(...)

(You ran here to talk to Loop, to try to figure out what to do, but...)

(You can't look at them right now.)

(You can't.)

Loop (serious2) ...

Loop (lol4) So?

Siffrin (hide4) (...) "...I beat the King."

Loop (lol5) You did?!? Oh, stars above, I'm so proud of you!!! You did it!!! You succeeded!!! You--

Siffrin (angry1) "And yet I'm still here."

Loop (well2) ...Yes.

Loop (happy1) Indeed you are.

(...They don't seem surprised.)

(They don't seem surprised at all, do they?)

Siffrin (angry3) "Did you know this would happen?"

Loop (hm1) ...

Loop (happy1) I had a feeling, yes.

(...)

Loop (well2) But it felt cruel to tell you, so I didn't.

Loop (well2) You looked so...

Loop (teehee5) So happy and innocent and stupid!!! I just didn't have the heart to tell you!!!

Loop (sad1) ...I just didn't have the heart to tell you.

Loop (serious2) I knew from the start that the loops wouldn't end after defeating the King.

Siffrin (angry1) "Why not...?"

Loop (happy1) I don't know why it didn't end with beating the King.

Loop (happy1) I just knew it wouldn't.

Siffrin (hide4) (...) "I..."

Siffrin (hide4) "I never thought about the reason why I got this power."

Siffrin (hide4) "I just thought... It was to beat the King."

Siffrin (hide4) "That the Change God, someone, anyone, gave me this power to beat him."

Siffrin (hide5) "But if beating him made me loop back anyway..."

Loop (serious2) ...

Siffrin (hide5) "I don't know what to do now."

Loop (serious2) ...

Loop (happy1) So will you give up, then?

Loop (happy1) You're stuck in this loop, stardust.

Loop (happy1) Beating the King brought you back here. You don't know why. You don't even know how you even got this power.

Loop (happy1) You don't know if there's even a way to escape.

Loop (well2) So... Because there's no clear way to escape...

Loop (serious2) Will you give up?

(Give up...?)

(...)

(No. You're fine, aren't you?)

(Right now, you're alive. Right now, you can think. Right now, your allies are still here. Right now, you're not alone.)

(There's no reason to give up now, just because you're trapped.)

(If you're trapped, find a door, and open it.)

(And, you still have some doors to open, don't you?)

Siffrin (angry2) "The Head Housemaiden seemed to know something was wrong, didn't she?"

Loop (hm1) Ah... I guess she did.

Loop (hm1) She said something about... Something being broken? Failing?

Siffrin (serious1) "Did she mean the loops?"

Loop (oh1) The loops, breaking?

Loop (well3) ...That's possible.

Loop (serious2) Maybe the loops WERE supposed to stop after beating the King, but something went wrong somehow.

(And that's something you can find out.)

(You just need to talk to her again. Find out what she knows.)

Siffrin (angry2) "And the King..."

Loop (oh1) The King?! What about him?

Siffrin (hide1) "Something about his powers..."

Siffrin (angry2) "He can freeze people's time. And I can rewind time."

Loop (hm1) ...Yes, that's...

Loop (hmmm1) Both powers ARE related to time, aren't they?

Loop (hm1) I don't think I've ever heard about anyone who could control time before...

Siffrin (angry2) "Isn't that something to find out more about?"

Loop (happy1) ...I suppose so?

Siffrin (hide1) "Maybe I just need to ask him."

Loop (oh my1) Ask the King?!?

Loop (ew1) Well, um, sure, I suppose that might work?

Loop (well2) Talking to the King himself... I do wonder what he'd have to say.

Loop (happy1) It's worth trying!

Loop (sad1) ...And, stardust...

Loop (happy2) I know you're not interested in talking to your party about the loops. If so...

Loop (lol1) You'll have to make sure to act so they don't find out anything is wrong.

Loop (lol5) And you already failed this loop by making your Housemaiden worried about you, teehee!

(Ah...)

(It's true. With the way you woke up, she's probably worried about you, even now...)

Loop (expressionnumber) She said she wanted to talk to you, didn't she? You should talk to her this loop, see what that's all about.

Loop (happy2) Add this to your brain list of things to do.

(There's quite a few things on it already.)

(Find out more about the King and his powers, to see if they're related to yours.)

(Talk to the Head Housemaiden, to see if she knows more about the loops.)

(Talk to Mirabelle this loop, see what's wrong. Might as well talk to everyone else after, too.)

(But see?)

(As long as you have paths you can follow... Questions to answer...Goals to strive for...)

(You'll be fine.)

(You're fine.)

Loop (serious2) ...

(...)

(But...)

(Why is Loop helping you?)

(They appeared after you looped for the first time... And said they were here to help.)

(And they knew about the loops. Knew this whole time beating the King wouldn't help.)

(And they picked that name, didn't they? "Loop"?)

(Aren't they... Related to the loops, too?)

Siffrin (serious1) "Loop..."

Loop (teehee1) Hm~?

Siffrin (hide1)

• "Are you really here to help me?"

  Loop (sad2) Stardust...

  Loop (serious2) Yes.

  Loop (serious2) If you can believe anything, believe that.

  Loop (subdued1) I asked to be here, so I could help you.

  Siffrin (serious1) "Why?"

  Siffrin (angry2) "Aren't you stuck here too, just because you're helping me?"

  Loop (well2) ...

  Loop (fake1) I reiterate, stardust: I asked to be here.

  Loop (teehee1) Don't worry about me. Being here is surprisingly restful!

  Loop (teehee3) I'm here to help you any way I can, and I mean it!!!

  
  

  (...)

  (If they're offering their help...)

  (It'd be stupid not to take it, isn't it?)

• "Nothing."

  (You don't really need to know, do you?)

  (You don't want to start doubting them.)

  (Loop said they're here to help you. That's all you need to know.)

Siffrin (hide1) "To answer your question, though..."

Loop (happy1) Hm?

Siffrin (angry2) "No, Loop."

Siffrin (angry3) "It's too early to give up."

Loop (well2) ...I'm very glad to hear that, stardust.

Loop (teehee3) Please don't give up, stardust!!! If the loops started, they can end!!!

Loop (lol6) It's just basic logic. I can guarantee that you won't be stuck here forever.

Loop (lol5) It's a Loop Guarantee!!!

Loop (teehee3) And as always, you can count on me to help you!

Loop (teehee3) If you need a refresher, or help figuring out where to go, I'll be here!

Loop (lol5) I'm here to help, stardust!!!

(You smile.)

Siffrin (hide1)

• "...Thank you, Loop."

  Loop (lol4) GROSS!!!!!

  Loop (well2) It's my pleasure, stardust.

• (Ew, no.)

  Loop (teehee4) ...

  Loop (lol4) Teehee, well...

Loop (happy3) In the meantime...

Loop (teehee3) How can I help you on this wonderful new loop, stardust?

Loop (hm1) Well... I think it's a stupid idea, but...

Loop (happy1) You should go and talk to the King. Sounds like you have some questions to ask.

Siffrin (surprised3) "You don't agree?"

Loop (ew1) He's a giant monster who might be related to the reason why you're trapped in time.

Loop (fake1) I would never have anything to say to him.

Loop (teehee5) But you do! So have fun!

First time fighting him in ACT 3

With unasked questions

Siffrin (serious1) (Ask the King...)

• "What's your goal?"
• "Are you the one doing this to me?
• "How are you freezing people in time?

King Oh...... My goal...?

King . . . . . .

Isabeau (disappointed1) Sif... Does it matter?

First time

Siffrin (fight3) (But they might!)

Subsequent times

Siffrin (tired1) (...)

"Why do you want to freeze Vaugarde in time?"

