Murder Game XIV: Monokuma's Awakening

[Crow]

"G-Guys, could we go one trial without antagonizing each other...? ... Why do I even bother."​

"D- Doc, y- you OK?"

A head peered from an empty podium.

"Anyways, Morikubo thinks it is best to vote for Daniel too. We have evidence that the others didn't do it, but no evidence that Daniel did or did not perform the crime...

... d- damn Daniel..."

@Atomyk​

 

[ShiroKiyoshi]

"G-Guys, could we go one trial without antagonizing each other...? ... Why do I even bother."​

Shifting gently, the large knight cocks his head to face the rodent "Would you care to repeat yourself?" Darv could crush this rodent like he was a soda can, and he was sure he knew it "Or would you perhaps like to wake up from your fifteenth nap so far fully before you comment?" The eyes beneath his helm began to glow faintly once more, and the knight who had stood silent this entire time seemed to come back to life. The way he conducted himself was more like a machine than a man, only acting when prompted to, and remaining like a silent, vigilant statue when not.

"Idiot"

@Minerva
@Crimson Spartan
@ShiroKiyoshi​

"Possibly." Rant said jokingly as he ignored the behemoth's threats once again. Just to make sure the behemoth acknowledged that he was being ignored Rant stared at him for a moment and then rolled his neck. His gaze landed on the man again and he spoke. "Say something?"

@Minerva
@Crimson Spartan​

 

[Atomyk]

Continued from here.

Chapter Two DEAD END
"Who Do You Voodoo"

"Such an unsteady stream of votes, but I see that the majority followed the early lead... Maybe I won't have to gobble you all up! All this lying and confusion... it's what makes a trial truly chaotic! Despair is born from chaos, among other things, so I can't say I would complain, would you? Of course not! You want to be good boys and girls, don't you?"

Monokuma jumped from the table to land in the circle of podiums. "Fighting again? You people... Do I have to put in timeout? I swear... Let's just get to the results so that you can get your fix blood and mayhem! Now, why don't--"

"It's time tell the truth about me, Monokuma." Wanda was staring at Monokuma, shooting daggers his way with her eyes. "These people deserve to know you're full of it, and I'm not just talking about your stuffing."

"Oh?" Monokuma looked displeased momentarily at being interrupted. "What do you mean? Is it candy? I assure you, if you hit me, you'll get more than just junk food!"

"Do think I am an idiot? Wait, I know you do. Look, I'll show you." Pointing to her tag, Wanda's title, the "Ultimate Witch" was comically hanging off her tag. It seemed to be covering another name. "I didn't even need magic to figure this out. You tell the truth, or I will."

"Maybe... you can't handle the truth! What kind of lame witch are you? Babbling and foaming at the mouth as you are... It's okay, I understand the stress you're going through! No one would blame you if you start speaking on tongues!" Monokuma brandished a claw, stepping toward Wanda's podium. "Maybe you need some of Doctor Monouma's patented medicine!"

Near Wanda, Monomi was shivering.

"U-Uuu... It's supposed to say Ultimate Red Reaper..."

"What?! Don't be ridiculous, sis! You're talkin' nonsense now too?"

"I was here... I was here to protect everyone..."

Kindly putting her hand on Monomi's shoulder, Wanda smiled in an effort to comfort the rabbit. Bending down on one knee, Wanda tried to probe the rabbit for information. "It's okay. I know you want to protect us. You're our teacher. You're supposed protect us. Is that why I am here? Am I here to protect them? Am I here to protect you, from your brother?"

"H-He's not my brother!"

With a great cry, Monokuma leaped from where he stood to slam a mighty punch against Monomi's face.

"Noooo! Owwww!" she cried.

The poor rabbit went flying across the morgue and slammed into the wall. She groaned and stood to her feet, staring at Monokuma as he grinned down at her. "I'm your big bro, and don't you forget it!"

"No... You're the worst brother bear ever! I came here to protect everyone from you... and I even brought Wanda here because I thought she had the power to keep you away! You were trying to bring someone else, but I intervened! But... this place is so strong... I couldn't do it all..."

"No, Usami."

After taking a deep breath, Wanda exhaled slowly. Mystical energy crackled as she rose into the air.

"You did not fail. My powers, they're coming back. I can feel the magic... it's gathering, growing. It'll take some time, but it's almost over. "

Monokuma turned to Wanda, not looking too concerned about this development. He shrugged casually and raised a paw in her direction. "Your magic, huh? You know, I can make flashy displays too! You haven;t even witnessed... my true form!"

Monokuma held his ground, beginning to growl. Sparks of energy bounced off him and the room itself seemed to shake with power. Soon, Monokuma was enveloped in light.

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!" Monokuma cried out as if he was speaking to the very heavens. His yelling took up the whole room, drowning out everything else. "Come on, burn this giant despair into your very memories! AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!! GYAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!"

With one final yell, a giant ball of energy was formed before Monokuma that shot out like a bullet toward Wanda.

"Not a chance!"

Wanda's body glowed as she focused her chaos magic. Wanda fired a massive scarlet stream, a hex bolt, at the "despair ball". The impact was massive, causing energy to break off and fly about the room.

Wanda hit the ground, tumbling over and over. When Wanda's eyes opened, she was struggling and notably weakened. After she looked around, Wanda's eyes widened in horror.

"No...

Bolin...

... I-I killed him."

Jude ran over to the fallen body of Bolin, who had been hit with some of the stray energy. The young doctor yelled the boy's name, but there was no response. Jude knew before he even checked the boy's pulse that he was dead.

"Gyeh-heh! Upu... Upuhehehe! You see? That's where hope gets ya! Why even bother? Maybe you weren't the intended target, but you're here, and you're just as trapped as the rest of them. Your magic is no match for the darkness around you. It's eating you up, isn't it? If you decide to get uppity again... I may have to deal with you next time!"

Monokuma sighed contently as Monomi wept behind him. He made his way back to the podiums and hopped into the middle of the circle.

"With that out of the way, let's get on with the show. Gyeh-heh! I hope you guys don't think that little conversation will make a difference here." From the back of the morgue room, an electronic display rose for all to see. "Did you all follow the leader in the right direction...?"

The display changed to a moving image of a slot machine, the suspects' faces on the reels.

The slot machine eventually stopped, landing on Daniel's face three times in a row. The text below flashed...

GUILTY

"I knew it..." Tommy muttered as he looked away from Dan and Herbert, the latter of whom looked mortified while the former seemed regretful.

"Dan... I don't understand. Why?"

"It was because of all the people this guy's presumably killed, Herbert. Who knows how many he killed on the way here? Tommy said he's been fighting him for months! I couldn't bare the thought of so many people having their lives cut short. I see that every goddamn day in the ER!"

Dan shouted as Herbert frowned. Herbert had to admit that he didn't have as good a heart as Dan did. He couldn't have cared less for Roy's victims. He hadn't known them so what was the point of bothering? If anything he was just disappointed that Roy's body hadn't been obtained.

"But I'll take whatever punishment's waiting for me. It's the least I could do for not being honest."

"Isn't it something that even the best of us are willing to go so far for what we perceive as right and just? Dangle something tantalizing in front of a chump... They'll kill a bad guy to promote their own goodness! Upu... It's a sight to behold! All it truly does is spread despair!"

A hold in the floor opened, and the mechanical hand was grabbing. A few in the circle let out a curse at the sight, unable to do anything else as they watched Dan be pulled into the darkness. The display changed to show Dan's fate.

He was in a desolate place, with not a soul in sight but Dan himself. He was on a lonely stretch of road, ruined buildings surrounding him from all sides. For whatever reason, the screen displayed the scene with a gritty orange filter. The whole thing looked truly apocalyptic.

Then there was the moaning. Moaning from all sides, originating from monsters that stumbled out of the ruined buildings.

Dan could see them for what they were: the reanimated dead. They were too numerous to even count, filling up the screen with monstrous looks in their eyes. Dan moved to push one way, causing it to stumble backward into a few others, but the sheer wall of undead held him up, allowing him to quickly make another grab for Dan.

With the medical student unarmed, he knew he would not be leaving this place alive. The undead converged on him, enveloping him into their mass. Dan's screams could only be heard for a few sharp seconds before the display shut off.

"Fuckin' disgusting," murmured Holder, still looking up at the display. "Can't we do something about this? What the hell's happened?"

"There's nothing we can do," Victoria groaned, putting a hand to her head in frustration.

Holder grit his teeth and reached for the gun holstered at his hip, but he found his hand stopping on its own an inch from the weapon. "I can't... The fuck, bear? You pullin' some voodoo magic on me?"

"Me? Why I never... Or, no, I totally would, wouldn't I? Ain't I a stinker? Why don't you go off on your merry way, detective, for we don't need your services any longer! I'm sure my forensics team will run into you again some day!" When Holder didn't move to go, Monokuma held his stomach and laughed. "You'll have to be going anyway, for it's time for my forensics team to pack up and go! We can leave the dead body... it is a morgue, after all!"

As the compulsion took over those remaining (With Jack having to carry Zinnia), Holder watched them go. "I'll be at the casino, tomorrow. Three-Eyed Jack's." Bullet said nothing as they left.

The bus would carry the group to another place to rest, but this time it was a more prestigious location. Located just outside of town and by the lake was The Great Northern hotel.

Monokuma was out of the bus first.

"This place has rooms of all sizes! Get a good night's sleep before we continue the investigation tomorrow!"

This hotel, despite its size, seemed to be suspiciously empty. The group would find very few guests were staying there.

Continued here.

