They all quickly entered the disused bedroom in search of the of the large creature, only to find it gone and leaving the window open. "It's buzzed off." Braxiatel commented and he walked towards the window, peering out of it. The cowardly alien was too scared to confront them. Oh, it could confront a small child and a single female but not if there was another male in the room.
Agatha turned to the broken stinger, looking fascinated. She has never seen anything like this before! It was unusual but at the same time, beautiful even if it was deadly. "But that's fascinating!" She bent down to touch it but Romana quickly stopped her.
"I wouldn't touch it if I were you," Romana warned her. "Let me deal with this. Braxiatel." She held out her hand and Braxiatel chucked her a vial with a stopper and Romana carefully collected a sample. She and let Thyra and Agatha take a closer look of the sample she found. "Oh, how I do wish we could narrow down our search. There are thousands of amorphous insectivorous lifeforms in the universe." She looked thoughtful, closing her eyes as she sniffed the sample as her mind went through all the different species she knew before she opened her eyes once more. "However, one species this large, I would almost say it was a Vespiform judging by the sting."
Agatha looked at her with a baffled expression. Vespiform? She has never heard of such thing in her life and she wondered if Romana was making it all up for her young daughter. "I think I understood some of those words. Enough to know that you're completely potty."
Donna glanced at it's sting, so glad it got nowhere near Thyra. "Lost its sting though. That makes it defenceless."
Braxiatel shook his head, walking back towards them. He did wish it lost it's sting forever for then that would have made it easier for Braxiatel to attack the Vespiform for harming his daughter. "That's not the case I'm afraid Donna. If it is a Vespiform then they can regrow their stings very fast."
Agatha cleared her throat, shaking her head. This was nonsense! "Uh, can we return to sanity? There are no such things as giant wasps."
"Agatha's right." Thyra chirped, holding her mother's hand. "What is a Vespiform doing here here mummy?"
"I don't know my love. That's what we are here to find out." She squeezed her daughter's hand before they all began to make their way downstairs when suddenly they heard a loud, terrified scream coming from outside. Romana and Braxiatel glanced at each other before they all rushed towards the scream where they found Miss Chandrakala lying in the drive, a gargoyle on top of her.
"The poor, little...child." She muttered her last words and Agatha glanced at Thyra, wondering if she meant Romana's and Braxiatel's little child before they heard a loud buzzing noise.
"There it is!" Thyra pointed, looking up as they saw the wasp heading back inside.
"This way!" Braxiatel yelled and they ran began running upstairs once more.
Donna huffed. "Well, this makes a change. There's a monster and we're chasing it!" At least it made a change for them being the predator hunting the prey!
"Can't be a monster. It's a trick. They do it with mirrors." Agatha protested and they reached the top of the stairs where they saw the giant wasp hovering meters away from them. She didn't want to believe it! All this was madness. It was like something out of a fairytale.
"It's beautiful!" Thyra gasped in awe. Now it was not attacking her, she could truly appreciate it's beauty and size. The wasps turned to face them as it heard Thyra speak. "Please, we mean no harm to you." Thyra told the wasp soothingly.
The wasp considered her words, looking between them all as though in confusion before it began to fly away.
"Don't let it get away!" Braxiatel ordered, going after it and Braxiatel couldn't help but be somewhat thankful that the vespiform chose not to attack them as they tracked it to the upstairs hallway containing all the bedrooms. "Vespiform! There's no use hiding now. I order you to show yourself!" The doors in the hallway opened and all the humans stood there, blinking at them in confusion and Braxiatel inwardly groaned.
Romana turned her gaze towards him, shaking her head."I think we've been outwitted my dear."
It was a little while later and everybody was in the living room. Lady Eddison was grieving over the news of her dear friend and maid and she had tears down her face and she quickly tried to dab them away. "My faithful companion! This is terrible!" She sobbed. How? First Professor Peach and now her dear maid! Were they both connected somehow? If so, why?
"Excuse me, my lady. She was on her way to tell you something." Davenport told her gently, remembering why Chandrakala went out of their way in the first place.
Lady Eddison shook her head regretfully. Whatever message that her faithful companion needed to deliver to her, it never made it to her. "She never found me. She had an appointment with death instead."
"Before she died however, she did utter some last words." Romana commented, pacing up and down the fire place. "'The poor little child." Does that mean anything to anyone?" She glanced at the humans. "And no, it's nothing to do with my daughter."
Hugh shook his head. "No children in this house for years, save for your young one, Lady Romana." He turned his gaze pointedly at Roger. "Highly unlikely there will be." Oh, he knew Roger was gay. He whole heartedly supported his son for who he fell in love with but others did not and Roger must hide his lover in secret for times like these were cruel and he did not want to bring any suffering to his only son.
Lady Eddison turned to Agatha Christie desperately. "Mrs Christie, you must have twigged something. You've written simply the best detective stories."
Golightly nodded in agreement, looking towards Agatha hopefully. "Tell us...what would Poirot do?"
"Heavens sake! Cards on the table, women! You should be helping us!" Hugh cried with outrage.
Agatha looked uncomfortable and slightly afraid. "But-I'm merely a writer!" Why were they all asking her for help? It was Romana and Braxiatel they should ask for. They were the real detectives! Not her. She was just merely a writer.
"But surely you can crack it. These events, they're exactly like one of your plots." Robina pointed out.
Donna nodded in agreement, unaware that Robina was in fact the Unicorn. "That's what I've been saying. Agatha, that's got to mean something."
Thyra looked towards Agatha as she sat on her father's lap and leaned against his chest and Braxiatel ran his fingers through his daughter's hair. "I know you can solve this. You're brilliant at solving puzzles."
"But what? I've no answers. None." She shook her head, feeling disappointed in herself and she knew everybody else was too. "I'm sorry, all of you. I'm truly sorry, but I've failed. If anyone can help us, it's Lord Braxiatel, not me." Everyone in the room turned to look at him and he gave them all a piercing gaze. "I need to get out for some air." Agatha told them firmly and the rest of the humans nodded in agreement, following out after her including Donna as they left the Time family alone in the sitting room.
