Song One: Factory

(Open on a dark evening, the moon up in the sky over a young man in a black jacket that covers his face as he walks outside in a large field. He approaches a building in the middle of the field, a factory that blows smoke out from three massive chimneys. The young man sighs, his brown hair can be seen sticking out of his jacket as he enters the factory. Countless characters from various shows and games, Star Butterfly, Adora, Edelgard, Ren, etc. All of them made in mass for some unknown purpose. The young man enters an office away from the factory floor and watches the assembly of one particular Byleth. He sighs and begins to sing as the features are attached to the head by machines.)

Young Man: Why is it never enough.

Why can't I be satisfied by this?

I look at my own hands,

And see blood that isn't my own.

(The young man looks at his blood stained hands, followed by flashing which transitions to the head, eyes closed, being attached to a torso that looks like a mannequin.)

Once more I write a new tale,

As all tales gain me follows on other sites,

And there for feed my goal,

Meaning they're all worth it I suppose.

(The torso is spray painted by a machine to appear human as the Byleth still does not react.)

Ever since humans found out about magic,

Five years ago I've learned how to,

Create fictional characters in,

The dream scape called Amino.

Amino is between reality and fiction.

Everyone can access it as they see fit.

As humans spend time here they aboard the magic of this place.

Gaining levels and immense power. 

(Byleth can now be seen being dresser by the machines, his eyes stir as if he is about to wake up.)

I'm only level 8 myself.

But that's enough to run my factory.

A factory for my own stories. 

Stories of insanity. 

(The young man opens a drawer at his desk and grabs a red mask from it.)

I don't get why they can't hear the screams. 

I'm one man I can't save everybody.

Am I the only one hearing them-

No.

(The Byleth is put into a box that one would expect to see an action figure in at the dollar store and shipped out.)

All user have avatars that work as expressions of the soul.

Each avatar has unique abilities. 

Quite a useful one,

Belongs to me.

(A ghost-like version of the grim reaper appears behind the young man.)

My avatar [Martyr Complex] has an ability known as Danger Sense.

It can detect evil and malice.

Which allows me,

To destroy it.

Killing on Amino can't be done,

But if an avatar is slain,

The user is banned from this place,

Essentially dying in this dream scape.

Sure in the real world, 

The victim is fine.

But they lose their magic,

Which nowadays is worse than losing an arm. 

(The man looks at his hands, which glow with purple energy.)

I'm not a strong mage,

But I'll do what must be done.

As long as my avatar's safe, 

I can do what must be done.

(The young man leaves the factory as the camera pans up to the moon, which moves through the sky to show that time has passed before the man, mask on, kills a user's avatar in an alley.)

Threats eliminated. 

I'll do what must be done.

Now however I must retreat,

This is close to murder on Amino you see.

(The man glares at the camera.)

But I'm doing exactly,

What has to,

Be,

DONE!

(This ends the song as the camera pans to the sky and shows a Sunrise, panning back down to a different part or the city where a Byleth awakens in a dumpster.)

Byleth: What? Where… Am I?

(A Star Butterfly looks inside.)

Star: Hey! Another reject! Adora we got some fresh meat!

(Star helps Byleth out of the dumpster, this Star Butterfly has no cheek marks.)

Byleth: Who are you? Where am I?

(An Adora approaches, holding her sword in its sheath.)

Adora: Is that a Byleth? There's a lot of him as of late. 

Star Butterfly: Yeah there is. Let me introduce myself. I'm Star Butterfly, or, a Star Butterfly. See, writers create copies of other characters for fanfiction and some stories just end up… never posted. I'm from a show called Star VS the Forces of Evil where I was a magical princess. That there is Adora. From the reboot of She-Ra. She has super strength and can transform with her sword. What about you?

Byleth: I'm… a Byleth I guess? I… have some magic and stuff. 

Star: Oh I used to have that but my writer didn't give me any. Um… I guess you can stay here. Us characters without stories kinda just live as humans do in their reality. So, get a job I guess? Um. If you die you're dead. I'm unsure if undeath is a thing in your world but it isn't here so… yeah.

Adora: Star wait. Didn't that Leo guy need a Byleth for…

Star: Oh yeah he's taking the Front Page!

Byleth: Front page?

Star: Humans with great creations can breach an area known as the Front Page. Every city has one. It's this massive stage where users can gather immense magic in a short time and put on a show. Leo is this guy who appeared 2 weeks ago in the city and he's breached it like, 2 times I think? He's breached it with this story called Wanderer but the Byleth who he had in the role kinda… died so, hope you're a good actor!

Byleth: So users create to absorb magic? Why do they need to do that?

Adora: Well, magic has become vital to humans and they gain levels by absorbing magic from this place. They use their magic in their world but if they lose their avatars they lose their magic which is akin to being crippled. It's… always tragic when a user is banned. To live without magic in this day and age…

(Star turns away with a depressed expression.)

Adora: Sorry Star I-

(Star fakes a smile.)