***

CAST LIST
@C.T. as Arya Stark "Ultimate Killer" [Game of Thrones]
@Kaykay as Chikage Kushinada "Ultimate Jujutsuka" [History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi]
@Chewy Rabbits as Catbug "Ultimate Cutie" [Bravest Warriors]
@Minerva as Corrin "Ultimate Protector" [Fire Emblem]
@DapperDogman as Darv "Ultimate Saltborn" [Salt & Sanctuary]
@Yun Lee as Edmond Honda "Ultimate Sumo Wrestler" [Street Fighter]
@BarrenThin as Genji Shimada "Ultimate Forgiveness" [Overwatch]
@Krieg as Isaac "Felix" Gates "Ultimate Bounty Hunter" [Red VS Blue]
@The Tactician as Jack "Ultimate Samurai" [Samurai Jack]
@york as Jack Frost "Ultimate Funhouse" [Rise of the Guardians]
@Verite as Kyoko Kirigiri "Ultimate ???" [Danganronpa]
@Gummi Bunnies as "Lapis Lazuli" "Ultimate Crystal" [Original Character]
@LuckycoolHawk9 as M. "Stiles" Stilinski "Ultimate Sarcasm" [Teen Wolf]
@Crow as Morikubo Nono "Ultimate Wallflower" [THE iDOLM@STER]
@Archwar as Noble Six "Ultimate Lone Wolf" [Original Character/Halo]
@Jeremi as Poison "Ultimate Manager" [Street Fighter]
@ShiroKiyoshi as Rant T. Mouse "Ultimate Rat Mouse" [Original Character]
@Josh M as Scarlet Witch "Ultimate Witch" [Marvel Comics]
@Crimson Spartan as Seamus "Sledge" Cowden "Ultimate Breaching Charge" [Rainbow Six: Siege]
@Hospes as Tarlotte "Ultimate Tantrum" [Kyoshiro to Town no Sora]
@CrunchyCHEEZIT as Tekhartha Zenyatta "Ultimate Teacher" [Overwatch]
@Periodically Incorrect as Terezi Pyrope "Ultimate Justice" [Homestuck]
@DBZ7 as Tharja "Ultimate Hextress" [Fire Emblem]
@Nater Taters as Tomoko Kuroki "Ultimate Loser" [WataMote]
@Atomyk as Victoria Maribeth Chase "Ultimate Bitch" [Life is Strange]
@Takumi as Yurick "Ultimate Arcanist" [The Last Story]
@Klutzy Ninja Kitty as Zinnia "Ultimate Lorekeeper" [Pokemon]​

 

[Chewy Rabbits]

Tommy watched with a disgusted expression as Dan was torn to pieces by the corpses. He might not have liked Dan and Herbert but he could at least respect why Dan did what he did. Tommy would have put Roy out of his misery himself months ago but he had messed up. He hadn't made sure the paramedic had actually met his end. Now Dan had done the deed and paid the price for it. But Tommy couldn't afford to shed any more tears. He kept getting drawn into these stupid trials but they weren't what he was really after. Making his way off from the group without so much as another word, Tommy left.

He'd find Jason or die trying.

Herbert watched with an unreadable expression as events proceeded as they did. Herbert may have been abrasive to everyone but Dan was the one person he'd spare a shred of kindness for. Now he was gone, ripped to pieces that Herbert couldn't hope to stitch back together and if he revived him? It still wouldn't be the same Dan who had put up with so many of Herbert's shenanigans when he had no real reason to. Tucking his hands in his pocket Herbert turned away and stomped off from the group. He had no prize and now? He didn't have a partner either.

@Nobody I guess​

 

[Khan of the Mardu]

Continued from here.

Chapter Two DEAD END
"Who Do You Voodoo"

"Such an unsteady stream of votes, but I see that the majority followed the early lead... Maybe I won't have to gobble you all up! All this lying and confusion... it's what makes a trial truly chaotic! Despair is born from chaos, among other things, so I can't say I would complain, would you? Of course not! You want to be good boys and girls, don't you?"

Monokuma jumped from the table to land in the circle of podiums. "Fighting again? You people... Do I have to put in timeout? I swear... Let's just get to the results so that you can get your fix blood and mayhem! Now, why don't--"

"It's time tell the truth about me, Monokuma." Wanda was staring at Monokuma, shooting daggers his way with her eyes. "These people deserve to know you're full of it, and I'm not just talking about your stuffing."

"Oh?" Monokuma looked displeased momentarily at being interrupted. "What do you mean? Is it candy? I assure you, if you hit me, you'll get more than just junk food!"

"Do think I am an idiot? Wait, I know you do. Look, I'll show you." Pointing to her tag, Wanda's title, the "Ultimate Witch" was comically hanging off her tag. It seemed to be covering another name. "I didn't even need magic to figure this out. You tell the truth, or I will."

"Maybe... you can't handle the truth! What kind of lame witch are you? Babbling and foaming at the mouth as you are... It's okay, I understand the stress you're going through! No one would blame you if you start speaking on tongues!" Monokuma brandished a claw, stepping toward Wanda's podium. "Maybe you need some of Doctor Monouma's patented medicine!"

Near Wanda, Monomi was shivering.

"U-Uuu... It's supposed to say Ultimate Red Reaper..."

"What?! Don't be ridiculous, sis! You're talkin' nonsense now too?"

"I was here... I was here to protect everyone..."

Kindly putting her hand on Monomi's shoulder, Wanda smiled in an effort to comfort the rabbit. Bending down on one knee, Wanda tried to probe the rabbit for information. "It's okay. I know you want to protect us. You're our teacher. You're supposed protect us. Is that why I am here? Am I here to protect them? Am I here to protect you, from your brother?"

"H-He's not my brother!"

With a great cry, Monokuma leaped from where he stood to slam a mighty punch against Monomi's face.

"Noooo! Owwww!" she cried.

The poor rabbit went flying across the morgue and slammed into the wall. She groaned and stood to her feet, staring at Monokuma as he grinned down at her. "I'm your big bro, and don't you forget it!"

"No... You're the worst brother bear ever! I came here to protect everyone from you... and I even brought Wanda here because I thought she had the power to keep you away! You were trying to bring someone else, but I intervened! But... this place is so strong... I couldn't do it all..."

"No, Usami."

After taking a deep breath, Wanda exhaled slowly. Mystical energy crackled as she rose into the air.

"You did not fail. My powers, they're coming back. I can feel the magic... it's gathering, growing. It'll take some time, but it's almost over. "

Monokuma turned to Wanda, not looking too concerned about this development. He shrugged casually and raised a paw in her direction. "Your magic, huh? You know, I can make flashy displays too! You haven;t even witnessed... my true form!"

Monokuma held his ground, beginning to growl. Sparks of energy bounced off him and the room itself seemed to shake with power. Soon, Monokuma was enveloped in light.

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!" Monokuma cried out as if he was speaking to the very heavens. His yelling took up the whole room, drowning out everything else. "Come on, burn this giant despair into your very memories! AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!! GYAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!"

With one final yell, a giant ball of energy was formed before Monokuma that shot out like a bullet toward Wanda.

"Not a chance!"

Wanda's body glowed as she focused her chaos magic. Wanda fired a massive scarlet stream, a hex bolt, at the "despair ball". The impact was massive, causing energy to break off and fly about the room.

Wanda hit the ground, tumbling over and over. When Wanda's eyes opened, she was struggling and notably weakened. After she looked around, Wanda's eyes widened in horror.

"No...

Bolin...

... I-I killed him."

Jude ran over to the fallen body of Bolin, who had been hit with some of the stray energy. The young doctor yelled the boy's name, but there was no response. Jude knew before he even checked the boy's pulse that he was dead.

"Gyeh-heh! Upu... Upuhehehe! You see? That's where hope gets ya! Why even bother? Maybe you weren't the intended target, but you're here, and you're just as trapped as the rest of them. Your magic is no match for the darkness around you. It's eating you up, isn't it? If you decide to uppity again... I may to deal with you next time!"

Monokuma sighed contently as Monomi weeped behind him. He made his way back to the podiums and hopped into the middle of the circle.

"With that out of the way, let's get on with the show. Gyeh-heh! I hope you guys don't think that little conversation will make a difference here." From the back of the morgue room, an electronic display rose for all to see. "Did you all follow the leader in the right direction...?"

The display changed to a moving image of a slot machine, the suspects' faces on the reels.

The slot machine eventually stopped, landing on Daniel's face three times in a row. The text below flashed...

GUILTY

"I knew it..." Tommy muttered as he looked away from Dan and Herbert, the latter of whom looked mortified while the former seemed regretful.

"Dan... I don't understand. Why?"

"It was because of all the people this guy's presumably killed, Herbert. Who knows how many he killed on the way here? Tommy said he's been fighting him for months! I couldn't bare the thought of so many people having their lives cut short. I see that every goddamn day in the ER!"

Dan shouted as Herbert frowned. Herbert had to admit that he didn't have as good a heart as Dan did. He couldn't have cared less for Roy's victims. He hadn't known them so what was the point of bothering? If anything he was just disappointed that Roy's body hadn't been obtained.

"But I'll take whatever punishment's waiting for me. It's the least I could do for not being honest."

"Isn't it something that even the best of us are willing to go so far for what we perceive as right and just? Dangle something tantalizing in front of a chump... They'll kill a bad guy to promote their own goodness! Upu... It's a sight to behold! All it truly does is spread despair!"

A hold in the floor opened, and the mechanical hand was grabbing. A few in the circle let out a curse at the sight, unable to do anything else as they watched Dan be pulled into the darkness. The display changed to show Dan's fate.

He was in a desolate place, with not a soul in sight but Dan himself. He was on a lonely stretch of road, ruined buildings surrounding him from all sides. For whatever reason, the screen displayed the scene with a gritty orange filter. The whole thing looked truly apocalyptic.

Then there was the moaning. Moaning from all sides, originating from monsters that stumbled out of the ruined buildings.

Dan could see them for what they were: the reanimated dead. They were too numerous to even count, filling up the screen with monstrous looks in their eyes. Dan moved to push one way, causing it to stumble backward into a few others, but the sheer wall of undead held him up, allowing him to quickly make another grab for Dan.

With the medical student unarmed, he knew he would not be leaving this place alive. The undead converged on him, enveloping him into their mass. Dan's screams could only be heard for a few sharp seconds before the display shut off.

"Fuckin' disgusting," murmured Holder, still looking up at the display. "Can't we do something about this? What the hell's happened?"

"There's nothing we can do," Victoria groaned, putting a hand to her head in frustration.

Holder grit his teeth and reached for the gun holstered at his hip, but he found his hand stopping on its own an inch from the weapon. "I can't... The fuck, bear? You pullin' some voodoo magic on me?"

"Me? Why I never... Or, no, I totally would, wouldn't I? Ain't I a stinker? Why don't you go off on your merry way, detective, for we don't need your services any longer! I'm sure my forensics team will run into again some day!" When Holder didn't move to go, Monokuma held his stomach and laughed. "You'll have to be going anyway, for it's time for my forensics team to pack up and go! We can leave the dead body... it is a morgue, after all!"

As the compulsion took over those remaining (With Jack having to Carry Zinnia), Holder watched them go. "I'll be at the casino, tomorrow. Three-Eyed Jack's." Bullet said nothing as they left.

The bus would carry the group to another place to rest, but this time it was a more prestigious location. Located just outside of town and by the lake was The Great Northern hotel.

Monokuma was out of the bus first.

"This place has rooms of all sizes! Get a good night's sleep before we continue the investigation tomorrow!"

This hotel, despite its size, seemed to be suspiciously empty. The group would find very few guests were staying there.