Thyra looked up at her daddy. "You know who the Vespiform is, don't you daddy?" She asked in Gallifreyian. She switched to Gallifreyian in case anybody was overhearing their conversation from the outside. Besides, she always felt more comfortable speaking Gallifreyian even if she did speak more English than her native language.
"Not yet," Braxiatel tapped her on the nose, glad at the fact that Thyra decided to speak Gallifreyian. "But we are getting one step closer to finding out who has done it."
"But the problem is how are we going to reveal the Unicorn." Romana mused, joining them. "It's tricky to proof that Robina or shall we say, Ada is the thief when there is so little proof."
"Perhaps Agatha may help us with that." Braxiatel replied. "She is, after all an excellent crime writer. Surely she can have the knowledge to proof people who they really are."
"Perhaps you are right." Romana gazed at him. "But does that mean she'll proof to the others who we really are at hearts?"
Before Braxiatel could answer, Donna and Agatha came back in, Agatha holding a black small leather box. "I've found this." Agatha told them proudly and she handed the box to Braxiatel.
"Sorry Thyra," Braxiatel told his daughter apologetically as he lifted her off his lap and placed her beside him before pulling the table closer to them and Donna and Agatha gathered around to see what was inside. Braxiatel opened the case to find an array of tools. "There's your answer." He told Romana telepathically.
Thyra peered into the case. For something that belonged in 1920's, it looked so cool and shiny! "Whoa! It's like something a thief would use!"
Agatha nodded in agreement. This young girl was certainly observant. "The Unicorn, he's here!"
"'The Unicorn and the Wasp.' It makes a nice novel title." Braxiatel mused as Greeves entered with a tray of glasses.
"Your drinks, ladies, Lord Braxiatel." Greeves told them politely, holding out the tray for them.
"Very good, sir." They all took their drinks and Braxiatel took his glass of whiskey. He really did need to cut down on his whiskey but he liked it. He liked drinking his whiskey. It helped him feel relax and calm and it was one of the few luxurious things he can still enjoy.
Donna looked at Romana. "What about the science stuff? Did you find anymore about the Vespiform?"
"The species is a Vespiform," Romana told her, explaining it in terms that she and Agatha could understand. Oh, how she wished she could use the correct vocabulary sometimes! "This is my first time in all my lives coming across one face to face. I have to say, I'm not disappointed. However, the Vespiforms have got their main hives in the Silifax Galaxy."
Agatha looked at Romana as though she had grown two heads. "Again, you talk like Edward Lear." Thyra giggled at Agatha's expression. Humans! They did make her laugh at how little they believed in. She found humans to be very funny species.
"But Vespiforms do not behave in this way," Braxiatel told her, sipping his whiskey. "Certainly not in this manner when they have so much technology." He turned to Agatha. "This Vespiform is behaving like one of your murderers from your books."
Donna looked at Agatha. "Come on, Agatha. What would Miss Marple do? She'd overheard something vital by now because the murderer thinks she's just a harmless old lady."
Agatha's eyes brightened up at Donna's idea, her muse working. "Clever idea. Miss Marple, who writes those?"
Donna looked sheepish, realizing her mistake. Oops! "Um-copyright-Donna Noble. Add it to the list."
"Romana." Braxiatel began to pant heavily, feeling sudden poison burning through his systems and he clenched her hand tightly. He was being poisoned! Someone was trying to kill him!
"Brax-?" Romana asked, concerned, seeing him in a great deal of agony. "What is it?"
"I've been poisoned!" He gasped out, jerking forward before convulsing.
"Daddy!" Thyra cried, seeing her father in pain. This up-setted her very much and she began to whimper.
"What do we do? Romana, what do we do?!" Donna asked in a panic tone. How many times was Braxiatel going to attempt to die on these adventures? He was not going to die today. Not on his supposedly date with Romana at least.
Agatha picked up Braxiatel's whiskey, sniffing the glass. "Bitter almonds. It's cyanide. Sparkling cyanide!"
With the help of Romana, Braxiatel rushed out of the room with the others following. Thyra clutched onto Donna's hand fearfully, worrying over the safety of her father. "Daddy." She whimpered tearfully as they made their way into the kitchen and Donna began to console her gently, comforting her.
Romana helped a staggering Braxiatel into the kitchen. "Davenport. Ginger beer, now!" Romana snapped, giving orders and Davenport quickly did as he was told, handing Romana the ginger beer and Braxiatel quickly drank the ginger beer eagerly.
"I'm an expert in poisons, Romana. It's fatal! I'm afraid there is no cure!" Agatha cried. He couldn't survive! Nobody could survive this particular poison for there was really no cure. He was going to die, leaving behind his suitor and child and Agatha's heart reached out for both women.
Braxiatel clutched to the table in agony, his knuckles turning white. "Not for us!" Romana retorted angrily, determined to save Braxiatel and she rushed over to the shelves. "My family can stimulate the inhibited enzymes into reversal." Romana handed Braxiatel some walnuts and Braxiatel quickly took them, careful not to choke on the walnuts. "We have a completely different biology!"
"They've gone mad!" Davenport cried in outrage, unable to believe what he was seeing. Different biology? Just what on earth did that mean? And the way this man was shoving in the walnuts was bonkers!
"What do you need?!" Donna cried. "Milk? Cocktail shake? A Harvey Wallbanger?!"
"Harvey Wallbanger?" Thyra asked, blinking in surprise, trying to wipe the tears away but more tears kept coming through. She was so upset! Somebody was hurting her daddy and now it caused her daddy to be in a great deal of pain but she knew she had to remain a good girl for him.
Donna threw her hands up in the air. "Well, I don't know!"
"We need salt!" Romana began to route through the cupboards for salt but she was looking through the wrong cupboards. Where was the salt that she needed?
Donna showed her a brown bag. "What about this?"
"Too salty!" Romana replied, glancing at it briefly, moving onto the next cupboard.
"Oh, that's too salty!" Donna retorted bitterly, hurrying to put the bag back.
