Still Breathing
Daybreak
Oh, woe is me! Woe is all of us!
I truly thought it was just a matter of catching some rogue element, some cruel and nasty person with a vendetta against Alejandro… but no! It seems we have a full-scale revolution on our hands, vile killers who would see us all dead!
For this morning… alas, it is too horrible to contemplate. Sexy Meglos, dead, blended up, cactus needles all over the place, a long scarf all that is left of their vegetablised remains. Tragedy in our times! Sexy Meglos… a loss to us all. Also the 4th Doctor, I guess. They were, collectively, none other than THE THIEF! So in a sense, it’s good news, because it puts an end to non-violent crime here on VibeCity. Only violent crime left to worry about now. Half the job’s done.
But all is not lost! For our glorious overseer has chosen two new Landlords. Russ will be the Landlord of Snooze-Pod Beta, and the Doctor will be the Landlord of Snooze-Pod Gamma! Hooray! Contact them if you want a spot!
Oh, but… in the name of protecting investment and creating security on loans and purchases here at VibeCity, we’re implementing a new securities system to ensure that maintenance is collected on the properties.
If the Landlord(s) fail to provide sufficient Maintenance payments for their properties, the maintenance payment(s) will be taken in full from the Community Fund.
In addition, the Landlord(s) will be stripped of all their assets, including all work credits and the properties themselves. (If they have no work credits, I’ll just have to take all the credits from one of their tenants, haha.) Capitalism in action! Isn’t it great!
Anyway. We have a serious crisis on our hands, and it is imperative that we start executing people in order to see justice served.
The last words of Sexy Meglos:
A voice is heard throughout VibeCity. A deep, booming voice.
"You thought I was dead, didn't you? You're always making that mistake. I don't know why I like you so much.
All right! I confess, I confess. I'm a thief. Ah, well, it's my job, you see. (Sometimes my brilliance astonishes even me.)
Well, we'll be off. No, Meglos - he's dead. Oh, well, I wish I could stay and watch you try, but you know how it is. Places to go, people to see, things to do. Are you listening to me? I'm thinking, Sarah, I'm thinking...."
The voice is now louder
"It's the end, but the moment has been prepared for..."
Hinesly eyes everyone suspiciously. ... Condolences on the cactus.
Billy: Oh no, they killed Meglos! What a prick.
Harley: Nooo Sexy Meglos don't die your so sexy haha ...anyway I think I'm gonna need to make spreadsheet. I'm onto all of you stalks away
Hinesly: That just means you haven't eliminated any suspects.
Harley:…well, it's a spreadsheet in progress. Uh, I'm not expected to clean up the mess, am I? Because I don't think biohazardous waste is on my list of things I'm allowed to clean. Plant matter is, mind you. But not sentient plants, I hope.
Hinesly: well, I don't think Tilly is going to.
Tilly: Haha hey Harley, soooo great to have you here to clean up messes like this one! :D
Harley: 😦 Sighs and goes to get their cleaning supplies. If I die from bleach fumes at least we'll know who to blame.
Emerald wakes up and stretches, yawning. Mmm… morning all. What’d I miss? She looks around and spots bits of cactus and colorful scarf around the room.
Oh buck.
Herder: Sexy Magnolia no! We didn’t even get to have a steamy romance cutscene together 😭
Emerald: What a way to go… wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy. Emerald looks forlorn.
Herder: Good— well, not so good morning folks, apologies for my absence, my evil clone resurfaced, stole the Derry and went on a joyride around the city. Fortunately I imaged to break in with my personal assistant’s electric toothbrush and yeet that damn doppelgänger out of the hangar doors mid-flight. But now I’m back! And ready to tackle this dumpster fire situation we’ve collectively become embroiled in
Emerald: Good to have ya back, Commander. We could use some decent authority around here.
Herder: Sniffs That’s one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me. Normally it’s “You never should have come here” or “What are you doing in my house?” or “I will destroy you!” or “Not now Herder I have calibrations to run”
Emerald chuckles despite herself. Death… it happens back home of course. It’s a part of life, like anything else. But this violent murder… this is new to me. And it makes me sick just to think about what they might’ve gone through. She starts to cry. Bucking Tartarus I hate this place…
Billy: It’s not much fun living in a world where everyone just says the same thing over and over to you again. I get “can you sign my album?” or “sing us a song, you’re the piano man”, or “you massive sell out, allowing your songs to be used on Glee” or even “Peter Gabriel? Wow, I love Genesis!”
Hinesly doesn't know how to handle this, so she just sits next to Emerald.
Emerald: Eventually she dries her tears with the sleeve of her jacket and sighs, removing it for the first time. She’s quite well-built, it turns out. I wanna do whatever I can to help catch whoever did this… this ain’t right.
Piglet: Oh! Oh, d-d-d-dear!! 😦Poor sexy meglos and one of the doctors!! Oh dear oh dear 😦
Emerald bends down to hug Piglet. I know… I feel sick just looking at it.
Herder rummages through their remains for loot Excuse me folks, needs must. This is a really nice scarf 🧣
Piglet: Oh! But that’s not right! 😠 That scarf is the doctor’s! Well, one of them! Just because they’re dead doesn’t mean you can take their things!
Hinesly: Exactly! You should return it to the other Doctor.
