Chapter 3: When Hell Freezes Over Part 7 (Deadly Life)
Remaining Students: 12
Sayori (Doki Doki Literature Club): Ultimate Poet
Konata Izumi (Lucky Star): Ultimate Otaku
Saki Nikaido (Zombie Land Saga): Ultimate Biker Gang Leader
Minori Ichinose (Tropical-Rouge! Pretty Cure): Ultimate Bookworm
Kale (Dragon Ball Super): Ultimate Berserker
Reyn (Xenoblade Chronicles): Ultimate Tank
Pietro Maximoff "Quicksilver" (Marvel Cinematic Universe): Ultimate Speedster
Miles "Tails" Prower (Sonic The Hedgehog): Ultimate Pilot
Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd (Fire Emblem: Three Houses): Ultimate Prince
Satou Kazuma (Konosuba) Ultimate Thief
Bede (Pokémon): Ultimate Gym Leader
Ray (The Promised Neverland): Ultimate Strategist
Team 1: Minori (Cure Papaya), Kazuma.
Team 2: Sayori, Saki, Bede, Pietro.
Team 3: Kale, Tails, Dimitri.
Team 4: Reyn, Konata, Ray
Sayori's POV
POW!
That sound of a punch colliding with Bede's face was pretty loud, it was so sudden and quick that it took time for us to let it settle in. But considering the guy who threw that punch, that wasn't a surprise, what was a surprise was that he threw it to begin with…
"Bullshit! Don't put the blame on yourself for no reason, are you stupid?!"
Pietro grabbed his shirt and shook him as Ray stepped in to stop him.
"Quit it! There might be some truth to his self-accusation, so don't try to dismiss it outright! There could be evidence we could look at to see if he's not lying."
Kazuma raised an eyebrow, "Evidence, here? Come on, you do realize that those item boxes just disappear after being used, right? What else is left?"
"The video footage." Konata answered.
Pietro turned to her, his grip on Bede's shirt still tight.
"What?"
Konata repeated it, looking more visibly sad considering who we lost.
"There were cameras all over this stadium, right? None of the spectators could see what's going on inside the maze itself, so they had to have been watching us on the big screens outside."
Kazuma raised his hand up to interrupt this.
"Hold on, I thought Monokuma prevented us from watching things on the cameras? We'd have an easier time finding out who the blackened was in the investigations, if that was the case!"
"Those are security cameras that we aren't allowed to see, besides… look at Monokuma, he doesn't seem to know who the killer is.." Tails pointed out as the others looked at the bear shuffling nervously.
"Ahaha… of course I do… it's um… it's…"
Ray had no time for his faking, "Just play the damn footage, bear."
Monokuma gulped and pressed a remote control to send us the video feed on our e-Handbooks. We watch the final scene being replayed for us: Bede, Minori, and Kale attacking the Avalugg at once, launching their finishing moves to end it all.
"Hattrene, G-Max Smite!" We heard Bede in the video shout his last command as our Bede outside of it taps his handbook screen.
"Zoom in, all of you…"
We did as he told us and sure enough, there was the item box being shattered. It was then that I saw Saki, Pietro, and Reyn surrounding Bede. I opened my mouth to try and stop them, but nothing could come out. It's the reason I haven't said anything at all during this whole thing, I was speechless. Hachiken… Tsuyu… and now here's Bede trying to throw his life away. Losing this many people at once had caused two simultaneous pains in my chest and my head that were too much for me to handle at once. I wanted to just lay down and cry, not go to the trial room and watch the execution…
*clap clap clap clap*
Before the three of them could even lay a finger on him, in walked Sird clapping slowly and I felt the room getting even more cold than it actually was. She went behind Bede's shoulder as he grimaced, waiting for what she had to say.
"Impressive performance in the event and in the deduction when it came to your murderous act. Do you truly desire to forsake your own life after fighting so hard to protect it in these trials? Choose wisely now, boy… this is your last chance…"
Dimitri was scowling at Sird as he began shouting at her, "Bede! Do not let her sinister ramblings get to you! Choose to keep living and seek redemption for their deaths! This woman is—"
"I decide my own path, Dimitri, and my decision… is to be executed."