Agatha handed Thyra a glass jar full of salt and Thyra rushed over to her father. "Daddy, you need to take this!"
"My dear." Braxiatel managed to speak out and he grabbed the jar from Thyra and opened it before downing the contents inside.
"What's that?" Donna asked, baffled as she watched Braxiatel slam the glass on the counter behind him and was surprised at the fact it did not manage to break.
"Anchovies." Agatha replied, still unable to believe that Braxiatel was actually fighting back against the poison. He really did care about his family, didn't he? He wasn't willing to die here now and Agatha knew that he was unlike any other man in this household.
"What now?" Donna enquired, looking at Romana. "What does he need now?"
Romana however looked at Braxiatel. "He needs a shock." She replied confidently. She knew what she had to do. She knew how to save Braxiatel. But she wanted to reveal this moment for later when they were married and mated but Romana knew she had to reveal it now in order to save the man she loved. Besides, they always bent the rules a little and they now have Thyra out of wedlock and mated so what was the point of following them anymore?
She began to walk forwards towards her suitor in a almost seductive manner when Romana was surrounded by a bright, crimson aura that appeared out of nowhere and Braxiatel's eyes turned and fixed his gaze upon her, growling deeply as he eyed her lustfully and Romana began to kiss him, throwing his arms around his neck and she growled into his kiss, muttering words in Gallifreyian as Braxiatel did the same, being very possessive of Romana.
Agatha's eyes widened and she quickly covered Thyra's eyes and looked at Donna. "What on Earth is happening? This is completely potty!" This was outrageous! Giving each other a peck was one thing but what they were doing was outrageous! They were out in public for heavens sake! Did this Lord and Lady have no shame at all? And just what language were they speaking off? They were completely mad!
Romana and Braxiatel growled something out together in Gallifreyian before they pulled apart reluctantly and Braxiatel threw his head back and black smoke came out of his mouth and the yellow aura around Romana slowly disappears before it vanishes completely. Braxiatel pulled Romana in by the waist and glowered at the men in the room who were so much looking at her. He suddenly felt very protective of Romana, more than usual and his lips curled up into a small snarl and a deep growl could be heard. But Braxiatel knew why. Ever since Romana had revealed her aura to him, his side of being her mate had been released and male Time-Lord's do get very possessive of their mates.
"Okay. Can somebody please explain what the hell has just happened?" Donna asked, resting her hands on her hips and looking pointedly between the Time-Lord's. "You two look like something out of a 15 rated movie! Not only that, but Brax has suddenly become...er, quite defensive." She glanced at Braxiatel, wondering what had gone into him all of a sudden.
Romana cleared her throat, her cheeks flushing and she looked like she was glowing. Practically, she was even without the strange, crimson aura around her. "When Time-Lord's find their mates," Romana began to explain to Donna. "We find this, what you call, an aura around them that only their mates can see. This makes either Time-Lord, male or female draw them in and claim them as theirs and that we belong to each other. I showed Braxiatel my aura to shock him, showing my true intentions for him but he has yet to do the same for me." She squeezed Braxiatel's hand. "He will soon enough."
"But we could see it." Donna protested and the humans in the room nodded even though they had no idea what Romana or Donna were on about. "We could all see your aura."
Romana blinked, surprised. But the humans couldn't have! The auras could only be seen by each mated Time-Lord's only. "You could? But impossible!"
"Yes. Why, weren't we supposed to see it?" Donna asked, puzzled. She couldn't understand why Romana sounded so surprised at the fact.
"No." Romana shook her head looking at Braxiatel in awe as she realized what had happened. "If you could see it...then that truly means that Braxiatel is my one true mate." She touched his stubble lovingly before Thyra rushed over to her parents and Braxiatel picked his daughter up and father and daughter rested their foreheads against one another.
Romana has never revealed her true aura before until now. She remembers Leela commenting on how Andred revealed his aura and Leela found it one of the most beautiful things she has ever seen. But if others could see her true aura, that could only mean that they were truly meant to be with one another.
But this was not the first step of mating. The first step of mating was when Time-Lord's revealed their true names to their mates as that meant they could trust each other until the end of their days. Nobody except your parents and their mate knew of your true name for names were sacred and Romana only hoped they would share each other's sacred names soon for they had given Thyra her true Gallifreyian name and it was only right that they should too to begin to the mating process and end their courtship, taking their relationship to the next level.
"But mummy...I'm still confused. What is an aura?" Thyra asked, snuggling against her father and Braxiatel chuckled deeply.
"An Aura my love is a distinctive atmosphere that we Time-Lord's have," Romana told her gently. "Of course, many other species have it but we more so. You have your very own aura too and one day, only your mate will be able to see it for then that is when you know you have found your love."
Agatha shook her head. "Romana, Braxiatel...you two are utterly impossible. Time-Lord's? Mates? Just what exactly are you both?" Romana looked at her secretively and Agatha knew that the woman was not going to give her a clear answer.
It was now night time and a thunderstorm raged ahead and everyone was in the dining room, eating dinner. Braxiatel had still not calmed down from the moment Romana revealed her aura and still growled whenever a male so much looked at her for longer than necessary and growled at everyone, knowing that someone in this room tried to kill him. How dare they! How dare they have the nerve to try and murder him when he had his mate and daughter with him. He knew he hadn't claimed Romana as his mate or wife yet, but Braxiatel knew he would soon when he revealed his own aura.
He was sat next to Romana who was sat on the end of the table, Thyra to his other side with Donna next to her. "It has been a tragic day for all of us." He began smoothly, glowering at them all the humans flinched underneath his gaze. "Professor Peach murdered in the library, then Miss Chandrakala has been taken cruelly away from us but yet, we are still having dinner as though nothing happened."
"We are British, Lord Braxiatel. What else must we do?" Lady Eddison enquired, eating her soup. They were British. Whatever happened today, shall never be spoke to anyone in public. They couldn't. It would cause a scandal!
