Chapter Text
I'm going to confess something.
Wonderlands x Showtime is in a writer's block. And it's bad.
For the past couple of weeks, we've all been just.. sitting here and suffering. Which isn't good, mind you! It's been a week or two since our last show, and ever since then, none of us have been able to come up with a good play idea for some reason.
Is this a curse from the gods? Perhaps a mental challenge we must surpass is order to better ourselves?! Either way, I, the great world future star, Tenma Tsukasa, shall not back down from a challenge no matter how hard!
..And yet, my mind is unable to come up with anything, just like Rui, Nene and hell, even Emu! That's saying something!
Emu groans, rolling around on the floor of the stage. She's been lying down there the entire 'practice,' much to both Nene and my dismay. Does she not realize how dirty the floor is?!
Still, I understand her boredom. None of us have been able to come up with anything, and honestly, it's a bit disheartening to see all of us draw such a blank.
But I can't give up, none of us can! Maybe we could go around, watch some movies and do some things that could give us inspiration?
And so I voice just that.
Emu suddenly sits up, gasping as she points towards me with her wide, bright pink eyes. "TSUKASA-KUN!!!" She screams out, a wide grin spreading onto her face. "YOU'RE RIGHT!!!!!!"
She scrambles off the stage, dusting herself off for a split second before jumping off the stage and wrapping her arms me with a happy squeal full of giddiness.
"H-huh-?!" I yelp, stumbling back as Emu rams into me. "Calm down, Emu-!! But, of course, as the leader of our wonderful troupe, it's my job to do everything we can to give us the inspiration for yet another show!"
I laugh loudly as Emu moves off me. She points towards me again, turning to face Rui.
"Can we?!" She pleads, "Can we go and have an adventure, Rui?!"
Rui chuckles, patting Emu's head gently as he nods. "I suppose we can," He replied, "It's a good idea, too. Good job, Tsukasa-kun!"
He smiles at me, and I feel my heart skip a beat. Rui just loves to boost my ego, huh? Well, it's not like I can blame him! Who wouldn't want to pamper a handsome, beautiful star such as me?!
I look at Nene, nudging her shoulder. "Off the game, Nene!" I announce, quickly taking her switch away from her hands. "We're going on an adventure!"
Nene gasps, jolting upwards and turning towards me. "Hey-!" She cries out, reaching out to grab her switch away from my hands. "I get it, give it back..!"
"No games on our adventure!" Emu pouts, moving to block Nene. "We gotta focus on finding inspiration for our show!"
Nene groans, sighing as her arms fall limp at her side. "Fine.." She huffs, "Put the switch in my bag, Tsukasa."
I nod, stepping back to put Nene's switch where it belongs. "Where will we go?" I ask, looking back over to the rest of the troupe. "Will we just walk around the park or forest or something?"
Nene raises her hand, "Forest, please. I'm too tired to walk around a bunch of screaming children."
Rui chuckles, nodding. "Then we'll go around the forest." He declared, walking over to the bushes and shrubs all surrounding the Wonder Stage. He steps over one, and Emu quickly follows him after and leaps over the bush like as if it was a hurdle.
Nene follows soon after, as do I. "Let the Wonderlands x Showtime: Adventure for Inspiration, part 1, walking in the forest, begin!" I call out, raising my fist in the air. Emu cheers and Rui claps, while Nene just sighs and shakes her head.
I can still see her fond smile anyway. I know she loves me!
Rui is the one who leads the rest of us into the forest. Emu hums a song as she ways from side to side, and Nene keeps shielding her eyes whenever there's a gap of sunlight amongst the leaves and trees. The sound of happy screams and yelling from the theme park is muffled and distant as we go deeper.
Rui looks around for anything that catches his eye, while I, like the perfect star I am, search for any signs of inspiration while also skillfully avoiding any bugs I notice crawling around, because that is 100% what stars do! No doubt about it, none at all!
Eventually, Emu stops in her tracks, pointing to the ground with a gasp. "Look!" She exclaims. All of us follow her gaze, looking towards what the pinkette is-
...Is that a decapitated doll head?