***

CAST LIST
@C.T. as Arya Stark "Ultimate Killer" [Game of Thrones]
@Kaykay as Chikage Kushinada "Ultimate Jujutsuka" [History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi]
@Chewy Rabbits as Catbug "Ultimate Cutie" [Bravest Warriors]
@Minerva as Corrin "Ultimate Protector" [Fire Emblem]
@DapperDogman as Darv "Ultimate Saltborn" [Salt & Sanctuary]
@Yun Lee as Edmond Honda "Ultimate Sumo Wrestler" [Street Fighter]
@BarrenThin as Genji Shimada "Ultimate Forgiveness" [Overwatch]
@Krieg as Isaac "Felix" Gates "Ultimate Bounty Hunter" [Red VS Blue]
@The Tactician as Jack "Ultimate Samurai" [Samurai Jack]
@york as Jack Frost "Ultimate Funhouse" [Rise of the Guardians]
@Verite as Kyoko Kirigiri "Ultimate ???" [Danganronpa]
@Gummi Bunnies as "Lapis Lazuli" "Ultimate Crystal" [Original Character]
@LuckycoolHawk9 as M. "Stiles" Stilinski "Ultimate Sarcasm" [Teen Wolf]
@Crow as Morikubo Nono "Ultimate Wallflower" [THE iDOLM@STER]
@Archwar as Noble Six "Ultimate Lone Wolf" [Original Character/Halo]
@Jeremi as Poison "Ultimate Manager" [Street Fighter]
@ShiroKiyoshi as Rant T. Mouse "Ultimate Rat Mouse" [Original Character]
@Josh M as Scarlet Witch "Ultimate Witch" [Marvel Comics]
@Crimson Spartan as Seamus "Sledge" Cowden "Ultimate Breaching Charge" [Rainbow Six: Siege]
@Hospes as Tarlotte "Ultimate Tantrum" [Kyoshiro to Town no Sora]
@CrunchyCHEEZIT as Tekhartha Zenyatta "Ultimate Teacher" [Overwatch]
@Periodically Incorrect as Terezi Pyrope "Ultimate Justice" [Homestuck]
@DBZ7 as Tharja "Ultimate Hextress" [Fire Emblem]
@Nater Taters as Tomoko Kuroki "Ultimate Loser" [WataMote]
@Atomyk as Victoria Maribeth Chase "Ultimate Bitch" [Life is Strange]
@Takumi as Yurick "Ultimate Arcanist" [The Last Story]
@Klutzy Ninja Kitty as Zinnia "Ultimate Lorekeeper" [Pokemon]​

Another vote, another guilty verdict, another execution. It seemed to have gone by so quickly, quickly enough that Jack did not even register the chance to vote. He had been too focused upon caring for Zinnia, making sure that she was alright and hopefully without too much vomit on herself. However, he would not have wished to as the identity of the culprit was revealed.

He did not deserve to die like this.

Dan had been a kind soul, too kind in fact. He had sacrificed himself for the good of this town and their group, and by Monokuma's law, he had been executed. It was clear that Monokuma's rule could not be allowed to go on any longer, yet they had no means to strike him down yet. The samurai knew they would need to bide their time till they were ready... And when that time came, justice would come.

For now though, he focused upon finding a room for he and Zinnia to rest.

@Klutzy Ninja Kitty @BarrenThin @DapperDogman @CrunchyCHEEZIT @Atomyk​

 

[Yun Lee]

Continued from here.

Chapter Two DEAD END
"Who Do You Voodoo"

"Such an unsteady stream of votes, but I see that the majority followed the early lead... Maybe I won't have to gobble you all up! All this lying and confusion... it's what makes a trial truly chaotic! Despair is born from chaos, among other things, so I can't say I would complain, would you? Of course not! You want to be good boys and girls, don't you?"

Monokuma jumped from the table to land in the circle of podiums. "Fighting again? You people... Do I have to put in timeout? I swear... Let's just get to the results so that you can get your fix blood and mayhem! Now, why don't--"

"It's time tell the truth about me, Monokuma." Wanda was staring at Monokuma, shooting daggers his way with her eyes. "These people deserve to know you're full of it, and I'm not just talking about your stuffing."

"Oh?" Monokuma looked displeased momentarily at being interrupted. "What do you mean? Is it candy? I assure you, if you hit me, you'll get more than just junk food!"

"Do think I am an idiot? Wait, I know you do. Look, I'll show you." Pointing to her tag, Wanda's title, the "Ultimate Witch" was comically hanging off her tag. It seemed to be covering another name. "I didn't even need magic to figure this out. You tell the truth, or I will."

"Maybe... you can't handle the truth! What kind of lame witch are you? Babbling and foaming at the mouth as you are... It's okay, I understand the stress you're going through! No one would blame you if you start speaking on tongues!" Monokuma brandished a claw, stepping toward Wanda's podium. "Maybe you need some of Doctor Monouma's patented medicine!"

Near Wanda, Monomi was shivering.

"U-Uuu... It's supposed to say Ultimate Red Reaper..."

"What?! Don't be ridiculous, sis! You're talkin' nonsense now too?"

"I was here... I was here to protect everyone..."

Kindly putting her hand on Monomi's shoulder, Wanda smiled in an effort to comfort the rabbit. Bending down on one knee, Wanda tried to probe the rabbit for information. "It's okay. I know you want to protect us. You're our teacher. You're supposed protect us. Is that why I am here? Am I here to protect them? Am I here to protect you, from your brother?"

"H-He's not my brother!"

With a great cry, Monokuma leaped from where he stood to slam a mighty punch against Monomi's face.

"Noooo! Owwww!" she cried.

The poor rabbit went flying across the morgue and slammed into the wall. She groaned and stood to her feet, staring at Monokuma as he grinned down at her. "I'm your big bro, and don't you forget it!"

"No... You're the worst brother bear ever! I came here to protect everyone from you... and I even brought Wanda here because I thought she had the power to keep you away! You were trying to bring someone else, but I intervened! But... this place is so strong... I couldn't do it all..."

"No, Usami."

After taking a deep breath, Wanda exhaled slowly. Mystical energy crackled as she rose into the air.

"You did not fail. My powers, they're coming back. I can feel the magic... it's gathering, growing. It'll take some time, but it's almost over. "

Monokuma turned to Wanda, not looking too concerned about this development. He shrugged casually and raised a paw in her direction. "Your magic, huh? You know, I can make flashy displays too! You haven;t even witnessed... my true form!"

Monokuma held his ground, beginning to growl. Sparks of energy bounced off him and the room itself seemed to shake with power. Soon, Monokuma was enveloped in light.

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!" Monokuma cried out as if he was speaking to the very heavens. His yelling took up the whole room, drowning out everything else. "Come on, burn this giant despair into your very memories! AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!! GYAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!"

With one final yell, a giant ball of energy was formed before Monokuma that shot out like a bullet toward Wanda.

"Not a chance!"

Wanda's body glowed as she focused her chaos magic. Wanda fired a massive scarlet stream, a hex bolt, at the "despair ball". The impact was massive, causing energy to break off and fly about the room.

Wanda hit the ground, tumbling over and over. When Wanda's eyes opened, she was struggling and notably weakened. After she looked around, Wanda's eyes widened in horror.

"No...

Bolin...

... I-I killed him."

Jude ran over to the fallen body of Bolin, who had been hit with some of the stray energy. The young doctor yelled the boy's name, but there was no response. Jude knew before he even checked the boy's pulse that he was dead.

"Gyeh-heh! Upu... Upuhehehe! You see? That's where hope gets ya! Why even bother? Maybe you weren't the intended target, but you're here, and you're just as trapped as the rest of them. Your magic is no match for the darkness around you. It's eating you up, isn't it? If you decide to uppity again... I may to deal with you next time!"

Monokuma sighed contently as Monomi weeped behind him. He made his way back to the podiums and hopped into the middle of the circle.

"With that out of the way, let's get on with the show. Gyeh-heh! I hope you guys don't think that little conversation will make a difference here." From the back of the morgue room, an electronic display rose for all to see. "Did you all follow the leader in the right direction...?"

The display changed to a moving image of a slot machine, the suspects' faces on the reels.

The slot machine eventually stopped, landing on Daniel's face three times in a row. The text below flashed...

GUILTY

"I knew it..." Tommy muttered as he looked away from Dan and Herbert, the latter of whom looked mortified while the former seemed regretful.

"Dan... I don't understand. Why?"

"It was because of all the people this guy's presumably killed, Herbert. Who knows how many he killed on the way here? Tommy said he's been fighting him for months! I couldn't bare the thought of so many people having their lives cut short. I see that every goddamn day in the ER!"

Dan shouted as Herbert frowned. Herbert had to admit that he didn't have as good a heart as Dan did. He couldn't have cared less for Roy's victims. He hadn't known them so what was the point of bothering? If anything he was just disappointed that Roy's body hadn't been obtained.

"But I'll take whatever punishment's waiting for me. It's the least I could do for not being honest."

"Isn't it something that even the best of us are willing to go so far for what we perceive as right and just? Dangle something tantalizing in front of a chump... They'll kill a bad guy to promote their own goodness! Upu... It's a sight to behold! All it truly does is spread despair!"

A hold in the floor opened, and the mechanical hand was grabbing. A few in the circle let out a curse at the sight, unable to do anything else as they watched Dan be pulled into the darkness. The display changed to show Dan's fate.

He was in a desolate place, with not a soul in sight but Dan himself. He was on a lonely stretch of road, ruined buildings surrounding him from all sides. For whatever reason, the screen displayed the scene with a gritty orange filter. The whole thing looked truly apocalyptic.

Then there was the moaning. Moaning from all sides, originating from monsters that stumbled out of the ruined buildings.

Dan could see them for what they were: the reanimated dead. They were too numerous to even count, filling up the screen with monstrous looks in their eyes. Dan moved to push one way, causing it to stumble backward into a few others, but the sheer wall of undead held him up, allowing him to quickly make another grab for Dan.

With the medical student unarmed, he knew he would not be leaving this place alive. The undead converged on him, enveloping him into their mass. Dan's screams could only be heard for a few sharp seconds before the display shut off.

"Fuckin' disgusting," murmured Holder, still looking up at the display. "Can't we do something about this? What the hell's happened?"

"There's nothing we can do," Victoria groaned, putting a hand to her head in frustration.

Holder grit his teeth and reached for the gun holstered at his hip, but he found his hand stopping on its own an inch from the weapon. "I can't... The fuck, bear? You pullin' some voodoo magic on me?"

"Me? Why I never... Or, no, I totally would, wouldn't I? Ain't I a stinker? Why don't you go off on your merry way, detective, for we don't need your services any longer! I'm sure my forensics team will run into again some day!" When Holder didn't move to go, Monokuma held his stomach and laughed. "You'll have to be going anyway, for it's time for my forensics team to pack up and go! We can leave the dead body... it is a morgue, after all!"