Emerald: Yeah! What’s wrong with you, Commander?!
Harley: Swats the scarf out of Herder's hands There's bits of Doctor on that scarf, commander. Best not touch it.
Billy: They were a thief after all, who says they didn’t steal it in the first place… So maybe it doesn’t belong to anyone. In that case…. I call dibs
Harley: Also like, this is a crime scene? Maybe we shouldn't disturb it.
Billy: The sign can’t stop me just because I can’t read!
Emerald: How the buck did you get to be a famous pianist then?
Billy: Naturally gifted
Emerald: Like Marezart?
Billy: One of my former selves
Hinesly: I can't believe the Doctor would just steal something and run away. She didn't seem the type.
Billy: Maybe she was bored, or scared, genetically engineered to do so
Herder is oblivious to the uproar as they’re currently sorting out their inventory What the hell why is this scarf only worth two credits? Pathetic. Damn I’ve really been hoarding medkits
Billy: I love how you have all this heavy armour, but you put on one scarf and lo and behold, your inventory is too full
Herder closes their inventory and walks towards Billy in painful slow motion Right???I need to find a merchant I can sell all this junk to. Alternatively I’ll just drop it all on the floor
Hinesly: How kind of you to join us, by the way. I don't know how we'd carry on without you.
Herder: Cauliflower Cat! Long time no see! Still leeching off the underprivileged and eating mouldy fish? Actually I know the answer to the second from your breath 🤢
Hinesly: You’re so childish! Bah. In any event, you'll be no doubt thrilled to learn that I've found myself to be a circumstantial Bolshevik. Vibe City has gone through a few changes in your absence... more your scene than mine, I rather suspect. 😒
Clarence: Wakes up groggily Oh shit, there really is a murderer, huh... hold on one sec he goes off to the side
Herder: Excellent! Vive la révolution!
Clarence: He comes back, decked out in a trenchcoat like a proper sleuthRight, let's establish the facts here. Sexy Meglos is dead... murdered... And somebody's responsible!
Hinesly: Bah! BAH! Bah. You can string together a socialist utopia in three locker rooms, but if you're managing even a small town, it all falls apart within a year.
Emerald: Only fact I have is that she was sleeping in the Hangar last night, a ways over from me.
Herder: Much like your businesses then? Tell me how much debt has your little empire accumulated over the years Lady Hines Ketchup?
Hinesly: HinesCorp makes Hines Ketchup. You can't insult me by calling me one of our bestselling products. And we have lots of money coughs tiedupinstock
Clarence: If she was in the Hangar, then the killer could've been any one of us...
Emerald cleans her glasses and sighs. Wish I’d read those Shadow Spade books Rarity kept offering to buy me for Hearth’s Warming… she’s Equus’s number one crime novelist.
Hinesly: Am I insulting you or am I just really bad at remembering people’s names? 🤔
Clarence: Usually it's the former
Herder: Shhh Clarinet don’t expose me like that
Clarence: He starts to be offended by that name, but stops as he realises he actually kinda likes Clarinet
Emerald tries to play some music to calm herself down, but she ends up just plucking tunelessly at the strings, unable to land on anything. It’s all too much… I can’t focus with all this!
Herder: This is just another Wednesday for me. Wonton death, mass hysteria, the oppressive fist of the powers that be crushing the people like ants. The key is keeping a cool head and venting your feelings through a healthy outlet like blowing things up and shooting robots and fascists in the head
Emerald holds her guitar up. That’s what this is. Music has been my life since foalhood, I literally don’t know who I would be without it. But today… can’t play a note. I don’t have a song for this.
Herder: Tries to comfort Emerald but isn’t very good with people or emotional sincerity so ends up just awkwardly patting her on the mane
Emerald hugs the commander, feeling a little better with the gesture. Thanks, Commander. I know we got off on the wrong hoof before, but… that’s in the past now. I’m glad to have a friend.
Herder: The Commander stiffens, unaccustomed to signs of physical affection, but eventually relaxes and cracks a wry smile You’re… not so bad yourself pony girl. I don’t have many friends, at least not those who aren’t obligated to follow me around and ultimately go with every decision I make due to narrative requirements. It’s nice to know someone outside of that doesn’t want me dead for once… Unless of course you’re lulling me into a false sense of security so you can stab me in the back. Wouldn’t be the first time… Herder’s eyes glaze over with a pained expression
Clarence: I don't really think about friends a lot... Feels like such an odd term to use when you aren't a calf, it feels odd to assume you're a friend too quickly...
Hinesly: I won't be too quick to make any friends under the circumstances.
Emerald chuckles. Nah, that ain’t my style. I’m a plain-spoken mare who doesn’t take manure from nopony, and honest to the end.
Friendship… it can do anything. Like soothe in times of crisis and strife. It’s how Equestria was made, when Private Pansy, Smart Cookie, and Clover the Clever came together as a group, and comforted each other through the long night. It kept the Windigoes at bay, and unfroze their elders from their ice prisons. It helped them then, and it can help us now.