Star: It's OK. It's OK. Come on. Let's go.

(Cut to Leo preparing his show on a massive stage. Star and Byleth approach.)

Star: I got one!

Leo: Ah! Wonderful! Thank you Star J-260. 

(Star appears annoyed.)

Star: I prefer Sparkle Star if not just Star.

Leo: Sorry Sparkle. I'll pay you back for this. Byleth, here are your lines. I need levels so don't mess up. 

(Leo leads Byleth on stage after handing him a script.)

Song Two: Storytime

Leo: Everyone please gather round.

Lend me your ears. 

Lend me your eyes.

Let's continue the tale from last time.

(The curtains reveal a Petra, who glares at Byleth with murderous intent.)

Do not fear they are not real.

Merely magic beings made for a tale. 

These things are means to an end.

And nothing more.

(Petra charges Byleth who defends himself with the Creator Sword, a flaming blade that extends into a whip.)

Byleth must kill his old friend.

Petra and she'll meet her end.

(Leo whispers to Byleth.)

Byleth that's your cue.

Finish the job.

Byleth: No I refuse!

This is wrong!

I am alive!

You're a monster!

(Leo turns and glares.)

Leo: Fool you think I'm now aware?

Can't you see that she's not there!?!

This Petra was made without a soul.

Or free will!

Do I look like a monster?

Well I am but I'm not here!

I made this husk,

I swear she's not like we are.

Husks and characters aren't the same!

Go ahead and ask!

She will not speak!

She's nothing more than a feral creature!

(Byleth looks into the eyes of Petra, which are blank and soulless. There is no soul or humanity there. He then stabs her, killing her.)

That's all for now, see you soon!

Chapter eight is coming too.

I'll return with a tale to tell,

Like always.

(Curtains fall. Leo helps Byleth up.)

Leo: You're kinda new here.

But nor bad.

You need a gig?

Then I'm your man.

But next time ask off stage if you have concerns. 

I'm writing this for a reason. 

It has a point. 

I have a plan.

Now if you'll excuse me,

I have some business.

(Leo hands Byleth a handful of gold coins.)

These are Props. 

Should be enough.

To pay your bills for about a month.

They're money here,

So you best,

Hold on to them. 

Now farewell and tell your friend,

Sparkle Star I have a plan. 

Might have a gig for her,

Coming up soon.

(Leo leaves. Byleth looks at the dead Petra, who lays in a pool of, not blood, but black ink, and leaves to go find Star… Camera pans over the city to a young man in a yellow jacket, his avatar a pre timeskip Claude. He looks over the corpse of a banned user that Leo banned the night before. Next to him stands another user, whose avatar is a Moon Butterfly and she appears tired and half asleep.)

Song Three: What's the Motive?

Tired User: Hey Boaz. 

Mayor of Fire Emblem Town. 

Boaz: Hello Loly76.

Ruler of Star VS Ville.

(Boaz looks at the corpse.)

Looks like we got another,

Banner around.

He keeps away,

And with each user he takes moral slowly decays.

What do we do?

Do you have anything new?

(Loly76 shrugs.)

Loly76: Your avatar, 

He knew what it did before y'all met.

Gravity reversal.

How the Hell could he predict that?

Boaz: I don't know but cleary,

His avatar has some sixth sense going on.

Know what I mean?

That's the only way he could've seen it coming.

Loly76: He's a writer.

You can tell by the ink puddles.

(Camera pans to show ink splattered throughout the alley way.)

But not a drawer.

There's not a speck of paint around..

Boaz: I know and he can't be too high a level,

I mean look at the body.

So many marks.

It was a slow endurance based kill!

Even a volley of arrows from my avatar [Fear The Deer],

Ain't enough!

Loly76: It just don't add up dammit!

Why did they have to get banned!

Boaz: Looking at the victims shows,

No clear correlations!

Loly: What's the motive?

Boaz: What the Hell could it be?

I guess I'll find it.

(Boaz grips his bow from his back, which appears magical in some way, being made of what appears to be the bones of some mystic creature.)

I guess then it falls to me…

(Camera pans up to the sky, and transitions into a starry night sky before showing Byleth counting his Props and wondering aloud to himself.)

Byleth: So… wait… where do I sleep?

(Boaz walks down the sidewalk as Byleth ponders on the park bench.)

Boaz: Hey you uhhh… you got a soul?

Byleth: What?

Boaz: Are you a Character or a Husk?

Byleth: Oh I'm a character. You're a user, a human?

(Boaz sits down.)

Boaz: Yeah sure am. Overheard. You don't have a place to sleep?

Byleth: I just woke up in a dumpster this morning with no memory. 

Boaz: Canceled story that's rough man, but no memory?

Byleth: I recall…

(An image of a young man holding a glass laughing flashes for a moment. The sound of liquid being poured is heard followed by a scream in rage.)

These images echo in my head. I sense… evil in them.

(Images flash. Now there is a new image. Of a young man whose face is obscured crying.)