"Oh!" Rui, of course, like the weirdo he is (affectionate), smiles and walks towards the doll head and picks it up. "How interesting.. it seems someone lost their doll in the forest here."
Nene cringes. "Ew, don't pick it up," She mutters, "It's probably dirty."
Of course it's dirty! It's a decapitated barbie doll head that has been sitting in the dirt amongst the plants and grass and god forbid the bugs for who knows how long! Nene might be quite mean to me specifically sometimes, but at least she's the only other person here who has common sense! Like me!
Emu pumps her fist, her eyes sparkling. "We gotta find Ms. Dolly's body!" She declares, throwing her fist into the air.
"Nope, definitely not." I shake my head, my arms crossed. What is she thinking?
Or, well.. what is Emu ever thinking?
"Just leave it on the floor, Rui." I advise, taking a hold of his shoulder with an exasperated expression. "I doubt we'll find anything."
"But Tsukasa-kun," Rui points out, pouting dramatically, "You said we should go out looking for inspiration! What better way to find that than go on an adventure?!"
"An adventure to find the body of a Barbie doll?!" I retort, "No! How is that gonna help us at all?"
"Ah, I just suppose you aren't creative enough.." Rui sighs, shaking his head and feigning disappointment. "You wouldn't understand."
I grumble in annoyance, grabbing Rui's shoulders and shaking them. "I have creativity!" I exclaim, because how DARE Rui challenge me! "I'll show you!! And I don't need a decapitated doll head to prove it!"
Rui just smiles at me. He tilts his head to the side innocently, "Oya? I think I see something on your shoulder, Tsukasa-kun."
...
...
...
"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTT????!!!!!!!"
————
I lay down in bed, grumbling.
How dare Rui make an absolute fool out of me! I swear, I'll show him! I can make a show from the idea of a decapitated doll head!
Or.. something like that. Similar. It's inspiration, not copying! It's not like the show will actually have to do something with- decapitated barbies. That would be weird.
The lights in the house are already off. The only light on is the one from my Keroppi lamp. Which is NOT childish, mind you!
I check the time on my phone quickly, before deciding to turn off the lamp and go to sleep.
Who knows, maybe I'll have a really good dream that can give me inspiration! That'll show Rui, right?! Then I can incorporate that whole doll thing and it'll be perfect!
I snuggle into the bedsheets, closing my eyes.
Good night, world!
...
...
...
————
...
...
...
When I open my eyes, everything is black. A void.
A void.. with a table in front of me. and a lightbulb, dropping down from seemingly nowhere at all.
There is a chair on the other side of the table. A black cloak is draped over the back.
What is this?
Suddenly, there's a strange whispering in my ears. With a sudden breeze, a chill runs down my spine, and I shudder.
I can't tell what the whispers are saying. They overlap one another in hushed voices, and I can't decipher any of them.
I feel like I'm being watched. It's cold in here.
"..Hello?" I decide to try and call out.
But my mouth opens, and I speak, and nothing comes out. I can't hear anything. I can't hear my own voice.
This is scary.
I try calling out again.
"Hello?"
..Nothing.
"Can someone- what's??"
..Nothing.
"CAN SOMEONE HEAR MEEEE?????"
..Nothing!
I look around in a panic, stepping backwards. Why can't I hear myself speak? I can feel myself speak, I swear I am but I don't hear anything come out of my mouth.
Just as I try to speak up yet again, I hear something else, barely louder than the whispers in my ears.
...
A humming.
Someone is humming. It's a familiar, simple melody; I quickly recognize it as the classic Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star.
I can't tell where it's coming from. In fact, it seems to be coming from everywhere, all around me.
The whispers quiet down, before joining in with the singing. Now it's just a quiet, whispered melody of Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star in my ears, and I still have no idea what is going on.
The humming slowly shifts into vocalizing. I feel like I'm in limbo between heaven and hell or something, and there's just this weird choir of not angels, not demons, but a secret third option singing in my ears as I am about to be interrogated by—
...
Wait a damn minute.
I look back towards the chair, where something just changed. Yes, something is different, something..
The cloak.