As the compulsion took over those remaining (With Jack having to Carry Zinnia), Holder watched them go. "I'll be at the casino, tomorrow. Three-Eyed Jack's." Bullet said nothing as they left.

The bus would carry the group to another place to rest, but this time it was a more prestigious location. Located just outside of town and by the lake was The Great Northern hotel.

Monokuma was out of the bus first.

"This place has rooms of all sizes! Get a good night's sleep before we continue the investigation tomorrow!"

This hotel, despite its size, seemed to be suspiciously empty. The group would find very few guests were staying there.

***

CAST LIST
@C.T. as Arya Stark "Ultimate Killer" [Game of Thrones]
@Kaykay as Chikage Kushinada "Ultimate Jujutsuka" [History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi]
@Chewy Rabbits as Catbug "Ultimate Cutie" [Bravest Warriors]
@Minerva as Corrin "Ultimate Protector" [Fire Emblem]
@DapperDogman as Darv "Ultimate Saltborn" [Salt & Sanctuary]
@Yun Lee as Edmond Honda "Ultimate Sumo Wrestler" [Street Fighter]
@BarrenThin as Genji Shimada "Ultimate Forgiveness" [Overwatch]
@Krieg as Isaac "Felix" Gates "Ultimate Bounty Hunter" [Red VS Blue]
@The Tactician as Jack "Ultimate Samurai" [Samurai Jack]
@york as Jack Frost "Ultimate Funhouse" [Rise of the Guardians]
@Verite as Kyoko Kirigiri "Ultimate ???" [Danganronpa]
@Gummi Bunnies as "Lapis Lazuli" "Ultimate Crystal" [Original Character]
@LuckycoolHawk9 as M. "Stiles" Stilinski "Ultimate Sarcasm" [Teen Wolf]
@Crow as Morikubo Nono "Ultimate Wallflower" [THE iDOLM@STER]
@Archwar as Noble Six "Ultimate Lone Wolf" [Original Character/Halo]
@Jeremi as Poison "Ultimate Manager" [Street Fighter]
@ShiroKiyoshi as Rant T. Mouse "Ultimate Rat Mouse" [Original Character]
@Josh M as Scarlet Witch "Ultimate Witch" [Marvel Comics]
@Crimson Spartan as Seamus "Sledge" Cowden "Ultimate Breaching Charge" [Rainbow Six: Siege]
@Hospes as Tarlotte "Ultimate Tantrum" [Kyoshiro to Town no Sora]
@CrunchyCHEEZIT as Tekhartha Zenyatta "Ultimate Teacher" [Overwatch]
@Periodically Incorrect as Terezi Pyrope "Ultimate Justice" [Homestuck]
@DBZ7 as Tharja "Ultimate Hextress" [Fire Emblem]
@Nater Taters as Tomoko Kuroki "Ultimate Loser" [WataMote]
@Atomyk as Victoria Maribeth Chase "Ultimate Bitch" [Life is Strange]
@Takumi as Yurick "Ultimate Arcanist" [The Last Story]
@Klutzy Ninja Kitty as Zinnia "Ultimate Lorekeeper" [Pokemon]​

"..."

Was there any time to process what just happened? Wanda really was a witch, that power...even the most powerful warriors Honda had faced-Ryu, Oni, Bison,-just to name a small few, he hadn't seen something so powerful. It was terrifying, but he couldn't look away.

But, in the aftermath, he had to.

"No...no...!" Not Bolin...please no! Honda ran to the boy's body, shaking him lightly. No, no, no...all he wanted to do was get everyone out of here!! He didn't want to vote for anyone, do any of this! And all he got was death. Honda could feel a lump in his throat, tears starting to form.

"You...YOOOOUUUUU!!!!!!" Honda pointed an accusatory finger at the killer, the one who took his life-and it wasn't Wanda.

"YOU DAMN BEAR!! HOW MANY MORE INNOCENT LIVES WILL YOU TAKE?!?! SO HELP ME, I'M GONNA-"

His threat held no bearing anymore, as suddenly it was revealed that Daniel Cain was indeed guilty. It felt so wrong, so wrong to see this young man executed. He was just trying to help...! And what a gruesome death it was, even worse than Klim's. And did Daniel truly deserve such a fate for self defense? Honda didn't know. All he could do was watch.

And then he was forced away. Forced away from Herbert, unable to offer condolences. Forced away from Tommy and Bullet, both shaken up-in part possibly from how he himself had interrogated them. Forced away from Holder, someone who sympathized with him. And forced away from Bolin, unable to even say goodbye.

Honda stayed silent for the entire trip to their hotel, and even after. He felt shame, shame for how he had acted, and for once couldn't eat, even if he wanted to. He found a small room and went inside, laying on the bed like he had before. Only this time he didn't think he'd get up for a snack run.

@Anyone​

 

[BarrenThin]

Genji quickly found Wanda and helped her to her feet. He was straight, and to the point. "That was not your fault, Wanda."

@Josh M​

 

[Josh M]

Wanda sat on the back off the bus. Her eyes watched the tress and everything pass by. Her eye wandered to E. Honda. She knew the two were friends. The pain Wanda felt. It was so much on the Witch. However, when the bus stop, she was the first one off, pushing and shoving her way from the group.

Stepping off the bus, she stumbled, before graceful rebounding with the help of Genji.

"Even if it wasn't. that doesn't make it better."

Noticing Honda walking by, Wanda nearly froze, Wand was fighting tears, she knew she had to be strong. She turned back to the former overwatch member.

"My pain and my sins are my own to bare. I would never ask you to take it from me, nor will I make an excuse. I took part in the act. So I am just as guilty"


@BarrenThin @Yun Lee @Verite @Atomyk @Krieg

 

[Klutzy Ninja Kitty]

Continued from here.

Chapter Two DEAD END
"Who Do You Voodoo"

"Such an unsteady stream of votes, but I see that the majority followed the early lead... Maybe I won't have to gobble you all up! All this lying and confusion... it's what makes a trial truly chaotic! Despair is born from chaos, among other things, so I can't say I would complain, would you? Of course not! You want to be good boys and girls, don't you?"

Monokuma jumped from the table to land in the circle of podiums. "Fighting again? You people... Do I have to put in timeout? I swear... Let's just get to the results so that you can get your fix blood and mayhem! Now, why don't--"

"It's time tell the truth about me, Monokuma." Wanda was staring at Monokuma, shooting daggers his way with her eyes. "These people deserve to know you're full of it, and I'm not just talking about your stuffing."

"Oh?" Monokuma looked displeased momentarily at being interrupted. "What do you mean? Is it candy? I assure you, if you hit me, you'll get more than just junk food!"

"Do think I am an idiot? Wait, I know you do. Look, I'll show you." Pointing to her tag, Wanda's title, the "Ultimate Witch" was comically hanging off her tag. It seemed to be covering another name. "I didn't even need magic to figure this out. You tell the truth, or I will."

"Maybe... you can't handle the truth! What kind of lame witch are you? Babbling and foaming at the mouth as you are... It's okay, I understand the stress you're going through! No one would blame you if you start speaking on tongues!" Monokuma brandished a claw, stepping toward Wanda's podium. "Maybe you need some of Doctor Monouma's patented medicine!"

Near Wanda, Monomi was shivering.

"U-Uuu... It's supposed to say Ultimate Red Reaper..."

"What?! Don't be ridiculous, sis! You're talkin' nonsense now too?"

"I was here... I was here to protect everyone..."

Kindly putting her hand on Monomi's shoulder, Wanda smiled in an effort to comfort the rabbit. Bending down on one knee, Wanda tried to probe the rabbit for information. "It's okay. I know you want to protect us. You're our teacher. You're supposed protect us. Is that why I am here? Am I here to protect them? Am I here to protect you, from your brother?"

"H-He's not my brother!"

With a great cry, Monokuma leaped from where he stood to slam a mighty punch against Monomi's face.

"Noooo! Owwww!" she cried.

The poor rabbit went flying across the morgue and slammed into the wall. She groaned and stood to her feet, staring at Monokuma as he grinned down at her. "I'm your big bro, and don't you forget it!"

"No... You're the worst brother bear ever! I came here to protect everyone from you... and I even brought Wanda here because I thought she had the power to keep you away! You were trying to bring someone else, but I intervened! But... this place is so strong... I couldn't do it all..."

"No, Usami."

After taking a deep breath, Wanda exhaled slowly. Mystical energy crackled as she rose into the air.

"You did not fail. My powers, they're coming back. I can feel the magic... it's gathering, growing. It'll take some time, but it's almost over. "

Monokuma turned to Wanda, not looking too concerned about this development. He shrugged casually and raised a paw in her direction. "Your magic, huh? You know, I can make flashy displays too! You haven;t even witnessed... my true form!"

Monokuma held his ground, beginning to growl. Sparks of energy bounced off him and the room itself seemed to shake with power. Soon, Monokuma was enveloped in light.

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!" Monokuma cried out as if he was speaking to the very heavens. His yelling took up the whole room, drowning out everything else. "Come on, burn this giant despair into your very memories! AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!! GYAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!"

With one final yell, a giant ball of energy was formed before Monokuma that shot out like a bullet toward Wanda.

"Not a chance!"

Wanda's body glowed as she focused her chaos magic. Wanda fired a massive scarlet stream, a hex bolt, at the "despair ball". The impact was massive, causing energy to break off and fly about the room.

Wanda hit the ground, tumbling over and over. When Wanda's eyes opened, she was struggling and notably weakened. After she looked around, Wanda's eyes widened in horror.

"No...

Bolin...

... I-I killed him."

Jude ran over to the fallen body of Bolin, who had been hit with some of the stray energy. The young doctor yelled the boy's name, but there was no response. Jude knew before he even checked the boy's pulse that he was dead.

"Gyeh-heh! Upu... Upuhehehe! You see? That's where hope gets ya! Why even bother? Maybe you weren't the intended target, but you're here, and you're just as trapped as the rest of them. Your magic is no match for the darkness around you. It's eating you up, isn't it? If you decide to uppity again... I may to deal with you next time!"

Monokuma sighed contently as Monomi weeped behind him. He made his way back to the podiums and hopped into the middle of the circle.

"With that out of the way, let's get on with the show. Gyeh-heh! I hope you guys don't think that little conversation will make a difference here." From the back of the morgue room, an electronic display rose for all to see. "Did you all follow the leader in the right direction...?"

The display changed to a moving image of a slot machine, the suspects' faces on the reels.

The slot machine eventually stopped, landing on Daniel's face three times in a row. The text below flashed...

GUILTY

"I knew it..." Tommy muttered as he looked away from Dan and Herbert, the latter of whom looked mortified while the former seemed regretful.

"Dan... I don't understand. Why?"