Mirabelle (anxious3) Siffrin...?

King ......

King Oooh, oooooooh...!!!

King Can't you guess......? Can't you tell?

King Oh, stars...... I thought my intentions were clear...

Mirabelle (fight1) We don't know! We don't understand you!!!

Mirabelle (fight4) Why would you want to make an entire country suffer And expect everyone to be okay with it!

Mirabelle (stressed1) There must be a reason!!! Why would you freeze Vaugarde in time!!!

Odile (question1) And only Vaugarde, for that matter?

Isabeau (angry1) That's true... No other country has been attacked.

Isabeau (angry2) With a power like yours, you could freeze more than just Vaugarde.

Isabeau (disappointed1) But you stopped at the borders. Other countries are safe. Why?

King Oooh, ooooooh......

King Because...... Vaugarde......

King Is perfect.

Mirabelle (anxious3) Perfect...?

King Such welcoming, creative people.

King Always willing to welcome travelers in, even travelers with no name, no home to speak of......

King Such...... Precious memories......

King It is perfect. I do not want it to change. I want it to stay exactly how it is.

King So it cannot ever be destroyed.

Bonnie (sulk2) That's so...

Odile (dotdotdot3) What backwards thinking.

Mirabelle (fight1) I don't know what about Vaugarde made it perfect for you, but you cannot stop us from living!!!

King ......

(...)

King Oh, oooooh...... "Doing this"......?

---

First time

(Stars, you don't want to explain it in front of everyone...)

(But the King... He could be the one trapping you in time!)

Siffrin (shit1) "The one imprisoning me here."

Subsequent times

Siffrin (tired1) (...) "The one imprisoning me here."

---

Mirabelle (anxious3) Huh?

Odile (worried2) Imprisoning you...?

King ......     Whatever is happening to you, I am not the one responsible, bright one.

King But...... That scent around you, could it be......

King ......

King It does not matter.

---

First time

(...)

(He doesn't seem to know what you're talking about.)

(So the King isn't the one responsible for the loops?)

(...Isn't that weird?)

(You're looping through time, he's freezing it...)

(Aren't you using the same power?)

(Power over time?)

Subsequent times

(...)

King ......     Ha.

Isabeau (hahaaa1) Pst, Sif, could've told you that one if you asked.

Isabeau (hm2) It's Time Craft, buddy.

---

First time

(...You don't know what that is.)

Subsequent times

(Time Craft, you've heard this before...)

---

Odile (dotdotdot1) Time Craft... The ability to craft time itself.

Odile (dotdotdot2) But Time Craft is supposed to be impossible to control...

Odile (question1) How can you use it, yet alone do it as such a grand scale?

King Ha...... If the bright one isn't bright enough to know of Time Craft......

King They will not be bright enough to understand how.

(Ouch.)

Bonnie (no!1) Don't be mean to Frin!!! Shut up!!!

---

First time

(Time Craft...)

(That's something to look into, isn't it?)

(Either way... It doesn't seem like he's the one trapping you here.)

Subsequent times

(...)

Bored Librarian Welcome to the library!

Bored Librarian Well. Our selection is kind of lacking. All the good books are in the House.

Bored Librarian But the House is. Well. Closed until further notice. Since the King. Took residence there. And froze. Everyone in time.

Bored Librarian ...Are you looking for a book in particular?

Siffrin (questions1) (Are you?) "Anything about Time Craft?"

Bored Librarian Time Craft? Like, um, specifically?

Bored Librarian I'm not sure... You should look through books about Craft. We have one here, but it might not talk about Time Craft much...

Bored Librarian I wonder... Where could you find Craftonomy books...

---

Before finding the Time Craft book

("Craftonomy?")

After

(You make sure to look confused.)

---

(The librarian notices your confusion.)

Bored Librarian Oh, the study of Craft in general is called "Craftonomy".

Bored Librarian I don't think the libraries here or in the House carry any... Maybe you should look elsewhere?

Bored Librarian ...Also, why am I thinking about candles right now? Must be nothing.

---

Before finding the Time Craft book

(Someplace other than the libraries... Maybe someone's dorm room in the House?)

(A craftonomy book.)

Isabeau (hahaha2) Oooh, is this a craftology book?

Isabeau (wonder2) Piercing Craft, Creative Craft... Where's the Protecting Craft chapt--

Odile (question1) It's a craftONOMY book, not a craftOLOGY book.

Odile (lol1) This one is about the study of Craft, not your fortune.

(A book about the study of Craft?)

(Could it have any information about Time Craft, maybe...?)

First time

Siffrin (questions1) (...) "Does that craftonomy book have anything on Time Craft?"

Subsequent times

Siffrin (fake1) (You know this already.)

"Does that craftonomy book have anything on Time Craft?"

Mirabelle (neutral1) Time Craft? What for?

Isabeau (boo1) Hm... It is related to our situation, isn't it? With the King?

Odile (hm1) We don't have ti--

Bonnie (oh!1) What's Time Craft? I dunno what that is.

Isabeau (brag1) ...Should we have a crash course on Time Craft, then?

Odile (urgh1) Urgh, fine.

(Odile flips through the book.)

Odile (reading2) ...It does have a section on Time Craft.

Odile (gimme1) Alright. So, Time Craft is, as the name implies, the power to wield and craft time itself.

Odile (huh2) It's a type of craft that's been hypothesized to exist for decades, but its existence has never been proven.

Mirabelle (awkward2) Until now, right?

Bonnie (sulk5) Stopping time... That's what the King does, right?

Bonnie (serious1) So the King is using Time Craft?

Odile (reading1) The King most likely is, yes. Which would make it the first time in history someone managed to harvest that power.

Odile (lol3) Outside of stories told in familytales, that is.

Isabeau (brag1) I've heard scholars outside of Vaugarde are really excited right now! Time Craft, confirmed to be real!

Bonnie (sulk2) ...So they're happy because he froze people in time?

Mirabelle (awawa1) W-well, it's more complicated than that!!!

Odile (reading1) Morals aside, it does change everything we knew about Time Craft.

Odile (gimme1) Think about how Time Craft could be used. The King is only stopping people's time... But it could be used for many other things.

Odile (reading2) It could be used to hasten or slow people's time, too. Maybe make people's bodies younger or older. Maybe make buds grow into trees in an instant.

Isabeau (huh1) Worst case scenario, it could be used to change history itself! Crafting time to go back in time, and change history!

Bonnie (no!2) Woah!

First time

(Woah.)

Subsequent times

(...)

("Worst case scenario".)

Odile (reading2) The possibilities are endless... And terrifying.

Isabeau (brag1) Definitely not the kind of power you want in someone's hands!

Odile (hm1) And definitely not someone like the King.

Mirabelle (awkward2) And, correct me if I'm wrong... But crafting time wouldn't be like crafting clay to a specific shape, or crafting a sword.

Mirabelle (anxious2) Those are easy enough to do and won't tire you out, but crafting time? Something as basic and essential as time?

Mirabelle (anxious3) Wouldn't it ask for immense amounts of power?

Odile (lol4) Exactly. Crafting clay barely asks for any power from the user... But crafting time...

Odile (reading1) It was theorized that crafting time, even to pause time for a single second... Would probably kill the user immediately.

First time

(HUH?!?)

Subsequent times

(...)

Bonnie (no!2) KILL THEM DEAD?!?

Isabeau (fufufu1) Kill them dead.

Mirabelle (anxious2) And yet, the King is still alive...

Isabeau (disappointed1) So it raises the question...

Isabeau (sad1) What gave him enough power to use Time Craft without dying? And how did he learn how to use it?

