Hey guys its Seria here! Well though there are 3 other fics uploaded with this account this is actually my first fanfiction ever! I am in love with Dangan Ronpa (mostly because the game came out before the anime) and this story will have major spoilers so if you haven't finished the game or waiting for the anime, I suggest you don't read this first! This fic is about an unnamed OC who later gets a chance to relive her life as Celes (my fav. character in-game of all time) and the twist of starting anew in another reality allowed our protagonist to discover the ways of the world of Dangan Ronpa! I've decided for the initial pairing to be a NaegiXCeles but I'll work it out in due time. Anyway since I am new here I do hope you guys would at least give this fic a chance and if there's anything I need to work out on do tell me! Well, enjoy the show!
Chapter 1: Despair is just beginning
Unlucky doesn't even begin to describe who I am. As a child, I'm always the slowest when it comes to races, always the last to be picked when playing soccer with the boys, and definitely the only girl to go to a school dance without a date. That barely scratches the surface of who I am though. Awful at sports, having a wide range of allergic reactions from seafood to dandelions, and as graceless as a hippopotamus dancing in the meadows. Yup that pretty much sums it up.
Forget being unlucky, I'm pretty much Omen-class bad luck. Though I do admit to bringing misfortune upon myself and others most of the time I am however not that pessimistic about myself. My saving grace I suppose, is that I actually do well in exams and I do have friends. Not a lot mind you but still people who would hang out with a jinx like me.
Talking about my traits I believe in movies and television series I am what would be known as 'passerby A'. I am neither that pretty nor do I stand out in a crowd (except when something bad happens of course and people would point at me). Simply put, I am one of the masses, a typical seventeen-year old high school girl.
Oh but dear readers though indeed this is a story of the woeful tidings that befalls upon me it hasn't even begun yet. No, it gets more confusing and murkier from this point on, causing even the most sensible person on this planet to go insane and commit suicide again.
Yes, I did stress upon the word again. Don't assume now, though I am quite an unlucky person I never once thought of taking my own life. However the act of taking my life was done by another. Murder, dear readers. A very common yet distorted nature of human beings to take the life of another.
It wasn't an accident and it was definitely not intended. I just happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, courtesy of my birth right curse. It was my luck that led me to the alleyway that was a shortcut to my house, thinking I could hurry home and start on my chemistry assignment, when I heard a strangled scream and angry shouting in front of me.
A few seconds and a man came running towards me, clutching what happened to be a briefcase and a...gun. A few seconds and our eyes met, his was bloodshot and alarmed while mine was a mixture of surprise and fear. A few seconds and his hand raised, finger on the trigger. A few seconds and I felt something pierce through my chest.
I placed my own hand on my chest and saw the scarlet-red colour of my own blood. I've been shot, was my first line of thought as I fell to my knees. I looked upwards to the shooter, my would-be killer. He looked quite surprised, as if he couldn't believe what he just did. His hand was shaking, he was afraid. Then he raised the gun again, and I knew what was coming. I then closed my eyes, preparing for the worst. It happened so fast I barely realized it already ended. Another bullet right through my brain. I felt it penetrate through my grey matter and I was down, kissing the stone cold pavement. The last thing I knew, or heard, before I left the living plane was a frantic "I'm so sorry." And that was the end of it.
There were more shouting I think, I could barely think anymore. Darkness consumed me, no longer feeling the pain that had once overpower me. It was a weird sensation, dying that is. My eyelids were too heavy for me to force open and I felt my body grew lighter as I was pulled upwards. Next thing I knew I was on a barren land, void of anything living save for the bellowing wind and sand.
This must be the afterlife, I thought grimly. I let out a sigh and looked around. There was nothing of note, the more I look at the place the more it reminds me of a desert. It was a desert ruin that I've only seen in pictures and television. My body felt heavy again and I knew there were higher beings at work here in my dilemma. I wondered if it would be an angel or the devil that comes to claim my soul.
"Neither I'm afraid." a voice suddenly boomed behind me, causing me to let out a startled gasp.
I turned to see the oddest creature I have ever laid my eyes upon. It has the head of a cat, horns of a goat, and the body of a human. It was wearing a black suit with a red tie while there was a monocle on its left eye. The way it stood with a certain amount of poise and nobility that it reminded me of a butler in a cheesy Victorian movie. Seeing this I can't help but let out a muffled giggle. It was very bizarre to say the least but oddly funny at the same time.
"H-Hey what's with that laugh!" he asked indignantly.
I apologized as I waved at him, it, as I'm not sure of its gender.
"Hmph well kids these days sure lack manners, in my days..." It began what looked like a very long lecture.
I rolled my eyes and thought that this is going to take some time. Are all angels naggy? I thought to myself.
"I'm not an angel and I'm certainly not naggy!" It said in an annoyed manner.
You can read my mind! I shouted in my head.
"Why yes I can." It said smugly, a smile forming. "In fact I can even tell you everything that has ever happened in your life, including some very embarrassing memories."