I audibly gasped and put my hands over my mouth as Sird put her hand on his shoulder.
"Very well then… then you won't mind if this execution would take the form of a duel between us?"
She released her scary-looking Pokémon and held her hand out to him. He looked down at it as the rest of us watched on, feeling so many emotions at once. Anger, fear, sadness, all of the negative feelings within us mixed into one singularity that Monokuma would call… despair.
"Tch…" Ray looked away from this sight, disgusted.
"Don't you dare…" Dimitri continued to seethe in pure rage.
"Change your mind, please!" Tails begged him.
Bede just ignored us and grasped her hand, clenching it tightly as if he tried to break her fingers. They let go of their grip and Sird led him away, turning back to us with a smirk as a sign to go follow her. We ultimately had no choice, Monokuma would just drag us there regardless if I chose to run away. I was visibly shaking as we all entered the elevator. There was more room there now than how it was at the beginning of the killing game, frightening to think about how many people we have lost…. And we're about to add one more to the total.
"Grh, god damn it! That bastard should have at least tried to fight it, but he's taking the coward's way out instead…"
Saki slammed her fist into the elevator walls, causing it to briefly shake, before her head lowered.
Kazuma shook his head, "He is fighting it, unless he forfeits and just lets himself get killed just like that."
Minori sighed, her outfit having returned to normal after being forced to return her compact and ring to Monokuma.
"With how easily he accepted to be executed, that's a possibility… yet I can't see him going down so easily from what we've seen of him."
"Yeah, little bugger will probably force that creepy lady to go all out to squash him. Knowing her though, she'll find some way to play dirty…" Reyn crossed his arms as he leaned against the corner.
I turned my head and saw Pietro, just itching to be let out of this elevator.
"Mm…" Was all I could let out of my mouth in response as I clutched my chest.
The fact that we weren't going down here for a trial, only for an execution… it just screwed with my head and I couldn't think straight. All I could think about was Hachiken's guilt-filled face and Tsuyu's look of acceptance in her hibernation. I guess we were all stupid to think that we'd all make it to the end of that maze.
And I felt even more stupid for genuinely believing it.
*Ding*
The elevator doors opened and instead of the trial room we were in a seating area, with Bede and Sird down below on a battlefield. Standing apart from each other, with Bede on our left and Sird on our right. We took our seats as Monokuma waddled into the middle of the field.
"Now then, we've prepared a VERY special punishment for Bede, the Ultimate Gym Leader! Let's give it everything we've got! It's...PUNISHMENT TIIIME!"
I clasped my hands and prayed… looking towards Bede. He briefly looked towards us and he refocused on Sird, preparing for what could be his final bout.
GAME OVER
BEDE HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY. TIME FOR THE PUNISHMENT!
Insert Song: Galactic Boss Battle (Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl)
A screen behind them flichers, revealing the rules for this duel. No dymamaxing or gigantamaxing, first one to knock out all of their opponent's Pokémonwill win, andyou are only allowed to use four Pokémon. Bede sent out Mawhile as his first choice, while Sird chose Starmie.
Execution: Perish Song
Starmie immediately went for a Rapid Spin, which Mawhile dodged before trying to land a mighty Crunch with the jaws on the back of its head. The bite attack missed as Sird commanded it to use Camouflage, erasing its presence on the battlefield. The starfish Pokémon vanished from sight it seemed, thankfully Mawile's jaw managed to Crunch down and protect itself.
First round went to Bede as Sird let out her Persian. The lioness-looking Pokémon at first tried to Slash at Mawile, who tried to answer back with Iron Head. The flying headbutt misses due to Persian using Dig to go underground, popping back up from below to strike and knock out the Deceiver Pokémon.
Bede was unfettered as he returned Mawile and let out Rapidash, and the unicorn and lioness duked it out. Despite taking a few Slashes to its body, Rapidash turned the tides by unleashing Dazzling Gleam to blind Persian before a Zen Headbutt finished the job. A quick turnaround as the two trainers went back and forth.