Odile (lol2) Good questions, Isabeau. You have pretty smart insights sometimes.

Isabeau (hahaha1) I sure do!

Bonnie (sulk5) Hm...

Bonnie (serious1) Time Craft is what the King uses and it's dangerous. Got it.

Odile (serious4) I suppose talking about this was useful. I'm surprised you're curious about this, though... Siffrin.

(You shrug.)

Odile (dotdotdot1) ...

---

First time

Subsequent times

(...)

(You close the bathroom stall door.)

(You clench and unclench your fists, not knowing what to do with yourself.)

(You try not to breathe too loudly.)

(Sometimes you feel so  much  anger.)

(Why do they not remember? Why are you the only one living like this?)

(You're the only one living and knowing and experiencing the same moments over and over again.)

(Why is it just you? Why shouldn't everyone feel this pain?!?)

(Why should you be the only one stuck here when you've done nothing wrong?!?)

(Is this some kind of curse?)

(You always felt awful about not remembering, and now you have to live your life, knowing you're the only one who remembers this time?)

(Remembering every single moment, every single sentence, every single battle, wound, death, everyone unaware?!?)

(You grab fistfuls of your hair and tug!!!)

(It's not fair!!! It's not fair, not fair, not fair, it's not!!! Fair!!!)

(You want it all to be over!!! This loop, this life!!!)

(You're caught between a sequence of life and death and life again, going through the motions until the next time the loop restarts!!!)

(It's torture!!! Every second of it!!!)

(And everyone is acting like nothing's wrong!!!)

(Why do they get to ignore it?! Get to keep acting, like actors in a play they don't know the ending to?!?)

(You hate them all!!!)

(Your [allies/family members], the whole country, the whole world should know this pain!!!!!!)

(THE WHOLE WORLD SHOULD SUFFER AS YOU HAVE SUFFERED!!!!!!)

(...)

(Sometimes   you understand the King more than you'd like to.)

(You breathe out, trying to keep your anger close to your body.)

(You'll shake from it, but it's fine.)

(You dust yourself off, and exit the bathroom.)

King Time Craft......? I suppose I am.

Odile (question1) But, if you're using Time Craft... How did you manage to control it?

King Ha......!

King Yes, it is true...... I could not have harvested Time Craft on my own.

King So...... I had some help.

Mirabelle (anxious2) Help? Who would...?

King Ooooh, ooooooh......     Isn't it obvious?

King The Universe would.

---

First time

(!)

Subsequent times

(...)

---

King Ah, aaaaaah! I only had to wish for it......

King And the Universe delivered.

Mirabelle (awkward2) "The Universe"...? Who is that? A person?

Isabeau (angry2) Nah, it's, it's...

Isabeau (boo1) Wow, it's on the tip of my tongue, but I can't seem to remember.

Odile (question1) It's... What's beyond this plane, correct? What's in the sky?

---

First time

(You clench your fists.)

Subsequent times

(You do not react.)

---

(The King sobs.)

King Oooh, oooooooh......!!!

King Aaaah!!! I knew Vaugardians were ignorant of it...... But I did not think travelers from other countries were, too......!

King How......     How could you have......

Odile (dotdotdot2) "Vaugardians", huh...

Odile (lol2) Interesting choice of words. Are you not from Vaugarde yourself?

Mirabelle (anxious2) He isn't, madame Odile... I feel like I've seen an article about it somewhere recently.

Mirabelle (awkward2) I saw it today... Where was it again?

Isabeau (hm2) So you're not from Vaugarde, but you still want to freeze it in time?

Isabeau (really3) Where do you call home, then?

(The King flinches.)

(He does not answer.)

---

First time

(...)

(You shake your head, and breathe out.)

(An article about the King, somewhere...)

(If Mirabelle remembers it, you might've seen it somewhere too. Could it be somewhere in the House?)

Subsequent times

(You do not react.)

(Some papers.)

(They seem to be various newspaper articles about the King.)

---

If you're too early

(...You should keep those in mind for later.)

Text ends.

---

During or after Kingquest

(You take a step forward.)

Mirabelle (awawa1) Oh... So many articles about the King!

Odile (dotdotdot2) His conquest was slow enough that the Vaugardian press had time to write about him, I remember that...

Odile (huh1) But there's no one to write them now.

(You all start reading random articles.)

Isabeau (boo1) This article is about his slow march to Dormont's House...

Mirabelle (anxious2) This one is about him probably being from another country than Vaugarde...

First time

Siffrin (surprised1) (Huh?)

Subsequent times

Siffrin (serious1) (...)

"He really isn't Vaugardian, then?"

Mirabelle (anxious1) Oh, apparently not.

Isabeau (wonder2) This article says there's no record of him anywhere... Up until he appeared out of thin air sometime in his adulthood.

Isabeau (angry2) Looks like he lived in the city of Corbeaux for a few years before he became the King...

Bonnie (oh!1) So he was a traveler? Like Frin and Dile?

Odile (urgh1) Please don't compare us to him, thank you.

---

First time

(That's right... He did talk about "Vaugardians" before.)

(The way he phrased it... It did seem like he thought of Vaugardians as people other than himself.)

(And...  He said he thought of Vaugarde as "welcoming".)

(Always willing to welcome people in, even someone with no name, no home to speak of...)

(. . .)

(You should go and ask the King where he's from, later.)

---

Isabeau (boo1) ...  Oh.

Isabeau (neutral1) This article is about his fashion sense.

Mirabelle (awawa1) Huh?!?

Odile (awkward1) From what I've heard, he does have a very distinctive hairstyle.

Isabeau (brag1) This article is more about his armor, actually!

Isabeau (neutral1) They even included a sketch, look.

Mirabelle (anxious1) Hm... Well, it's very...  Shiny?

Odile (awkward1) I suppose.

Isabeau (brag1) Very imposing!

---

First time

(There's something that caught your attention though...)

Subsequent times

(...)

---

Siffrin (hide1) (...)

• "His crown..."

  Mirabelle (happy1) That IS a very tall crown!

  Isabeau (fufufu1) Very king-like.

  ---

  During this step of Kingquest

  (...)

  (You're missing something.)

  
  

  Wrong answer! Returns you to pick another question.

• "His shoulder parts..."

  Odile (hm1) Pauldrons, Siffrin.

  Bonnie (and then1) They're so big!!!

  Isabeau (hahaha2) The pauldrons are big, and he is also very big... One pauldron might be bigger than all of us combined!

  Bonnie (surprised1) ...

  Bonnie (serious1) Pauldron house...

  Isabeau (fufufu1) Pauldron house...

  Mirabelle (happy1) Pauldron house...

  Odile (sigh1) Stop.

  ---

  During this step of Kingquest

  (...)

  (You're missing something.)

  
  

  Wrong answer! Returns you to pick another question.

• "The patterns..."

  Isabeau (wonder2) The patterns? On his chest and gauntlets, you mean?

  Bonnie (lol1) It's just a weird losange. What's so weird about that?

  
  

  First time

  Siffrin (serious1)

  Subsequent times

  Siffrin (fake1)

  "Those are stars."

  
  

  Bonnie (surprised1) Stars?

  Bonnie (serious1) What's a star?

  ---

  With Isabeau's friendquest done this loop

  Isabeau (brag1) The dots in the sky! Sif and I were looking at them yesterday, remember?

  
  

  Without Isaquest

  Odile (dotdotdot2) The dots in the sky, correct?

  
  

  (You nod.)

  
  

  Odile (doubt1) ...  Is that so...?

  ---

  Bonnie (surprised1) Oh.

  Mirabelle (awkward2) This article here does mention his speech mannerisms...

  Mirabelle (anxious2) Stars and sky-related things seem to be something he comes back to often.

