Chapter Four
"Into the Unknown"
---
I see her in you
I see what I lost
When you smile
When you laugh
When you make everything right that I’d wronged.
That’s what children do
That’s what we make them do
Our mistakes
Our consequences
We leave them for our children
I always wanted a girl
I had a girl once
But she’s gone
But she’s dead
And I had nothing but anger
You’ve saved my life
You’ve given me new meaning
My beloved
My sweet darling
You’re what she would have been
But I can’t help but wonder
But I can’t help but fear
When this is over
When this is finished
What will happen to us?
---
“Mother?”
“Huh?” Aunty Greenleaf looked up from her book, up into the smiling face of Monika. Such a pretty girl. Red hair and gorgeous green eyes. Would they have passed as mother and daughter, even with the illusions wiped away? Honestly would it even matter?
“Ahaha~ You’re buried in that book again.” Monika gave her a teasing smile, hands innocently behind her back. “You’ve been using that book since before everyone woke up.”
“Have I?” Greenleaf closed it. “I haven’t even noticed.”
“Mother…” Monika took a seat at the desk right next to her. “Can I know what it is?”
“Um...just a journal.” She held her hand over the book, quickly trying to change the subject. “How are they all doing? I’ve heard you talking to them.”
“Good! Very good. Aurelio is the last to break, but I think the fact he responds to fighting probably makes him an easy one to deal with. That personality wasn’t the most agreeable…”
“Tell me about it.” The old witch drummed her fingers on her book. “What’s going to happen to you? After all this?”
“...oh.” Monika got a bit uncomfortable at that. “Well, um...I don’t know. I’m tied to this simulation, so if it goes...I go. But I mean, I was pretty much ready to just fade away for good, you know? Back home, I deleted myself so that I couldn’t hurt anyone ever again. So I guess I’ll fade away too, once this simulation is done.”
A pause, a heavy one. “And you...that’s okay?”
Monika nodded, trying to be chipper. “Yeah! I guess this is a way for me to redeem myself for the horrible things I did to my old friends. At least when I end up gone here, it’ll be after doing something to save others. And I guess I can go to sleep knowing that and find comfort in it?” She sighed, looking down. “Too bad...I was kind of really starting to enjoy living! But that’s not for someone like me, I don’t think…”
“...” There was a silence, then, until… “...here.” Greenleaf handed the book to Monika. “You can read it, if you’d like.”
Monika opened the book, and immediately she smiled. “You’ve been writing poetry?!”
“Just a few here and there,” she said. “I know you ran your poetry club, I just thought...I may try my hand at it.”
Monika’s eyes scanned the pages, the smile growing. “These are amazing! And you’ve never done this before?”
Greenleaf shook her head, smiling as well. “No, never.” There was a silence then, a peaceful air of contentment. That peace started to drain on Greenleaf, and she grabbed Monika’s arm. “Monika. There’s something I need to--”
“...!” Monika jerked back, eyes widening. “M-Mother…”
“What? What is it?” Greenleaf was getting concerned. “Monika. What?”
“Grimm. H-He...oh my God, he…” She stood up. “E-Everyone, can you hear me? Everyone! Please!”
---
Vega was grabbed by the hair the second his blades were removed, and yanked harshly off Aurelio. “What is WRONG with you?!” Yang yelled, knocking the matador back further from the group. Vega was put right into a hold by Vulcano, who had decided to join the group when he’d heard that little speech.
“Aha! A former Shadaloo operative showing his true colors once again! You all make my job so easy…”
Once free of Vega, Aurelio groaned and got to his feet, hand covering his bloodied arm. “Y-You…!” He couldn’t finish his thought, as both Haru and Elphaba’s attacks landed. They sent him to the ground, where he tried getting back up.
Yang came forward, readying for one more attack. “Come on…just a bit more…” His fist raised, he brought it down--
--only for it to be caught in Aurelio’s hand. “...Heh.” His appearance hadn’t changed yet, but his demeanor certainly did. “S-Sorry, man...but you think
that’s enough to take
me down?”
Instead of looking frustrated, Yang instead looked...happy? “No way. Is it really…”
E-Everyone, can you hear me? Everyone! Please!
“Monika?” Draq looked up. “ What’s going on?” Something was wrong. She sounded terrified, even moreso than when the simulation fell apart.
I...we need to go, NOW.
“But Aurelio!”
He’ll be fine! I’ll get him his true self when you’re back in the room. Just please! We have to go!
The room around them started shaking. It was literally starting to fall apart. A door appeared before them, opening to allow the group into Monika’s home base. From behind, the room they were in was dissolving into code. “It is as she says. We have no time to waste!” Sakura knelt by Aurelio, slinging his arm over her neck and escorting him out, and everyone else followed suit, the two women on the ground floor getting back to the top with the help of their Pokemon. Vulcano was last, dragging Vega through right before the ground at their feet vanished into code.
Everyone was back in the classroom, where Monika was frantically pacing back and forth. She looked up as soon as they all entered, her dismay only getting worse as she saw Yang and Draq arranging desks to lay Aurelio on. “What happened?!”
“When you said physical attacks...one of our number decided that included stabbing,” Perfuma said. It didn’t take 20/20 vision to see who had the bloodied blades in the room.
“Oh for the love of…” Greenleaf made her way to the young man, having the others back up. From her sweater pocket came a salve. “Get his jacket off so I can apply this,” she said.
“Just give me my body back,” he croaked. “I don’t have sleeves.”
“O-Oh. Right…” Monika remembered, and in a few seconds, Aurelio returned to his true self.
Shelly chuckled, nudging Yang. “Well, now I see why you were so worried about him.”
“Yeah.,,everyone, this is Yun. My brother.”
Yun smirked.“
Older brother.”
“By four minutes.”
“Just making sure they all knew I-augh!” Yun hissed as Greenleaf applied the salve. “Warn a guy before you do that!”
“It’s easier if you’re not paying attention,” Greenleaf said. “You need to take better care of yourselves! Do you have any idea what happens if you die in the simulation?”
“What, do I die in real life?”
“No. You go brain dead in real life and become a vegetable.” She looked at him. “Any more smart remarks?”
“...no ma’am.”
Monika cleared her throat, fumbling with her skirt. “Um...I’m gonna need a bit, everyone. There’s something going on that requires my full attention…” And quite abruptly, she was gone, leaving you all in the room with one another. It seemed you have a little time to yourselves.
---
Cast List
@Lucky as Elphaba Thropp [Wicked]
@Crow as ???
@Takumi as Morgan [Fire Emblem: Awakening]
@Gummi Bunnies as Rin Tohsaka [Fate/Stay Night]
@Jeremi as Haru Okumura [Persona 5]
@Lissamel as ???
@York as ???
@Sark as Vega [Street Fighter]
@Minerva as ???
@Alex Azure as ???
@Jackythejack as Adeleine [Kirby]