I just know someone got hurt. That I had a purpose. To… avenge them? I think?

Boaz: Huh.

Hey, can you fight?

Byleth: Yes?...

Why?

Boaz: I'm hunting down a dangerous user who comes out at night. I mean you need a roof and I don't wanna leave a new character on the street in my town. You help me you can crash at my Profile. 

Byleth: Profile?

Boaz: My profile page. It's sorta like my house in Amino. Come on Byleth uhhhh… what's your designation? Every character has one there's so many Byleths…

Byleth: I dunno just assign me one I guess.

Boaz: I'll call you Byleth T-28 or, like  just Byleth. That's easier. Feels a little inhumane to call you by a number. 

(Boaz gets up and leads Byleth out of the park and through the city.)

Boaz: I'm sure he's gonna attack around here soon. He tends to attack many times in the same area so…

(There is a scream heard, causing the duo to rush into action. Fade out and fade in to Leo, mask on, breathing heavily. His voice full of rage.)

Leo: Eliminate the threat…

(Leo lifts his scythe to kill his victim, only to look down the street, from which a volley of arrows fly as Boaz and Byleth approach. Boaz's avatar, [Fear The Deer] continues to fire as Boaz charges, his avatar floating next to him.)

Song Four: Step Aside

(Leo and his avatar turn to face Boaz.)

Leo: So that's how it's gotta be.

If that's how it is fine by me.

I wouldn't expect you to see.

I mean it's not like I have enough proof.

(Leo's victim flees as Leo's avatar activates its ability. Leo blocks every arrow with his scythe, his avatar assisting him.)

[Martyr Complex] has the power Danger Sense.

When one's threatened,

I see all of it. 

Every possible future based on how I counter.

Therego I always counter, 

Any attack perfectly.

Do you get what,

I'm saying?

I can counter any attack,

No matter what.

I can never be,

Snuck up on. 

As long as I use my visions of,

The future like I always have!

[Martyr Complex] has no weakness.

Which means I'm invincible!

(Boaz activates [Fear The Deer], causing him, Byleth, and Leo to fall upwards into the sky.)

Boaz: An interesting avatar I will not lie.

But [Fear The Deer's] ability Box Art can't be denied.

Good luck trying to counter this time!

It's time for you to be banned.

(Byleth and Boaz charge, Boaz and [Fear the Deer] firing a volley of arrows which Leo manages to avoid by mere centimeters, arrows whizzing past his ears, one grazing his hand as Byleth attempts to push himself off the side of a building to stab Leo, only to be blocked by [Martyr Complex], who pushes Byleth back with his scythe.)

Leo: Every kill is raising my level.

I leveled up to 9 just last night. 

If only I could show my friends why.

If they understood me…

You think, 

That this is cause of greed?

Maybe a little,

But not solely.

Everything I'm doing is to protect everybody!

Even if it means,

Destroying my friends, 

Such as you.

(Boaz appears confused, which allows Leo to catch him off guard, push himself off a building's side, and disarm him, grabbing his bow, and examining it.)

Ah this bow appears…

It can only he by her.

You have a special gift here.

Don't throw it away.

(Leo tosses Boaz his bow back as he escapes the range of [Fear The Deer] returning to solid ground. He then turns to Byleth.)

And to the Byleth,

I inquire one thing.

Don't you think spanking kids,

And hitting them ain't OK?

(Leo flees as the song ends. Boaz and Byleth give chase to no avail, gravity returned to normal.

Boaz: He got away.

Byleth: That avatar of his is odd isn't it? Also where did you get that bow?

Boaz: Oh.

(Boaz examines his bow, which is made or a material not unlike bone, yet appears to hope with a purple light. An unholy light emanates from it as he examines it.)

Boaz: I dunno I became mayor of this town and some old lady just gave it to me. It's got some powerful magic on it, stronger than any I've ever seen, so I'm not complaining.

Byleth: Old lady?

Boaz: I wouldn't say old really she just… radiated "big mom energy" if you will. You know the kinda older woman you feel you can confide in and trust. Like, that one teacher you were close to in high school.

Byleth: Ah. What did she look like?

Boaz: She wore a grey cloak so I have no idea. All I know is that she was a very very powerful mage. Level 18 at least. 

Byleth: Isn't 20 the highest a human can go?

Boaz: So I've been told yeah. 

Byleth: I don't think any humans even exist with such power.

Boaz: See that's what bothers me.

(Boaz looks at his bow, examining the Black string and purple bone that comprises it.)

What is this? Why give it to me? What is, or was we dunno, she? Humans found this place what, five years ago? I think there's more here than meets the eye…

Byleth: The masked man seemed to know who she was. Recognized her work.

Boaz: That's true. What could be the connection?

(Boaz sighs and puts his bow on his back.)

I'm curious though man. That man asked you a question. What is your opinion on that?

(Boaz gets a stern expression.)

Do you think parents hitting their kids for "discipline" is wrong?