  Isabeau (wonder2) Stars, huh...?

  Mirabelle (anxious1) What could be interesting about them?

  ---

  First time

  (Stars.)

  (Is there somewhere in the House where you could find out more about them?)

The camera scrolls up, showing the big window and the stars beyond.

(A big window.)

---

If the party knows what stars are, by reading the newspapers this loop

Bonnie (hmf2) Stars!!!

If not

Bonnie (oh!1) Those are... Stars, right? I remembered just now.

---

The camera scrolls back down to the party.

Mirabelle (awkward2) But don't they only appear at night...?

Mirabelle (anxious1) We left early in the morning, so it should still be light outside...

Isabeau (brag1) I've heard it's always night time, near the King. Maybe this is his influence?

Isabeau (neutral1) It was dark around the House yesterday too, remember?

Odile (reading2) Hm...

After reading the newspapers for the first time. Cannot be repeated.

(The stars...)

(Stars, like the King's armor. Stars, like the King keeps mentioning.)

(Stars, like...)

(. . .)

(You should remember them. Something in you tells you you should.)

(Every time you raise your head and look up at them, you feel like it's something you've done dozens, hundreds, thousands of times.)

(But you can't remember any of it.)

(You can't remember what you were even trying to see, looking up at them.)

(The King... Every time you face him, he asks you the same question.)

("Do you remember?")

(Remembering is not something you're very good at.)

(There's so much you can't remember.)

(You're a very forgetful person, after all.)

(You can't remember basic items.)

(You forget where you're going half the time.)

(You can barely remember people's names.)

(You've noticed you're starting to forget whole loops.)

(You can barely remember anything that happened before you started looping in time.)

(You can  barely  remember  anything  that  happened  before)

(before)

(before)

(before...)

(. . .)

(You   breathe out, and unclench your fists.)

(What you can and can't remember doesn't matter much now, does it.)

(...)

(The King... Does he want you to remember something?)

(Does he...)

(...)

(You should go and ask the King what he wants you to remember, later.)

Isabeau (hm2) Sif? You okay?

Odile (question1) Lost in thought, Siffrin?

(You open your eyes, smile, and shake your head.)

(You have to keep going.)

King !!!!!!

King . . . . . .

(The King looks straight at you.)

King ......  What about you, bright one......

King Where are you from?

(You flinch.)

(. . .)

Time skips.

(You do not answer.)

(You cannot answer.)

(You hear the King laugh.)

First time

(Every single time you face him...)

(He asks if you remember.)

(There's something he thinks you should know... Should remember... But...)

Subsequent times

(You ask again, but you know, you know, you know.)

---

King ......

Odile (question1) Does it really matter, Siffrin? He could just be trying to confuse you.

Bonnie (no!1) Yeah!!! Speaking in riddles to Frin!!!

Bonnie (angry1) Stop trying to confuse him! He hasn't forgotten anything!!!

---

First time

(But you have, haven't you?)
(You try not to think about it, but... But...)

Subsequent times

(You know, you know, you know.)

---

Siffrin (hide4) "What have I forgotten?"

King Forgotten?

King Oh, bright one, bright one, why...... Why would you ask......

King Don't you know at this point what you've forgotten? Haven't you always known?

King Can't you see the hole it has left behind, if not what used to fill it?

King Don't you feel it? Its absence?

Isabeau (fight1) What the crab is he--

King ALL OF IT!!!!!!

King YOU'VE FORGOTTEN IT ALL, BRIGHT ONE!!!!!! THEY ALL HAVE!!!!!! WE ALL HAVE!!!!!!

King No one can say it!!! No one can even remember it!!! It escapes us, it will keep escaping us!!!

King Ooooh, why don't you remember?! I can tell!

King Everything, from your accent, to the way you use Craft, to the stitching on your cloak and hat, to those pins you wear--

King You should remember!!! You and I, of all people standing here, should remember!!!!!!

King Bright one, please, please!!!
Just remember it!!!
Say it!!! Make it real!!!

King Please......
If you can remember, then......
Then maybe......

King ......

(...)

Mirabelle (anxious3) What is happening? Is he okay...?

Odile (worried1) Something we've all forgotten...?

Bonnie (no!1) I haven't forgotten anything, stupid!!!

Isabeau (hm4) ... Sif...?

---

First time

(Something you've forgotten.)

(Something everyone has, even if they don't pay attention to it.)

(The hole it has left behind.)

(Something bigger than just the stars.)

(What you're trying to remember doesn't exist anymore, but...)

(But someone might still have written proof it existed, haven't they?)

Subsequent times

(You know,
you know,
you know.)

Mirabelle (happy1) Oh, this one looks fairly recent!

Mirabelle (awkward1) We could read a little bit... Like, a tiny bit.

---

If you've read the diary before

• "No time."

  Isabeau (boo1) Aw, boo...

  (You get away from the diary.)

• "...Sure."

  The conversation continues.

---

Odile (serious3) We do not have time...

Odile (smile1) ...Is what I would usually say, but I'd also love to think about boring, mundane, everyday problems for a bit.

Isabeau (brag1) Dear diary, save us from thinking about our problems!

Bonnie (and then1) Belle, pick a page!!!

Odile (isthatso1) One page, and then we're going.

Mirabelle (anxious1) I, I'm reading again? Okay, hmmm...

(Everyone huddles around her.)

(Mirabelle takes a deep breath, and opens it straight in the middle.)

Mirabelle (anxious1) Okay...

Diary "Mom told me to clean my room today."

Diary "I HATE CLEANING MY ROOM!!! MY ROOM ISN'T EVEN DIRTY!! WHY DOESN'T SHE UNDERSTAND!!!!!!!"

Diary "Urgh. Also, Dad noticed no one can say the name of the island north of here anymore?"

Diary "I tried to say it yesterday and I got like the WEIRDEST headache for HOURS."

Diary "Might trick my friends into saying it tomorrow."

(The rest is just doodles of a little girl laughing uproariously.)

Odile (huh2) Ah, the island north of Vaugarde... I remember when it happened.

Odile (wonder1) Well... "Remember" isn't the right word, is it? We all just know something happened.

Odile (lol1) An entire stretch of land disappearing from people's minds doesn't happen often, does it?

Bonnie (and then1) I think, I think my village was really close to it!!! My sister said it was all everyone could talk about for weeks!!!

Mirabelle (anxious2) That's so frightening... I'm glad that whatever happened, she didn't get caught up in it!

Bonnie (wait1) Oh... yeah...

Isabeau (wonder1) ...

Mirabelle (anxious1) ...

Bonnie (sulk5) ...

Bonnie (sulk2) Still...

Bonnie (surprised1) That country's name... What was it's name again?

Isabeau (wonder2) Oh, I think it was something like--

Mirabelle (uwah!1) DON'T

Odile (uwah!1) SAY IT!!!!

Isabeau (huhwah1) CRAB!!!!

Bonnie (lol2) NYEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEH!!!!!!!!!!

---

First time total, regardless of Kingquest progression

(...)

(Huh! What an interesting diary entry!)

Second time total, regardless of Kingquest progression

(...)

(You open your mouth, but no sound comes out.)

---

First time during Kingquest

The conversation ends prior to this point if you are not currently in Kingquest.

(The name of this country...)

(You try to remember, remember, remember.)

(Only silence answers you.)

(Is this... What the King wanted you to remember?)

("Just remember it... Say it... Make it real...")

(You can't say it, you don't even want to try, but...)

(. . .)

(You turn to Isabeau.)

Subsequent times

(You turn to Isabeau.)

(Maybe this time?)