So maybe… maybe I do have a song after all. She starts to play softly, singing quietly:
As dawn shines on us every morn
The fire of friendship is reborn
And all the friendships we have made
We cherish in every way
Loyalty binds us and makes us strong
Honesty shows that we belong
And kindness shared will unite us through each day
The fire of friendship lives in our hearts
As long as it burns, we cannot drift apart
Though quarrels arise, their numbers are few
Laughter and singing will see us through…
We are a circle of pony friends
A circle of friends we'll be to the very end
Though the winter brings all its cold and storm
The glow in our hearts keeps us warm
The friends we now call our family
Will always see us through
Loyalty binds us and makes us strong
Honesty shows that we belong
And kindness shared will unite us through each day
The fire of friendship lives in our hearts
As long as it burns, we cannot drift apart
Though quarrels arise, their numbers are few
Laughter and singing will see us through
We are a circle of pony friends
A circle of friends we'll be to the very end…
Hinesly: My my... I wish they'd killed me instead 🙂
Harley wipes away a single tear. That was lovely. They sober up. But unfortunately there's still a killer among us so I will be doing the sensible thing and not trust a single person. Being on my own has served me fine up to now. very quietly Never had many friends anyway.
Emerald rolls her eyes as she stands up and stretches, feeling more herself.You, Lady Kittycat, have no sense of culture. And you, Janitor Cat… I’m sorry. I really am. 😦 No one should go through this life alone.
Hinesly, to Kyla: Sleep well, dear?
Kyla: No, I was on watch making sure no one killed the doctor. And now Sexy Meglos... it's terrible
Emerald: Oh Ky... I'm sorry. Emerald hugs her friend tightly.
Hinesly: Yes, I'm afraid I didn't get any sleep either. stretches smugly Emily kept me up all night
Kyla: What were the two of you doing up that late? Playing Sega Genesis? (TM)
Emerald: Genesis? Isn't that a prog rock band from the 980s?
Hinesly: Something like that. Plenty of blast processing.
Kyla: You do realize Blast Processing was just a marketing gimmick, right?
Hinesly: No, I processed plenty of blasts. This is a reach but she's committing to it.
Hinesly: Are you also a cyborg like dear Emz?
Emerald: Seems pretty flesh, blood, and fur to me, Ky.
Hinesly: Indeed I am! In any event, I hope you get some rest soon dear 🙂
Clarence: You mean Sega the Hedgehog LIED to me?
Kyla: Well, frankly, I don't think you're a sega genesis kind of gal. Thats more my turf. I think you're an SNES. And lemme tell you gets closer Genesis does what Ninten'don't
Emerald: I don't have the faintest idea what you two are talkin' about. Only vydeeo gayme I know of is that Pong machine that Button Mash has.
Hinesly: A phrase which here means 'miss'
Billy: Billy Joel Guitar Hero anyone?
Clarence: No.
Kyla: Once I understand what you've been talking about for the last week, I won't be missing again. I'm not sure what's going on, whether it's a knitting circle, co-op gameplay, reading, baking cookies, or some other activity two people can do, but once I know what it is EVERYONE will want to do it with me because I'll master it beyond your comprehension!
Hinesly: Perhaps you will! And either way, I will continue to enjoy doing it with Emily 🙂
Clarence: remembers that they definitely said "At this rate we'll be killing each other by the start of next week" FUCK
Kyla: Well then I'll be so good at it Emily will request all four of us bake cookies together or whatever it is that's happening!
Emerald: I like cookies... Golden Brown's recipe is my all-time favorite.
Kyla: Oh really? I'd ask for the recipe but I think I'll wait till after the Murder investigation finishes.
Hinesly, to Emily: discreetly A word? Not about the murder, just something else.
Emily: For you? Of course
Hinesly: breathes a little "nyah :3c" by accident. I MEAN hello yes She steeples her fingers. I suppose I, ah. Just wanted to ask you how you felt about the situation with... Emz, and Kyla, and also you and me. And if there's a problem there or not.
Herder: Did your subtitles just break Lady?
Hinesly: nyo!
Emerald: Cats are strange.
Kyla: Oh right, Commander Herder do you wear a collar like Lady Hinesly was that one day? It had a bell on it I was just wondering if it was a cultural thing.
Hinesly: ahhahahaha what a funny joke!!! you little prankster, you
Herder: No I’m not a kittypet! Or a kinkypet. Well not in that way at least
Clarence: Thought so.
Kyla: Wait so pets wear collars??? ...did someone enslave lady Hinesly???? Are you okay? Blink twice if you're not safe.
Emerald: I’d say that's not how collars work, but I've heard of some bucked up things in Rarity's bridle-rippers. What can I say? Mare's got a thing for romance novels, and they go to weird places.
Hinesly glowers at Kyla, unblinking.
Kyla: is confused why her genuine concern is being met with such ire!
Clarence: Of course, it's all done with great attention to safety... I mean, I "didn't" see her wear that collar.
Kyla: If only I had all of old-Kyla's memories, maybe she'd have known something about all of this… Still can't believe we lost Sexy Meglos. I didn't even get to ask her why she loved reading so much she put it in her name 😔
Clarence: If it’s any comfort… she’s a plant, and I think that cactus-juice she left behind could be planted and grow into a newer, more… well-read Meglos.
Kyla: Has anyone gathered up her remains yet?
Clarence: I think Harley was
Kyla: In my religion, we believe that after people die they become a transparent blue ghost in the most marketable version of their appearance during their life. I hope that wherever she is, Sexy Meglos is being the version of herself most able to sell an action figure with the people she cared most about who passed on before her. May the space magic be with her.