"Then a vespiform tried to hurt my daughter and then someone tried to murder me." Braxiatel let out a cold smile. "Let me warn you now, murderer, that people have tried to kill me plenty of times before in the past and they've all failed and died at their own hands." He took a sip of his whiskey, this time checking it before drinking and he look a luxurious sip. "I know it's someone sitting around this table. One of you have tried to kill me and will no doubt do it once again. But I'll warn you now, it is an unwise move to do so."
"Speaking of which my dear, the poison has given me an idea." Romana supplied, eating her soup. It was rather tasty for a human meal, she did have to admit that.
"And what would that be, my lady?" Golightly asked and Braxiatel growled at him, not liking how Golightly called Romana his lady and Golightly raised an eyebrow at him. Not understanding why Braxiatel was in such a mood.
Romana rested a reassuring hand on top of Braxiatel's and Braxiatel relaxed slightly. "It's obvious isn't it? Poison." Everyone in the room apart from the Time family stopped eating and they all looked towards them. "Oh, do drink up. We don't want to waste this wonderful food. I've only laced the soup with pepper."
Hugh nodded. "Ah! I thought it was jolly spicy."
"However, did you know the active ingredient of pepper is piperine? It is traditionally used as an insecticide." Romana continued when thunder cracked. "There's a storm brewing." Thyra smiled slightly. She always did love it when there were storms about. It made things more exciting!
The thunder began to crash and the lights in the room went out. One of the windows blew open and this caused the wind to snuff out the candles.
"What the deuce is that?" Hugh demanded, trying to figure out who blew out all the candles.
"I want everyone to stay in your seats." Romana commanded and they all obeyed her as they heard a loud buzzing noise and Romana knew the Vespiform had revealed itself in the dark. The perfect moment to strike. "Vespiform! Reveal yourself!"
"No...no, it can't be!" Lady Eddison whispered, shaking her head. That sound! But it couldn't be him. He died! He died more than forty years ago! How was it possible?
Agatha slowly rose from her seat, trying to indicate where the creature was. "Do as Romana says, demon!" She cried with outrage despite the buzzing sound terrifying her. "Show yourself!"
Suddenly, the Vespiform showed itself, buzzing loudly and Braxiatel growled, standing protectively in front of Romana and Donna picked up Thyra from her seat, running out of the room with Greeves who led them to safety. Braxiatel loaded his blaster and was about to aim it at the Vespiform but the buzzing suddenly stopped and the lights came back on.
Donna came back in with a whimpering Thyra and she looked at Greeves gratefully before looking back at the Time-Lord's. "Well, at least we know now that the butler didn't do it." She commented and Romana went over to her took Thyra off her, holding her as Romana whispered soothing words to her.
"My jewellery...the Firestone! It's gone! Stolen!" Lady Eddison cried, searching for her necklace. No! The only item she had left of her long lost lover! It was gone forever just like him!
Davenport eyes widened, his arms outstretched towards his lover, Roger who he saw lay dead at the table. "Roger." He cried mournfully and Robina screamed at the sight. His lover was dead and he couldn't even mourn him! His heart broke upon the sight of Roger and he wanted to cry and embrace him but he couldn't for he knew he would only get punished for doing so.
Lady Eddison gets up and walked round the table, sobbing. "My son...my child!' She sobbed as she realized he has been stabbed in the back and Lady Eddison cradled his body.
Romana held Thyra closer to her, nuzzling her daughter and was so grateful at the fact that the Vespiform did not attack her once more. She was the youngest one in the room and Lady's Eddison maid did mention a child and she did wonder at first if it was Thyra the Vespiform was after but she knew that all this murder mystery revolved around Lady Eddison.
Braxiatel however, was a different matter. He was standing protectively in front of Romana, his blaster still out and he was glaring at each person around the room and Romana wondered if she should have revealed her aura for she knew when Time-Lord's felt their mates being threatened, the ending results were not going to be pretty if a Time-Lord felt that his mate or child were threatened.
Donna whistled at Braxiatel which caused him to snap his head towards her, still growling. "Oi, down boy." She grinned but this caused Braxiatel to narrow his eyes at her and growl even more and the smirk was wiped of her face. "Okay then. I take that as a no."
Braxiatel was standing by Romana and Thyra protectively near the sofa in the sitting room, Thyra in her mother's lap and Agatha sat in the large armchair as Donna came in and joined them. Donna shook her head, sighing sadly. "That poor footman. Roger's dead and he can't even mourn him. It's more like the dark ages." She sat on the spare seat opposite Agatha.
"Did you enquire about the necklace?" Agatha asked.
Donna nodded. "Lady Eddison brought it back from India. It's worth thousands."
Braxiatel and Romana shared a glance, already knowing who had stolen the necklace but they knew now was not the time to reveal who. "Why is a Vespiform acting this way?" Romana mused as Thyra hugged her mother. "If a Vespiform felt threatened, it could wipe us all out in seconds. So why is it acting so...human?"
"Every murder is essentially the same. They are committed because somebody wants something."
"The only thing a Vespiform wants is myself dead and everybody in this household." Braxiatel retorted coldly. He would not stand a having a murder on the lose when he had his mate and child by his side.
Agatha raised an eyebrow at him pointedly. She will not believe this murder to be something of the unknown. The murder was human! It had to be for what else could it be? "Braxiatel, stop it. The murderer is as human as you or I."
Romana snorted in amusement. "Believe me Agatha, a Vespiform is far from human." Agatha looked at her, curious. "Oh, how silly of me. I've forgotten. You're the expert in solving crimes aren't you?" She asked and Braxiatel sat down next to Romana, sensing no threat in this room.
"Look, I've told you. I'm just a...purveyor of nonsense!" Agatha protested.
"Oh please. Do you really know why you are one of the best writers for detective stories?" Braxiatel asked her, raising an eyebrow and Agatha nodded eagerly. "It's because you understand. You have lived and you have fought and you know what it's like to have your heart broken. You can understand about people and their passions, their emotions such as anger and despair! All these little things can turn an ordinary person into a serial killer and if anybody knows how to solve this, then it's you."