---

First time

Siffrin (serious1)

Subsequent times

Siffrin (fake1)

• "But can you try and say it anyway?"

  Isabeau (sniff1) Huh, but whyyyyyyyyyy? It's just gonna give me a heada--

  
  

  (Isabeau looks at you.)

  (Something about your expression makes him reconsider.)

  
  

  Isabeau (brag1) Well... Sure, Sif! I'll say it!

  Isabeau (neutral1) That country's name was. . .

  Isabeau (wonder1) Was. . .

  Isabeau (angry2) . . .

  Isabeau (really1) You know, I had it before, but now that I'm actively trying to remember it, nothing comes to mind?

  Odile (up1) Huh, is that so?

  Bonnie (hmf3) You're dumb, Za, I know it! It's. . .

  Bonnie (wait1) . . .

  Bonnie (no!2) Weh? But...

  Odile (hm2) Wait...

  Mirabelle (awawa1) Huh?! What's...

  Isabeau (neutral1) Can't remember it either, yeah?

  Isabeau (wonder2) When you asked me, answering you felt automatic, like if you asked me what 1 plus 1 makes, but trying to remember it now is more like...

  Mirabelle (anxious2) Like calculating 72 times 89!!!

  Isabeau (really1) Nah, that's 6408, I have a brain and I know how to use it.

  Mirabelle (uwah!1) WHAT?

  Odile (uwah!1) ISABEAU?

  Isabeau (wonder2) Nah, it felt more like...

  Isabeau (disappointed1) Asking me to remember my first steps.

  Isabeau (fight2) How can I remember that!!! I can't remember that!!! How can you expect me to remember that!!!

  Odile (urgh1) What a terrible analogy.

  Odile (awkward1) But I can't seem to remember it either... When we were talking about it, I could think it clearly, but trying to remember it now, let alone say it...

  Mirabelle (anxious3) I can't remember the country itself, either! I just remember it was an island, north of Vaugarde...

  Mirabelle (thinking1) And... And it had a different belief than the Change belief, didn't it? Something about the sky...?

  
  

  First time

  Siffrin (fake1) (You know.)

  Subsequent times

  Siffrin (fake3) (You know, you know, you know.)

  "The Universe."

  
  

  Mirabelle (happy2) That's right! The Universe!

  Bonnie (sulk2) Oh yeah... Like, stars and stuff.

  Odile (gimme1) We also know that people could remember that country clearly, before.

  Odile (guilty1) And. . .

  
  

  Odile (sigh1) Urgh, my head is killing me.

  Bonnie (ew1) And we know that trying to remember stuff makes our brains hurt.

  Odile (question2) Let's stop here. It'd be bad to fight the King with a raging migraine...

  Isabeau (awkward1) Yeah...

  Isabeau (hm4) Sorry we couldn't say it, Sif!

  
  

  (You don't respond.)

  
  

  Isabeau (hm5) ...?

  
  

  You get two Weird Points for this.

  ---

  First time

  (Stars...)

  (So the King is from that country as well.)

  (The country no one can remember.)

  (Your country. The country you were born in, raised in, spent your entire childhood in.)

  (And yet...)

  (Even now, thinking about it, what it may have looked like...)

  (You can't even imagine it.)

  (For a long time now, you haven't been able to remember anything about it. You forget it even exists, half the time.)

  (Anything linked to that country has just stopped existing for you.)

  (Your childhood, your parents, your life, your language, your culture, your faith, the stars, the constellations, the Universe.)

  (It's all gone, forgotten.)

  (...)

  
  

  (The King... He was from there, you're sure of it.)

  (And then, something happened, and the country disappeared without a trace, unable to be remembered by anyone.)

  (No one can remember what made everyone forget about its very existence... But something must've, right?)

  (But... If it happened... If he's so attached to it, he asks you if you remember it every single time you see him...)

  (If he's so attached to that country... Why would he be so obsessed with Vaugarde, then?)

  (Why would he decide to freeze it all in time?)

  (. . .)

  
  

  (You can't figure it out quite yet, but there must be something somewhere... Something that's similar to his goal...)

• (No point.) Available second time onwards

  (Who cares, who cares, who cares.)

(A mirror.)

(You and your [allies/family members] are reflected in it.)

Bonnie (serious1) That's a big mirror.

Odile (gimme1) Massive, even... And there's not really anything else of interest in this room.

Mirabelle (awkward1b) I don't know anything about it... Before the house shifted around because of the King, it was in a part of the House I didn't often walk by...

Isabeau (wonder2) Hm.

(Isabeau is looking for the switch.)

Isabeau (wonder1) If it is what I think it is, then... It should be...

Isabeau jumps in place.

Isabeau (yeah!1) Ah HA!

Isabeau (hahaha1) Everyone, say "FROMAGE"!

Bonnie (happy2) Froma--

The screen flashes white.

Bonnie (stop!2) Wh-WHAT WAS THAT?!?

Mirabelle (anxious3) Oh, look! Something's on the ground...

Odile (gimme1) A piece of paper...?

Isabeau (yeah!1) Ehehehe... BEHOLD!!!

Mirabelle (excited1) Oh!!!

(It's a picture of all of you.)

Mirabelle (happy1) It's us!!!

Odile (smile1) This is lovely.

Isabeau (brag1) Isn't it? It's a crafted mirror that takes pictures!!!

Isabeau (neutral1) I heard rumors that someone was creating one, but I didn't know this someone lived in Dormont's House!

Bonnie (and then1) We look so surprised!

Mirabelle (happy1) Hehe, only Isabeau knew this was coming!

Odile (smile1) Pictures are so rare... It's nice to have one of us.

Mirabelle (happy1) Thank you for telling us about it, and for taking a picture, Isabeau!

Isabeau (uwah!1) Oh!

Isabeau (hahaha2) Hehe... It's nothing!

Mirabelle (happy1) What should we do with it?

Odile (huh1) Hm...

(Odile looks at you.)

Odile (lol2) Would you keep it safe, oh one with all the secret pockets?

(You nod.)

(You got the MIRROR PICTURE!)

(You put the picture in your pocket along with your Souvenirs.)

(You're glad to have the picture back. It's proof.)

(Proof that you're here on this journey, proof that you were with your [allies/family members], proof that you love them.)

(Even if you forget, and you forget a lot... It's proof that you and your friends existed.)

(Proof that you were happy.)

(Proof that this moment happened...)

(Perfectly frozen in time.)

(. . .)

(After the country was forgotten, the King was welcomed by Vaugarde, wasn't he?)

(Welcomed, helped, and loved.)

(To the point where he sees Vaugarde as "perfect".)

(But... No one knows why the country was forgotten.)

(What's keeping Vaugarde from being forgotten the exact same way?)

(Wasn't it his duty, as thanks for welcoming him, to make sure such a fate would never befall Vaugarde?)

(What else could he do  but make sure this perfect country was preserved in amber forever?)

(How could he ever let go?)

(. . . You understand the King more than you'd like to.)

(But... But still, he's...)

(You want to talk to him again.)

(...)

(This feels important... But you'd still like to talk to the Head Housemaiden during this loop, while you're so close to your family members.)

(Are you sure you want to ask the King about this now...?)

• (Yes, ask the King now.)

  (You open your mouth.)

  
  

  The event scene starts.

• (No, ask him later.)

  (You shake your head.)

  (You can ask him later.)

  
  

  The fight against the King proceeds as usual.

Siffrin (serious1) "Where are you from?"

(Will he say it if you ask?)

(Can he say it?)

(Someone asked you this exact question before, and you couldn't answer, you couldn't say anything, you forgot it all, but... But...!!!)

King Where......
Where I'm from......?

King Oooooh......
Bright one.....
If you're asking, with such a look in your eye......