Sird's Banette was able to make things one-sided once again though, its nimble dodging ability helped avoid any of Rapidash's physical attacks. And with one powerful Shadow Ball, the psychic horse was defeated.
Gritting his teeth, Bede sent out Gardevoir as risky as it was. Sylveon would have been a better choice for him, as it also knew Shadow Ball like Gardevoir… however he felt like Gardevoir's special attack would prove much better results. Bede ordered her to keep dodging and look for an opening, Banette couldn't be outrun though and even clipped Gardevoir a few times with Shadow Ball.
Meanwhile in the back, the other killing game participants were looking on, anxious to see how this would end. Teeth were clenched, fists were tightened, eyes were locked right onto the action… However, it was looking like one of them just couldn't sit still in their seat…
Gardevoir was slowing down, getting exhausted as Banette soon charged up one more Shadow Ball… and that's when Bede told her to attack. Not just a Shadow Ball, but an Energy Ball was charged up! One in each of its palms as Gardevoir hurled both at her opponent before it collapsed. The score was completely even…
The onlookers breathed a sigh of relief at that last match, before they readjusted themselves and hoped Bede would finish her…
Bede took out Hatterene, the same Pokémon that he raised when he was young… given to him by Chairman Rose, a father figure to him years before his eventual betrayal… and it was the Pokémon that broke the item box to begin with.
Sird did not have a single ounce of worry on her face, more like a vampire whose meal began to fight back against them. Licking her lips she placed a hand on her last Pokéball, a wide smile forming on her face as she pressed the button.
"I had to work hard to place this one back under my control… I gave my allies genuine thanks that day we found it. It resisted at first, but ultimately… it couldn't escape."
Her final Pokémon… One written about in folklore that appears on moonless nights…. One that grants horrible nightmares to those who dare challenge it… lulling people and Pokémon to sleep without much effort… who once under Sird's control battled against the legendary Mewtwo…
The Pitch-Black Pokémon, Darkrai.
The very sight of it made Bede flinch, clearly knowing about this Pokémon and the power it holds. Before he could say a word to command Hatterene, he felt his eyes drooping… his speech became unintelligible…. and his legs began to give out. His hand reached out to try and speak to Hatterene, but Hypnosis had made her begin to slumber as well. With one Nightshade and two Shadow Claws, the psychic-fairy type was dispatched in a flash! Fainted and leaving Bede completely defenseless.
Darkrai floated closer to Bede, raising its hand up as it began to charge its dark energy… twisted portraits floated into the air and sinister claws shot out of them, all of them reaching out to grab Bede and trap him… Darkrai creates a gigantic silhouette that towered over the sleeping gym leader and prepares to crush him between its deadly claws…
WHOOOOOOOOOSH!
It was then that the nightmare suddenly ceased… Bede slowly opened his eyes and found he was still in the land of the living. Upon looking up, he gasped as what unfolded before his eyes rocked him to his core.
"Gargh… (coughs)... Heh heh…"
"..."
The young gym leader's mouth was wide open and his eyes were as wide as they could be.
"…. P-Pietro…"
Bede said the name of his savior as Sird returned Darkrai to its Pokéball. She smirked before walking away, feeling pleasantly surprised and satisfied regardless of how this turned out. Claw marks and stab wounds covering his body, Pietro had continued to cough blood as he raised his finger and pointed at Bede.
"Ha ha…. You didn't see that coming?"
Pietro collapsed to the ground… Bede stepped towards his body and tried to feel a pulse…
…
…
…. But true to his powers, he was gone within a few seconds. His blood stained Bede's tennis shoes as the young man was stunned into silence.
Insert Song: Dusk (Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!)
"Damn you… get back here you wretched witch… FACE YOUR JUDGMENT BY MY HAND!"
Dimitri tossed his lance at Sird, but she managed to vanish in time as the others ran onto the battlefield. I however was still planted in my seat, feeling completely numb at the fact that we had witnessed another death before our eyes. I cried and cried, feeling beyond miserable.
Hachiken…
Tsuyu…
Pietro…
All three of them were gone within an hour.