"It was because of all the people this guy's presumably killed, Herbert. Who knows how many he killed on the way here? Tommy said he's been fighting him for months! I couldn't bare the thought of so many people having their lives cut short. I see that every goddamn day in the ER!"

Dan shouted as Herbert frowned. Herbert had to admit that he didn't have as good a heart as Dan did. He couldn't have cared less for Roy's victims. He hadn't known them so what was the point of bothering? If anything he was just disappointed that Roy's body hadn't been obtained.

"But I'll take whatever punishment's waiting for me. It's the least I could do for not being honest."

"Isn't it something that even the best of us are willing to go so far for what we perceive as right and just? Dangle something tantalizing in front of a chump... They'll kill a bad guy to promote their own goodness! Upu... It's a sight to behold! All it truly does is spread despair!"

A hold in the floor opened, and the mechanical hand was grabbing. A few in the circle let out a curse at the sight, unable to do anything else as they watched Dan be pulled into the darkness. The display changed to show Dan's fate.

He was in a desolate place, with not a soul in sight but Dan himself. He was on a lonely stretch of road, ruined buildings surrounding him from all sides. For whatever reason, the screen displayed the scene with a gritty orange filter. The whole thing looked truly apocalyptic.

Then there was the moaning. Moaning from all sides, originating from monsters that stumbled out of the ruined buildings.

Dan could see them for what they were: the reanimated dead. They were too numerous to even count, filling up the screen with monstrous looks in their eyes. Dan moved to push one way, causing it to stumble backward into a few others, but the sheer wall of undead held him up, allowing him to quickly make another grab for Dan.

With the medical student unarmed, he knew he would not be leaving this place alive. The undead converged on him, enveloping him into their mass. Dan's screams could only be heard for a few sharp seconds before the display shut off.

"Fuckin' disgusting," murmured Holder, still looking up at the display. "Can't we do something about this? What the hell's happened?"

"There's nothing we can do," Victoria groaned, putting a hand to her head in frustration.

Holder grit his teeth and reached for the gun holstered at his hip, but he found his hand stopping on its own an inch from the weapon. "I can't... The fuck, bear? You pullin' some voodoo magic on me?"

"Me? Why I never... Or, no, I totally would, wouldn't I? Ain't I a stinker? Why don't you go off on your merry way, detective, for we don't need your services any longer! I'm sure my forensics team will run into again some day!" When Holder didn't move to go, Monokuma held his stomach and laughed. "You'll have to be going anyway, for it's time for my forensics team to pack up and go! We can leave the dead body... it is a morgue, after all!"

As the compulsion took over those remaining (With Jack having to Carry Zinnia), Holder watched them go. "I'll be at the casino, tomorrow. Three-Eyed Jack's." Bullet said nothing as they left.

The bus would carry the group to another place to rest, but this time it was a more prestigious location. Located just outside of town and by the lake was The Great Northern hotel.

Monokuma was out of the bus first.

"This place has rooms of all sizes! Get a good night's sleep before we continue the investigation tomorrow!"

This hotel, despite its size, seemed to be suspiciously empty. The group would find very few guests were staying there.

***

CAST LIST
@C.T. as Arya Stark "Ultimate Killer" [Game of Thrones]
@Kaykay as Chikage Kushinada "Ultimate Jujutsuka" [History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi]
@Chewy Rabbits as Catbug "Ultimate Cutie" [Bravest Warriors]
@Minerva as Corrin "Ultimate Protector" [Fire Emblem]
@DapperDogman as Darv "Ultimate Saltborn" [Salt & Sanctuary]
@Yun Lee as Edmond Honda "Ultimate Sumo Wrestler" [Street Fighter]
@BarrenThin as Genji Shimada "Ultimate Forgiveness" [Overwatch]
@Krieg as Isaac "Felix" Gates "Ultimate Bounty Hunter" [Red VS Blue]
@The Tactician as Jack "Ultimate Samurai" [Samurai Jack]
@york as Jack Frost "Ultimate Funhouse" [Rise of the Guardians]
@Verite as Kyoko Kirigiri "Ultimate ???" [Danganronpa]
@Gummi Bunnies as "Lapis Lazuli" "Ultimate Crystal" [Original Character]
@LuckycoolHawk9 as M. "Stiles" Stilinski "Ultimate Sarcasm" [Teen Wolf]
@Crow as Morikubo Nono "Ultimate Wallflower" [THE iDOLM@STER]
@Archwar as Noble Six "Ultimate Lone Wolf" [Original Character/Halo]
@Jeremi as Poison "Ultimate Manager" [Street Fighter]
@ShiroKiyoshi as Rant T. Mouse "Ultimate Rat Mouse" [Original Character]
@Josh M as Scarlet Witch "Ultimate Witch" [Marvel Comics]
@Crimson Spartan as Seamus "Sledge" Cowden "Ultimate Breaching Charge" [Rainbow Six: Siege]
@Hospes as Tarlotte "Ultimate Tantrum" [Kyoshiro to Town no Sora]
@CrunchyCHEEZIT as Tekhartha Zenyatta "Ultimate Teacher" [Overwatch]
@Periodically Incorrect as Terezi Pyrope "Ultimate Justice" [Homestuck]
@DBZ7 as Tharja "Ultimate Hextress" [Fire Emblem]
@Nater Taters as Tomoko Kuroki "Ultimate Loser" [WataMote]
@Atomyk as Victoria Maribeth Chase "Ultimate Bitch" [Life is Strange]
@Takumi as Yurick "Ultimate Arcanist" [The Last Story]
@Klutzy Ninja Kitty as Zinnia "Ultimate Lorekeeper" [Pokemon]​

Another vote, another guilty verdict, another execution. It seemed to have gone by so quickly, quickly enough that Jack did not even register the chance to vote. He had been too focused upon caring for Zinnia, making sure that she was alright and hopefully without too much vomit on herself. However, he would not have wished to as the identity of the culprit was revealed.

He did not deserve to die like this.

Dan had been a kind soul, too kind in fact. He had sacrificed himself for the good of this town and their group, and by Monokuma's law, he had been executed. It was clear that Monokuma's rule could not be allowed to go on any longer, yet they had no means to strike him down yet. The samurai knew they would need to bide their time till they were ready... And when that time came, justice would come.

For now though, he focused upon finding a room for he and Zinnia to rest.

@Klutzy Ninja Kitty @BarrenThin @DapperDogman @CrunchyCHEEZIT @Atomyk​

Before Zinnia awoke, a faded dream flowed through her mind. She could see herself outside under a starry night sky, surrounded by graves. Zinnia glanced toward the graves, her red eyes widening as she saw upon the graves names that looked all too familiar. She placed a hand upon one of the graves, reading off the name. "Neon." She turned her head and glanced toward a few more graves, reading the names on those ones as well. "Mike, Maxine, Mr. Jefferson, Principle Klim..."

She was so focused on the names, she didn't notice a presence sneaking up behind her until the individual placed a hand on her shoulder. She let out a yelp and turned around, calming down when she recognized the face. "Zen, you jerk!" she exclaimed, waving a fist at him. The male, who appeared to be around her age with the same red draconid eyes Zinnia possessed, simply laughed. His face, however, was blurred due to her dream.

"Scared ya, didn't I, Zin? Don't tell me you're still afraid of ghosts?" he asked, an amused smirk on his lips.

Zinnia placed her hands on her hips and glared at him. "I'm not afraid of anything! And it's not ghosts, it's... zombies. But they only slightly bother me. I'm not afraid of them, or anything like I said!"

"Whatever," he said, the smirk still on his lips. "What are you out here looking at?" he asked.

Zinnia turned around, glancing toward the graves. "These graves they... have names of people who have recently died on them..."

"Yes, but look again. That's not all they have written on them."

Zinnia squinted, her jaw falling open when she realized her own name was written on one of the graves.

"That's--"

She turned around, to glance at Zen only to see that his face was no more. Behind her, stood Jason. Before she could even react, the masked terror wrapped an arm around Zinnia and stuck his machete against her throat. As she felt him stat to slit her throat, a voice echoed in her head.

You're next, Zinnia.

~~~

The nightmare was enough to awaken Zinnia with a start. She jerked forward in Jack's arms before reaching up to feel of her throat. It wasn't cut open. She had only been dreaming. With a sigh of relief, the tired draconid slumped back down and began to look around at her new surroundings. "Another... hotel?" she rubbed her eyes. "I must've missed the trial," she muttered, before glancing up toward Jack.

It took her a minute to remember everything that had happened, but once she did a blush spread over her cheeks. The blush appeared healthy and a bit more color had returned to her face. She did look a bit better, so the nap must've helped--despite the nightmare--even if she was now totally embarrassed she had fainted and acted the way she had before doing so.

Not bothering to ask about the trial, she adjusted herself enough to sit up and wrap the samurai in a sudden hug. "You keep taking care of me, and I don't even know why you'd want to..." she said, a nervous laugh escaping her lips. Zinnia felt as if she had caused Jack a lot of trouble lately, and yet here he was still watching over her. She hugged him even a bit tighter, rubbing the back of his head with one of her hands, and nuzzled him like a kitten. "...but I'm glad you want to."

@The Tactician @Whoever : 3​

 

[Khan of the Mardu]

Before Zinnia awoke, a faded dream flowed through her mind. She could see herself outside under a starry night sky, surrounded by graves. Zinnia glanced toward the graves, her red eyes widening as she saw upon the graves names that looked all too familiar. She placed a hand upon one of the graves, reading off the name. "Neon." She turned her head and glanced toward a few more graves, reading the names on those ones as well. "Mike, Maxine, Mr. Jefferson, Principle Klim..."

She was so focused on the names, she didn't notice a presence sneaking up behind her until the individual placed a hand on her shoulder. She let out a yelp and turned around, calming down when she recognized the face. "Zen, you jerk!" she exclaimed, waving a fist at him. The male, who appeared to be around her age with the same red draconid eyes Zinnia possessed, simply laughed. His face, however, was blurred due to her dream.

"Scared ya, didn't I, Zin? Don't tell me you're still afraid of ghosts?" he asked, an amused smirk on his lips.

Zinnia placed her hands on her hips and glared at him. "I'm not afraid of anything! And it's not ghosts, it's... zombies. But they only slightly bother me. I'm not afraid of them, or anything like I said!"

"Whatever," he said, the smirk still on his lips. "What are you out here looking at?" he asked.

Zinnia turned around, glancing toward the graves. "These graves they... have names of people who have recently died on them..."

"Yes, but look again. That's not all they have written on them."

Zinnia squinted, her jaw falling open when she realized her own name was written on one of the graves.

"That's--"

She turned around, to glance at Zen only to see that his face was no more. Behind her, stood Jason. Before she could even react, the masked terror wrapped an arm around Zinnia and stuck his machete against her throat. As she felt him stat to slit her throat, a voice echoed in her head.

You're next, Zinnia.

