Chapter Text
You look at Loop.
They don't look at you. They're staring at Bonnie.
At least it's mutual.
Bonnie hides behind your back, clutching your cloak tightly. You can't tell if their eyes are wide with wonder or fear.
Perhaps it's a little bit of both.
You clear your throat. "Loop."
The astral being jumps and their eyes dart to meet yours.
"Would you mind?"
"Oh." They're looking between you and Bonnie. "...Go ahead."
You turn to Bonnie with a smile. "Bonbon, meet Loop. This is the friend I was talking about."
Bonnie is still staring at them, mouth agape. "..."
Loop blinks for a moment, then their eyes curl up in a cheerful smile. "Well, Stardust! This is quite the development, isn't it!"
They put their hand over their 'mouth', and close their eyes. "I didn't think this could happen, honestly! I guess the Universe has a few more surprises for us after all, hmm?"
They turn to Bonnie with a softness you didn't expect to see from them. "...Hello, little chef. It's nice to meet you."
Bonnie lets go of your cloak and walks forward to Loop. "...You know me?"
"I know all of you, Bonnie." You catch Loop's fingers twitch in their lap. Hmm. "...I had to, so I can help Siffrin."
Bonnie frowns. "Who are you?"
"You can call me Loop." Their eyes look... sad? "I've been here since the very first Loop, helping your rouge with their little problem." They're looking at you again. "Haven't I?"
...
"Yes. That's right."
"I'm here to answer all your queries and theories about the loops!" Loop smiles. "Stardust here has been trying to break free of them for quite some time now, and I'm here to cheer him on on his quest to not ruin the world too much!"
"UM-"
"Why are you glowing?"
Loop freezes and looks at Bonnie, head tilted. "I'm a star. Stars tend to glow."
Bonnie frowns and crosses their arms. "Like the little dots in the sky? That's stupid."
"Stars aren't stupid." You can't stop yourself from saying. "They're huge suns and planets, so far away that they look like tiny dots. But they're enormous, bigger then our entire world."
Bonnie looks at you with wide eyes. "Really?"
Loop giggles, their eyes closed. "Yep! It's true! And one in standing right in front of you! Teehee~!"
Ugh.
"Loop. Can we please address the elephant in the room?"
"What room, Stardust? We're outside~!"
UGH.
"Bonbon, go to the clocktower."
"What? But-!"
You meet their eyes, and they stop themself mid sentence.
...You don't want to think about what your face must look like, to make them freeze like that.
"I'll fill you in later, okay? But I want to talk to Loop alone."
They're looking between you and Loop. "...Fine. But you need to tell me all about them, later."
You wave them goodbye, and they run eastward.
"...They're taking it well."
You sigh and sit down across from Loop, staring at your feet. "I think they didn't process anything yet. Or they're..."
"Bottling it up?" Loop rests their head on one hand. "Like you?"
"...They must be terrified."
"...Yeah."
You raise your head to look at them. "You said I was the only one looping."
"You were."
"But now Bonnie is looping with me."
"They are."
"Why?"
Loop hesitates, not meeting your gaze. "...I don't know. Maybe it's related to the King somehow. Maybe the loops ARE failing, like the Head Housmaiden said. Maybe..." Their shoulders raise a little. "Maybe it's because they died. It's the first time one of your companions died, no?"
...It is, you think. The first time someone died before you looped back. The first time you couldn't protect your family.
The first time you failed them, completely and utterly.
"I killed them."
Loop's eyes widen. "No, no it was the King! It's not your fault-"
"But it is!" You want to cry. "I let them die, I should have protected them but I didn't and they died!"
"Stardust-"
"And now they're looping with me? Because I wasn't strong enough to protect them? Why do they have to join me, Loop?! Why do they have to suffer too?!"
Loop reaches out and you bury your face in your hands.
You let them die.
