"Soo..." Haruto moved a little closer to the bear. "I'm so, so sorry for everything you've been through."
"Doc, I promise we'll fuck these assholes up for what they've done to you all." The Musician gritted his teeth and cracked his knuckles to emphasize his point.
Soo Yeong shook his head. "While I sincerely appreciate the gestures, gentlemen, you don't have to lose any sleep over me. I made my own mistakes in life, and neither of you should punish yourself because of what happened to me. You're better off spending your energy ensuring this can't happen to another soul, and ending our torment once and for all."
"You can count on us! We won't fail!" Haruto said with resolve. "That's actually why we're here. We have to solve the mystery of the park, so we're searching for clues. Is there anything here that could help us?"
"Yeah! Do you remember anything after you woke up as, well, a bear?" Naruhiko asked as he raised a single, pierced brow.
"No. When I awoke, I was greeted by Mizukuma, who then lead me here. Following Laris' and Sigmund's deaths, I had to perform a procedure. I can certainly say that the procedure has no real basis in science. It seems like something born of the occult. I simply transfer hearts into the bear shells you see before you," the Surgeon explained. TRUTH BULLET
"...So the hearts are required?" Haruto took a quick glance at Chloe's bear, before instinctively putting his hand over his heart. "That would explain a lot."
"There is one more thing I should tell you." Soo Yeong moved to stand next to the pair before wiggling a claw at them both. "You must keep this to yourselves. I've done everything I can for you."
"Of course. We won't breathe a word, so what is it?" the Musician asked with a fierce expression.
Soo Yeong's voice fell to a whisper as he relayed something softly to the pair. He then stepped backwards. "The rest is up to those of you still alive. I bid you good fortunes."
Haruto gave him a confident nod. "Thank you, Soo. We won't let you down."
"Just leave the rest of the heavy lifting to us, bud!" Naruhiko exclaimed with a confident look.
9:41 P.M Day Fourteen
Amusement Park District
Entrance
Shiho leaned against the entrance gate and tilted her head towards the coaster cars that lay as they had two weeks prior. "This is where all our misfortunes began, Zoku. You know, I can't help but think how lucky we all were to make it out alive."
"Aye. And even then, it was a close call for some of us," the Sailor said softly as he reached down and took a hold of the Runner's hand. He squeezed it briefly before he looked back up at the gate.
The Runner gently squeezed his hand, then leaned against him. "There's one thing that still bugs me. When I was the mole, Kurokuma mentioned that the Warriors of Hope was now short a single member after Yushikuma's death. That doesn't add up in my head, because he mentioned also losing a different member before KKL was even a thing. Why say they were only one short?" TRUTH BULLET
Kaizoku sighed as he looked down at the girl. "I don't know what happened to their missing member, but that's not the first time I've heard about them. Earlier today, Anna was telling me about something that happened a few nights ago. Late at night, Mizukuma appeared in her room and told her there are plans to have her replace a member they lost before this whole place."
"W-Wait, so they mean to turn her into a bear like everyone else who's been killed?" Shiho asked before biting her lower lip. "I guess the ones like Mizukuma, Saishikuma, Yushikuma, and Meijikuma have a lot more free will and control than Otto or Kana did. Have you told anyone else yet?"
"We were going to wait till we had everyone gathered after the search, but things went much differently than we expected. Now that the bears have put this plan in motion, though, I don't think they plan to take her anymore," Kaizoku explained.
The Runner nodded. "Still, we should tell everyone beforehand. We can't leave anything to chance. Zoku, can I tell you something?"
"What is it, Shi?" The Sailor moved to stand in front of the girl and placed his other hand on her shoulder.
"W-Well, I just want you to know… that I-I..." the Runner trailed off a moment. She then reached up, rested her hands against both sides of his face, and let her fingers map his cheeks. "I love you and Naru so very much. You both have stuck beside me despite what I put you both through. If we don't make it tonight, I want you to know that I feel fortunate to be beside my boys till the bitter end."
Kaizoku smiled and lifted Shiho off her feet in a hug. "I'm glad I could meet both of you. Didn't think I'd find anyone I'd love like you two, so I feel much better with you by my side," the Sailor said as he leaned in and melded his lips against hers.
A tiny squeak escaped the girl as she kissed the boy clumsily. Without thinking, she raised her legs and wrapped them around his waist, then curled her arms tightly around him. She broke the kiss after a moment to rest her head against his chest. "I know we have to get back to searching, but I would give just about anything to be able to share moments like this with you and Naru forever. I-I'm as blind as can be, but I hope I'll always have a place among your crew, Zoku.."