King Do you remember, then?
Can you see it?
Can you picture it?

King Bright one. Bright one, please, you can't......
You have to remember......

King I know you can, we both can......
We're the only ones present here who can!!!

Mirabelle (anxious3) What...?

Odile (sad1) Siffrin, what is he talking about?

Isabeau (hm4) Sif? Sif, are you okay?

King Bright one......

King . . . . . .

King No.     You're trying, I can tell.
But the knowledge keeps escaping you, doesn't it...... Slipping through your fingers......

King It is the same for me.

King But we have to try to remember, bright one!!!
I see flashes of it, of what was!!!

King The mountains!!!
The sea!!!
The lightless sand, dark like the night sky!!!

King Our country, bright one!!!
Our country!!!
Our home!!!!!!

King We have to say it!!!
We cannot let oblivion win!!!
Our home!!!!!!

King We can rebuild it, together!!!
Your power and mine!!!
We just have to wish for it!!!
We just have to ask!!!!!!

King WE JUST HAVE TO SAY ITS NAME!!!!!

An animation plays. The image of a four-pointed white star on a black background appears. Three beeps can be heard, representing the King's voice. When he finishes, the star shakes. It turns red, changing shape and forming cracks.

Back in battle, the screen is darker than before. Siffrin and the King take damage. Siffrin's battle portrait now looks frightened.

(NGH...!!!)

Mirabelle (uwah!1) AH!!!

Isabeau (huhwah1) SIF?!

King AH!!!!!!

King No, no, no......

(...No, no, no!!!)

(You heard it, he said it, he tried to say it! Your country's name, your home, your--)

(No, no, it's gone, it's gone!!!!!!)

(Did he say it, all of it?! Did he say it?!?)

(You couldn't hear it, can't remember it, can't--)

Mirabelle (awawa1) W-What's happening?!

Odile (fight1) The King is attacking Siffrin... Everyone, protect him!!!

Bonnie (angry1) Stop talking, King!!! Leave Frin alone!!!

Isabeau (fight1) Sif!!!

(Your head, it feels like it's splitting in two--)

(Your country, your home!!!)

(You can't remember it!!! It's gone, it's gone, it's gone!!!)

(gone from your past   gone from your mind   gone from the very planet you stand on and it was yours!!! It was yours!!!)

(It was yours and it's gone and you can't even say its name!!!)

(But if he--     If the King could, then maybe--)

(MAYBE...!!!)

• (Say it!!!)

  (You have to say it!!! If he couldn't do it, maybe you can! Maybe you both can!!!)

  
  

  King Bright one, please, please!!!!!!

  
  

  (You inhale, you try to grasp it, grasp its name--)

  
  

  The same animation as before repeats. A white star on a black background, this time with three lighter beeps representing Siffrin's voice. When the star turns red and shatters, the cracking noise is harsher.

  Back in battle, Siffrin and the King take more damage than before, and the screen turns even darker.

  
  

  (AH...!!!)

  
  

  King NO!!!!!!

  
  

  (Your throat... Your head......!!!)

  (It hurts, it hurts...)

  (You spit blood, you hack up, you have to get it out--)

  
  

  King Bright one, I-- Almost heard it, I......!!!

  King Please, again!!!
  Once again, we have to try......
  Together!!!!!!

  
  

  (Your entire body hurts...!!!)

• (Don't!!!!)

  (You can't hear it, you can't remember it, it's useless!!!)

  (Let it die, let it be forgotten! You don't need it, you don't need to know--)

  
  

  King BRIGHT ONE!!!!!!

  
  

  (No, no, no, you can't, you won't.)

  (Hands clutching your head, you take a step back, then another.)

  (Everyone lines up before you.)

  
  

  Isabeau (fight1) Sif, what's happening?! Talk to us!!!

  Mirabelle (fight4) Don't listen to the King, Siffrin!!! We'll protect you!!!

  King BRIGHT ONE!!! SAY IT!!!!!!

  Odile (fight1) Don't look at him, you're fighting us right now--

  Bonnie (crying1) Go away!!! Stop hurting Frin!!!

  King PLEASE!!!!!!
  IF WE SAY IT TOGETHER, TWO PEOPLE OF THE SAME COUNTRY, I'M SURE WE CAN--

  King WE CAN REMEMBER IT!!!
  PLEASE!!!!!!

  
  

  (Your entire body hurts...!!!)

• (SAY IT!!!)

  (Your head is killing you!!!)

  (But you have to try, you have to--)

  
  

  Isabeau (scared1) We have to stop the King...!!!

  Odile (no!1) Siffrin, whatever he's telling you to say, STOP!!!

  Bonnie (crying3) FRIN!!!

  Mirabelle (fight4) SIFFRIN!!!!!!

  
  

  (But you have to, but you have to!!!)

  (What do they know, anyway? What do they understand, anyway?!)

  (The pain of not remembering your own blinding country!!! Your own home!!!)

  (The King is right, you have to get it back, you HAVE TO GET IT BACK...!!!!!!)

  (You inhale...)

  
  

  The animation plays again. This time, Siffrin's and the King's voices can be heard together. The star cracks like a whip.

  In battle, both Siffrin and the King take 9999 damage. The screen is dim, nearly black.

  
  

  (Someone is screaming)

  (You realize     it's your own voice)

  (your throat   feels raw    your head feels like    it's splitting in two      your stoma ch    feels   like a    bl ack   hole--)

  (the scent of   sug ar   is all    a rou nd you,    so   th   ick   yo   u    alm os t    ga g   o n    it)

  (yo   u      c   a n    '   t

  h o    l      d      o    n    t o     a  n   y   t  h    i n   g

     a   n     y     m     o     r     e)

  (     y     o      u     

• (DON'T!!!)

  (You won't,
  you won't,
  you won't!!!!!!)

  (You shake your head and cover your mouth!)

  (BETTER KILL THE HOPE BEFORE IT GETS CRUSHED!!!)

  
  

  King BRIGHT ONE!!!

  Siffrin (angry4) "NO!!!!!!"

  Siffrin (angry4) "I WILL NOT, I CANNOT!!!"

  Siffrin (yelling4) "Our country is gone, King!!! It's gone and buried!!!"

  Siffrin (no!!!1) "What good will it do to remember it?!?"

  Siffrin (no!!!1) "We don't need to remember! We need to let it go! We HAVE to let it go!!!"

  Siffrin (angry4) "Let it die! Let it DIE!!!! LET IT DIE!!!!!!"

  King No, no, no, aaah......

  King NO......!!!!!!

  
  

  (You hear the King scream)

  (You feel wind on your face)

  (And t h e   n)

The screen fades to black for several seconds. Then, the Game Over screen appears, with the caption (BUT IT'S ALL GONE!!!!!!).

Siffrin is torn back in time and snaps awake in the meadow. Their monologue begins as they lie still in the grass.

Said it twice

Didn't say it twice

Chose one of each option

---

(What was the point, anyway? What was the point of saying its name? What was the King thinking?!?)

(It's gone.)

(Your home is gone, and has been for a long time.)

(There's nothing you can do to bring it back. Doesn't the King see that?)

(Doesn't he see that you have to let it go?)

(You start laughing.)

(Will you ever take your own advice?)

(Ha.)

(You need to go and talk to the King.)

(One  last  time.)

When doing all Friendquests for the first time, the option appears to ask the King on a later loop, so as not to interrupt. Because, once again, asking makes you die.

Siffrin "Let's stop fighting."

Mirabelle (uwah!1) SIFFRIN?!?

Odile (no!1) What are you--

King ......

(You don't need to fight anymore, do you?)

(You understand what the King wants! How he feels!)