I stumbled over to the nearest trash bin and vomited my guts out. No offense thrown towards Saki, but right now I feel more like a zombie than she does. I only watched as Reyn pulled Bede to his feet before the latter ran away.
I couldn't blame him one bit, since that was what I wanted to do at that moment too.
"..."
The execution room was quiet as we made our way back to the elevator after a few minutes to look at Pietro's body. I had to accept that this was indeed reality, that he was gone just like the others. After stepping out of the elevator once again I fell to my knees and sobbed once more.
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!"
My eyes were watering like crazy, like a dam busted open, and I couldn't stop shaking. It was pathetic, how is it that I could cry so much even after we've had four people die before tonight? Why couldn't I just get used to it? All the losses we've had… it's to be expected in a killing game, huh? I shouldn't be acting like a baby when we lose more people, right? Right? Right?! RIGHT?!
My mind then went blank when I felt someone… no, a bunch of people kneeling down and hugging me tight.
It was everyone left in our dorm: Saki, Reyn, Tails, and Konata.
I felt warm on the outside, but my chest still throbbed with despair as I continued sobbing in their embrace. They kept on holding me though, as I sank into their hug more and more. I wish I wasn't such a burden on them… but I am a bit happy that they do care. Maybe it's just their way of showing that they're feeling their worst too, even if it's not the same as I'm going through right now.
We all just needed some big hug energy.
Insert Song: Silver Spoon Main Theme Arrange 5 (Silver Spoon/Gin no Saji)
Minori and I lit up some candles as we placed pictures of the friends we lost today on a small table.
In front of Tsuyu's portrait, a pair of goggles she wore during the maze event. In front of Pietro's, a pair of running shoes that were one of the few ones that he hadn't used already. And for Hachiken… his glasses, which I managed to pick up before we left that frozen room.
Dimitri stood up to start the eulogy, bowing his head in front of our makeshift memorial. We bowed our heads as well, as His Highness sighs with a mournful expression.
"We're gathered here tonight to mourn, not just for those who have died tonight… but also for the souls that we have lost during this killing game and even the lives we lost before we had even stepped foot onto this very campus. As much as I'd hate to admit it, there might also be more innocent lives taken away over the course of our stay here, so we will also be mourning for them too."
Minori briefly took off her glasses and wiped away her tears before putting them back on.
"We made more of the pizzas we enjoyed the other night, even if they won't make us laugh in our sorrow… and even if we didn't cook them exactly the way he would have… we still need some stuff in our bodies after all the exercise. Although, you don't have to eat if you've lost your appetite, we understand… we all do. Take care of yourselves, everyone."
I heard her voice starting to break as Ray thankfully stepped up next and cleared his throat.
"Right at the beginning it's been tough, and now it's gotten much more difficult after today. We just can't give in just yet though, all these emotions we're feeling… it's what Sird wants us to feel. If we give up right here, then what did our friends die for? What was Bede willing to sacrifice his life for? There's no better way for me to say this, we have to live on. Plain and simple, for their sake. That's all we can do. Tch…"
He wiped a tear from his face as Dimitri stepped back in.
"Eat as much as you can, my friends. As for me…. I'm off to see our missing guest. You're all dismissed… and remember to keep living, as Ray said."
I watched Dimitri walk out the door of the diner with a plate of pizza in his hands as I slowly chewed my slice of pizza. I both simultaneously wanted to eat this, and didn't want to at the same time. I wanted to because it was delicious yesterday and it was still great now, but I didn't want to because it reminded me too much of Hachiken. I let out a sigh as the rest of my dorm mates took their time eating as well.
I hope Bede is getting by okay… he's got to be feeling the worst out of all of us. I should be going out there with Dimitri, but after thinking about it more I wouldn't help him at all. Someone with depression this bad can't help him…
Hopefully someone like Dimitri can though…
Insert Song: Recollection and Regret (Fire Emblem: Three Houses)
Bede was sitting on a bench right in front of the stadium like before, this time on his lonesome. Without his Pokémon there beside him after being forced to give them back to Monokuma after his execution failed. He shouldn't be alive, yet here he is…
"I know you're there, Your Highness. Just go…"
Bede told the prince coldly, as he stared up into the artificial night sky. Dimitri just went closer and attempted to hand him the slice of pizza, yet the gym leader of Ballonlea didn't budge. The prince of Faerghus sat next to him, staying quiet for a minute or two until speaking up.