"OH MY GOD! Just look at the two of you! Love is flourishing even in the darkest of moments! Even in this little body, my heart feels like it could explode!" a feminine voice exclaimed in a gleeful manner.
Kaizoku was about to reply to Shiho, but at that outburst, his words died in his throat. His head snapped to the side and he stared in bewilderment at the pink bear that stood before him. "Ch-Churi? I didn't think we'd find you around a place like this."
"I've been tasked with serving delicious food in Flapjacks. However, when it's closed, this little bear is allowed to spread her wings. It's so nice to see you both! I'm really rooting for you guys. I'm gonna go find Soo since he doesn't have as much freedom as I do. We'll both be rooting for ya!" Churi said as she folded her paws across her little frame.
Shiho felt a flush on her face, but she ignored it as she tilted her head slightly. "Ch-Churi, you seem fairly well, everything considered. Are you really alright with this?"
The little bear shook her head. "Oh no, it's pretty horrible most of the time. However, you have to look on the bright side of things. If you guys can get to the bottom of this, maybe the rest of us can finally rest."
Kaizoku gently set Shiho down on her feet with a sigh. "Yeah, we need to get to the bottom of things. A lot of lives are riding on us. Maybe we shouldn't be messing around like this," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Don't feel guilty about such a silly thing!" Churi said as she waddled forward and hugged the pair's legs. "I'm just happy that, even after everything that's happened, you both can still find happiness. I wish I had some super secret to give you guys, but I don't have any sagely advice. Just keep kicking butt with everyone alive. I'll be rooting for ya!"
10:39 P.M Day Fourteen
Carnival District
Fortune Teller's Tent
Tiana's brow furrowed as she found herself seated across from the Tarotologist, who had all the major arcana cards dealt onto the table. "Seikatsu, is there anything I can do to help you? If you lose control, I'm afraid of the consequences for myself and the others."
"That is why I need to do this now while we still have some time. If I were to lose control during the trial... No, there is no time to dwell on that. Just please stay on guard. For this to work, I may need to willingly bring Death to the surface," Seikatsu explained, looking briefly towards the Dominatrix with a strained smile.
"I will be prepared for whatever may surface. You won't be alone, Seikatsu," Tiana said as she gripped her whip anxiously.
Seikatsu nodded solemnly and faced the cards before her again. She reached for the one directly in front of her, marked with a zero. "I can't be afraid anymore, not of Death, others, or even myself. I was a Fool, nervous to explore the limitless possibilities that laid before me," she said as she flipped the card over and reached for the next one in the circle.
"I made more sides of myself to keep the darkness inside me at bay, but hiding from it is no longer good enough. I need to face it head on. I was like a Magician, full of desire to escape this bleak road before me; a High Priestess, driven to uncover the mysteries of the world; and an Empress, much like my mother, wanting to nurture others to care for myself." As the Tarotologist spoke, she flipped over the corresponding card, slowly making her way around the set.
Seikatsu seemed to look over the Empress card longer than the others before she set it down and moved along towards the next one. "I made myself an Emperor, harnessing control to protect what I cared for; a Hierophant, wanting to pass on what wisdom and advice I could to those less equipped than I was; a Lover, seeking to find harmony with others while hoping it would bring harmony to myself; and a Chariot, seeking to bear others' burden on top of my own."
Seikatsu stopped for a moment as she looked over the next card. It depicted a set of scales and was emblazoned with the number eight. After a moment, she moved on to the next one. "Even divided, I still sought to grow. I became a Hermit, gathering what knowledge I could; a Wheel of Fortune, examining the many directions that fate laid out before me, trying to find my true path; a symbol of Strength, knowing that just knowledge wouldn't be enough to deal with my past, and that I would need the courage to overcome it; and a Hanged Woman, not forgetting to put value in other's lives, even above my own, if need be."
Tiana watched in silence as the Tarotologist continued her ritual. She refrained from uttering a word, afraid of breaking the spell. She could feel a knot forming in her stomach with each passing card, the fear of Death's reemergence making her arms tremble slightly.
Once again the Tarotologist paused over a card, this time one with a skull and the number thirteen. She took a deep breath as she moved on once again. "I sought devotion to Temperance to bring balance; a Devil, unafraid to face the temptations within me; a Tower, aware that its own end could be coming over the horizon; a Star, in the hopes that its shine would cover my weaknesses; a Moon, trying to illuminate the darkness and find its secrets; and a Sun, wanting to bring light and warmth to others. In the end, I am not any of them, nor are they me. I must face Judgment and determine who I am, and learn to redefine myself as all of them. Even these two."