Oh don't you dare you smug little cat! I pulled on its horns and it frantically began pushing me away.
"Ow ow stop that! I'm just messing with you geez... No sense of humour at all..." It muttered in an irritated manner. It then stared at me intently, its eyes bore right into mine.
What are you then? I wondered, and was not let down when it seemed to have read my mind yet again.
"I'm a scribe, well more like a guide to you now. And I am not an it, I'm a she." She stated clearly. "I am Neferiari, your guide to your next life." She gave a short bow and took out a large old book from her back.
I quietly stood next to her as she quickly flipped through the pages, as if looking for something. I had a lot of questions I wanted to ask her. About God, about what she does, and that if I'm going to heaven or hell. Heck, I'd settle for the true meaning of life however she doesn't seem to be in the mood to answer my questions.
She seemed intent on looking for whatever she is looking for and gave a small cheer as she found it.
"Now there it is! Your profile." She tapped on the page.
I bent slightly to see and it was true. My name, picture and even my family members and close friends were listed. Is the page entirely about me I wonder?
"Twelve pages to be exact. It's short mind you compared to the others cuz' you died young see? Most of you youngins' get ten to fifteen pages max depending on when you die- ...waitaminute, something is wrong here " She suddenly frowned.
Again she began flipping through the pages and as she did so her face turned as white as a sheet.
"Oh no..."
Well that can't be good.
She turned to look at me and gave a sort of apologetic smile. "It seems that the higher ups made a, uh, mistake about the time that you're supposed to die." She said nervously.
They did what?
"Yes well, you see, apparently you're supposed to live until you're forty and have three children and so on. See here? Your life story isn't supposed to end today." She pointed to a certain paragraph in the page.
Then...then what happened? Why did I die today, gunned down by a slimy crook?
"Well uh... I just got a statement by the Reaper that he uh, said that your luck got him confused with someone else's. Turns out the soul he was supposed to snuff out was the guy holding the gun, not you." She said apologetically.
My...luck?
"Yes well bad luck has always gotten into the Reaper's way. It interferes with Fate's work and this kind of thing happened in the past so it's completely natural a mistake would occur."
A mistake... My death was a mistake... You have got to be kidding me.
"I'm not and I am terribly sorry this happened to you." She apologised again as her head dropped in shame.
Then...bring me back to life! You can do that right? I thought desperately.
She shook her head and looked at me grimly. "I'm afraid not. A soul collected by the Reaper cannot be given back you see? It'll mess with the order of life and various things. I can't send you to heaven or hell either because your trial cannot start as how things are."
But...but what about my life? Tears formed in my eyes as I desperately try to make sense of things. I wasn't supposed to die, and it was my bad luck that got in the way of the Reaper's work. Now I'm stuck in this blank desert with a cat-like scribe and I'm not going to either heaven or hell.
"D-Don't cry! Please I feel just as bad as you are!" She waved her hands frantically.
I began wailing, my sobs echoing in the desert.
"Please stop, I'm begging you- there is a way!" She suddenly shouted amidst my sobs. "... There is a way for you to be alive again."
I looked at her tearfully, my heart suddenly filled with a small hope.
"It...It's more like a loophole see? Though I can't technically bring you to life in this reality I can send you to another one."
Another reality?
"Yes another reality. Take it like a fairy tale per se. The reality I mentioned is the vast line of story books and tales that you have or have not read. I can send you into Cinderella or Rapunzel or-or even into cartoons like Avatar or even Naruto!"
That sounds quite ridiculous, even for me. Getting sent into story books and cartoons?
"I am not lying! Do you think that the world you live in now is the only world in this universe? The stories that you've read and seen, do you not think it's weird that no matter how impossible to believe or fantastic, are the work of fiction alone? No, it was from a higher being that gave humans the insights of how the others are living!" Neferiari said, her fingers weaving pictures in the sand as if to give me a clearer picture of what she is saying. "Trust me when I say that I was given the power to allow you to live in these fantastic tales!"
Sent into stories... Then won't my life be controlled by the flow of the story?
"Not necessarily! See when you go into a different reality you shape your own destiny based on what you want! You... You can't really change the major parts of who you are going to be or what is in store for your character but most importantly you get to live!" She explained.
My character? Wait does that mean I'm not going to be me anymore?
"Yes I'm sorry but I can't force a non-character of the story to appear in it out of thin air. The best I can do is place you into another character that already exist."
I thought about it for a moment. To be someone else, a fairy tale character no less, is highly appealing. No more will I be burdened by my bad luck and for once I could actually get a happy ending. Yes it sounds very interesting indeed but...
As if she read my mind yet again, Neferiari quickly spoke "I can provide you with a detailed list of your new life's profile as well as the story's detail to you. You can change certain aspects of yourself and the storyline, but nothing major got it?" She warned.
I contemplated on the offer and quickly made up my mind. Yes, I agree.
"Great, well at least I'll feel a bit better after this." She said, looking very relieved. "So which story would you like to be sent into? I can send you into movies too but be warned I don't know what will happen after the credit rolls though."
