Chapter Text
Siffrin had looped 32 times until Odile noticed and subsequently started looping with him. By the 40th loop, everyone was in it together.
The loop wasn’t meant for 5 people.
Something started giving way. Sure the first several were fine, but by the time they’d gotten around the 80th? Paths started getting messed up and even certain people in town were different. Sadness changed too, for the better and the worse.
The group had made one final attempt at taking on the King on their 134th loop before it all fell apart. Literally.
For every confrontation, the King could detect the loops. He could never remember them himself though, so his actions never changed, and the ending was always the same. Except for their final loop.
The King finally took drastic steps, far beyond what was imagined. In a last ditch effort, Siffrin attempted to counter the man’s wish with their own. There was a flash of light.
And
the
world
broke
Everyone had been hovering around the shattered void for an unknown amount of days with no other signs of human life around. It was hard to tell the time without a sun or moon.
At least you all didn’t seem to need food?
Everyone had minor scars picked up from the final loop and the ensuing aftermath. Mirabelle was fine (relatively) thanks to her blessing. In fact, out of everyone, she looked practically the same as she had during the loops.
Siffrin was a star person because of wish craft— apparently becoming the final wish crafter in the world granted unexpected protections. Half his head was spiky and glowing, and he was warm to the touch.
Two little wisps of light were all that physically remained of Odile and Isabeau. Following the King’s wish, everything was finally, truly frozen. When the world broke apart moments afterwards, Siffrin had made a last second wish to save them.
Every other frozen person had crumbled.
And you?
Well, everyone was always going to prioritize your safety over all else. You’re the kid after all, no matter how capable you’ve become over the loops. Mirabelle had used her craft to unfreeze you milliseconds before all the other frozen started to fall apart.
“I think so.” Siffrin said glumly, hugging himself. “There’s no more stars and the Favor Tree’s dead. If there’s something else out here with enough wish craft to undo it all, we haven’t found it yet.”
Which was Siffrin’s hope-veiled way of saying they didn’t have much faith.
“But aren’t you a star now?” You pointed out.
Siffrin nodded and glanced at your upper arm. Being a star person had drawbacks, and he’d accidentally burned you and Mirabelle when the world first broke. A stark hand-shaped scar you both sported was testament to how hot they ran.
He’d eventually figured out how to not hurt anyone, but he’d drawn back from touch significantly. At least they still let Odile and Isabeau touch him.
“But I’m still part human though, plus the only star left. I’m not strong enough to extend my craft to the entire world.” Siffrin explained, gesturing. “I mean, we all saw what happened to the King, and his craft was way stronger than mine.”
You pouted and crossed your arms, kicking your feet in the air out of boredom and frustration. Mirabelle wilted a bit beside you, dejected.
“… I could wish for something else though.” Siffrin said slowly.
“What kind of something else?” Mirabelled asked cautiously but with hope. “It’s not self-sacrificial is it?”
Siffrin shook his head looking mildly chastised. The group had spent entire loops beating it into their head that they love him and self-destructive habits were not a good way of reciprocating it. It was still a work in progress, but they had gotten far.
“No, nothing like that. But… I could try to give us an escape. Wish for us to go to a different world where we won or the King never existed or something.”
You and Mirabelle exchanged glances.
“How likely would that work?” Mirabelle asked.
Siffrin grimaced slightly, or at least he likely did. Not having a mouth anymore made reading emotions marginally harder. Not much though, given how often their mouth would get hidden by their cloak collar.
“I’m not sure. I think it would have to be done one by one, just to be sure I don’t overuse my craft.” They paused, frowning in thought. “…Can I still get craft sickness if I’m part star?”
Mirabelle turned to the hovering lights. “What do you two think?”
After a moment, the light of Isabeau flew over to Siffrin. Odile’s stopped right in between the two, unsure. She was slightly closer to Siffrin though.
“I’ll do Bonnie first, since I have the most craft right now. It’s safest.” Siffrin decided.
Mirabelle nodded, and the lights similarly bobbed up and down.