Hinesly: Of the two versions of her, I know which one would sell better
Kyla: Oh, which one?
Hinesly: the… the sexy one. the sexy meglos
Kyla: weren’t... all of them Sexy Meglos?
Hinesly: depends on your opinion of cactuses
Kyla: I thought Sexy was her first name?
Herder: Does retrieving her scarf count?
Kyla: That was a personal effect very dear to her, sort of. Do you have it? I'm sure she'd want someone to use it tries to think of an adjective ....sexily?
Herder: I do. I was going to either wear it or sell it for a paltry sum, but upon reflection I’m not sure I want it on my person, what with all the… juices
Kyla: Oh, so.... hasn't been washed then huh. mmm. Yeah might..... might want to clean that off or throw it away. Or plant it? I guess?
Clarence: Do you recon EMZ will change her outfit after this? I mean, the skirt... it was in honour of Sexy Meglos.
Kyla: Maybe she'll keep in honor of her. But it's her call. Poor Emz…. Sets up a little memorial to her fallen friend on one of the hanger walls, with a picture, some flowers, and a votive candle.
the camera zooms out ominously to show all the space for more of these on the rest of the wall
Emerald plays a solemn funeral dirge on her guitar... which then goes discordant at the zoom. Buck, I think it needs tuning again...
Chromia: Oh, no, poor Sexy Meglos
Kyla: Its so tragic, those terrible insurrectionists... I mean Alejandro was (looks around for Tilly, then mouths with cupped hands) "expendable" (back to speaking) but.... Sexy Meglos was a friend.... I can't believe it.
Emerald: A line's been crossed, and I wanna find out who did it.
Chromia: All I have echoing in my head is "Did they have the right?" and I suppose that is grief enough. Now we should turn to finding those responsible.
Clarence: And that’s what I’m trying to find out too. he reaches into the soil of a plant pot and pulls out a bottle of non-specific alcoholic beverage and tops up his flask
Herder: Some of you are being two-faced sentimental snakes about this, and I promise I’ll sniff you out. Herder, albeit with reluctance, walks over to the memorial and lays the scarf at its base Rest in peace sexy, I’m sorry I couldn’t have gotten to know you better through incidental dialogue
Kyla: pats Herder on the shoulder We may have had our differences, Herder, but if you need a teammate to give nebulous commands to using the D-Pad which was a questionable design choice, you can add my to your squad to hunt down these killers anytime.
Herder: Much appreciated Kyla, I’ll be sure to add you to my mission squad and hope you don’t get stuck on a wall while I give you a perfectly clear and reasonable instruction
Emerald: Count me in too, Commander.
Clarence: I don’t quite know how bad I should feel about her to be honest… I mean, it’s bad, horrible, but I never really knew her… do I feel bad for her or do I just feel bad for myself because I was in the Hangar and… well, it could’ve been me… it could’ve been any of us… except the people who were guarded I guess. he takes a swig from the bottle
Chromia: You can feel both ways, Clarence. Tricky things, emotions.
Billy: Only the good die young.
Kyla: a notification appears as you have unlocked Kyla-82's loyalty mission. Hopefully it isn't a paid DLC
Number One: Deep in her sleep, Number One experiences a tangled rush of images. That smoke-filled corridor again with the door at the end that filled her with such terror, nearer this time. A tall woman who looked so like her being led away by men with guns smiling sadly back at her. Flying, flying. Cutting through wires with a boltcutter. Kyla's face filled with concern standing over her. An exploded attractive cactus woman...no...that wasn't a dream...
Herder: Oh damn, I hope I choose the right dialogue options so you don’t die horribly much later
Clarence: Text appears, “Clarence Will Remember This…”
Sixteen: I’ll do all I can to solve the death of your friend slash family member slash pet.
Emerald notes Number 1's tossing and turning and bends down to keep an eye on her, worried.
Sixteen: And Tilly, I have a message for you and your sweaty friend!
Progress isn't measured by industry, it's measured by the value you place on a life. An unimportant life. A life without privilege. The cactus who died in the hangar, that cactus's value is your value. That's what defines an age. That's what defines a species.
Kyla: If I die, someone let my mother and 99 sisters know, by the way. I'm sure they're all very worried about me...
Number One: She stirs, finds herself sitting in the hangar holding the piece of paper with Kyla and The Doctor's names on it she held up earlier while sleepwalking Mrm? Morning...or afternoon, or whatever it is...
Emerald: Morning, Number 1. You alright?
Tilly: See this face? Take a good, long look at it. This is the face that didn't listen to a word you just said.
Number One: She shakes her head, her eyes taking in the cactus remains and colourful scarf No...Sexy Meglos, but she was so...so sexy...
Emerald: I know, I know... we're all in mourning today. Emerald hugs her.
Later, the Passengers discuss whom to kill for that night's execution.
Emz: I have heard tell that the Doctor is going behind my back, demanding people disclose their roles to them. Now, this may seem well intentioned, but The Doctor has not been checked by the Detector and therefore cannot be trusted.
I know they know of four roles, and the ones they don't are the most critical roles to our success. This pressure is putting all of us in danger, and damaging any hope of that we will protect the most important people.