~~~

The nightmare was enough to awaken Zinnia with a start. She jerked forward in Jack's arms before reaching up to feel of her throat. It wasn't cut open. She had only been dreaming. With a sigh of relief, the tired draconid slumped back down and began to look around at her new surroundings. "Another... hotel?" she rubbed her eyes. "I must've missed the trial," she muttered, before glancing up toward Jack.

It took her a minute to remember everything that had happened, but once she did a blush spread over her cheeks. The blush appeared healthy and a bit more color had returned to her face. She did look a bit better, so the nap must've helped--despite the nightmare--even if she was now totally embarrassed she had fainted and acted the way she had before doing so.

Not bothering to ask about the trial, she adjusted herself enough to sit up and wrap the samurai in a sudden hug. "You keep taking care of me, and I don't even know why you'd want to..." she said, a nervous laugh escaping her lips. Zinnia felt as if she had caused Jack a lot of trouble lately, and yet here he was still watching over her. She hugged him even a bit tighter, rubbing the back of his head with one of her hands, and nuzzled him like a kitten. "...but I'm glad you want to."

@The Tactician @Whoever : 3​

"It's simply because I care for you, Zinnia."

A wave of relief washed over him as the color returned to his friend's cheeks, a healthy glow as she sat up. Like her reluctance to ask about the trial, Jack had no desire to speak on the trial's events. He was simply glad to enjoy the moment and the hug with the one he loved. Wrapping an arm around her to hold her close, his other hand came up to gently pat her nuzzling head.

"Do you feel any better now?"

@Klutzy Ninja Kitty​

 

[BarrenThin]

Wanda sat on the back off the bus. Her eyes watched the tress and everything pass by. Her eye wandered to E. Honda. She knew the two were friends. The pain Wanda felt. It was so much on the Witch. However, when the bus stop, she was the first one off, pushing and shoving her way from the group.

Stepping off the bus, she stumbled, before graceful rebounding with the help of Genji.

"Even if it wasn't. that doesn't make it better."

Noticing Honda walking by, Wanda nearly froze, Wand was fighting tears, she knew she had to be strong. She turned back to the former overwatch member.

"My pain and my sins are my own to bare. I would never ask you to take it from me, nor will I make an excuse. I took part in the act. So I am just as guilty"


@BarrenThin @Yun Lee @Verite @Atomyk @Krieg

Genji removed his mask, his eyes full of worry. "Wanda. Look at me. Honda doesn't blame you. None of us do. You defended yourself. It's not like you had much of a choice. Beating yourself up for every mistake you make just digs yourself a hole, Wanda. You must learn to forgive yourself, or you will never be at peace. I told you once before... The past can only touch you if you let it. Even the last of two minutes ago. Guilt is normal. Healthy, even. What is important is the ability to move on."

@Josh M​

 

[CrunchyCHEEZIT]

Continued from here.

Chapter Two DEAD END
"Who Do You Voodoo"

"Such an unsteady stream of votes, but I see that the majority followed the early lead... Maybe I won't have to gobble you all up! All this lying and confusion... it's what makes a trial truly chaotic! Despair is born from chaos, among other things, so I can't say I would complain, would you? Of course not! You want to be good boys and girls, don't you?"

Monokuma jumped from the table to land in the circle of podiums. "Fighting again? You people... Do I have to put in timeout? I swear... Let's just get to the results so that you can get your fix blood and mayhem! Now, why don't--"

"It's time tell the truth about me, Monokuma." Wanda was staring at Monokuma, shooting daggers his way with her eyes. "These people deserve to know you're full of it, and I'm not just talking about your stuffing."

"Oh?" Monokuma looked displeased momentarily at being interrupted. "What do you mean? Is it candy? I assure you, if you hit me, you'll get more than just junk food!"

"Do think I am an idiot? Wait, I know you do. Look, I'll show you." Pointing to her tag, Wanda's title, the "Ultimate Witch" was comically hanging off her tag. It seemed to be covering another name. "I didn't even need magic to figure this out. You tell the truth, or I will."

"Maybe... you can't handle the truth! What kind of lame witch are you? Babbling and foaming at the mouth as you are... It's okay, I understand the stress you're going through! No one would blame you if you start speaking on tongues!" Monokuma brandished a claw, stepping toward Wanda's podium. "Maybe you need some of Doctor Monouma's patented medicine!"

Near Wanda, Monomi was shivering.

"U-Uuu... It's supposed to say Ultimate Red Reaper..."

"What?! Don't be ridiculous, sis! You're talkin' nonsense now too?"

"I was here... I was here to protect everyone..."

Kindly putting her hand on Monomi's shoulder, Wanda smiled in an effort to comfort the rabbit. Bending down on one knee, Wanda tried to probe the rabbit for information. "It's okay. I know you want to protect us. You're our teacher. You're supposed protect us. Is that why I am here? Am I here to protect them? Am I here to protect you, from your brother?"

"H-He's not my brother!"

With a great cry, Monokuma leaped from where he stood to slam a mighty punch against Monomi's face.

"Noooo! Owwww!" she cried.

The poor rabbit went flying across the morgue and slammed into the wall. She groaned and stood to her feet, staring at Monokuma as he grinned down at her. "I'm your big bro, and don't you forget it!"

"No... You're the worst brother bear ever! I came here to protect everyone from you... and I even brought Wanda here because I thought she had the power to keep you away! You were trying to bring someone else, but I intervened! But... this place is so strong... I couldn't do it all..."

"No, Usami."

After taking a deep breath, Wanda exhaled slowly. Mystical energy crackled as she rose into the air.

"You did not fail. My powers, they're coming back. I can feel the magic... it's gathering, growing. It'll take some time, but it's almost over. "

Monokuma turned to Wanda, not looking too concerned about this development. He shrugged casually and raised a paw in her direction. "Your magic, huh? You know, I can make flashy displays too! You haven;t even witnessed... my true form!"

Monokuma held his ground, beginning to growl. Sparks of energy bounced off him and the room itself seemed to shake with power. Soon, Monokuma was enveloped in light.

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!" Monokuma cried out as if he was speaking to the very heavens. His yelling took up the whole room, drowning out everything else. "Come on, burn this giant despair into your very memories! AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!! GYAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!"

With one final yell, a giant ball of energy was formed before Monokuma that shot out like a bullet toward Wanda.

"Not a chance!"

Wanda's body glowed as she focused her chaos magic. Wanda fired a massive scarlet stream, a hex bolt, at the "despair ball". The impact was massive, causing energy to break off and fly about the room.

Wanda hit the ground, tumbling over and over. When Wanda's eyes opened, she was struggling and notably weakened. After she looked around, Wanda's eyes widened in horror.

"No...

Bolin...

... I-I killed him."

Jude ran over to the fallen body of Bolin, who had been hit with some of the stray energy. The young doctor yelled the boy's name, but there was no response. Jude knew before he even checked the boy's pulse that he was dead.

"Gyeh-heh! Upu... Upuhehehe! You see? That's where hope gets ya! Why even bother? Maybe you weren't the intended target, but you're here, and you're just as trapped as the rest of them. Your magic is no match for the darkness around you. It's eating you up, isn't it? If you decide to uppity again... I may to deal with you next time!"

Monokuma sighed contently as Monomi weeped behind him. He made his way back to the podiums and hopped into the middle of the circle.

"With that out of the way, let's get on with the show. Gyeh-heh! I hope you guys don't think that little conversation will make a difference here." From the back of the morgue room, an electronic display rose for all to see. "Did you all follow the leader in the right direction...?"

The display changed to a moving image of a slot machine, the suspects' faces on the reels.

The slot machine eventually stopped, landing on Daniel's face three times in a row. The text below flashed...

GUILTY

"I knew it..." Tommy muttered as he looked away from Dan and Herbert, the latter of whom looked mortified while the former seemed regretful.

"Dan... I don't understand. Why?"

"It was because of all the people this guy's presumably killed, Herbert. Who knows how many he killed on the way here? Tommy said he's been fighting him for months! I couldn't bare the thought of so many people having their lives cut short. I see that every goddamn day in the ER!"

Dan shouted as Herbert frowned. Herbert had to admit that he didn't have as good a heart as Dan did. He couldn't have cared less for Roy's victims. He hadn't known them so what was the point of bothering? If anything he was just disappointed that Roy's body hadn't been obtained.

"But I'll take whatever punishment's waiting for me. It's the least I could do for not being honest."

"Isn't it something that even the best of us are willing to go so far for what we perceive as right and just? Dangle something tantalizing in front of a chump... They'll kill a bad guy to promote their own goodness! Upu... It's a sight to behold! All it truly does is spread despair!"

A hold in the floor opened, and the mechanical hand was grabbing. A few in the circle let out a curse at the sight, unable to do anything else as they watched Dan be pulled into the darkness. The display changed to show Dan's fate.

He was in a desolate place, with not a soul in sight but Dan himself. He was on a lonely stretch of road, ruined buildings surrounding him from all sides. For whatever reason, the screen displayed the scene with a gritty orange filter. The whole thing looked truly apocalyptic.

Then there was the moaning. Moaning from all sides, originating from monsters that stumbled out of the ruined buildings.

Dan could see them for what they were: the reanimated dead. They were too numerous to even count, filling up the screen with monstrous looks in their eyes. Dan moved to push one way, causing it to stumble backward into a few others, but the sheer wall of undead held him up, allowing him to quickly make another grab for Dan.

With the medical student unarmed, he knew he would not be leaving this place alive. The undead converged on him, enveloping him into their mass. Dan's screams could only be heard for a few sharp seconds before the display shut off.

"Fuckin' disgusting," murmured Holder, still looking up at the display. "Can't we do something about this? What the hell's happened?"

"There's nothing we can do," Victoria groaned, putting a hand to her head in frustration.

Holder grit his teeth and reached for the gun holstered at his hip, but he found his hand stopping on its own an inch from the weapon. "I can't... The fuck, bear? You pullin' some voodoo magic on me?"

"Me? Why I never... Or, no, I totally would, wouldn't I? Ain't I a stinker? Why don't you go off on your merry way, detective, for we don't need your services any longer! I'm sure my forensics team will run into again some day!" When Holder didn't move to go, Monokuma held his stomach and laughed. "You'll have to be going anyway, for it's time for my forensics team to pack up and go! We can leave the dead body... it is a morgue, after all!"

As the compulsion took over those remaining (With Jack having to Carry Zinnia), Holder watched them go. "I'll be at the casino, tomorrow. Three-Eyed Jack's." Bullet said nothing as they left.