It was a little while later and all the guests have gathered in the sitting room, Braxiatel standing in front of the fireplace and Thyra let out a small yawn, suddenly feeling very tired and he gave a small smile at his daughter before focusing at the task at hand. "I have gathered you all here on this endless night because we have a murderer and a thief in our midst. Romana and I have solved many crimes in our times but when it comes to detection, there is none the finger. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you, Agatha Christie." He gave the woman a curt nod before sitting next to Romana comfortably.
Agatha stood near the fireplace where Braxiatel was a few seconds before. "This is a crooked house...a house of secrets. To understand the solution, we must examine them all. Starting with you...Miss Redmond." She turned to face her and everybody in the room glanced at her.
Robina fidgeted underneath their gazes, feeling very uncomfortable. Why were they all staring at her? It was very rude to stare! "But I'm innocent, surely."
"You've never met these people and these people never met you. I think the real Robina Redmond never left London. You're impersonating her!"
Robina scoffed but she knew it was true. Her real name wasn't even Robina! It was Ada and only used Robina to get what she wanted. "How silly. What proof do you have?"
"You said you'd been to the toilet..." Agatha began.
Donna looked at Romana, rolling her eyes. "Oh, I know this. If she was really posh, she'd say loo." Thyra looked amused.
Agatha ignored Donna's comment. "Earlier today, Miss Noble and I found this on the lawn..." She picked up the tool case for everybody to see. "Right beneath your bathroom window. You must have heard Thyra and Miss Noble searching the bedrooms and you panicked. You ran upstairs and disposed of the evidence."
Robina glared at the case coldly. How could they have found it so easily? "I've never seen that thing before in my life."
"What's inside it?" Lady Eddison enquired.
"The tools of your trade, Miss Redmond, or should I say...the Unicorn?" She showed the case to everyone, knowing she had the unicorn then and there. "You came to this house with one sole intention, to steal the firestone!"
"Oh, all right then. It's a fair cop!" Robina replied, turning her accent back to her true cockney accent. "Yes, I'm the bleedin' Unicorn. Ever so nice to meet you, I don't think. I took my chances in the dark and nabbed it." She reached under her dress strap and pulled out Lady Eddison's necklace. "Go on then, ya nobs, arrest me. Sling me in jail." She threw the necklace and Braxiatel caught it before handing it to Thyra who looked at it with interests.
"So, is she the murderer?" Donna asked, eating some crisps.
"Don't be so thick. I might be a thief, but I ain't no killer." Robina sneered before she sat back down again, crossing her legs. She could never be a killer! It was much to messy job and besides, she was a lady. She did not have time to get blood on her hands.
Agatha nodded in agreement. "Quite. There are darker motives at work, and in examining this household...we come to you...Colonel."
Hugh suddenly looked alarmed and irritated. "Damn it, women! You wit your perspicacity! You've rumbled me!" He slowly stood up. He was ever so surprised at how brilliant Agatha revealed his secret! How could she have worked it out? He had been ever so careful but yet all had been revealed by her! It was no longer use hiding it now.
Lady Eddison looked at him in awe. "You-you can walk? But why?" But why? Why did her husband sat in his wheelchair all that time when he could have walked? Why? What for? This night was getting more bizarre by the second.
Hugh looked at her lovingly. "My darling, how else could I be certain of keeping you by my side?"
"I don't understand."
"You're still a beautiful woman, Clemency. Sooner or later, some chap will turn your head. I couldn't bear that. Staying in the chair was the only way I could be certain of keeping you." Hugh told her honestly and Braxiatel couldn't help but knew how the Colonel felt. He sometimes feared that Romana would leave him. Now she revealed her aura and her true desires for him, he knew she wouldn't but a mate's worse fear was when one day their mate would leave them for either another person or if they have died and no mate deserved to be alone for it hurts to much.
Hugh glanced at Agatha. "Confound it, Mrs Christie! How did you discover the truth?"
Agatha blinked in surprise. "Um, actually, I had no idea. I was just going to say you were completely innocent." She did not expect the Colonel to hide a secret of his own such as this!
Hugh stood there, feeling slightly foolish and Braxiatel chuckled. "Ah...oh."
"Sorry."
"Well, shall I sit down then?" Hugh asked hopefully, indicating towards his wheelchair. So Agatha really didn't know?
Agatha nodded. "I think you better had." Hugh sat down.
"So he's not the murderer?" Donna asked, helping herself to more food before offering some to Thyra who took some gratefully.
"Indeed not. To find the truth...let's return..." Thyra handed her the Firestone with her spare hand. "To this. For this is far more than the Unicorn's object of desire. The Firestone has quite a history. Lady Eddison."
"I've done nothing!" Lady Eddison snapped. No! She couldn't reveal the truth to anyone of what the Firestone meant to her. She was British! She had to keep that secret locked away for ever.
"You brought it back from India, did you not? Before you met the Colonel. You came home with malaria and confined yourself to this house for six months, in a room that has been locked ever since. Which, I rather think means-"
"Stop, please!" Lady Eddison cried, wiping her tears away with her handkerchief and looking down shamefully, Hugh looking at her with wide eyes.
"I'm so sorry. But you had fallen pregnant in India. Unmarried and ashamed, you hurried back to England with your confidante, a young maid who later became your housekeeper, Miss Chandrakala." Agatha continued with symphony.
"Clemency! Is this true?" Hugh cried, not sure how to feel.
Lady Eddison sniffed. "My poor baby. I had to give him away. Oh, the shame of it." She shook her head before looking at Romana pleadingly. "Please don't you ever do the same mistake I have made. Giving up my son was one of the worst decisions I have ever made."
"But you've never said a word!" Hugh continued, needing to know more. Whose baby did she have? Was this previous lover of hers still around? He loved her to much to hurt her but if he had to, he would let Lady Eddison go to see her happy with her old lover.
"I had no choice. Imagine the scandal, the family name. I'm British! I must carry on." Lady Eddison told him firmly.