You really can't do anything right, can you? Stupid, blinding Siffrin, always too late to save their family. Always too late to make any real change. Always too late to save the ONE PERSON HE SWORE HE WOULD NEVER LET ANYTHING HAPPEN TO, THE ONE PERSON THEY WOULD DO ANYTHING TO PROTECT, THE ONE KID THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE OF AND NOW THEY'VE GOTTEN HURT BECAUSE OF YOU AND YOU COULDN'T PROTECT THEM AND NOW THEY HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE MEMORY OF THEIR DEATH ALL BECAUSE YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD REASON WITH THE KING?! WHY WOULD YOU THINK THIS COULD WORK IN THE FIRST PLACE?! STUPID, IDIOT, BLINDING MORON HOW COULD YOU EVEN THINK --
"Stardust."
You startle at Loop's voice and slip off your tree root, falling to the ground. You clutch your head in your hands and pull on your hair, trying to feel something, anything. Your breathing is uneven, shaky, and you try to breathe in and out and in and out and your hands are shaking and your head hurts and your stomach feels like it's going to explode and you just need to breathe, breathe, breath you idiot why won't you relax! It's fine it's fine it's fine it'sfineit'sfineit's f in e it 's f i n e
"Siffrin!"
You feel a warm hand resting on yours and you look up to meet Loop's eyes. When did they get up?
"Breathe." Their eyes are wide. Eyebrows furrowed. Their hand is hot and smooth, like holding glass that sat an entire day in the sun. Even so, you hold it tight. "In," they take a deep breath, their grip on your hand tightening. You try to follow their breathing. "And out."
In.
Out.
You're okay.
You release your hair and nod silently. Loop lets go of your hand, and after a moment they sit down on the ground to your right.
"...I'm sorry." You mutter quietly.
"...You should know that Bonnie will look up to you, now more than before. You should watch your steps." They say, their voice soft. "Don't... scare them."
You look at the ground. "The King said he's doing it to teach me a lesson."
"...And?"
"I did. Learn a lesson." You look up, meeting Loop's gaze. Their eyebrows are raised in worry. Why do you always worry everyone around you? Why are you so blinding weak? "I have nothing more to learn from the King."
"...I know you didn't notice before, with everything happening with Bonnie," Loop says quietly, "But you... got a new memory. You might be able to read some of the books you couldn't, before."
"Hmm. Then it's book time, isn't it."
Loop nods.
"..."
"...Are you okay?"
"...Can I... stay here for a while?"
Loop sighs, eyes closed. "Sure, Stardust."
You enter the Clocktower alone. The rest are already inside - you can smell Bonnie's cooking from the door. They're making soup.
So much of the script is changing.
[Bonnie is looping with you now. They won't act the same as before.]
[...You should try to limit your deaths from now on, Stardust.]
Yeah. Wouldn't want to scare Bonnie even more.
Mealtime follows the pre-written lines, at least. Bonnie is quieter than usual, but Isabeau and Mirabelle make up for it. And Bonnie makes sure to give you an extra serving.
You can't recall the last time you had soup. Your memory is filled with samosas, onigiri, pineapples and malanga fritters. Was there ever a time when you had anything other than Bonnie's snacks to eat?
You finish your third bowl before Mirabelle starts her monologue.
You say your line. You'll stay with her. You will protect them.
You have to.
While Bonnie and Isabeau hug Mirabelle, you catch Odile looking at you intently.
You look away.
In response, she scoffs and walks over to you.
"Siffrin."
"...Odile."
"Care to explain what's going on?"
You smile. "What is there to explain?"
Odile narrows her eyes.
You keep smiling.
Eventually, she sighs and turns away. "Fine. Keep your secrets. Good night, Siffrin."
You nod.
Isabeau will wake you up in a few hours. Best to try and catch some sleep before that happens.
Bonnie stays by your side the entire loop, instead of walking at the back like usual. You can tell they recognize the path themself, even if they don't remember it by heart like you do.
And they talk. A lot. They're asking you question after questions and you smile and answer as best as you can without distressing them, and quite frankly it's exhausting.
At least they seem to be happy with you.
"Oh! So that's how you know where everything is and where to go!" They say as you open the notebook and take the key.
You wink.
They huff.
Right.
"Yes, it is. It's rather convenient, isn't it?"