The bus would carry the group to another place to rest, but this time it was a more prestigious location. Located just outside of town and by the lake was The Great Northern hotel.

Monokuma was out of the bus first.

"This place has rooms of all sizes! Get a good night's sleep before we continue the investigation tomorrow!"

This hotel, despite its size, seemed to be suspiciously empty. The group would find very few guests were staying there.

***

CAST LIST
@C.T. as Arya Stark "Ultimate Killer" [Game of Thrones]
@Kaykay as Chikage Kushinada "Ultimate Jujutsuka" [History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi]
@Chewy Rabbits as Catbug "Ultimate Cutie" [Bravest Warriors]
@Minerva as Corrin "Ultimate Protector" [Fire Emblem]
@DapperDogman as Darv "Ultimate Saltborn" [Salt & Sanctuary]
@Yun Lee as Edmond Honda "Ultimate Sumo Wrestler" [Street Fighter]
@BarrenThin as Genji Shimada "Ultimate Forgiveness" [Overwatch]
@Krieg as Isaac "Felix" Gates "Ultimate Bounty Hunter" [Red VS Blue]
@The Tactician as Jack "Ultimate Samurai" [Samurai Jack]
@york as Jack Frost "Ultimate Funhouse" [Rise of the Guardians]
@Verite as Kyoko Kirigiri "Ultimate ???" [Danganronpa]
@Gummi Bunnies as "Lapis Lazuli" "Ultimate Crystal" [Original Character]
@LuckycoolHawk9 as M. "Stiles" Stilinski "Ultimate Sarcasm" [Teen Wolf]
@Crow as Morikubo Nono "Ultimate Wallflower" [THE iDOLM@STER]
@Archwar as Noble Six "Ultimate Lone Wolf" [Original Character/Halo]
@Jeremi as Poison "Ultimate Manager" [Street Fighter]
@ShiroKiyoshi as Rant T. Mouse "Ultimate Rat Mouse" [Original Character]
@Josh M as Scarlet Witch "Ultimate Witch" [Marvel Comics]
@Crimson Spartan as Seamus "Sledge" Cowden "Ultimate Breaching Charge" [Rainbow Six: Siege]
@Hospes as Tarlotte "Ultimate Tantrum" [Kyoshiro to Town no Sora]
@CrunchyCHEEZIT as Tekhartha Zenyatta "Ultimate Teacher" [Overwatch]
@Periodically Incorrect as Terezi Pyrope "Ultimate Justice" [Homestuck]
@DBZ7 as Tharja "Ultimate Hextress" [Fire Emblem]
@Nater Taters as Tomoko Kuroki "Ultimate Loser" [WataMote]
@Atomyk as Victoria Maribeth Chase "Ultimate Bitch" [Life is Strange]
@Takumi as Yurick "Ultimate Arcanist" [The Last Story]
@Klutzy Ninja Kitty as Zinnia "Ultimate Lorekeeper" [Pokemon]​

Helplessness.

Despair.

Sadness.

Three emotional states, very similar to one another, that each exist within their own corners of the mind. Like any emotion, they are simple instincts that are hard-coded within the complex networking that makes up the mind, like a machine that cannot hacked or modified, rules of thought that cannot be changed. Emotion is eternal within ones mind like the soul is eternal within ones heart, while they can remain suppressed and hidden underneath the guise of professionalism or patience, they can never truly leave and they can never remain so hidden.

No matter how tempered and cold the mind may become, like a spider thirsting for life at the moment of the kill.

No matter how blackened and numb the soul may become, like an old dragon seeking redemption for its crimes against the village.

The emotional weight from seeing the dark, discordant side of life only gets heavier.

If you do not bend, you break...but, every object can reach a point where they bend too far.

At that moment, they snap.

Zenyatta had to words to share for the entirety for the trial, as is to be expected at this point. The monk remained silent throughout the arguments and the accusations, staring blankly at the empty space before him. He occasionally glanced at Genji, Wanda, Jack and other individuals around him, but no words were to be shared.

Then, the Scarlet Witch would make her move. The omnic didn't even flinch, he already knew what had happened. He didn't look up at the screen to view the fate of Dan, he already knew what had happened. It was all so predictable, but it didn't make it any less devastating for the teacher as it did any other soul within the room. Zenyatta hung his head and quietly murmured some words of prayer for both Bolin and Dan, mourning the loss of life.

Just as always, he sat next to Genji on the bus. He did not share any words his student.

When the bus would arrive at yet another hotel, Zenyatta silently entered the lobby. However, he looked over at Genji and Wanda before opening the doors and entering. Genji would probably notice his master staring at him out of the corner of his eye. The omnic gave his student a brief nod-- whether it was a nod of approval or of some other meaning, it wasn't clear. Zenyatta then turned and entered the building...
​

"It's simply because I care for you, Zinnia."

A wave of relief washed over him as the color returned to his friend's cheeks, a healthy glow as she sat up. Like her reluctance to ask about the trial, Jack had no desire to speak on the trial's events. He was simply glad to enjoy the moment and the hug with the one he loved. Wrapping an arm around her to hold her close, his other hand came up to gently pat her nuzzling head.

"Do you feel any better now?"

@Klutzy Ninja Kitty​

Before Zinnia awoke, a faded dream flowed through her mind. She could see herself outside under a starry night sky, surrounded by graves. Zinnia glanced toward the graves, her red eyes widening as she saw upon the graves names that looked all too familiar. She placed a hand upon one of the graves, reading off the name. "Neon." She turned her head and glanced toward a few more graves, reading the names on those ones as well. "Mike, Maxine, Mr. Jefferson, Principle Klim..."

She was so focused on the names, she didn't notice a presence sneaking up behind her until the individual placed a hand on her shoulder. She let out a yelp and turned around, calming down when she recognized the face. "Zen, you jerk!" she exclaimed, waving a fist at him. The male, who appeared to be around her age with the same red draconid eyes Zinnia possessed, simply laughed. His face, however, was blurred due to her dream.

"Scared ya, didn't I, Zin? Don't tell me you're still afraid of ghosts?" he asked, an amused smirk on his lips.

Zinnia placed her hands on her hips and glared at him. "I'm not afraid of anything! And it's not ghosts, it's... zombies. But they only slightly bother me. I'm not afraid of them, or anything like I said!"

"Whatever," he said, the smirk still on his lips. "What are you out here looking at?" he asked.

Zinnia turned around, glancing toward the graves. "These graves they... have names of people who have recently died on them..."

"Yes, but look again. That's not all they have written on them."

Zinnia squinted, her jaw falling open when she realized her own name was written on one of the graves.

"That's--"

She turned around, to glance at Zen only to see that his face was no more. Behind her, stood Jason. Before she could even react, the masked terror wrapped an arm around Zinnia and stuck his machete against her throat. As she felt him stat to slit her throat, a voice echoed in her head.