"It was no ordinary pregnancy wasn't it?" Romana asked her softly. She knew inter-bred species pregnancies weren't pleasant. She remembers Braxiatel telling her how his mother was pregnant with his brother and how that hadn't been easy with her. Despite her not being pregnant when she loomed Thyra and the rest of her children, the looming process hadn't been easy for her. Especially when the Master forced her and Braxiatel to take strands of their own DNA just so the Master can create his own army of perfect warriors to kill them and that hadn't been easy for her as she tried so hard to protect them only for her to fail and she could sympathize with Lady Eddison on a great scale.
Lady Eddison looked at Romana with wide eyes. "How can you know that?"
Romana turned to Agatha almost apologetically. "I'm afraid Agatha, this is my territory." She lifted Thyra off from her lap and handed her to Braxiatel and she stood up, looking at Lady Eddison. "When we were in the dining room and you heard the Vespiform, you said 'It can't be.' What made you say that?"
Lady Eddison looked at her helplessly. "You'd never believe it."
"Lady Romana and Lord Braxiatel have opened my mind to believe...many things." Agatha told her, sitting down. It was true. Before she met Lord and Lady Braxiatel, she thought she knew everything but now she knew so little and they have opened her mind up to so much more. They've opened her mind to the real world and what is truly out there even if she didn't understand it herself.
Lady Eddison sighed, knowing she was outnumbered. "It was forty years ago in the heat of Delhi one night. I was alone and that's when I saw it, a dazzling light in the sky. The next day, he came to the house, Christopher, the most handsome man I'd ever seen. Our love blazed like a wildfire and I held nothing back." She smiled fondly, reminiscing. "And in return, he showed me the incredible truth about himself. He made himself human to learn about us. The wasp or Vespiform, was his true shape." She shook her head. "I loved him so much, it didn't matter. But he was stolen from me. 1885, the year of the Great Monsoon. The River Jumna rose up and broke it's banks. He was taken at the flood. But Christopher left me a parting gift, a jewel like no other. I wore it always. Part of me never forgot. I keep it close." She looked longingly at her necklace. "Always."
Robina rolled her eyes. "Just like a man. Flashes his family jewels and you end up with a bun in the oven." She narrowed her eyes at Braxiatel and Braxiatel growled at her warningly and she quickly backed off.
"With the- 'poor little child'. At first, admittedly, I thought it was Thyra that she was referring to." The humans glanced at Thyra, still uneasy at seeing her scar and she buried her head into her father's chest shyly. However, that is not the case. Forty years ago, Miss Chandrakla took the newborn babe to an orphanage. But Professor Peach worked it out. He found the birth certificate." Agatha explained but she did also wonder where Thyra got her scar from and how she managed to deal with it.
Donna's eyes widened in realization. "Oh, that's maiden. Maiden name."
Agatha nodded. "Precisely."
"So she killed him!" Donna accused Lady Eddison.
"I did not!" Lady Eddison snapped. How dare Donna say such a thing!
"Miss Chandrakala feared that the professor had unearthed your secret. She was coming to warn you."
"So she killed her?" Donna asked, helping herself to more food.
"I did not!"
"Lady Eddison is innocent. Because at this point...Romana?" Agatha turned to Romana for help.
Romana nodded, pacing up and down slightly. "Thank you, Agatha. But now we have to consider the lies and secrets but we will also have to consider, you." She looked pointedly at Donna. "Donna Noble."
Donna quickly swallowed her food down, looking startled. "What? Who did I kill?"
Romana raised an eyebrow. "Nobody unless you have?" She gave a sly smile at her friend. "No, what I mean is that you have said this all along yourself. The whole murder is being acted out like a murder mystery, so it was you." She turned on her heels to look at Agatha. "It was you."
"I beg your pardon, ma'am?" Agatha asked, insulted.
"So she killed them?" Donna asked and Braxiatel shook his head. Donna was absolutely useless at trying to figure out who killed who and he made a mental note for later to play cluedo with her and Thyra.
"No, but she was the one who wrote all those murder books, giving the vespiform the idea to kill. And who is her greatest admirer in this room?" She eyed Lady Eddison. "Lady Eddison."
"Leave me alone!" Lady Eddison cried.
"What were you doing last Thursday night?"Romana asked her.
Lady Eddison looked thoughtful for a few moments. "Uh, I was in the Library. I was reading my favourite Agatha Christie, thinking about her plots and how clever she must be." She looked confused at Romana. "How is that relevant? Lady Romana?"
"What else also happened on Thursday night?" Romana asked before turning to look at Golightly.
Golightly blinked in surprise. "I'm sorry?"
"You said this afternoon when we were on the lawn about how those boys broke into your church." Romana told him pointedly.
"That's correct. They did." He nodded in agreement. "I discovered the two of them-thieves in the night. I was most perturbed. But I apprehended them." He lied but he knew what truly happened and how he disposed of the thieves bodies. The thieves deserved every ounce of pain they got.
Braxiatel raised an eyebrow at him, trying to look into his mind but found that he still couldn't. "Are you sure about that? You were by yourself and yet, you had two strong lads. You are a man of...let's say, forty years old?" Golightly glared at him.
"Oh, my god!" Lady Eddison gasped, now realizing that this was her son. But if it was, she had known reverend Golightly for quiet sometime and in all that time he was her son and she never knew until now!
"Lady Eddison, is it correct that your child would be forty years old now, correct?" Romana asked.
"Forty. He's...forty." Lady Eddison replied, looking at Golightly with wide eyes. Her son! Her son with Christopher was sitting here in this room with them and this was the first time she has laid eyes upon him and she couldn't help but admit he was just as handsome as his father.
"Your child has come home."
"Ha! This is poppycock!" Golightly scoffed, glancing at Lady Eddison slightly. But he knew it was the truth. He could see the resemblance had from his mother, the human resemblance and he wished that his father was there with him to help him decide on his true heritage.
"But Reverend Golightly...didn't you say you were raised in an Orphanage?" Thyra asked softly and Golightly glanced at her briefly.
"My son! Can it be?!" Lady Eddison asked hopefully.
