Archive of Our Own

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Welcome to Dimension 20: On a Bus!
Please choose your character.
Blue M&M
Hat
Lint
Little Army Man

Congratulations! That choice will not matter at all in the course of this game, but now you know yourself, and isn't that the most important thing of all?
You are waiting at the bus stop. And oh look: a bus is coming!
Get on the bus
Wait for a different bus

You have decided to wait for a different bus. Weird choice, but ok. Roll a die!
Not 6
6



(go back)

The other bus explodes! Phew. Good thing you didn't get on that bus.
Keep waiting



(go back)

The other bus drives off and absolutely does not explode at all, exactly like a normal bus. Good for it! Now you have to keep waiting, though.
Keep waiting

You have gotten on the bus! Good job. Roll a die, please.
Not 6
6

Roll again, please.
Not 6
6

Aaaand again, please.
Not 6
6

Yup, you guessed it! Roll again.
not 6
6

Just one more time, please!
Not 6
6

The sound of the bus moving is very rhythmic. The doors on the bus going open and shut, open and shut; the people on the bus going up and down, up and down; the horn on the bus going beep beep beep, beep beep beep; the wipers on the bus going swish swish swish, swish swish swish; and of course, the wheels on the bus going round and round, round and round, all through the town.
You have unlocked a hidden route! We will see you next week for Dimension 20: Stuck Inside Someone Singing 'Wheels On The Bus' Until Their Fussy Baby Goes To Sleep.



(go back)

The bus explodes! Wow. Who could have guessed that would happen?
Did you die?
Yes, I died
No, I'm invulnerable to explosions

Oh, that sucks. Did all your fellow questers die too?
Yes, they're all dead
No, at least one of them survived.

Oof! What a killer, pun intended. Guess you can go back and start over.

Great! Feel free to swap your consciousness to one of them instead.
No, I liked my character.
Okay, will do!

Well… then I guess we're done here?

Okay, you made it! Time to wait for another bus. Hopefully it won't be too long. Roll a die, please!
Not 6
6

Roll again, please.
Not 6
6

Aaaand again, please.
Not 6
6

Another roll, pretty please!
Not 6
6

Roll once more, if you will.
Not 6
6

Another bus comes by and you hop on. It's a very cheerful atmosphere on the bus — everyone looks like they're really excited to see the scenery of Los Angeles! That's so fun.
Wait… Now that you're noticing, it looks like they all have maps and binoculars. And there's a guy at the front of the bus making announcements?
Oh no! You've accidentally gotten on one of those tours of celebrity houses in LA! You'll never get to LAX this way!
You have unlocked a hidden route! We'll see you next week for Dimension 20: Celebrity Tour Bus.



(go back)

The bus arrives! Phew. You get on the bus. But wait… some other people are getting on the bus along with you… and they all have swords, parrots, and eyepatches! Pirates are taking over the bus! Do you get off the bus?
Get off the bus
Stay on the bus

Okay, time to wait for a new bus. Roll a die, please!
Not 6
6

Roll again, please.
Not 6
6

Aaand again, please.
Not 6
6

Prithee, roll once again.
Not 6
6

Re-roll!
Not 6
6

Another bus comes by. It seems a little oddly colored, but you've had such bad luck, you're just relieved that there's a bus at all. You hop on and it immediately drives off.
Wait… why are there so many kids on this bus? And a teacher holding an iguana and wearing a dress that has the Los Angeles map on it?
You've unlocked a hidden route! We'll see you next week for Dimension 20: Magic School Bus.



(go back)

A new bus comes! That's great.
Get on the bus

Turns out the pirates are pretty chill, actually! They're just in between ships at the moment so they're taking public transportation. Plus, they give you a great hard drive full of your favorite tv shows for the trouble.
They get off two stops later. You wish them luck getting their ship back and continue on your way.
Stay on the bus (this is the only choice, why on earth would you get off the bus?)

The bus keeps rolling! Roll a die, please.
Not 6
6

Roll again, please.
Not 6
6

Aaaand again, please.
Not 6
6

Hmm... try again.
Not 6
6

Roll it like a bowling ball!
Not 6
6

Oh no! A guy has just entered the bus while it's in motion and told everyone there's a bomb on the bus and it will go off if the bus goes below 50mph.
You have unlocked a hidden route. We'll see you next week for Dimension 20: Survive the Bus!