Holy shit, it's the cloak. The cloak is floating in front of me, what the fuck?
I can't see who is underneath the cloak. In fact, I don't think there IS anyone, or anything for that matter- underneath the cloak.
Am I being interrogated by whatever this is? Is this supposed to be the equivalent of God or Satan of this place and holy shit, why am I comparing this weird in-between limbo and holy holy shit shit, did I DIE?!
The- invisible cloak figure thing leans closer, and somehow, I find myself stepping towards the table myself. I don't think about it, I just.. do it.
This is not okay, I repeat in my head. I have no idea what's going on and none of this is okay.
Just as I try to speak again, the vocalizing in my ears shift from singing to-
"Tenma Tsukasa."
What.
How does this thing know my name?! What is this thing?! Where am I, why can't I speak, I just want to ask all these questions but I literally CAN'T FOR SOME REASON—
"Calm Thyself." The weird voice commands.
I blink rapidly. What, can it read my mind or something-?
"Thou hast arrived in one's plane of existence for a reason." The voices speak up again. Are these voices the.. cloak thing? And even more so, why is it (are they??) speaking like that?
"Please, be not afraid. One promises to thee, One means no harm."
Even weirder. Apologies whoever you are, but this might just be the scariest moment of my life.
"One begs of you to complete a simple quest."
Huh.
This one sided conversation just scares me more and more!
"Quite some time ago, one may have existed with a physical presence, as does thee. Nay, one's body hath been locked away, severed and separated from one's mind. Ever since, one has been but a shell, a ghoul."
Wait, this thing has a backstory???
"And so, one asks of thee- rediscover the elements of one's physical appearance."
...
Excuse me?
"Nay, one is aware of thine power in a world such as this. Thou art a powerful individual, thou shalt be the one to fulfill one's prophecy. Thou art one's saviour, one tells thee."
This is actually creeping me out so much.
Is this a dream? No, this has got to be a dream. This can't be real, there's no way it is!
Also, I have no idea how I can understand what this cloak person is saying. Double also, what does sir/ma'am/secret third option mean by a.. powerful individual?
"These.. worlds thou art able to create with thy emotions and mind. Thou art an enigma, one says to thee. Tenma Tsukasa, thou shalt traverse across the worlds thou hath conceived, thou shalt free one from the suffering one has endured for years on end."
I am genuinely so horrified right now.
I want to protest. I really, really do. Oh, how badly do I just want to yell out and say, "No! Fuck you (but in a polite manner)!" but alas, I can't fucking speak.
"Thou wishes to not aid one with one's request, doth thou not?"
..Um????
No, I- don't??
"Ah."
Yeah, the thing probably can read my mind, actually.
The cloak lowers itself for a moment, before leaning closer. It floats atop the table, slowly bobbing closer and closer until it's right in front of me.
"Why?" It asks.
Why?
Because I have no idea what you're talking about!! I'm supposed to be finding show ideas, not.. THIS???????
The cloak pauses. It stops midair, before all of a sudden-
KHH-!!
I gasp (with no sound, mind you) as the cloak swiftly wraps itself around my neck, tightly squeezing all the air out of my throat and lungs. I stumble backwards, panicking as I desperately claw at the fabric, trying to pry it off of my neck.
I can't breathe.
I can't breathe.
"Do it,"
What?!
No, no, please, get off of me-!!
The cloak around me only squeezes tighter and tighter, causing me to choke and cough. I can't breathe, it hurts, it hurts it hurts it hurts it hurts it HURTS-!!
I can see black spots dancing around in my vision. I stumble to the ground, hacking as I desperately attempt to pull the cloak off me. I try, I swear, I promise I'm trying but I can feel my strength leaving me, I can't even feel my arms, I can't see, it's all so blurry, and I'm scared.
I'm scared.
My vision is blurred.
I feel so weak. But I don't want to stop trying.
I don't want to die.
I don't want to die.
...
Will I die?
Am I dying right now? Is it going to kill me?
I can't die now.
I can't die now..! I have so much to do, I have so much ahead of me—
"Ah.."
Eh?