"When those thieves broke into your church, Reverend, you got angry and understandably angry to. But this was no ordinary anger. This was the first time in your whole life and you managed to break your genetic code, changing into your true form. The Vespiform." Romana explained and Golightly flinched. "That is where you realized your true inheritance. Braxiatel tried to read your mind earlier but he could not for it was protected by your telepathic abilities. But this Firestone," Romana held up the necklace. "Is not a jewel. It is a Vespiform telepathic recorder and it has part of you, your very essence inside. When you changed into your form the very first time, you activated the Firestone and it beamed your full identity directly into your mind. But, at the same time, it absorbed the works of Agatha Christie directly from your mother and all this then, becomes a part of you. The mechanics of those novels formed a template in your brain and the reason why you killed in this pattern because that's what you think the world is." Romana stopped her pacing and looked directly at Golightly. "But you don't have to be like this. We can help you. My suitor and I are more than willing to help you become a better vespiform, a better person."
"So he's killed them? Yes? Definitely?" Donna asked, finishing off her food, finally understanding who had killed all those people today.
"Yes Auntie Donna." Thyra replied tiredly, yawning and she snuggled in deeper into her father's embrace.
"You want to help me?" Golightly asked in disbelief. Why would anybody want to help him after what he has done? For what he was? "After everything I have done?"
"It is not your fault." Romana softly explained. "Yes, you tried to kill my mate and suitor and harm my daughter, but all that was done through the Firestone and the works of Agatha Christie. You need help and we know an awful lot about Vespiforms. Are you willing to accept our help to help you find who you truly are?"
Everyone looked at Golightly and Golightly swallowed. He needed help. This wasn't who he wanted to be. He wanted to be a Vespiform! A true one like his father! Not someone stuck in a human form and worshipping imaginary sky gods! And here was the help he needed and he knew that this Lady Romana was true to her word and he glanced at between her and Braxiatel and he briefly wondered that if he ever stayed in his vespiform true form, if he would ever find a mate just like Romana and Braxiatel. "I...I accept your help." He swallowed. "But I tried to kill your mate and daughter! How are you so willing to forgive and help me for that?"
"Because we all deserve forgiveness." Romana replied softly, glancing briefly at Braxiatel. She remembers the time when Braxiatel forgave her for destroying Gallifrey. Destroying all their friends and family and all those children with Gallifrey too. He may have forgiven her for that, but Romana will never forgive herself. "And most of all, we all need to help each other."
"Very well." Golightly nodded before standing up to face Romana. "What must I do in order stop the-zzz killingzz?" He started buzzing slightly and he looked at Romana for help.
"Turn to the form you are most comfortable with." Romana encouraged him. "You've been a human for a very long time and now you know a Vespiform is your true form, you feel most comfortable in that form. Go on, we will not hurt you." She encouraged him once more.
Golightly felt slightly nervous before he closed his eyes and began to shift into his true form. "Whoa!" Thyra cried with delight, jumping up off her father's lap and she went to see Golightly's true form that was hovering in the room. "You are beautiful."
"Thank you." Golightly buzzed and the humans looked at him with a mixture of awe, horror and love. "I'm sorry I tried to hurt you. I was just...what's the human word? Zzscared." He briefly glanced at his mother who looked at him with the most loving manner and Golightly wished he could go to her but knew he couldn't.
Thyra merely smiled up at him. "Apology accepted. You may want to apologize to daddy though for trying to kill him." She reached out hesitantly to stroke the Vespiform fur and Golightly nodded and Thyra beamed as she let him stroke and Thyra gasped in awe.
Golightly looked at Braxiatel hopefully, hovering. "Will you also accept my apology for my attempt to kill you?"
Braxiatel was about to say a rude remark but Romana nudged him harshly in the ribs and he scowled before giving a curt nod towards Golightly. "Very well. I accept your apologizes so long you don't try and kill me again."
"So what now?" Donna asked, putting the bowl of food away. "What's gonna happen?"
Romana turned to Agatha. "Agatha, come with us and bring the Firestone." She chucked the Firestone to Agatha who caught it, looking slightly startled. "Let's go outside. It's very warm in here and I think some fresh air will do us all good." She indicated for Thyra and the Vespiform to follow and they did as did Donna but Braxiatel indicated for the rest of the humans to stay save from Agatha before closing the door behind them.
Romana looked at Golightly. "Where would you like to go?" She asked, watching it fly beside Thyra as they walked out of the manor.
Golightly stayed silent for a few minutes as though thinking. "I would like to go near a lake." He admitted. "To be able to see my reflection."
"Lake it is." Braxiatel commented and they reached Agatha's car and he held open the passengers seat door for the ladies. "Ladies?" He asked politely and Thyra got into the back seat, followed by Donna and Agatha before Romana climbed into the front seat next to him. As he got the car started, he looked at Golightly. "I'm sure you can follow us?"
"Of courzze." Golightly buzzed and he raced on ahead to the lake.
Romana chuckled. "I think he's implying a race my dear."
Braxiatel huffed and he started the car as fast as he could towards the lake. Agatha suddenly let out a small whimper. "It's all my fault. It's all my fault." She whimpered, shaking her head and let a few tears fall as she clutched the Firestone.
Donna and Thyra looked at her and Donna embraced the other woman. "C'mon Agatha, don't think like that!"
"But it is my fault." Agatha protested. "I caused Golightly to think this way. How many more will I do the same to with my novels? How many more monsters will I create?"
Thyra shook her head. "But we're helping Golightly now." She reminded her. "We're helping him become a better person and helping him is what we do best. You are helping him and that's what makes you even more special."
They drove past the sign for 'Silent Pool' and Agatha knew that Thyra was right. "You're right." She told Thyra. "You are very wise for one so young." Thyra beamed at the compliment as Braxiatel pulled over and helped Romana and the others out of the car.
"What now, Lady Romana?" Agatha asked, holding the Firestone in front of her. "What do we do?"
"Golightly, come here." Romana asked and Golightly obeyed her. "Your mind is based on Agatha's thought process. You two are linked. But it is not meant to be this way. You have the wrong thought process." Romana turned to Agatha. "Think more positive thoughts. Get rid of all the murder mysteries in your mind for this night."