"Yeah!" They bump into your side and you chuckle, hesitantly resting your hand on their head. Stars, this is a lot.
"What's convenient?" You hear Odile's voice, sharp as always.
"...I found a key!" You say with a wide smile, showing it off.
"A mask, huh?" Isabeau raises an eyebrow. "This feels out of place, doesn't it? I was expecting a keychain shaped like scissors or something."
Odile nods and Bonnie smiles at you knowingly, but you can't see either of them.
You can't breath.
That used to be Odile's line.
Don't think about it.
You close the notebook.
"Let's go, then." You smile and turn to leave the classroom, Bonnie running to keep up with you at the front of the line. They're back to chattering, asking questions you answer half-heartedly. And all the while you catch Odile's strange looks on you.
You make the mistake of looking inside the gardening room's closet. Bonnie stumbles in surprise and you catch them. They look up at you in surprise, and you smile. "There used to be sonething here. Remember?" You whisper secretly.
"..Oh! Yeah! ...Garden Scissors, right?"
You nod. You only found the item last loop, so Bonnie remembers it. "Looking at places like this might hurt a bit. I'm sorry."
"Places like what?"
You turn around, meeting Odile's sharp gaze.
She's suspicious again.
"Nothing."
Odile's eyes narrow. You smile. She huffs.
You walk out of the classroom, and move forward to the two blocked pathways.
You zone out. You could act this entire conversation yourself if you wanted: no point listening in. Just say "Beauty Alliance" when it's your cue, and continue to the trap room.
So you do.
And Bonnie frowns, looking at you from their place besides Odile.
But they're standing in the wrong place. They're standing on Isabeau and Mirabelle's marks.
They... changed places? Why would they -
Ah. Bonnie knew which way is correct. So they chose that.
You should have listened. Stupid.
Isabeau goes to use the crest on the upper row of tears, and you stand behind the group as they huddle around him. You grip your dagger.
[Stardust -!]
You take a breath, and plunge it into your neck.
The screams of your party flood your ears as you collapse to the floor.
But one scream is missing.
Bonnie isn't shouting. They just stare at you, eyes wide and horrified, a s
Y o u
You choose Age Alliance. Bonnie looks at you in horror.
You can't blame them.
"Sorry."
"Nah, it's fine," Isabeau starts with a smile, "I don't really care-"
Something hits your side and you stumble towards the tears, stopping mere centimeters from touching them. Mirabelle gasps in fear, and you look up to see Bonnie with their fists on their sides, teeth gritted and eyes watery.
"What is wrong with you?!"
You take a step forward. "Bonbon, I-"
"No! No! You just- you- you crab!"
They're crying! Stars, do something!
"I'm sorry, I didn't pay attention, I didn't mean to-"
They hit you again, and you move backwards again. Isabeau catches you and lets go when you flinch. Stars.
You try to approach them slowly, but Bonnie just keeps shouting. And they have a right to, don't they? You're disgusting, Siffrin.
"No! Even if you made a mistake, you can't- don't just- DON'T HURT YOURSELF!"
"Bonbon-"
"NO!"
They raise their fist again, but Odile catches them and pulls them back before they swing it.
"Boniface, what are you talking about?"
"Frin - he - he just--" They look at you with wide eyes, no longer angry. Scared.
"..."
"They just what? Explain."
"Yeah! That kinda came from nowhere." Isabeau folds his hands. "He wanted to go with your choice, so what's wrong?"
They bite their cheek.
Mirabelle wrings her hands nervously. "Bonnie?"
They look at you, huffing quietly. "...let go."
Odile raises an eyebrow. "Not if you're going to attack Siffrin."
"I won't." They mutter, and once freed they shoot you a weird look. Fear? Anger? Sadness? It's hard to tell.
"What happened?" Isabeau says, folding his arms.
"Nothing."
"Uh-huh. Yep. Totally. Sif?"
You don't meet his eyes. "...I did something stupid. Nothing important happened, it's okay."
Isabeau raises an eyebrow, but doesn't question further.
You ignore Odile's stare as you walk to the trap-building room.
Just continue. The show must go on.