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"Curse you Loop" stardust had said, after thoroughly and systematically taking their party members -and you- apart with venomous words, before running away to the clocktower, the universe seeming to bend around them to get them where they needed to go.
And then the next morning your- Their party has come around and-
Your stardust was nowhere to be found. And with a sinking feeling in your star-speckled gut, you knew exactly where he went. And the party had no clue. So...after a pained swallow, you reveal yourself to them, all great and terrible and-
They look at you like you're a stranger.
But it's fine. You are fine. Because stardust needs your help. And you are "helpful Loop". So you Help. And you talk to these fakes, and you guide them through the House, your connection getting weaker the higher they go, and-
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Loop 157
....what did you expect? Of course they looped back. You stamp out the flare of disappointment and Relie-
You shake your head to dismiss the thought, and school your expression for when stardust arrives. But they don't. Which makes sense, truly, when you think about it, but that doesn't erase the sting.
It takes around 7 loops before they face you again, draped in such misery that it seems to darken the air around them.
"...I'm sorry Loop." They whisper, when they sit next to you, and whatever anger within your gut can't help but wither, as you see his face.
"... It's alright stardust. I... forgive you..." you reply, voice too earnest, and you quickly cover yourself. "I mean, even after such a temper tantrum, I could never stay mad at you stardust~" you coo.
They don't say much else, and they look miserable, but even worse- they look like they've Given up.
"...stardust...maybe..." You flounder for goals to give, unsure of what to say, "...maybe in one of those wish craft books, there could be something?"
Stardust barely looks up, but nods. "...alright. Thank you Loop." They murmur, before standing up and leaving.
Loop 292
Stardust ran up much faster than normal, looking more energetic than you've seen in almost one hundred loops.
"Loop! I think I found something!" They cry out as they approach, barely waiting for the Fighter to leave before hopping onto the stump next to you.
"Yes? What is it? What's got you so worked up?" You inquire, and you can't help but be a bit excited as well, only now realizing how much you missed this side of Stardust after so many loops of reserved reactions and quiet hopelessness.
Their eyes shine. "So, in the book of rituals, there was a smaller section, near the back, where theory was discussed about breaking wishes!"
Your own eyes light up too, a spark of hope igniting, despite the usual attempts to guard against such dangerous hope. "Really? How?" You ask, on the edge of your seat.
"So, two wishes normally cannot contradict each other. If a wish was made to do so normally, the wish would either fracture, and overload the wisher, or some sort of circumstance would occur that would make both wishes come true technically. For instance, if someone directly wished, 'I wish that my enemy's wish to be rich doesn't come true,' the wish would either fizzle out, backlash against the person wishing, or the enemy may become a different kind of rich, like 'rich in friends', but not in money." They ramble, barely pausing to make a breath.
...where is this going? "...okay? So how does that help?"
They pause, looking both annoyed and apologetic. "Right. All of that is true, But. There is a way to Brute force a wish into breaking, by massively overpowering it with stronger rituals and willpower."
Ah. "Alright, so how much more are we talking about?" You ask, cautiously optimistic at the thought of getting out.
...a pause. "...usually around...50 times stonger" They mumble.
"...Stardust." You choke out. "Are you telling me... that we would need to overpower a Country-sized wish with a wish that is 50 times Stronger?!"
At the least, he has the decency to flinch, but then their features harden. "What else should I do then Loop? Nothing else has worked! I don't see you coming up with any ideas!" They seethe back, voice rising.
Hah. Okay so Stardust has a 'plan'. "Let's hear it then Stardust! How are you going to make a wish that powerful? Because there is absolutely no way the favor tree is strong enough, even if you wished into a Thousand leaves!" You spit.
They go silent for a few moments, before muttering. "...paper cranes."
"...what?"
Stardust looks up, jaw set, and eyes determined, "In the book, it said there was a ritual stronger than any other recorded. If you fold 1000 paper cranes, imbuing each with your deepest wish, a powerful wish will be called forth."
"Stardust, that's ridiculous, even if this Is true, you would need... hundreds of thousands of cranes to overpower the will of a country"
"...so what?"
You cannot believe what you're hearing. "Stardust, that would take Thousands of loops! You can't possibly believe that you can handle that many-"
"Loop. What other choice do I have? I'm doing this, and you will not stop me from getting out of here, no matter how long it takes!" They scream, and you flinch, seeing the mania behind those eyes.
"Stardust, wai-"
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
What was that. Where did they go? What did they-
[You unlocked memory of fast tracking. When an unnecessary scene plays, you can skip past it, removing the need to respond, find keys, fight weak sadnesses, or let time pass]
You felt the Universe possess you, granting the memory to your stardust. Your heart sinks. This isn't a good thing for them to have. You should try to talk them out of this, but...there isn't anything you can say to talk them out of it. All you can do is... hope that they come to their senses...
Loop ■■■■■
............................you feel stardust pull on your arm to snap you out of your trance. It's been a few thousand since they've talked to you.
"How many left until I reach 300,000?" They ask, expression as cheerful and fake as always. They've used this mask so much that they aren't even pretending. You know how little they feel about anything anymore. You feel the same. As hollow a corpse as your stardust, only animated when the universe needs you to perform your role.
[13,684 Cranes left]
The number is meaningless to you both. Already, you can feel the trance return, as they walk away, ready to repeat for the several thousand more loops that it will take. They average around 45 a loop nowadays, as they have for the last ten thousand. That sleepless void calls, and your eyes close, awaiting the next time your strings are pulled once more.