They are doing this to try and "catch me out", by providing an option for people to respond that they "(C) you have a special role, and have NOT revealed it to Caitlin.", because "If C is true, please speak up in some way (you don't have to reveal your particular role), because it would mean Caitlin is lying.".
This is both stupid and reckless, because on the off-chance The Doctor is not an Insurrectionist, all it would take is for a wiley baddie to lie. And I don't believe someone on the side of good would be so reckless.
The Doctor needs to die.
Sixteen: I’m not a baddie! I just want to check that you’re not lying. I’m not asking people to reveal their roles to me, you can see that specifically in the quote above. I never asked ANYONE to tell me which of A, B, or C is true, I just said that IF c is true, they need to speak up in some way.
If Emz is telling the truth, then there is literally nothing to worry about. If Emz is telling the truth, nobody will reply to me saying “C is true”. If Emz is telling the truth, I will not learn any new information from peoples replies. It’s true what Emz said that I know of 4 roles, but may I point out that one of them is the thief, whom we all now know.
Chromia: An insurrectionist would absolutely have reason to lie to you and say 'C is true', just to cast aspersions on Emz, drive a wedge between the people here
Russ: It's a valid point about a villain chooisng option c, and I said as such to the Doc independently of Emz. If she made the same observation, I wonder who else did?
Sixteen: I’m absolutely aware of that, and if anyone says to me “option c” is true, I would be suspicious of them. Russ can corroborate that I agreed with him when he made this point to me privately. Though I also think, as I said to Russ, that the insurrectionists probably wouldn’t do that because they wouldn’t want to draw attention to themselves.
Chromia: There's, what, 3.5 hours before Nightfall? Right now the only suggestions we've heard is to execute the Doctor, to not execute the Doctor (presumably), and to top off the community fund. The last one's easy, but the first two clash with each other. Seeing as we must execute someone (thanks, Tilly /sarcasm), and we've been given no better options than the Doc thus far...
Nightfall approaches, and the decision to execute the Doctor weighs heavily on the Passengers. The voting begins, as each person writes their choice on a piece of paper and places it in a small box.
Emerald sighs. Bucking Tartarus, this is going to be difficult. I've never voted to execute anyone before, certainly not somepony who I already said I believe in, and I don't want to go back on my word.
But once upon a time, Princess Celestia had to send her only sister to the moon for a thousand years. She hated to do it, but Luna was already controlled by dark magic, and woulda killed everypony anyway with her eternal night plans and all. Celestia had to do the hard thing, even if it ripped her up inside to do it.
This is a way different situation, but the point is, sometimes there are only bad choices, but you've still gotta choose. So... I guess I gotta do the hard thing too.
Piglet votes in silence, sobbing
Hinesly: Someone better with children than me go deal with the pig.
Emerald goes over and hugs Piglet as tight as she can, crying too.
Clarence joins the hug because piglet is sad and that's making him sad too
Kyla: You could comfort Piglet yourself, you know, Hinesly. narrows eyes, then goes to also hug Piglet
Hinesly: uncomfortably slides over, gives Piglet a little pat-pat. There... there?
Herder: You know if you object to joining the bloodthirsty mob Piglet you could just vote for someone else
Emerald looks up just long enough to glare at the Commander with fire in her eyes. NOT. HELPING.
Herder: Oh… right. Sorry. Was limited to Renegade options again
Piglet: Who else do you WANT me to vote for?? WHO SHOULD I KILL?? They never did things like this in the hundred acre woods!! 😦
Kyla: Piglet…
Number One: Finally tearing her eyes away from Kyla’s exposed abs, she joins the hug and rests her hand gently on Piglet’s shoulder
Herder: Well put it this way. The majority vote has already been secured, so if you vote for someone else then you won’t be contributing to that. How about you vote for me? I won’t mind
Kyla: Gives a grateful nod to Herder
Piglet: Th-that’s very kind of you, commander. B-but I don’t think YOU did it… either… 😭
Herder: Unfortunately you have to vote for someone, and I don’t want Tilly to kill you for not voting, so better someone you gives you their blessing to. I’ll be fine, promise
Well - o-okay… NOBODY ELSE VOTE FOR THEM 😦
Sixteen: do you want a hug from me too
Piglet: S-sure…
Emerald: Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye: I won't.
Sixteen: hugs piglet and pats him It’s okay. I forgive you for killing me.
Kyla: I also won't be voting for the Doctor, for the record.
Herder: Same here Kyla. Despite you know, all the bluster about murder and whatnot. I don’t take lives lightly. It marks the soul
Sixteen: I see how it is. You’re willing to stand by and let people murder me, but you don’t want to get your hands dirty.
Emerald: They ain't even dead yet and I feel like I've betrayed everything a pony is supposed to be. At least Luna came back after her thousand year timeout.
Sixteen: It is better that one innocent man should die for the people than that the whole group should perish.
Number One: I don’t want to kill the Doctor. I don’t think I can stop it, but trust them and they helped me when I needed them. I cannot do it. I will vote for Billy Joel because zat piano is giving me ‘eadache.
Clarence: I mean... It'll be fine... Right? We've seen it before, you don't die... Right?
Emerald: Didn’t save Scarf Girl.
Clarence: Yeah well Scarf girl was a cactus, Doc isn't... If anything they'd be a docleaf but I think they're meat.