"So you're saying...I should focus my mind on more positive and kinder thoughts?" Agatha asked, trying to understand her.
Thyra nodded. "Aye!" She went over to her daddy and tugged at his trousers. "Daddy, I'm cold." Braxiatel quickly gave her his jacket despite it being too large for her and she looked rather comical, making Romana and Donna smile fondly at her as Braxiatel's jacket sleeves were far too large for Thyra but Thyra grinned, feeling a lot more warmer. "Thank you."
Agatha closed her eyes, concentrating on every positive and kind thought she could think of. Thinking of every random act of kindness she has ever done or that others have ever done to her. Thinking of every positive thought she has ever had. Suddenly, Golightly stopped hovering and rested on the ground, feeling light-headed as the changes began to course through him and Agatha slowly opened her eyes, seeing Golightly on the ground. "Is the reverend all right?" She asked with slight panic. "Have I done it correctly?"
Romana rested a reassuring hand on Agatha's shoulder. "You've done it, Agatha. You've changed Golightly and made him a better person. Or shall we say, a better Vespiform?"
"But what happened to him? He looks...weak." She looked at the vespiform who lay on the ground, it's wings fluttering and twitching slightly.
"He's just resting now you've changed him." Romana explained. "Now it's up to him to decide if he wants to remain a human or a vespiform or be both."
Agatha rested the Firestone next to Golightly, no longer needing it before she stood back up, looking at the Time family. "However, there is still one mystery left that we need to solve." The Time-Lord's and Donna looked at her quizzically. "Lord and Lady Braxiatel...who and what exactly are you?"
The Time family were saved answering Agatha's question as suddenly, Agatha nearly collapsed onto the ground but Braxiatel gently lowered her, realizing what was happening. "The Firestone! Golightly is breaking the connection with it and Agatha." He explained as Agatha began to glow a purple light just like the Firestone before that soon faded and she fell unconscious and they all turned to see Golightly back in his human form, unconscious on the ground.
"Are they gonna be all right, though?" Donna asked, looking concerned between Agatha and Golightly. "I mean, what happens to the reverend now? Will he remain a Vespiform?"
"She will be more than fine, she will be superb." Romana told her. "This is where her amnesia will begin. The Firestone has wiped her mind of everything that has happened on this day. The wasps, all those murderers."
"And us. She'll forget about us." Donna reminded them sadly.
"But we've solved her riddle." Thyra yawned sleepily and Romana picked her up once more. Romana will never get tired of holding her daughter. Never. "And Golightly has decided to be both for that is who he is."
"Another mystery solved." Braxiatel nodded in agreement, standing besides his mate before looking at Thyra. "And I think it's time for you, sleepy one, to go to bed. You had far too much excitement today." Thyra started to protest but ended up yawning once more, snuggling into her mother's shoulders and Braxiatel fasted his jacket around Thyra, keeping her warm and Donna smiled at the Time family interaction as they all headed back to the TARDIS.
"So what truly happens then?" Donna asked as they walked back to the ship. Despite only being in her flapper dress like Romana, it was actually a warm night and was glad for a change that it wasn't raining. "With Agatha?"
"Well, a few days later she will turn up at a hotel in Harrogate, with no idea of what just happened." Braxiatel replied, putting an arm around Romana shoulder as they walked through the moonlight.
"What about Golightly, Lady Eddison, the Colonel and all the staff. What about them?"
"They will consider it as a shameful story. They are too proud, too British. The Unicorn does a bunk back to London Town and she can say she was never there." Braxiatel began. "As for Golightly...well, I think he chose to stay at his Church and his beliefs. Perhaps he will see his mother from time to time."
"And Agatha?"
"She carried on. She eventually married another man, travelled the world and wrote and wrote and wrote." Braxiatel replied upon entering the TARDIS and he got out his TARDIS key, unlocking the door.
"She never thought her books were any good, though. And she must have spent all those years wondering." Donna sighed sadly, entering the TARDIS.
"I don't think she ever truly forgotten Donna," Romana told her gently, lowering their voices down to a whisper as Thyra was now sleeping in her mothers arms peacefully. "All those future stories she wrote, little bits of memories were seeping through. Very much like Miss Marple."
Donna chuckled softly. "I should have made her sign a contract."
"Let me show you something." Braxiatel told them and he turned and lifted up a section of the TARDIS floor quietly and pulled out a heavy looking chest that said 'C' on top of it. "'C for Cybermen." He rummaged through the chest. "C for Carrionites." He winced as the Carrionites were still screaming and pointing their fingers at him inside the globe and he quickly put them in a purple bag to silence them so they did not disturb Thyra from her sleep before pulling out a paperback book. "Christie, Agatha." He held it out for Donna and Romana to see and the cover of the book had a large wasp on the cover.
Donna beamed. Happy at the fact that Agatha did remember some parts of their adventure. "She did remember!"
"Nothing can ever truly be forgotten." Romana reminded her. "Not always."
Braxiatel handed Donna the book. "Look at the copyright page."
Donna took the book off him and looked inside. "Facismile edition published in the year...5 billion?!" Her mouth dropped open, surprised.
Romana nodded. "People all around the universe never stopped reading." She turned to Braxiatel, giving him a peck on his stubble. "I'm going to put Thyra to bed. Poor thing, she's had far too much excitement over the last few days!" She smiled fondly at her daughter and moved a strand of her daughter's hair from her face before she headed out of the console room.
Braxiatel looked at Romana's retreating form longingly and couldn't help but let out a small growl erupt from him. Donna rolled her eyes. "Oi, alien boy. Don't get all hyped up over the mate thing in public. Go after her."
"After her?" Braxiatel croaked, standing up as he put the rail on the floor back where it came from, the chest put neatly away.
"You'll thank me later." Donna winked before she too headed to her bedroom. "You'll see!"
Braxiatel blinked in confusion at first but without any second thoughts, he set the TARDIS into motion before rushing to his bedroom as quickly as he could.