(go back)

Hmm… You could swear this bus looked exactly like a normal bus when you got on, but as the ride goes on, it's starting to look suspiciously… organic.
Oh no! This isn't a bus — it's a very large mimic that nefariously pretended to be a bus in order to swallow you and your fellow passengers!
Do you die?
Yes, I'm very susceptible to being digested
No, I band together with my fellow passengers to slay the bus before it can digest us, in a dramatic and exciting fight scene using all the materials we have with us, such as umbrellas, canned vegetables, molotov cocktails, and really heavy textbooks.

Oh, that sucks. Did all your fellow questers die too?
Yes, they're all dead
No, at least one of them survived.

Yeah, shit happens sometimes. (Actually, DOES a mimic have a normal digestive system? Guess you'll find out!)

Great! Feel free to swap your consciousness to one of them instead.
No, I liked my character.
Okay, will do!

Then perish, what do I care.

Great, you survived the mimic! Time to wait for a new bus. Roll a die, please!
Not 6
6

Roll again, please.
Not 6
6

Aaand again, please.
Not 6
6

We'll give you another shot.
Not 6
6

Another roll, if you will!
Not 6
6

A new bus arrives! This one looks pretty organic too, but in a nice friendly way, so you decide to risk it. Plus, it's furry, and it seems like maybe it will lead you on a sweet and compelling journey with themes of family, spirits, and environmentalism?
You have unlocked a hidden route. We'll see you next week for Dimension 20: The Catbus's American Cousin.



(go back)

A new bus has arrived! You check really thoroughly and this one does not seem to have any explosives, pirates, or very sharp teeth it will use to eat and digest you.
It really, really, really smells, though. Do you get on the bus?
Absolutely not
Yes, I will simply plug my nose

Okay, time to wait for a new bus! Roll a die, please.
Not 6
6

Roll again, please.
Not 6
6

Aaand again, please.
Not 6
6

Do a jelly roll.
Not 6
6

Do a barrell roll?
Not 6
6

A new bus comes by. It also smells, but like perfume. Also, it has a giant high heel on top, which feels very festive. Surprise! Turns out this is a tour bus full of Australian drag queens , and you've just been coopted into their very important mission and shenanigans.
You have unlocked a new route! We'll see you next week for Dimension 20: Priscilla, Queen of the (Los Angeles) Desert.



(go back)

A bus comes.
Get on the bus

Congratulations! You have an entirely normal ride to Van Nuys FlyAway Terminal.
Oh, come on, you didn't think you could get from North Hollywood to LAX on just one bus, did you? Count yourself lucky it's just two and not three.
Time to wait for the next bus! Roll a die, please.
Not 6
6

Roll again, please.
Not 6
6

Aaaaand again, please.
Not 6
6

And again!
Not 6
6

Roll one more time.
Not 6
6

Wow, when they say "FlyAway Terminal," they really do mean literally. A flying carpet stops in front of you and asks if you want a ride. Obviously you do, is there really any other answer? As to whether this will get you to LAX… who cares! You're on a magic carpet, what do you need with an airport?
We'll see you next week for Dimension 20: Magic Carpet Ride!



(go back)

The bus arrives! You get on the bus.
This bus goes directly from Van Nuys to LAX, so there's limited room for shenanigans here. Whew! However, it's LA, and there's always the possibility of traffic. Do you hit traffic on the way?
No, I have the best luck in the world
Yes, ugh

Wow, you ARE lucky! You have a nice, smooth, traffic-free ride the rest of the way to LAX.
Enter LAX

Wow, that sucks. Nothing to do but wait it out, I guess.
Wait

Still traffic. God, this is boring.
Keep waiting

Who let all these people have cars? Was this really necessary?
Keep waiting

Was there an accident somewhere, or is this just LA? Who can say.
Keep waiting

Should you become mayor of Los Angeles just so you can ban all cars in the city? Might be worth it.
Keep waiting

Phew! It took about a million years, but you've made it.
Enter LAX

Congratulations! You have completed Dimension 20: On A Bus. We'll see you next week for Dimension 20: Go Hitch a Ride on Brennan Lee Mulligan's Flight to Vermont to Make American Girl Doll Shoes.