Number One: It…seemed to save half of her?
Herder: Speaking as a Commander, it’s better to preserve your most strategically advantageous assets and sacrifice the… well the ones without special abilities. I’m… truly sorry Doc. I mean that. War is a terrible thing. And you civilians have all been dragged into it
The clock ticks. The Doctor's fate is sealed. The Passengers begin to say their goodbyes.
Emerald: I'll miss ya, Doc. And I'm sorry again.
Number One: I’ll miss you too Doctor. You helped me get some of my memories back, and I hope more will now. I just wish you could be around to see it.
Kyla: I'll miss you too, Doctor. I wish I could have found a way to save you, but I wasn't strong enough. I'm sorry. It would have been nice to see the universe in your TARDIS, instead of the same walls of this city and my mother's Fortress of Shadow. This isn't right but... I suppose we'll have to live with it.
Sixteen: The Venusian Empire should never get their hands on this machine. So this is what you should do. Let the TARDIS die. Just let this old box gather dust. No one can open it. No one'll even notice it. Let it become a strange little thing standing on a corner of VibeCity.
And over the years, the world'll move on and the box will be buried. And if you want to remember me, then you can do one thing. That's all, one thing. Have a good life. Do that for me, Kyla Verger. Have a fantastic life.
Kyla: trying to hide her tears with her forearm, nods .... yes Doctor.... I.... I promise I will. May the space magic be with you, always.
Piglet: When… will we find out… if the doctor is sob innocent?
Clarence: If anyone feels brain-melting guilt over this affair and wants to confess... well... I'm all ears.
Sixteen: If I wasn’t about to die, I could take you to a planet where everybody is all ears. Usually it’s me who does the dramatic day-saving stunts. I’m sure I’ll think of something. Can’t wait to find out what.
Emerald: Maybe Doctor Whooves and Muffins will show up? They're a nice pair.
Sixteen: A tear, Piglet? Twelve minutes to live. That’s okay, you can do loads in twelve minutes. Suck a mint, buy a sledge, have a fast bath.
Kyla: rushes forward and gives the Doctor a hug
Sixteen: hugs Kyla back
Emerald hugs the Doctor too, one last time. We will always remember... when the Doctor was you.
Sixteen: Oh, this is new, I’m scared. I just realised that I’m actually scared of dying.
Chromia: It isn't any consolation but I hope the mob was wrong and that we can avenge you by finding the Insurrectionists
Sixteen: A good death is all anyone can hope for. Usually the Doctor is against revenge. But the Doctor is no longer here! I have been accused of reckless behaviour. But I would like to say, why can’t I be reckless? You’re reckless all the bloody time
Herder stands forward, sniffs, and gives the Doctor a stiff salute
Clara, what would you do? Yeah, the same thing. Which, let’s be honest, is what killed both of us.
Herder: Whispers to Hinesly Who the hell is Clara?
Hinesly: No idea, but she sounds very attractive.
Sixteen: Five minutes to go. Without hope, without witness, without reward… I am your friend.
Hinesly: We should never have given them an Irish accent. This is a real Irish goodbye.
Kyla: Knights of Verger are supposed to feel nothing when someone dies, so why do I feel so sad...
Herder: Puts a paw on Kyla’s shoulder It never gets any easier Kyla, but it’s good to feel these things
Sixteen: And I suppose… if it’s my last chance to say it… Kyla -
The axe falls. The Doctor is dead.
Nightfall
“It won’t work, you know,” insists the Doctor. “I’m a Time Lord! I’m thousands of years old! I’ll regenerate! I don’t even know how many regenerations I’ve got. It’s entirely possible that I’ll just go on regenerating forever!”
“That’s not true!” shouts someone. “We have an anti-Time Lord ray gun! Built a thousand years ago to kill the Master!”
“Oh, come on, that won’t work on me! That was a myth! Funny story, actually, I became the Messiah… but anyway, it won’t kill me. Nothing can kill me. I am the Time Lord Victorious!”
But before the Doctor can carry on gloating, they look down at their hand. It’s glowing – no, it’s transparent!
“Oh… Of course… makes sense. Time is catching up with me. If I died during my encounter with Meglos all those years ago… I can’t be me now… So I’m being wiped from history! Time is being rewritten!” They carry on fading. They’re starting to cry. “I… don’t want to go!”
But it’s too late. They’re gone.
And were you right? Were they an Insurrectionist?
…No. They were an ordinary Passenger all along.
So that’s the end of that, then. Great job, guys. Hope you all feel pleased with yourselves! I’m not sure we’re even any closer to finding out who killed Alejandro! But I hope this information is useful to you anyway.
Snooze-Pod Gamma will be put out to tender, and the Overseer will choose the new Landlord in time for the morning.
Sleep well! Let’s hope tomorrow is rather more productive!
The last words of the Doctor:
"To the insurrectionists:
If you think that because I’m dead I am weak, then you understand very little. I’m the Doctor, I am coming to find you, and I will never ever stop.
To my team:
It’s okay. I went too far… This is right. I accept it.
To everyone: I don’t want to go"
After the Doctor's death, the Passengers mourn.
Kyla: drops to her knees sobbing without pushing away Herder and Hinesly's comfort
Emerald joins in the hug pile, crying like she never has before.