Siffrin floated back a bit. “Great! In that case, I wish—”
Isabeau bopped Siffrin in the head just as the air around them started to heat up and the smell of sugar filled the area. They stopped and turned to him with a confused look.
“Why’d you stop me?”
Isabeau flitted over to you, tapping all the spots where your clothes had gotten torn up by flying debris.
“Isa, you’re tickling me!”
Mirabelle blinked. “Oh. We probably should neaten up before trying to escape, shouldn’t we?”
“It wouldn’t hurt?” Siffrin agreed as the temperature returned to normal. “I mean, it’ll be a new world. I don’t think it would be very fun showing up looking like you’re fresh out of doomsday.”
Wandering around, the group managed to scrounge up a new outfit and basic supplies for you. Your new shirt had sleeves, just long enough to coincidentally hide your burn, and your new pants had pockets.
You had started taking part in fights a few loops in, and with nobody around to need paying, Siffrin found a new hammer for you. It was actually meant for combat, unlike your old carpenter's hammer, picked up each loop from a townsperson.
The contents of your bag stayed mostly the same. Your poor bag itself had experienced heavy wear and tear due to being unaffected by loops as everyone’s equipment was. You found a replacement that was smaller and a darker shade.
“No hat this time?” Mirabelle asked after you declared you were ready.
You shook your head. “No, the brim gets in the way when I’m fighting. I dunno how Frin does it with his.”
“I just have different cap-abilities.” Siffrin said, grinning.
You punched him as Mirabelle sighed.
Siffrin just laughed at the attack. “Ready to go then? I promise the rest of us will try to follow as soon as possible.”
Bonnie hesitated. “… Can I have something from you guys in case you take a long time?”
Mirabelle and Siffrin exchanged a glance before both nodding. Mirabelle took her bow out, unwinding it from its headband and Siffrin handed over his eyepatch. You wrapped the ribbon around you upper arm and put the eyepatch over you eye.
“Ew. This is all you can see?” You asked, pulling a face.
Siffrin chuckled. “Yep. If it’s too weird you could always wear it above your eye.”
You shrugged and after a moment's thought, took off your bracelet and held it out. “Here. Now you have to follow after me so we can give back all our stuff.”
Mirabelle took the item, nodding with determination.
“Stay safe, ok? If you can, try to keep to one location in case we get sent to different spots.” Mirabelle said, taking you into a hug.
“I’ll go to a beach.” You decided. You’re familiar with those. You grew up next to one, after all.
Siffrin and Mirabelle nodded. The group shared one more hug with Isabeau and Odile’s lights dancing around your face.
“Ok.” Siffrin floated back a pace and the temperature around him instantly spiked. The smell of sugar filled the air.
“I wish for you to go to a world where everyone is safe.”
A bright light grew from your chest and you were forced to close their eyes. You only opened them again when you were suddenly hit with the feeling of falling.
ker-splash!
Seriously?! Right in the ocean?! When you said you’d find a beach, you meant find!
You easily swam the small distance to shore. The water felt nice. It felt new. Odile and Isabeau flitted around you as you trudged onto the sand as if checking you over for any injuries.
“Don’t worry guys, I’m fine. I grew up next to the ocean, remember? I learned how to swim when I was like 6.” You said, waving them away in annoyance.
Wait.
You rounded on the lights, cupping them in their hands with wide eyes. “Dile?! Za?!”
The two lights frantically floated around, just as confused as you were.
Suddenly Siffrin’s wish echoed back in your head.
“I wish for you to go to a world where everyone is safe.”
You flopped backwards onto the sand and pressed your fists to your eyes. “Aaaagh! Frin, why do you suck at being specific?! You should’ve just said my name, not ‘you!’”
Odile and Isabeau bobbed around your head, not able to give much help aside from being present.
“… I’m glad you guys are here.” You admitted, holding up a hand to block the sun and for the lights to dance around. “Do you think Frin and Belle are ok though?”
Back in the void, Mirabelle was panicking as Siffrin’s form glitched and wavered. His star half was fizzling harshly, slowly spreading to the rest of his head as his clothes burned away and skin darkened.