You're next, Zinnia.

~~~

The nightmare was enough to awaken Zinnia with a start. She jerked forward in Jack's arms before reaching up to feel of her throat. It wasn't cut open. She had only been dreaming. With a sigh of relief, the tired draconid slumped back down and began to look around at her new surroundings. "Another... hotel?" she rubbed her eyes. "I must've missed the trial," she muttered, before glancing up toward Jack.

It took her a minute to remember everything that had happened, but once she did a blush spread over her cheeks. The blush appeared healthy and a bit more color had returned to her face. She did look a bit better, so the nap must've helped--despite the nightmare--even if she was now totally embarrassed she had fainted and acted the way she had before doing so.

Not bothering to ask about the trial, she adjusted herself enough to sit up and wrap the samurai in a sudden hug. "You keep taking care of me, and I don't even know why you'd want to..." she said, a nervous laugh escaping her lips. Zinnia felt as if she had caused Jack a lot of trouble lately, and yet here he was still watching over her. She hugged him even a bit tighter, rubbing the back of his head with one of her hands, and nuzzled him like a kitten. "...but I'm glad you want to."

@The Tactician @Whoever : 3​

Knock.
Knock.
Knock.

A light knocking came at the door to Jack and Zinnias room. The muffled wirring servos behind the door probably signified who it was.

@Klutzy Ninja Kitty @The Tactician @Atomyk



​

 

[Verite]

Wanda sat on the back off the bus. Her eyes watched the tress and everything pass by. Her eye wandered to E. Honda. She knew the two were friends. The pain Wanda felt. It was so much on the Witch. However, when the bus stop, she was the first one off, pushing and shoving her way from the group.

Stepping off the bus, she stumbled, before graceful rebounding with the help of Genji.

"Even if it wasn't. that doesn't make it better."

Noticing Honda walking by, Wanda nearly froze, Wand was fighting tears, she knew she had to be strong. She turned back to the former overwatch member.

"My pain and my sins are my own to bare. I would never ask you to take it from me, nor will I make an excuse. I took part in the act. So I am just as guilty"


@BarrenThin @Yun Lee @Verite @Atomyk @Krieg

"You're entitled to believe as you wish," Kyoko said, joining the conversation with Wanda, her words likely in great contrast to what the others around her were saying.

From the drama that had ensued with Usami and others, to the gruesome executions, to the ride to the next hotel, the lavender-haired young woman kept up her pokerface as best as she could, and while she had failed a few times during the ordeals themselves, she was a miraculously quick person to recover. That wasn't to say that the things she had witnessed didn't bother her, but in her line of work, if she let everything get her down, then she wouldn't get very much done. Even that boy had to understand that.

"As you request, I won't try to absolve you of your guilt for you, or tell you how innocent you are of this if you would deny that. If you want to hold on to the sin of Bolin's death for yourself, then so be it, only you have the right to hold on to it. But consider this then. You're gonna carry that weight. You'll hold it with you for as long as you'll carry it, even if after you might have done enough good to make up for it. I hope that's something you're prepared to do, because if you don't hoist that sin onto your shoulder and keep moving, you'll find yourself crushed underneath it before you know it."

Turning around, her hair swaying in the air as she'd do so, she'd continue to talk.

"One thing's for certain, at least. Monokuma will get what's coming to him. And then... Once we can figure out a way back home, maybe then I'll tell everyone the secret that you found out about me. And I'll bring your hope back. I'll show you what something so abstract like hope can do, just like I showed him a long time ago."

"It's a promise."

While Kyoko's words to Wanda might have struck everyone else as cryptic, she figured Wanda would know exactly what she meant, as well as who the boy she was referring to was. Wanda's young, diligent leader.

The one who had also, in turn, taught Kyoko about hope as much as she taught him.

@Josh M @BarrenThin @Yun Lee​

 

[Klutzy Ninja Kitty]

"It's simply because I care for you, Zinnia."

A wave of relief washed over him as the color returned to his friend's cheeks, a healthy glow as she sat up. Like her reluctance to ask about the trial, Jack had no desire to speak on the trial's events. He was simply glad to enjoy the moment and the hug with the one he loved. Wrapping an arm around her to hold her close, his other hand came up to gently pat her nuzzling head.

"Do you feel any better now?"

@Klutzy Ninja Kitty​

Helplessness.

Despair.

Sadness.

Three emotional states, very similar to one another, that each exist within their own corners of the mind. Like any emotion, they are simple instincts that are hard-coded within the complex networking that makes up the mind, like a machine that cannot hacked or modified, rules of thought that cannot be changed. Emotion is eternal within ones mind like the soul is eternal within ones heart, while they can remain suppressed and hidden underneath the guise of professionalism or patience, they can never truly leave and they can never remain so hidden.

No matter how tempered and cold the mind may become, like a spider thirsting for life at the moment of the kill.

No matter how blackened and numb the soul may become, like an old dragon seeking redemption for its crimes against the village.

The emotional weight from seeing the dark, discordant side of life only gets heavier.

If you do not bend, you break...but, every object can reach a point where they bend too far.

At that moment, they snap.

Zenyatta had to words to share for the entirety for the trial, as is to be expected at this point. The monk remained silent throughout the arguments and the accusations, staring blankly at the empty space before him. He occasionally glanced at Genji, Wanda, Jack and other individuals around him, but no words were to be shared.

Then, the Scarlet Witch would make her move. The omnic didn't even flinch, he already knew what had happened. He didn't look up at the screen to view the fate of Dan, he already knew what had happened. It was all so predictable, but it didn't make it any less devastating for the teacher as it did any other soul within the room. Zenyatta hung his head and quietly murmured some words of prayer for both Bolin and Dan, mourning the loss of life.

Just as always, he sat next to Genji on the bus. He did not share any words his student.

When the bus would arrive at yet another hotel, Zenyatta silently entered the lobby. However, he looked over at Genji and Wanda before opening the doors and entering. Genji would probably notice his master staring at him out of the corner of his eye. The omnic gave his student a brief nod-- whether it was a nod of approval or of some other meaning, it wasn't clear. Zenyatta then turned and entered the building...
​

Knock.
Knock.
Knock.

A light knocking came at the door to Jack and Zinnias room. The muffled wirring servos behind the door probably signified who it was.

@Klutzy Ninja Kitty @The Tactician @Atomyk



​

"That's music to my ears~" remarked Zinnia with a hum in the back go her throat when Jack stated that he cared for her. There weren't many people who had ever admitted to caring for Zinnia except for maybe Aster. She felt warm butterflies inside just hearing such words.

She stayed close to Jack, not loosening her hug on him a bit. Now that she had broken down her walls and had told him how she felt, it wasn't so hard to stay close to him anymore. In fact, now it was a bit hard for her to pull away from him. And while he was close, it was easier to drown out all of the bad things she just didn't want to think about right now.

Meow~ What was I thinking before pushing this guy away? Hunky samurai who cares about me? Yes, please! Come to mama. <3

"Much better thanks to you," Zinnia replied with a wink before resting her head on his shoulder. Her words came off a tad flirty, and yes, it was very much intentional. "But you know what'd make me feel eeeeeeven better? If you'd--"

Knock knock knock

Zinnia's words were interrupted by a knock at their door.

Noooooo! Go away! I'm busy getting my attention!


@CrunchyCHEEZIT @The Tactician
​

 

[Khan of the Mardu]

Helplessness.

Despair.

Sadness.

Three emotional states, very similar to one another, that each exist within their own corners of the mind. Like any emotion, they are simple instincts that are hard-coded within the complex networking that makes up the mind, like a machine that cannot hacked or modified, rules of thought that cannot be changed. Emotion is eternal within ones mind like the soul is eternal within ones heart, while they can remain suppressed and hidden underneath the guise of professionalism or patience, they can never truly leave and they can never remain so hidden.

No matter how tempered and cold the mind may become, like a spider thirsting for life at the moment of the kill.

No matter how blackened and numb the soul may become, like an old dragon seeking redemption for its crimes against the village.

The emotional weight from seeing the dark, discordant side of life only gets heavier.

If you do not bend, you break...but, every object can reach a point where they bend too far.

At that moment, they snap.

Zenyatta had to words to share for the entirety for the trial, as is to be expected at this point. The monk remained silent throughout the arguments and the accusations, staring blankly at the empty space before him. He occasionally glanced at Genji, Wanda, Jack and other individuals around him, but no words were to be shared.

Then, the Scarlet Witch would make her move. The omnic didn't even flinch, he already knew what had happened. He didn't look up at the screen to view the fate of Dan, he already knew what had happened. It was all so predictable, but it didn't make it any less devastating for the teacher as it did any other soul within the room. Zenyatta hung his head and quietly murmured some words of prayer for both Bolin and Dan, mourning the loss of life.

Just as always, he sat next to Genji on the bus. He did not share any words his student.

When the bus would arrive at yet another hotel, Zenyatta silently entered the lobby. However, he looked over at Genji and Wanda before opening the doors and entering. Genji would probably notice his master staring at him out of the corner of his eye. The omnic gave his student a brief nod-- whether it was a nod of approval or of some other meaning, it wasn't clear. Zenyatta then turned and entered the building...
​

Knock.
Knock.
Knock.

A light knocking came at the door to Jack and Zinnias room. The muffled wirring servos behind the door probably signified who it was.

@Klutzy Ninja Kitty @The Tactician @Atomyk



​

Jack sighed as he broke the all-too-brief hug with Zinnia, turning his head to the door. He could already identify who stood on the side of the door and as he opened it to reveal Zenyatta, he was already beginning to bow in respect to the man, "Master Zenyatta. Is there something amiss, sir?"

@Klutzy Ninja Kitty @The Tactician​

 

[CrunchyCHEEZIT]

Jack sighed as he broke the all-too-brief hug with Zinnia, turning his head to the door. He could already identify who stood on the side of the door and as he opened it to reveal Zenyatta, he was already beginning to bow in respect to the man, "Master Zenyatta. Is there something amiss, sir?"

@Klutzy Ninja Kitty @The Tactician​

"That's music to my ears~" remarked Zinnia with a hum in the back go her throat when Jack stated that he cared for her. There weren't many people who had ever admitted to caring for Zinnia except for maybe Aster. She felt warm butterflies inside just hearing such words.

She stayed close to Jack, not loosening her hug on him a bit. Now that she had broken down her walls and had told him how she felt, it wasn't so hard to stay close to him anymore. In fact, now it was a bit hard for her to pull away from him. And while he was close, it was easier to drown out all of the bad things she just didn't want to think about right now.

Meow~ What was I thinking before pushing this guy away? Hunky samurai who cares about me? Yes, please! Come to mama. <3

"Much better thanks to you," Zinnia replied with a wink before resting her head on his shoulder. Her words came off a tad flirty, and yes, it was very much intentional. "But you know what'd make me feel eeeeeeven better? If you'd--"

Knock knock knock

Zinnia's words were interrupted by a knock at their door.

Noooooo! Go away! I'm busy getting my attention!


@CrunchyCHEEZIT @The Tactician
​

Zenyatta would look up to Jack, returning a respectful bow to the Samurai. "Greetings, Jack, Zinni--"

Zenyatta would notice the bed.

And the fact the two of them are in the same room together.

"...I..would hope I am not interrupting anything...?"

@Klutzy Ninja Kitty @The Tactician​

 

[Josh M]

I understand, you two. Accepting guilt. and moving on are two different things. The pain will never go away, it will lessen. I can move and will on, Genji, but the sting's still there."

Wanda seemed calmer as she talked to the two. Her hand glowed with energy.

"I still have my magic. I'm weak from the attack, but we have an edge on him. I just need to time to recover. Then I'll make my move."



@Josh M @BarrenThin @Yun Lee

 

[Khan of the Mardu]

Zenyatta would look up to Jack, returning a respectful bow to the Samurai. "Greetings, Jack, Zinni--"

Zenyatta would notice the bed.

And the fact the two of them are in the same room together.

"...I..would hope I am not interrupting anything...?"

@Klutzy Ninja Kitty @The Tactician​

"Not at all, Master. There are two beds, if you believe what I believe you believe."

And if the robot looked back, he would indeed see two beds.

"Now then, what brings you to honor us by coming to our room?"

@Klutzy Ninja Kitty @The Tactician @Aint'gonnaseeshit,robot​

 

[Klutzy Ninja Kitty]

Zenyatta would look up to Jack, returning a respectful bow to the Samurai. "Greetings, Jack, Zinni--"

Zenyatta would notice the bed.

And the fact the two of them are in the same room together.

"...I..would hope I am not interrupting anything...?"

@Klutzy Ninja Kitty @The Tactician​

"Not at all, Master. There are two beds, if you believe what I believe you believe."

And if the robot looked back, he would indeed see two beds.

"Now then, what brings you to honor us by coming to our room?"

@Klutzy Ninja Kitty @The Tactician @Aint'gonnaseeshit,robot​

Zinnia repeated a few words in her head, shooting Zenyatta a look over Jack's shoulder.

Go away, Zenyatta! Go away! Go away! Can't you see I'm busy?


@The Tactician @CrunchyCHEEZIT​

 

[CrunchyCHEEZIT]

"Not at all, Master. There are two beds, if you believe what I believe you believe."

And if the robot looked back, he would indeed see two beds.

"Now then, what brings you to honor us by coming to our room?"

@Klutzy Ninja Kitty @The Tactician @Aint'gonnaseeshit,robot​

Zinnia repeated a few words in her head, shooting Zenyatta a look over Jack's shoulder.

Go away, Zenyatta! Go away! Go away! Can't you see I'm busy?


@The Tactician @CrunchyCHEEZIT​

Zenyatta tilted his head at Jacks belief. Zenyatta just thought the two of them were tired and were preparing to go to bed, is all.

"I...was simply wondering how the two of you have been faring recently. The day has been long...and, our journey has no sight of ending at any time soon. Such weight bears upon all of us, and...I feel as though there is disquiet within our spirits."

As Zenyatta spoke, there were some glaring differences within his normally calm, soothing cybernetic tone, the most obvious being that he sounded absolutely drained-- exhausted, even. The monk took note of Zinnias sharp glare, and he responded with a solemn nod.

"...Of course, perhaps I have lost sight of things. I...sincerely apologize if I am burdening you with my presence, should I...?" Zenyatta would briefly glance down the hallway, considering he should simply leave the issue in peace. Jack is a tempered warrior who has traveled and seen just as much as Zenyatta had, and Zinnia is already holding the burden of her lost daughter, perhaps he is being too overbearing?

@The Tactician @Klutzy Ninja Kitty
​