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

[whimsicalism]

[There is one about a former football star, actually, yes!

Actually. This is more Japanese in style, which is weird considering that Alice seemed to be English? Huh. Anyway. There is a computer, actually. Want to poke around?]

[ballooncaged]

Huh??

[Taking a book off the shelf to see if it's bound right-to-left because it had that distinctive bunko shape. This is actually kinda weird. Especially when those clippings seem like they are from the US - though that's not the UK either. Clearly later she should ask Nigel about this. But it doesn't seem like an important book so she's on her way to the computer and turning it on. Flat monitor or chunky monitor like before Mizuki was born in 2007?]

[whimsicalism]

[It sure does. The castle wasn't exactly consistent before but this seems a little out of place to say the least.

Anyway, it's a more thin monitor. There's info on the computer but near the keyboard is a ripped piece of paper. It looks like some kind of numbered list?]

[imozon]

["What's that?" Dark Dream doesn't say, because she's busy nodding off over by the newspapers.]

[whimsicalism]

[Something probably wakes her up while Mizuki is handling the computer. That is...

A small bang happens in the next room over.]

[imozon]

[It sure does!]

Aaaah!

[If she stays where she is for a moment (quickly glancing around and such) does the sound repeat?]

[whimsicalism]

[No. It sounded like something fell in the other room, though. Maybe time for some snooping while Mizuki finishes this room up?]

[imozon]

[Yeah, she... she'll do that.

Extremely unsubtly. Taking off running.]

[whimsicalism]

[It's an office in here! And... a book fell off the shelf? A leather bound book with golden letters. It's a long book, unfortunately for DD, but it does have pictures of Alice in it.

It's called A Story For Somebody's Sake Volume One.

Also it feels.. wrong.]

[imozon]

[Pictures of Alice? Why, that's exactly what DD needs to decide this book is hers forever. Maybe even actually successfully read it.

...

Wow this story is really sad.

And wrong, apparently. Wrong like false, or wrong like shouldn't exist?]

[whimsicalism]

[Wrong like... well, it just doesn't feel good.]

[imozon]

[Ah... huh.

...

Well, as long as she's in here. What else is in the office?]

[whimsicalism]

[Lots and lots of things related to bringing back the dead.]

[imozon]

[Like, papers and books and such?]

[whimsicalism]

[Yep. Looks like someone really wanted to be a necromancer.]

[ballooncaged]

[Thank god it's ripped instead of clawed by a monster, probably. How many numbers? Does this computer have a password or anything?]

[whimsicalism]

[The computer doesn't need a password but she would recognize it from the missing list from Nigel's monster book.

It reads:

belief. Monsters hate belief. They're created from fear and belief is the opposite of fear.

5. You have to be thorough when defeating a monster. Just destroying them won't do any good. It might take them a long time but they WILL come back stronger than before if you don't make sure. Trust us.

6. The above is true of any monster but super strong monsters? You have to be absolutely sure. Give them what they want or take away their fear with belief, it doesn't matter. Just be sure they're gone for good. Otherwise you and your friends will suffer again. ]

[ballooncaged]

What is this, that movie with the Clown? I'm not coming back in 27 years.

[Okay let's sit at the computer.]

[whimsicalism]

[It looks like the Apple Court kids have made a digital version of their book! It looks familiar but there's a new entry.]

[ballooncaged]

[Certainly avoiding handwriting discourse which might be handy for tricking monsters. Can we has new entry then]

[whimsicalism]

[Nursery Rhyme is a shapeshifting book. She's really scary when she mimics someone you know.

She wants to live with her Master happily ever after.

She can look like anyone. She knows what makes you jealous. She can trick you. She can't leave Closetland anymore.]

[ballooncaged]

[...dang. Surely accurate.

So does this convey her book shape in more detail somewhere? Or, can has more entries?]

[whimsicalism]

[It doesn't convey that but Oriko did as her last act of defiance.

It does have some entries about new strange monsters called the 'kings' that the kids didn't particularly know much about besides that somehow that Nursery Rhyme recently joined their ranks. The Apple Court kids seemed sad at that, saying they tried to help her once before but their belief wasn't strong enough.

There's a last message, though:

Closetland is expanding, new monsters are being born every day from other worlds. We might never meet you but know that we believe in you, future kids. Even defeating a single king will help all kids.

We are the Apple Court kids and we wish you luck.

With this, this area is clear.]