dear theodosia (reprise) - a short QSMP story

dear theodosia (reprise)

CW: swearing, mentions of guns, death and grief.

Wilbur and Quackity had got into another fight. A fight which would turn out to be their final one. Quackity had challenged Wilbur to a duel. He accepted, but he knew what this meant. Wilbur knew he was going to die. He knew quackity would shoot. He knew that as much as quackity loved Wilbur, he was also his sworn enemy.

Before he headed to the agreed location, Wilbur began to write one last letter. One last song for his daughter, 'dear theodosia (reprise)'. He placed it beside her bed, gently laying the disc on top, then he left.

Wilbur walked, reminiscing on everything that had happened since he'd arrived here on Quesadilla Island. He eventually reached his destination, a barren, uninhabited area of the island. There he was, Quackity stood face to face with Wilbur. His gun drawn. They were alone, one last time. Quackity spoke.
"Wilbur."
"Quackity."
Then back to silence. They met in the middle, each of them staring into the other's eyes. Then they turned. Wilbur counted:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10 paces, fire!

Quackity pulled the trigger.
Wilbur paused, everything he knew flashed before his eyes. He watched the bullet approach him, then he aimed his gun towards the sky.
"wait!" Quackity yelled.
Wilbur dropped to the floor, the bullet hit him directly in the chest. Quackity just stood there. Stunned, scared, numb. Despite this, he couldn't suppress the feeling of satisfaction that crept through him. Wilbur looked at the man walking over to him, a slight smirk on his face. He weakly spoke,
"Quackity, my first love, my enemy. The last face i may ever see. Promise to remember me, my story, my legacy. I wrote a song someone will play for me, for tallulah, my baby. I'll see you again. Farewell, mi amor."
He was gone. Quackity fell to the floor. He wanted to cry, but he couldn't.
He gently took the pistol from Wilbur's hand, placing it with his own. He picked Wilbur up, resting his limp body over his shoulder, and walked. Millions of thoughts rushed through his mind. He wasn't sure if he was going the right way, or what the right way even was. He had no destination, he just walked, following the path his feet were taking him.

Finally, he reached an all too familiar residence. Wilbur's house. He saw a silhouette in the window. It was Phil. Phil's worry quickly turned to confusion, then to anger. He watched as Quackity laid Wilbur's body down in the grass, resting his gun beside him.
"What the fuck did you do?"
Quackity remained silent.
"What did you do quackity!?" Phil raised his voice, only to be met with silence again.
A few moments passed,
"He said he wrote a song." quackity spoke, his voice barely above a whisper.
"What?" Phil questioned, his harsh tone still present.
"For Tallulah. He said he wrote a song."
Poor Tallulah, she was still clueless. When she woke that morning, she had assumed her papa had gone to visit Phil, so that's where she went, oblivious to the music disc and note placed carefully beside her bed. She was currently with Chayanne in their bunker. Phil had gone looking for Wilbur, arriving at the house not long before Quackity had. Phil was clearly still confused, and still angry, but he'd get answers from Quackity later, for now he had to be there for Tallulah. He had to tell her what happened.

Phil helped Quackity move Wilbur into the house, lying his body on his bed, covering it with the blanket. He turned to Tallulah's bed, noticing the disc and note. He opened the paper and began to read:
"Dear Tallulah,
Mi niña, when you receive this I will likely be gone. I have a meeting with someone on a distant side of the island, tomorrow, at dawn. I doubt I'll make it back in time for you waking, in which case, go find abuelo. Give him this note, and from here, let him read.

Phil, I got into a duel with Quackity, and I doubt I will make it out alive. Quackity's a stubborn man, he wouldn't challenge me to a duel if his intention wasn't to kill me. Look after Tallulah for me. Tell her papa loves her. Tell her she's strong, she always has been. Play this disc for her, my final goodbye.
Tallulah, my darling, take your time. I'll see you on the other side."

"For fuck's sake will." Phil looked at Quackity, tears threatening to run down his face. He picked up the disc, a small piece of paper attached to it, lyrics. He walked out of the house, Quackity following loosely behind, and made his way back home.

Phil opened the hatch to the bunker.
"Stay here, Quackity." Quackity nodded.
Phil climbed down the ladder, took a deep breath, and opened the door. Tallulah immediately looked up, hoping to see her papa, only to be greeted with the pained face of her abuelo. Phil sighed, Chayanne held Tallulah. He could read his father like a book, he knew it wasn't good news. He knew had to be there for Tallulah. For his sister. Phil handed Chayanne the note, the paper folded at the end of the paragraph. Tallulah looked between Phil and Chayanne confused. Chayanne handed the letter back to his father, Phil began to read:

"Dear Tallulah, mi niña..."
[...]
"...my darling, take your time. I'll see you on the other side."

By now all three of them were in tears, Chayanne comforting Tallulah. Phil looked at them both, unable to comprehend just how hard this must be on them, Tallulah especially. She loved her papa more than anyone. More than anything. Now he was gone. Phil picked up the disc, placing it into a jukebox. He placed the lyrics in a frame, hanging on the front. The music started, Wilbur's voice began to sing.

[listen to the song at the top of the chapter]

"Dear Theodosia, how to say to you..."
[...]
"...yeah, you'll blow us all away. someday, someday"

The melody faded out. Phil was holding Tallulah, Chayanne right by their side. They stayed there, in silence.

Phil didn't know how long they'd been sat there, he didn't care. All he cared about was being there for Tallulah. However, he knew he had to confront Quackity sooner or later. He gently let go of Tallulah now her crying had softened. Chayanne took the place of his father. Phil watched his son, to say he was proud was an understatement, but now wasn't the time for that. He turned towards the door, climbing back up the ladder and leaving the bunker. Quackity was sat against a tree, he looked up at Phil. Phil took out his sword,
"follow me. now."

~the end~