It was a solemn time when the sun just started to set on the horizon. The trolls had lost one of their own for the first time since they were all granted a second chance at things, and they were all gathered in the colony's little auditorium.
Kanaya Maryam had died.
It had happened just a few hours ago, when she and the kids were enjoying some time in the public pool over in town. It was an enjoyable time for all involved, at first, and the humans that were already there didn't seem to mind their presence.
Except for one. He was one of the few people in the state of Nevada who were vehemently opposed to the trolls' existance, and when he came in, the first thing he noticed was that there were trolls in the pool he was planning to swim in. There was nothing about him to identify him as a xenophobe, unlike the guy Tavros had gored.
Kanaya was paddling over to the pool's edge, intending to get out and get something to eat, when the man grabbed her by the head and held her down. Before the others could reach their position to intervene, Kanaya had drowned. And her killer had the gumption to fight back any attempt to remove her from the pool and try to revive her, too. He didn't stop fighting back until he was sure it was a lost case.
It was a tragedy, but at least the man wouldn't stand a chance in court.
The other eleven trolls were taking turns telling stories about Kanaya's influence in their lives, in zodiac order, including the parts that were undone. For Gamzee and especially Eridan, this was somewhat awkward, but they told the tales anyway.
When Feferi was halfway through, just finishing a bit about how Kanaya was special enough to have a virgin Mother Grub for a lusus, the inexplicable happened.
Kanaya spat out some water and slowly got up, a brightness spreading out over her skin.
Slightly hoarse, she proceeded to correct the empress. "She wasn't the only one who raised me."
She spat out some more water and made sure that was the last of it, as her closest friends stared at her in either shock or relief.
"It seems that even after the game, I do not get to die..."
Karkat was the first to snap out of his stupor. He ran towards the revived Kanaya and hugged her tightly.
"Karkat... I'm sorry, I'm so very sorry to do this to you..."
Then she bit him in the neck.
"...but turning into a rainbow drinker really makes me thirsty."
Karkat could only laugh as he ignored the slightly painful stinging sensation.
In the back, Nepeta switched the background music to something more upbeat.