W-wait, hold on, that voice, isn't that-?!
"Finally, someone's actually getting rid of him."
"Good riddance. He's so annoying..."
"There never is a reason to live with people like him, hehe~! How traaggiiccc!"
...Is that..?
The cloak wraps tighter. I'm too confused- why are here? Did they say that?
What's going on?
I can't fight back. I can't keep grabbing the cloth like this.
Maybe I should just- give up..
..Huh?
Give up- I should just..?
Give up.
I should just give up?
Wait, but that's not right, I don't want to! I don't want to die here, but—
As I choke out spit and vomit, my head leans back. I can recognize familiar figures staring down at me through blurry eyes.
I recognize those colours.
Pink, green, and purple.
Those are the colours of..
..Oh.
Oh.
My vision is slowly fading to black. My arms fall limp, and I feel disgusting.
Give up.
Give up.
Give up.
I did; I did give up.
This is..
...?
A room.
Dark; a dark room.
A chair. Handcuffs. Straps.
A boy.
A window.
A button.
Where am I?
What's going on?
A press.
A shock.
A light.
A scream.
A voice.
A breath.
A shock.
A light.
A scream.
A voice.
A breath.
A plead.
Stop, please stop, it hurts.
A shock.
A light.
A scream.
A voice.
A breath.
A shock.
A light.
A scream.
A voice.
A breath.
A pattern.
A scream.
Scream.
Scream.
Scream.
A voice.
A whisper.
A plead.
A shock.
Shock.
Shock.
A scream.
A breath.
It hurts.
It hurts.
It
hurts.
It's fun.
It's- f
un?
A shock.
A laugh.
A shock.
A la ugh.
A shock.
A shock.
A shock.
A laug
h
.
A laugh.
A laugh?
A laugh.
A voice.
A whisper.
A nod.
An agreement.
You are easy to break down.
I know.
You will do it, will you not?
I will.
You want to do it, do you not?
I do.
A fuzzy mind.
A foggy brain.
Scrambled thoughts and memories, dull, glazed over eyes.
A command, a nod.
An agreement.
I will do it.
I will do it.
A shock.
A giggle.
A step.
A step.
A step.
A hand.
A cowarmld feeling on his face, the sweet, poisonous relief of darkness.
It would begin tomorrow.
Now wake up, my child; they are awaiting for thee.
With a gasp, I wake up, my eyes wide and full of fear as I sit up straight in my bed.
I feel my neck, my arms, my head, my body.
What just happened, what just happened-?!
God, my head is pounding. It hurts.
I rub my eyes, taking a few deep breaths. It was just a dream, it was just a dream. It was only a bad dream.
I look down at my body. The sound of my heart pounding relentlessly in my ears slowly subsides, and my breaths slow down as I inhale and exhale repeatedly.
There's something on my skin.
It's a mark. A mark-
No.
It's a burn.
A fucking burn?
Just as quickly as I calmed down, my breaths accelerate once again. Where did this come from?! How did it happen?!
My brain scrambles for the memories of an event I cannot recall, the non-existent remnants of something I just cannot bring my mind to remember.
I don't- I don't know where it happened. I don't know how it happened.
But it is here.
It's here. And I'm horrified by it.
It's horriftiful—
..What?
It's horrautiful.
It's Beautiful.
..Is it?
A voice whispers in the back of my mind: It is. It looks wonderful on you.
And for some reason, I don't question it. I'm too tired to.
I look down at the burns again.
They are beautiful.
They are, aren't they?
But.. ah. Everyone else would panic if they saw them. I don't know how they came here, so I probably shouldn't show them without reason! I don't want anyone to worry about me, after all.
Thankfully, it's getting cooler outside- cool enough to wear long sleeves. They can hide the scars perfectly!
I look at the time on my alarm as I step out of bed.
No matter. No matter! I had an unspoken challenge to complete- and a job to do tonight, after all!
A job to do- a promise to fulfill.
Someone to help.
In the back of my mind, I can't help but wonder how I came to that conclusion. But everything seems so fuzzy, so I ultimately decide to not question it.
I was chosen, after all.