Chapter Text
I take a deep breath.
Opening my eyes, the familiar starry night greets me, followed by a huge explosion from the surface of Giant’s Deep. A wave of warmth from the fireplace blankets me. In front of me is Slate, accompanying me as I’m completing the tradition of the new astronauts. It’s supposed to be my first day leaving this crater after all. After noticing him alive and well, I quickly lie down again. After the mess of the previous loop, I want to take a breather.
“Are you nervous for your first flight? Don’t worry, I can assure you that the ship is perfectly fine!” Slate chuckles. “…Except for a few things but you know, just the usual.”
“Thanks for the reassurance.”
I know that already, I crashed it several times by now, I’d like to think that I know its limit better than anyone. I wish I could tell them about it, but they will definitely ground me for medical reasons. This whole time loop thing hasn’t been the greatest thing that has happened to me. In the previous loop, I drowned. I had to watch my oxygen slowly dwindling down, unable to do anything because my leg was stuck beneath the fallen tower. Even worse, in the same loop, I learned something huge. Something that I wish I could unlearn.
We’re all going to die and there’s no way to stop it.
I thought I’m already accustomed to death. Name it, I probably have died at least once that way. We’re practically close friends. However, I always thought that there’s a way to stop this cycle. The truth is that our sun has reached its natural life cycle and it’s our destiny to die at the end of the universe. I close my eyes as a sense of dread grows inside of my chest. Even though I try to hold it, a warm sensation manages to cover my eyes.
“Hey hatchling, if you’re not feeling well, we can do it some other time. No need to force yourself.”
The Eye was the only lead left, so I had hoped that it’ll be the key to end this nightmare. However, the information I got from the Stranger only tells me that it won’t save us, in fact, it could be what’s causing the stars to go supernova. With our only hope gone, I don’t know if there was anything else to do next. There was nothing that we could do to escape our impending demise.
Or is it?
Gently, I landed my ship on the surface of Ash Twin. It’s amazing how crashes can help you to learn to pilot better. Before I walked out, I checked my to-do list once again. My plan is simple:
- Inform someone that everyone trusts who would believe me that the sun is going to explode.
- Let them break the news to everyone in the village.
- I’m unsure how but hopefully we can evacuate somewhere. (The Stranger is a nice choice!)
- We live happily ever after.
I think the explorers would be a safe bet. They dealt with this kind of cosmic horror (not on this level, but close enough) on a daily basis, I think they would believe my words better than the ground control nor the villagers. This shouldn’t be too hard.
“My life works! All wasted!”
…Nevermind. I was so thrilled by the idea of saving everyone that I forgot Chert is probably the only Hearthian (save for me) who noticed that the universe is dying. Why did I choose to talk to him anyway, I knew he would be having an existential crisis later on the loop! I suppose multiple time loops can make you forget some details. Still, maybe I can salvage this somehow.
“Please just… leave me alone for now.”
I sit across him, silence filling the space between us. Silently, I roast two sticks of marshmallow. After roasting them until they turn to perfect golden, I offer it to them.
“How can you relax knowing that the sun is going to explode anytime now!?”
It’s actually still about 15 minutes until that happens. I’ve developed an internal clock to remind me of how much time I have left. If only they knew how many times we have died... Slowly, I put my hand on their back, then softly pat them. I know that it must’ve been hard for him. It was for me too.
Before I can even tell them anything, that song started playing. The song. The one that always plays on my head just before the sun goes *kaboom*. I sigh, I suppose this loop has always been doomed to fail.
I look at the empty sky. It’s still beautiful despite lacking the beautiful stars it once had. It’s weird to think that in this vast universe, I ended up being one of the few beings who's aware of what’s happening. I’m one of the few who has the power to make a change…
I suppose being stuck in a time loop isn’t that bad. Next time, I can try again.
“Next time…? I wish I were an imaginative Hearthian like you.”
A loud explosion echoes through the limited air, engulfing us in white.