"I know you may deny what I'm about to say next, but whether or not you accept it… you were not the cause of those deaths today."
"..."
Bede didn't say a word back as he continued staring off into the fake stars.
"You did not choose Hachiken and Tsuyu as the targets for those spontaneous hazards, and it was Pietro's choice to give his own life for yours. I saw you trying to encourage Hachiken today and throw away your chance at saving yourself from the execution, instead choosing to duel that woman for your life. You still gave it your all in that stadium and against her, despite the fact that you wanted to sacrifice yourself."
"... What does it matter, anyways? They're still dead. While me, the blackened, isn't. You should be planning to finish the job, since I'm pretty sure a few of them back at that funeral want my head on a platter." Bede groaned as he looked downward at his shoes.
Dimitri tried handing him the pizza again while speaking up.
"I assure you that's the last thing I or anyone else feels at the moment. We are only grieving for those we lost, not planning on burying you next to them. We all know you're not to blame, Bede, it would be idiotic to pretend otherwise."
"..."
Bede took the pizza from Dimitri and sighed.
"I could have just grabbed something to eat from these food trucks, why bring me this?"
Dimitri softly smiled and chuckled a bit, "Well, as surprisingly delicious as the meals made here are… food made by those willing to put in the extra effort to make them taste right feel much better to eat."
Bede grunted while taking a bite, thankfully it was still warm.
"Hmph, I could see the appeal I guess…."
Dimitri took the time to eat his own slice as the two of them sat and ate in silence.
"... That Hachiken, he pleasantly surprised me quite a number of times. It'll be… strange, without someone as sensible as him around."
Bede admits as he and Dimitri deposit their paper plates into the trash.
"Indeed… he was someone willing to try his hardest for us all, despite how easy it seemed to underestimate him. I was happy to call him a friend, even for this short while."
Bede softly nodded at the prince's statement before starting to walk off.
"A friend, huh? Hm… have, uh… a good night, Dimitri."
"Farewell, Bede. Do try to understand that we do not put any blame on you, not a single ounce."
Bede softly nodded as he made his way back to his dorm, which now only housed himself and Kazuma. Dimitri sat back down on the metal bench as he took the time to reflect on the events of today. He breathed in a deep breath before beginning to clutch the bench with his hands.
"You're not the one to blame Bede, we all know who we should be blaming… That Sird, that vile woman who cackles at our suffering… who treats our lives as nothing more than a twisted stage play… who feeds off our despair like a disgusting pleasure… I swear, even at the cost of my own life… I will tear that head from her shoulders, smash Monokuma to pieces, and finally set us all free… I swear it, for the sake of the dead…"
Dimitri let go of the bench, managing to put enough pressure to leave large dents where his hands once were. He leaves for his dorm, not knowing that one of his dorm mates had left the funeral and followed him. Having listened to his mad rambling with great anxiety filling her mind.
"Dimitri…"
Kale whispered to herself as she remembered the fury he had in his eyes.
This chapter is something I've been wanting to make since I was in the middle of writing Fictional Guardians. While out on my walks, I've imagined the scenes playing out in my head along with music to accompany it, which is why I usually insert songs to play during important moments. The death of Hachiken was an idea compelling to me, an opportunity to tell a greater story and to develop our new main lead. I hope everyone wishes Sayori good luck, she has a lot more ahead of her as we head into the second half. Let me know if you all have other thoughts or questions about this chapter or if you have any predictions on what could happen next. I'll probably be taking a break from writing anything on Fictional Epicenter, or any fanfiction at all. The next thing I'll be working on and posting next week is the final (?) chapter of Ai Means Love, which I recommend if you need some funny and adorable fluff after the hell I just put you all through here. After that, I'll try to take a two week break from writing ANY STORY. I'll see you all next time, this has been the Renegade, and I wish you all farewell until Chapter 4: Azure Uproar. - Renegade Braveheart