(If only you could make him understand...!!!)

Siffrin (hide1) "We don't have to fight..."

Siffrin (angry4) "We're looking for the same thing!!!"

King ......!!!

Siffrin (yelling3) "I know! I understand why you're doing this!"

Siffrin (yelling2) "But this isn't the way to do it!"

Siffrin (upset1) "We can protect this country another way! You don't need to freeze it forever!"

Siffrin (yelling1) "Do you really want it all to end?"

King ......

Siffrin (yelling3) "Let's just stop fighting! Leave this country be!"

Siffrin (yelling1) "We don't need to keep holding onto it..."

Siffrin (upset1) "Let's just... Let it go..."

Siffrin (hide5) "We have to let it go, King..."

Isabeau (hm4) ...

Odile (fight1) ...

Mirabelle (anxious3) ...

Bonnie (wait1) ...

King . . . . . .

King . . . . . .

King ......  I......

King ......

King ......  Perhaps you are right, bright one.

Isabeau (huhwah1) HUH?!??

Mirabelle (awawa1) WHAT?!?

King Let us stop this battle.

King Let us talk to one another......  
As people from the same country......

(...)

The battle ends; the party are standing in front of the King with weapons still drawn.

(The King has stopped fighting you.)

(You lower your dagger.)

Mirabelle (awawa1) Siffrin...!

Isabeau (angry2) ...

Bonnie (sad1) Is... Is this it?

Bonnie (no!1) You're gonna stop, just like that?!

Odile (guilty2) Boniface...

Bonnie (no!1) You destroyed my home, froze my sister, froze all of Vaugarde in time...

Bonnie (angry1) AND YOU'LL JUST STOP, JUST LIKE THAT?!?

King Ooh, ooooooh......

King I will.

King I have fought for long enough.

King And......
I'm starting to realize that even if I did win......

King My victory would be short lived.

Bonnie (sulk3) Because you'd be frozen in time yourself, maybe?

Bonnie (sulk2) Stupid.

King ......

King Perhaps.

King But......
If someone from my own country is the one asking......
Then, shouldn't I listen......?

King Oooh, ooooooh......

King After all......
Only a fellow compatriot would understand my pain.

(...)

Mirabelle (anxious3) You said... You and Siffrin are from the same country...?

Bonnie (sad1) We... We don't know where Frin is from, so...

Isabeau (angry1) What happened?

(The King cries out.)

King Ooooh, oooooh......

King But that's the problem, isn't it?
That's what we'd like to know as well, isn't it......?

King If I mention it......
You might be able to remember it, for a brief second......

King ......The fate of the island, north of Vaugarde.

Isabeau (wonder1) An island north of Vaugarde...?

Odile (dotdotdot2) Is it perhaps... The one we can't say the name of?

Mirabelle (anxious3) The one no one can remember anything about...!

King The very one.

Bonnie (no!2) That's where you're both from? So then, what happened?

King ......

(The King sobs.)

King I suppose your story might be similar to mine, bright one......

King One day......
I just woke up on a beach, on a coast north of Vaugarde.

King I woke up slowly, as people sometimes do, expecting to remember where I was, what I was supposed to be doing that day......

King But......  
Nothing came to mind.

King And as I realized nothing came to mind, I also realized......

King I could not remember a single thing.

King What I was doing here on this beach, what chores I had to do on that day......

King How I got here, why I didn't recognize my surroundings......

King My past, my family, my name, the language I spoke, the alphabet I wrote with, the stars, the country's inhabitants, culture, beliefs, its very name......!!!

King I could not remember anything!!!!!!

King Because all my memories, everything even slightly connected to the country I came from......
Just......

King Cannot be accessed easily, anymore.

King And......
It makes sense, doesn't it?

King No one on this planet can remember our home as it was.

King Most people from outside it, who had limited ties to it, only forgot the country's existence.....

King Maybe forgot a friend from there, or a distant family member......

King But for someone who had ties to it.

King Who was born there, lived in it, breathed it day and night......

King There would be nothing to remember.

King There would just be......

King Emptiness.

King I was cut off from my very existence.

King My entire past, my entire identity......
Erased.

King ......Memories make up the core of who we are, don't they?

King They're proof that we existed.
That we are real.

King Can you be certain of anything, if you do not remember how you learned it?

King And if you do not remember your past......

King If you only know it has been erased from your memory, because something happened to your home......

King And if SOMETHING happened, but no one remembers what, or why......

King Then . . . . . .

Siffrin (hide4) "...Then, what's stopping it from happening again?"

King What if we forget it all?

Siffrin (hide6) "What if we lose it all, once more?"

(The King sobs.)

Siffrin (angry1) "And you had to make sure it wouldn't happen again."

King At any cost necessary.

Siffrin (tired1) "And if the Universe led you on this path..."

King Then it must be what the Universe wants.

King "The Universe......"

(..."Leads".)

King "We can only......"

(..."Follow".)

King Hahahaha......

King Oh, oooh......
Even if you don't agree with my methods, bright one......
I can tell you understand.

King No matter what......
I could not let this happen again!
I could not!!!!!!

King NOT TO VAUGARDE!!!!!!

King NOT TO VAUGARDIANS, WHO HOUSED ME, CARED FOR ME, LOVED ME!!!!!!

King I DO NOT WANT TO FORGET IT ALL, NOT AGAIN!!!!!!

King I WILL KEEP THE THINGS I LOVE CLOSE TO ME!!!!!!
I WILL MAKE SURE THEY CAN KEEP EXISTING!!!!!!

King SO THAT THEY CAN BE REMEMBERED, FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!

(...)

Isabeau (angry2) ...

Bonnie (sad1) ...

Mirabelle (sad4) ...

Odile (dotdotdot2) ...

King ......

King That was what I thought.
This whole time.
This whole time......

King ......

King But, ah......  
I can see that I was mistaken.

King You're right, bright one.

King We can find another way to protect the people we love.

King So......
Please, while I still can......  
Let me change my mind.

King Let me help you.

Mirabelle lowers her sword.

Mirabelle (anxious2) ...  Change...

Odile (sad1) Mirabelle...

Mirabelle (anxious3) Madame, if he truly means it...   Shouldn't we try?

Mirabelle (serious2) Or are we deciding he cannot change?

Mirabelle (serious4) I can't believe that... I want to believe... That even the worst person can change...!

Odile (guilty1) Hm...

Siffrin (angry3) "Odile..."

Odile (dotdotdot2) ...

Siffrin (sad1) "Please."

Siffrin (angry1) "We have to try."

Odile (dotdotdot1) . . .

Isabeau (disappointed1) . . .

Isabeau lowers his fists...

Isabeau (brag1) ...  I'm with Mira and Sif!

...and Odile follows suit.

Odile (dotdotdot2) ...Fine.

Bonnie (sulk1) ...

Bonnie (sulk3) Okay. I'll follow you, Frin, but...

Bonnie (sad1) I dunno, I...

After a pause, Bonnie lowers their pan.

Bonnie (sad2) I'll trust you all. I can't... I can't do anything anyway.

(You breathe out.)

(If you can end this loop without fighting...)

(If you and the King can come to an understanding...)

King Ooooooh......

King Then......
Bright one......
Siffrin.

King Won't you stand next to me......?

(...?)

King I can bring everyone back.
Make sure they'll all move again.

King We can save this country......
Together.

King But......
I cannot break the Curse on my own.

King Creating the Curse was easy, but unravelling it......
Asks for more power than I possess.

King But with the help of someone else......
Someone who truly wishes for the Curse to be lifted......

Odile (doubt1) Is that how it works...?

King It does, if someone wants it enough.