Seikatsu moved the final two cards to the center of the table. "The Justice I wished to achieve and the inevitable reality of Death." Seikatsu sighed as she gathered nineteen flipped-over cards. With just three remaining, she turned back to Tiana and gestured to the seat opposite her.
The Ultimate Dominatrix took the seat. She sucked in a sharp breath before nodding curtly at the Tarotologist, as if to encourage her and reaffirm her faith.
Seikatsu smiled at the girl as she placed a hand on both the Justice and Death cards. However, when she spoke this time, it was directed towards Tiana, not just said aloud. "Before my mother died, she told me just how important the final arcana is. It is the goal we all strive to achieve most out of anything in our lives. Losing my mother made me afraid, but I can no longer hold myself back by living in fear of Death. Another part of me wanted to fight off Death, to overcome the monster that took my mother and get Justice for her, but that is a childish way of looking at things, isn't it?" she asked while chuckling.
A tiny smile pulled at the corner of Tiana lips. "It would like being afraid of night or day. Both will come with or without our consent. I think the lesson is accepting all aspects of yourself, and not being at war with any part of yourself."
"I couldn't agree more. I have to accept that I will die, that our world can throw any disaster it chooses at us. But I also accept that, by no longer repressing my weaknesses, I will have the power to change myself, to accept that I can never go back to being who I was, and to decide on who I will become," Seikatsu explained as she turned over the two cards and moved them in the deck with the others. Now there was just one final card before her. "Thanks to the friends and the ups and downs I've experienced here, I will no longer view the world as wholly rotten. Instead, I will embrace whatever comes our way and share in it with my friends. To be strong and show my support, I will become the World." As she flipped over the final card, a blinding light shone from the deck. Once the light ebbed away, Seikatsu quickly gathered her cards, turned them over, and studied them intently. "Huh? They're all blank? What happened?" she questioned with a tilt of her head. As she did so, she noticed something strange: Her hair, at one point raven black, had become as white as snow.
Tiana stared in disbelief a moment as she regarded the girl in front of her. "Seikatsu, you've changed in more than one way. It's not just your hair, but also your eyes… They're red now," she said as she pulled a small compact mirror out of her pocket and slid it across the table. "I'm not even going to pretend that I understand everything that just happened, but I think you did it. I think you're finally whole."
Seikatsu looked over her reflection for a few moments before snapping the compact closed and passing it back to Tiana. With a grin, she put the blank cards away in her pocket. "I don't think I fully understand it myself, but I believe you're right. I can't sense any of my other selves, and I don't feel at a loss without them there."
"It seems you've finally reached end of a long journey, but we still have one last obstacle. We've still got a little time left. Shall we make the most of it?" Tiana asked with a warm smile as rose to her feet and extended her hand.
"Of course. I've come this far, so I must see this through to the end of the line," Seikatsu mused as she took the Dominatrix's hand firmly.
11:54 P.M Day Fourteen
Resort District
Hotel
First Floor (Lobby)
One by one, each of the remaining survivors began to file into the lobby of the hotel. Seikatsu and Tiana were the last two to arrive, the former of whom immediately earned attention.
"Holy shit! Seikatsu, is that really you?" Naruhiko asked with a baffled expression. "Man, I'm digging the new look, but you two didn't just spend all of your time dying hair and getting contacts, did you?"
The Tarotologist offered him a playful smile. "Don't worry, I swear we weren't doing anything of the sort. It's a long story. Suffice it to say, there's only one Seikatsu now. I had to accept every part of myself. I can't explain the physical changes, but it happened after I came to terms with every aspect of myself."
Tomoko sighed. "I'm sure there must be a deep reason behind all of that, but I think we'll be satisfied that we finally have just one Seikatsu instead of a small army in one body. Aside from that, did the two of you find anything else out of the ordinary in the Carnival District?"
"Well, we did discover Utano and Patrick. I think the former probably counts as out of the ordinary. He was a knife thrower at the circus. He seemed a bit more calm and even repentant about what happened," Tiana explained before crossing her arms. "Patrick was working as a zookeeper, and seemed happy to see both of us. He reaffirmed what Naruhiko said earlier about them struggling to defy their programming."
The Parental Figure nodded thoughtfully. "Speaking of which, Naruhiko and I discovered Soo in the Hospital. I-I don't know how else to say this, but they've prepared bears for each of us. We saw Chloe's bear there too."
Kaizoku gaze shifted to Annabelle before he took a breath. "Lass, perhaps you should tell everyone what you told me."
The Forensic Investigator bit her lower lip. "...I'm sorry for not saying anything sooner, but Mizukuma broke into my room a few nights ago and warned me that I would be targeted by the one in charge. They want me to become like them."