Number One: puts her hand on Kyla’s gently, distraught I barely know anything. But feeling is what makes us alive.
Hinesly: stays close I'm sorry, dear. I'm sorry.
Clarence: Turns away. Takes a swig. Looks at floor.
Number One: buries her face in Kyla’s back to hide her tears
Chromia: sighs deeply and whispers softly fuck
Herder: Downs a canteen of whiskey and lights up a bloody big blunt
Kyla: will sob until she's all sobbed out, and then just sit there, staring at the empty spot the Doctor was in silence for a long while
Eventually, Emerald has cried herself out too. She stands, channeling Captain Shadow and Princess Twilight.
Whatever else happens between now and the day we all get out of this livin' nightmare... I want us all to make sure that Tilly, that smilin' purple bitch, ain't allowed to forget what happened today. For the Doc's sake.
Who's with me? She holds her hand out flat, so others can form a stack.
quietly, Hinesly puts down her hand
Chromia: Oh, yes, as short as our lives may be, let's make Tilly pay for it
Herder: Pumps a fist into the air because they don’t understand friendship circles You have my… four guns! This has always been my mission, it’s why I came here. To overthrowing the Tilly’s tyranny and the that sweaty bastard crush of hers!
Kyla: limply reaches over and puts her hand in, then pulls back and resumes her previous posture
Emerald: Alright. Thanks everyone. Tonight, we mourn, and we rest. Tomorrow, we get to work.
Emz: It seems they were just a reckless passenger… I’m sorry Doctor
Hinesly: I hope you understand the gravity of the situation... but as Retsukaggro said, this was a crapshoot.
Emz: I absolutely do, but it’s hard not to let people acting suspicious get the better of you (even if they were perfectly innocent), when there’s nothing to go on
Hinesly: nodding sombrely
Emz: If only SOMEONE glares at Tilly hadn’t forced us into murder
Emerald: That was the hardest bucking thing I've ever had to do, and I never want to do somethin' like that again if I can help it. I'm willin' to accept that you didn't have much choice, since as you say, we don't have a lot to go on right now. That doesn't mean I like it, and I don't, but I accept you were as tied up as the rest of us.
Emz: Thanks Emerald
Tilly: Well we wouldn't NEED to murder - that is, to summarily execute in an entirely legal way - anyone if someone hadn't killed ALEJANDRO! If it had just been one of you little people who'd died, we'd have brushed it under the carpet! But this is a BIG DEAL!
Emerald: Little people.
Little. People.
You're bucking lucky I'm holding myself back right now you sneering purple bitch, because after the absolute hell YOU put us through today, I am within an inch of running my horn through your miserable chest! We condemned an innocent person to death today because of YOUR rules, and we're all pretty unhappy about it!
BUT BECAUSE I'M HOLDING MYSELF BACK, I'M GONNA GO STAND IN THAT CORNER AND BROOD FOR A WHILE! GOT IT?!
And she stomps off, her tail lashing so fast it's a blur.
Hinesly: I believe Emily and Emz are passengers. I also believe they have... a quaver in her voice ... a little explaining to do.
Emerald: Yeah. I'm with ya. Emerald is tense and angry, and if her horn was working, it'd be throwing off sparks. Instead she lashes her tail.
Piglet: We were wrong?? No!! 😦
Clarence: don’t worry Piglet, you voted for Herder. You don’t have to share our guilt
Emerald: When this is over and I'm back on Equus... I'm gonna ask Sparks and the girls to hit me with a rainbow, just so I can feel better about myself again.
Billy opens his songbook of impossible things. He sees a page, with some weird notes in it. What could this mean?
FV
HIMBG
NJR
BS
BS
DITTL
T
GB
Emerald settles for playing a slow, mournful version of the Doctor's theme tune, presenting the middle 8 in a minor key. She keeps the distortion turned down, and even does a little slide guitar.
Piglet: you don’t underSTAND! We’re… we’re going to have to do that AGAIN!
Clarence: Yeah, but… with any hope, it will be for someone who’s more guilty next time. Look… how old are you?
Piglet: Oh, well, I’ve been in the hundred acre wood as long as Pooh bear, and longer than tigger and rabbit and eeyore. And they’ve been around since before owl, and kanga and roo are even newer! So pretty old, I guess!
Clarence: Yeah that's not gonna get you into a bar, buddy, I'm just gonna... Try to sleep... Try...
Kyla is digging through bins in the hanger, pulling out cloth and items of clothing
Emerald: Whatcha up to, Ky?
Kyla: Arts and crafts. Going to make something.
Emerald: Need any help?
Kyla: You know how to sew?
Emerald: Well… no. But I can draw!
Kyla: nods This is a personal project, you'll see what I'm making when I finish. But if there is something you wish to draw, you should do so.
Emz is visibly curious
after a bunch of work, what Kyla is working on begins to be clear! She's making a new cape. Its still mostly black, but running across its back horizontally are stripes of colors in a rainbow pattern.
Kyla: shaking her new cape out "If I've learned anything from my friends here, its that we have to protect each other no matter what. Tilly might have forced us to lose our friend, but we won't lose what they stood for, at least I wont, and I'll do everything I can to protect the people I care about from the systems which I am beginning to think might indeed actually be the problem. Also I feel like these colors say something else about me inside personally pauses I can't figure out what though.