I thought about it, and thought again. If I wanted a story with a happy ending and a good, easy-going life for me then it would definitely be- Cinderella. I mean that was the first story I have ever read when I was a child and well my pre-princess life would suck, but it'd get better once I meet Prince Charming. I mean come one, who doesn't want to be a princess in her lifetime? It's decided, I want to be Cinderella in...Cinderella.
"Ah that fairy tale then, good, good..." She mumbled to herself. "Okay here goes, I'm going to send you there now. Remember, don't change the storyline too much and don't ever, ever, die in a story. Not unless it is scripted then I can't help you with that, it's up to you to change that flow of the story." She stated matter-of-factly.
Well I won't have to worry about that, it is Cinderella after all.
"Yeah well, if anything goes wrong just look up the story book I'll send to you and oh, don't let anyone else see that too! There will be some scary punishment by Fate if you disclose unnecessary spoilers to the other characters."
Okay, got it. First thing I'll do is bury the book away from the evil stepmother and stepsisters.
"Alright here goes, you ready?" She clapped her hands and looked at me for confirmation.
Wait, wait! So soon? I don't know if I'm ready to jump into another life yet! My old one-
"Has already ended." She interrupted me. "I am sorry, truly I am very sorry. Your old life ended abruptly as much as your new one is beginning. I can understand that you're scared, confused but as there are many more souls reaped I simply can't dwell too long in this plane. You are a special circumstance that is why I am willing to help you out as long as it is needed, but not now."
I nodded solemnly, understanding that asking for more explanation is not going to help anyone.
"This does not mean I will abandon you though! I am busy now but I'll come by to help you out every now and then in your new life! I promise you that!" She held up her hand as if signalling her promise.
I smiled and gave her a short bow. I just met this cat-like scribe but I was beginning to like her. Shame we have to part ways now.
As if reading my mind again, she too gave me a crooked smile. "I hope the next time we meet will be on better terms. Now are you ready?"
I shut my mouth as tightly as I could and nodded.
"Okay then here goes nothing! Enjoy your new life then!"
As she said that I was suddenly swept away by a torrent of darkness. The wind bellowed heavily and I could hear lightning clashes in the background. After being whirled around for what felt like eternity, I felt a wave of drowsiness hit me. I was falling asleep. Well...here is to a new, would-be happy life...
...
Bzzt!
"Mmm..." I mumbled sleepily. What is that infernal noise I'm hearing?
The sound buzzed continuously, forcing me to open my eyes.
...That can't be right, Cinderella is supposed to wake up by the sound of melodious chirping of birds. That sounded more like...an alarm clock?
"...chan."
Huh? What was that sound?
"Tae-chan wake up."
What? Who is that? Who's... Tae-chan?
I looked around my surrounding. I was in a bizarre-looking room this time. There were black veils hung around my bed and I could've sworn those are stuffed bats hanging on the ceiling. The room had a dark, medieval-theme to it and that was when my eyes focused on a few figures standing next to my bed. I was surrounded by vampires. I almost screamed when the door suddenly opened and sunlight entered the room. My eyes burnt from the sensation of that bright light and as my eyes adjusted I saw that they weren't vampires after all. They were dummies, large dolls of sorts.
A woman stood at the door, her hands on her hips. "Honestly Tae-chan were you up all night gambling on those online websites again? I told you that you need a good night's rest for today!" She fusses as she went to open the curtains.
I stared at her, a look of utter shock latched on my face. Who is this woman? She definitely does not look like the evil stepmother of Cinderella and did she just call me Tae-chan?
She went around the room collecting several pieces of clothing on the floor and turned to look at me again. "Oh I'm sorry dear, I forgot you prefer me calling you by your other name. Now get up Celes-chan." The woman smiled adoringly and ruffled my hair.
I continued staring at her, dumbfounded. Even the other name she called me didn't make sense. It was only then that I notice she was speaking in an entirely different language than English. It sounded Chinese or perhaps Japanese, certainly not the native English I have been speaking all my life yet I could understand her as if it was common knowledge.
"Goodness look at the time, I have to get breakfast ready and Celes-chan please wake your onii-san up. God knows the only mutual habit you two share is that you both are night owls." She said as she left the room.
I was still there, right there on my bed staring at the empty space where that woman had been standing. What on earth is happening here? How did I get here? This is surely not the Cinderella I knew. Maybe Neferiari didn't mention having sent me to an Asian version of Cinderella. Thinking about Neferiari, I remember her mentioning a guide book that she would send to help me out. Scanning around again, I found said book lying inconspicuously on the table. How I knew it was the guide book? Easy, the letters on the cover were practically dazzling in this dark room. It had to be the one.
I immediately got out of the bed and picked the book up. Staring at the cover, my heart slowly sank as I read the title.
Dangan Ronpa: Academy of Hope and High School Students of Despair.
I stared at it for another good minute before-
"WHAT THE HECK?!"