"Shit, that's all kinds of fucked up. They've been planning this for a while," the Musician mused as he shook his head. "What the hell do they get out of this?"
Dolly frowned. "I'm not sure it's that simple, Naruhiko. I-It seems to me these kids, these Warriors of Hope, are bitter. They hate adults in any form."
"By turning everyone into bears, they can create a world where children never grow up, one in which children never become the demons they loathe," Haruto theorized as he stared at Annabelle with a sympathetic smile. "Thank you for telling us all. I know you must have been scared, but we're in this together now. Whether that means for the long-haul or just next couple of hours..."
Shiho's brow knitted together. "It makes something I was discussing with Zoku earlier make some sense. When I was Kurokuma's mole, he said something about being short a single member after Yushikuma's death. Annabelle must have been the target to replace Yushi, since she's a kid."
"That's one piece of the puzzle we have solved before this begins. Annabelle was targeted. Hell, for all we know, Komaeda was working together with the mastermind before being killed by Laris. Considering we're on a floating island, I think it's actually quite likely," Tomoko mused before her gaze settled on the Sailor. "Did you find anything else in the Amusement Park?"
Kaizoku rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Other than having the fortune of seeing Churi and Sigmund again, we didn't find anything that seemed substantial or relevant. The former was working for Flapjacks, and the latter we saw on our way back here. Seems like Sigmund was assigned to work security."
"Don't feel so bad, Zoku. Haruto and I only found the Doc. Other than that, there's nothing else really important to say. What about you, ladies?" Naruhiko asked as he gazed between Annabelle, Tomoko, and Dolly.
A sigh escaped Tomoko. "Well, much like the rest of you, we found Lachlan in the Haunted Mansion. However someone went to great lengths to ensure he wouldn't spill any secrets. His limbs were stitched together along with his mouth. Beyond that, I think Annabelle was the only one to find something of note."
Annabelle offered a weak nod as she thumbed the object in her pocket. "We turned the abandoned room on the fourth floor upside down and all I could find was a glass eye. I'm not sure if it means anything at all, but since someone went to a lot of trouble to clear out the place, I'm still holding out hope."
"That's all we can do right now," Haruto mused. He stared down at his watch just as a chime filled the lobby, followed by the crackling of speakers.
"I hope you all put on your thinking caps, because it's time to get this show on the road. I don't think I need to remind you that there's no room for error this time. If you'd kindly make your way to the basement, we can get this show on the road!" Meijikuma exclaimed.
The Ventriloquist nervously wrung her hands together. "A bunch of reunions and almost no clues at all. I-I have a terrible feeling about this."
"Aye, things do seem grim, but I strangely feel at peace. Whatever happens, we'll face this together," Kaizoku said as he took both Shiho and Naruhiko's hands.
Shiho nodded weakly as a strained smile worked its way upon her face. "One last ride."
Tiana laced an arm around Haruto's waist as they all began their march towards the elevator. "I should feel terrified, but we can end everything in this final trial. We'll do it together."
Seikatsu smiled fondly as she removed the blank cards from her pocket and dropped them onto the floor. "Fate is now in our hands," she said. A sense of peace exuded from the once-conflicted young woman. Whether good or bad, they all had a chance to choose how this game ended for the first time.
If nothing else, one thing was for certain: They wouldn't go down without a fight.
TRUTH BULLETS
Chloe's Discovery
Obsession with Annabelle
Roles of the deceased students
Hatred for Adults
Prior Victims
Slave Labor
Glass Eye
Silenced Lachlan
Creation Room
Vacant Room
Empty Bear Shells
1 missing member of WoH
? Survivors Remain
OMAKE
The camera turned on to show Haruto and Tiana sitting in a makeup room. "Hello, everyone, I'm Tiana Blake," Tiana greeted.
"And I'm Haruto Shinta." The couple shared a look before sighing.
Tiana rubbed the back of her neck. "So…due to some unforeseen circumstances…"
"The set was burned down because of faulty wiring," Haruto interjected.
"The Post Game Talk Show is going to be on a bit of a hiatus," Tiana finished. "We're still going to have Post Game Shows for you all. They're just going to be behind the scenes segments instead of talk shows."
"The super-amazing staff behind 'Legacy of Despair' are fixing up the talk show studio as quickly as possible, but that's still going to take a while," Haruto stated.
"So we hope you all enjoy behind-the-scenes of 'Legacy of Despair,'" the couple introduced, the shot of them fading out.
A new shot opened up to show Annabelle sitting on top of a cleared-off makeup table with Seikatsu right in front of her. Anna was staring at Seikatsu with wide eyes. "So that's how a baby is made?"