Emz: Oh that looks so cool Kyla! I think you’re definitely a rainbow, I’m always happy to see you, especially if I’m having a bad day.
Kyla: I'm happy to see you too, Emz. Are you doing okay? I know today was a lot for all of us. spins around in cape, like "whaddya think?" :)
Emily: You guys are so fucking adorable. And yes Kyla, you are a rainbow, you will make everyone smile when you come out
Emz: So cool!!!!
Kyla: Come out of what? But thank you! I'm so glad you both like it ^_^
Emily: Do you know what sexuality is, Kyla?
Kyla: Is it.... thinks like what kind of books you like to read? she guesses
Emily: Not quite. It’s about, uh, who you want to read books with, and who you want to kiss, or marry, that sort of things. Some people only like to do that with people of the same gender as them, some people only like to do that with people of the opposite gender, some people like all genders, and some people don’t want to do it with anyone!
Coming out is when you tell other people about that, and it’s a brave and awesome thing to do, and we all support you no matter what. But you also don’t have to tell people if you don’t want to or you’re not ready
Kyla: there is a long pause. Kyla squints. the camera zooms in on her face
"I knew it. I knew it wasn't just about reading. Sex is about kissing and holding hands and getting a joint library card and stuff!" Also what's a 'gender'. It sounds like a Pokemon.
Emily looks confused, having never had to explain gender before Um, well some people are women, some are men, and some don’t fit into that binary. And some people move around! I don’t really understand, but I think everyone’s cool, no matter what their gender
Emz: Emily, what is our gender?
Emily: Well, my gender is female, but you can be the gender that feels right to you
Kyla: Ah! I move around a lot, I'm very athletic. But I think I'm a woman, probably. I haven't really thought about it.
But yes, everyone is cool. Except for people who hurt our friends, they are not cool, and... and don't get a gender. she says like she did something
Emily: Everyone gets a gender, even if they’re a bad person. And you have to believe them. But you can still stab them with your laser sword
Kyla: she nods, taking this advice very much to heart! And whatever gender you do or do not have Emz, you're definitely still cool.
Emz: I think I’m a woman too. But I might change my mind later.
Kyla: Also, I feel like I should mention that I DO have a library card. For what that's worth.
Emily: I don’t! Could I… share your library card?
Emerald: I know I’m a mare, and that I like other mares. And I totally have a library card too.
Kyla: blushing Y-yes, you can absolutely share my library card.
Emz: Now we can really start that book club!
Kyla: We can!!! Everything is coming together. ahem um if you'd like, potentially, maybe somettime, possible, in the near future, no pressure, no worries if not, but if you feel like it, we could sorta hold hands sometime to. Maybe."
Emz: Maybe we could… nervously hold hands while we have sex?
Kyla: I.... I think I'd like that a lot, yeah.
Number One had fallen asleep staring sadly at the spot where the Doctor had vanished, but she had been awake for a few minutes now observing the conversation, and she found herself smiling with tears in her eyes at Kyla's cape and her and Emz' adorable little discussion. Unbidden, she found herself reminded of something, of someone...
[a familiarly loving voice echoes in her mind] ...It's okay, darling. Hush, now. Listen to me. It does not matter to me who you like but please...get out of here. Escape this place, without me if you have to. You cannot find love if you are trapped here, forced to...promise me zat you will leave. I want your smile to light up the galaxy. Promise me...'
A single tear rolls down Number One's cheek, she wipes it away. She stands up and addresses nobody in particular Even without my memory I am pretty sure I am a woman. And I am certain zat I like other women too. I am not sure what is a 'library card'.
Kyla: Oh, its one of these *holds out her library card:
Larissa Public Library System
Kyla-82 S. Verger
It lets you check out books for free from the library, and then you give them back after you finish them for someone else to use--no work credits required!
Also it sounds like all of us four are likely women then--I guess I'm a pretty big fan of women too since I like all of you a lot.
Number One: She regards it, eyes like dinner plates What is a 'library'?
Clarence: walks in having barely slept - I think I might be gay too, I don't know, I've had one or two or seven boyfriends somehow.
Billy sees a bunch of weird images in his sleep. These images will be in his brain. Yes, they’ll be in his brain. From this day on; now and forever more.
Wait no….that’s not right
Russ: Billy, are you okay? It’s like you can feel something coming on the air tonight.
Billy: He can’t hurry regeneration. No, he’ll just have to wait.
Meanwhile, Emerald gets out one of her books and reads quietly to her group. Not formal intercourse, just something to put their minds at ease.
“There were a hundred lively conversations taking place at once in the grand ballroom, but only one mattered to Daring Do. She wasn’t a part of it… yet. But she would be, as soon as she could make her move toward the board of directors. Daring didn’t want this entire night to have been for nothing. The fancy mane updo, the uncomfortably snug sequined ball gown, and the absolute agony of having to socialize for hours with ponies she knew nothing about (nor cared about, for that matter) were all means to an end."
"Tonight was the night Daring Do would find out the truth about the Eternal Flower and if it was really able to grant a pony the unfathomable legendary prize—immortality. For all she knew, it was a myth like so many other leads throughout her career had been. But Daring Do had a strong feeling about this one, and it would not be silenced.”