FINAL INVESTIGATION

[whimsicalism]

No one is dead today. Why would they when the end is so close? You can practically taste it (or is that your stomach?) as the final Friday dawns. It's time to get some answers.

The Storyteller isn't talking to anyone but it's a good guess to see where she went. There's one final door that hasn't been checked, after all.

Comments

[xxxx_me]

...Fear...?

[battlestations]

We already know Alice doesn't want to die. She's doing this because she's scared for us... scared of the Storyteller. If we kill her now, for that reason... doesn't just that prove we're afraid of the Storyteller?

[ballooncaged]

I completely agree! What matters is what we believe!

[Mizuki reads the fragment out loud.]

[battlestations]

Mizuki! Is this the rest of the book?!

[ballooncaged]

Yeah! It's after parts 1 through 4! And the kids met Nursery Rhyme too!!

[Ok so this next part is WILD ic speculation that hasn't been crossreffed with the latest sources AT ALL. That said]

If we kill Real Alice and go forward from that, then Nursery Rhyme will still be sustained by Closetland! And if we kill Real Alice to make sure Nursery Rhyme runs the Glass Game for our dead comrades to live, then we'll just go back and forget everything and disappoint each other's expectations ALL OVER AGAIN!!!

[SHRIEKING TOWARDS THE END???]

What's the point of the power of believing if we can't hope Alice gets better...?!?!?

[battlestations]

We can definitely hope for it! We have the technology!

[NIGEL PLEASE DON'T REVIVE HER AS THE BIONIC WOMAN. Or do, it'd be pretty par for the course]

[imozon]

[HECK YEAH REVIVE HER AS THE BIONIC WOMAN]

[ballooncaged]

[STRONKER THAN MIZUKI]

[xxxx_me]

...Maybe. But...

I'm less afraid of the Storyteller and more... [He trails off, digging into those memories he's still managed to hold onto.]

...There was a girl who was trapped in the Dream. She only had teeny tiny pieces of her soul left, but she couldn't move on. She wanted to fly with the other souls, to be reborn, but she was too weighed down by the living who couldn't let her go.

I don't want Alice to be like that. She needs to be allowed to move on.

[battlestations]

I don't think Alice is incomplete. She's just... really, really sick.

[After listening to Mizuki, though, he's got a new determination.]

We still need her.

[xxxx_me]

She was supposed to die, though. Years and years ago.

[battlestations]

Mmgh.

[He heard about that, but it sounded like things were different than expected if Allen is suddenly able to pull a plug or whatever.]

Look, I don't know the situation over there. Is she actually a ghost? What do you mean when you say you'll kill her?

[xxxx_me]

She's... [Gosh, how to even begin?] She's in really, really bad shape. She's hooked up to all kinds of IVs and things.

She asked me to pull the plug.

[battlestations]

It sounds like she's been kept alive, and she's trying to save us. Maybe that seems strange after Neku and Oriko already died for that. But they were her friends too, from the sound of things. Perhaps she's accepted death because she didn't want those to be in vain, and she thinks she can't stop the Storyteller... but it's hard to imagine her wishes would have changed that completely.

[xxxx_me]

...

She asked me to do it as a favor to her. So... whatever she asks for in the end...

I'll do it.

[battlestations]

Maybe I'm a fool, and this is that so-called soul of the Storyteller's that we're meant to destroy. But if we must believe...

[He'd rather it be in a happy ending.

Still, he trusts Allen.]

... I leave it to you.

[xxxx_me]

[He nods, even though Nigel can't see him.]

Mm. I'll... see what she says.

[whimsicalism]

Allen - what - if - there - was - something - else?

[xxxx_me]

[Turning to her.]

...Something else?

[whimsicalism]

I - think - I'll - have - to - go - but - I'm - afraid - of - her -- maybe - if - I - help - then - I - can - go?

[It's really hard to talk but she tries again.]

Number - One - was - right - I'm - really - really - scared - not - of - dying - but - of - her - maybe - we - can - make - her - Alice - again?

[xxxx_me]

[His head dips in acknowledgement.]

...Okay. It's a favor to you, so... I'll do whatever you ask.

[whimsicalism]

[She forces her hand to close around his. It's painful but she's really, really trying.]

Alice - made - me - happy - and - so - did - you - I - believe - in - you - Allen

[xxxx_me]

[He's definitely crying by now. Some of the tears may just splatter on her in spite of his best attempts not to.]

...It was fun playing with you. And- and you're not the only bad one here, either.

I don't want to kill you. [He never did, not really.] So--

All of that's why... I want you to be able to make the choice this time.

[whimsicalism]

You - were - a - friend - even - if - you - didn't - like - her

[She pauses.]

Don't - cry - okay - I'll - believe - in - you

[xxxx_me]

[There's a pause and a grimace, like he's trying to smile but has completely forgotten how, resulting in something pained instead.]

...I hurt a lot of people in the Dream. The most evil person there was probably...

[...

No. Now's not the time. He shakes his head.]

...We'll figure something out. I believe in us, too.