Seikatsu nodded. "Yep, I'm thankful your big sister is letting me explain it to you."
"Is that why Uncle Jason and Juzo have to adopt?" Anna inquired. Seikatsu nodded. "I knew it wasn't a stork."
Seikatsu chuckled. "I'm glad that you understand. Most kids who have had to hear this start screaming in horror."
"Well, considering what show she's on, it makes sense," Syd argued, walking into the room and over to Seikatsu.
Annabelle waved at the older man, a bright smile on her face. "Hi, Uncle Syd."
"Hey, Hun," Seikatsu greeted, "did you finish all your scenes for today?"
"Yep, and I'm now all yours," Syd responded before pressing a kiss against Seikatsu's lips.
Annabelle grimaced. "Ew." The two adults glanced over at the little girl before smirking. Annabelle stared at the two for a moment. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"How come you're here, but Kitai isn't?" Syd questioned.
Seikatsu tapped her chin. "I think he's still in school."
Annabelle shook her head. "Kit's school gets out at three."
The door then flew open, revealing a happy Kitai with an equally happy Eline. "I come bearing the sweetest little minnow ever!" The Dutch woman walked into the room with the seven-year-old. Both were holding Sonic cups. "Before either of you worry, Tia had forgotten to ask you both to pick him up, so she got me to. This little minnow might have convinced me to stop at Sonic for milkshakes." Annabelle gasped, the look of betrayal on her face. Eline snickered before passing the cup in her hands over to the young girl. "As if I'd get milkshakes without getting one for you."
"Thank you, Auntie Ellie," Annabelle chirped. Eline walked over to the couch in the corner of the room and flopped down onto it, a smile still on her face.
"What's got you so happy?" Seikatsu asked, a teasing tone in her voice.
"Knowing Eline, she either got that role she auditioned for or she got a date," Syd guessed.
Eline glanced over at the couple before chuckling. "I got the role. My agent called me while we were waiting for the milkshakes…I may or may not have scared the poor girl giving us our drinks."
Seikatsu smiled, clapping a bit. "That's amazing, Eline."
"And the best part is the fat check I'm gonna get!" Eline cheered.
"How can a check be fat?" Annabelle inquired.
Syd chuckled. "It means that a check is going to give someone a lot of money." Annabelle let out a small "oh" before going back to her milkshake. "So, Sei, how come Kit and Anna are here anyways? I thought 'Kuma-Kuma Land' was done filming an hour ago." Seikatsu glanced over at the camera before getting out of the seat and whispering into Syd's ear. When she pulled back, Syd stared at his girlfriend with wide eyes. "You're kidding."
"She isn't," Eline interjected. She sat up straight and ran a hand through her hair. "It's honestly nice timing they're learning this now. Unlike all the other poor women who started showing halfway through the season."
"I think this show honestly has a curse," Syd joked. Seikatsu snickered.
"It leads to cute, squishy babies, though," Kitai argued.
"Kit's right," Anna insisted. She then stared at Seikatsu and Syd for a moment. "Are you two gonna make a baby?" Eline burst out into laughter while the couple blushed a bright red.
Before the camera turned off, Seikatsu muttered, "Maybe I should've held off on giving you the talk."
*AN* As always, I'd like to thank my betas for all their help and Petty/Fee5H for helping with some of these scenes in this chapter. I appreciate everything you guys do!
Review Section:
Fee5H
Was the Master Theorist right? or dreadfully wrong? Find out next time on Kuma Kuma Land!
Magus1108
Yeah I thought it would serve as an existence worse than death in some regards. Though it gave me the unique ability to bring some of these characters back in a final moments of the storyline.
Trust Me I'm Me
The end is indeed nigh. 2 chapters remain!
The Kobold Necromancer
It was actually a fantastic idea from Fee5H, but I thought it captured some childlike wonder and a nice bright moment for the group.
Sliv the fiendish fool
Yeah it was definitely one of the highlights for me too =)
NSPunny
I think I just failed to offer as many details for Ottobear. I'll remedy that, in fact I tried to do that with this chapter for everyone else.
BirblordAlmighty
Well they're not exactly alive or dead, rather trapped in a pretty miserable existence.
pokemansuperallstar
Yeah this chapter was my way of letting a lot come full circle as the group pushes towards the finish.
doomqwer
Perhaps, perhaps not. The end is nigh.
bellatrixshine
One can only hope. As always fantastic job on the omake Bella! =)
MudkipOfDespair
Yeah I was extremely proud of how that entire scene worked out. Massive shoutout to Fee5h for helping with that bad boy!