Mirabelle (anxious3) ...Siffrin... Should I do it?

( . . .)

• (Go to the King's side.)

  (If all that's needed for the Curse to break is your help...)

  (You're the one who made the King change his mind. The least you can do is help.)

  (You start to walk over to the King.)

  
  

  King ......

  King Haha......

  King HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

  King Oh, bright one......

  
  

  King Not that bright, after all.

• (...)

  (...)

  (Something's wrong.)

  (Why would the King agree to help you so easily?)

  (Something's wrong. Something's wrong. Something's wrong.)

  (You do not move.)

  
  

  King ......

  King Hahaha......
  It is of no matter.

  
  

  King You're all close enough.

The King strikes, playing a pitched-down version of the Timefreeze SFX.

(NGH...!!!)

Isabeau AH...!!!  

(No, no, no, why?!?)

(The King froze your bodies in time!!!)

(You can think and move your head, still, so it's not over, but...)

(You can't move...!!!)

Isabeau NO, NO...

Odile KING, YOU--!!!

Mirabelle I-I can't move... Why can't I move?!

King Bright one.
Siffrin.

King Is this really all I needed to do?
To make you trust me?

King I just needed to listen to your empty words, to tell you how sad I am, to make you think I was pathetic, to be pitied?

King You should have told me sooner.
Killing you like this is easier than fighting.

(?!?)

Isabeau WHAT--

Mirabelle NO!!! EVERYONE!!!

King What was it you wanted me to do......?

King Let go of my goal?
Let go of my wish?

King LET GO OF THE WISH THAT KEPT ME GOING ALL THOSE YEARS?!?

King I WILL NEVER LET IT GO!!!!!!

King VAUGARDE!!!!!!
OUR COUNTRY!!!!!!
I WILL MAKE SURE THEY ARE KEPT PERFECT FOREVER!!!!!!

King Because, ooooooh......
I can tell, Siffrin.

King This isn't how it should be.

(!!!)

King I saw it all, you know.
I saw the signs.

King The way you came in to face me.
Like you knew exactly what you were about to fight.
The way your companions all flinched, hearing my voice, but not you.

King The way you knew about my home, the way you can keep it at the forefront of your mind, like you've practiced as I have.

King Yes......
Oooooh, ooooooooh, I can tell!
I can tell, Siffrin!!!!!!

King I SHOULD'VE WON!!!!!!
I SHOULD'VE WON LONG AGO!!!!!!
But something went wrong, didn't it?

King VICTORY KEEPS ESCAPING MY GRASP!!!!!!

King Siffrin.

King It's you, isn't it?
The one who's keeping me from winning?

King HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU KEPT ME FROM VICTORY, SIFFRIN?

(!!!)

(You can't breathe.)

Isabeau What is he talking about...?

Odile What...

King Hahaha......
I can tell......

King I can feel it......
This scent.....
This overpowering sweet scent......

King I can taste the power of Wish Craft on you.

(Huh...?)

Mirabelle "Wish Craft"...?

King I can tell, Siffrin.

King IT'S YOU!

King YOU'RE THE ONE KEEPING ME FROM TOTAL VICTORY!

King YOU'RE THE ONE KEEPING ME FROM MY PERFECT ENDING!!!!!!

King IF ONLY......
IF ONLY YOU WEREN'T HERE.....!!!!!!

King But, ah.
A quick death would be too easy for you.

King You'd just come back anyway, won't you?

King So......

King I just need to make sure that today......

King You learn your lesson.

Bonnie Ah...!

A very low pitched damage sound, like squeezing.

(THE KING GRABBED ONTO BONNIE!!!)

Mirabelle BONNIE!!!!!!

Odile NO!!!!!!

Isabeau CURSE YOU, KING, LET THEM GO!!!!!!

King Hah....

King Bright one.
Siffrin.
Look at me.

King You need to learn to not cross me again.

King I will kill this child.
And your Housemaiden.
And your Fighter.
And your Researcher.

King I will kill them all, one after the other.

King I will kill them all now, and make sure you remember.
I will force you to watch.

King So you will learn.

Bonnie FRIN...!!! AH!!!!!!

(The King is tightening his grip...!!!)

(BONNIE!!!)

Mirabelle NO!!!!! PLEASE, NO!!!!!!

Odile COME ON, STUPID BODY, MOVE!!!!!!!!

Odile BONIFACE!!!!!

Isabeau NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, BONBON!!!!!!!

(NONE OF YOU CAN MOVE...!!!!!!)

(Your whole body hurts, you can't move, but you have to do something, save Bonnie!!!!)

(You need to find a way to loop back somehow, you need to die, a tear, anything--)

(JUST LOOP BACK!!!!!!!)

Bonnie Help me...!!!! I'm scared!!!!!

Isabeau JUST LET THEM GO, PLEASE...!!!!

(Not Bonnie, please...)

(Your stomach feels like it's caving in on itself)

Odile CURSE YOU, KING!!!! CURSE YOU AND YOUR WHOLE COUNTRY!!! CURSE YOU AND EVERYTHING YOU STAND FOR!!!!!

(You taste sugar on your tongue)

Mirabelle BONNIE!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAH...!!!!!

(You have to loop back)

(loop back loop back loop back loop back loop back loop back loop back loop back loop back loop back loop back loop back loop back LOOP BACK)

Bonnie FRIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

King When you come back, bright one......

King Remember this.

(LOOP BACK)

Bonnie F  R  I

The sound of something snapping. After a long pause, the game over screen appears with the text (GO BACK GO BACK GO BACK GO BACK).

(AH--!!!)

(Stars, no, no, no, no, no--)

(You clutch your chest and try to catch your breath and forget!!!)

(It's fine!!!)

(You looped back!!! It's fine!!! It's fine!!! They're fine!!! Bonnie is fine!!!)

(Looping resets everything!!! Everything that just happened has been erased!!! Everything is back to normal!!! Bonnie is back to normal!!!)

(Just go and see them!!! They're fine!!! They're fine!!!)

(THEY'RE  FINE!!!!)

(They're fine.)

(They're fine.)

(You're fine.)

(A whimper escapes you.)

(No, you're okay, Bonnie is okay, everyone is okay.)

(They have to be okay)

(Just breathe.)

(breathe breathe breathe breathe breathe breathe)

(Bonnie)

(Bonnie is      okay.)

(You're okay.)

(Ha, see, because of the way loops work, they won't remember anything. They're not hurt, everything is back to normal.)

(There's no reason the loops would work differently this time.)

(Just breathe, and stand up, and make sure.)

(Get back to the stage.)

(Follow the script.)

(You have to make sure Bonnie is okay.)

Mirabelle (happy1) Siffrin! You're--

Mirabelle (anxious3) Oh Change, you look...

Mirabelle (awawa1) You look really, really tired! I thought you were taking a nap! D-Did you not sleep well?

Siffrin (fake3) "Not really, haha!"

Mirabelle (anxious3) Oh no... I'm sorry to hear that...

Mirabelle (awawa1) I was going to tell you something, b-but forget about it! Go on and do whatever you need to today!!!

Siffrin (fake3) "Sure."

Siffrin (fake3) "Do you know if Bonnie is okay?"

Mirabelle (wonder1) Bonnie...? Why wouldn't they be?

Mirabelle (anxious2) I saw them near the fields earlier, to the East, if you'd like to talk to them...?

(You nod.)

Mirabelle (anxious3) O-Okay...

Mirabelle (awawa1) I-I'll leave you alone... Make sure to rest up, and we'll meet for dinner at the Clocktower later!

(You nod again.)

(Habit takes over, and you tell her about the CARROT method.)

Mirabelle (stressed1) W-Wait, how did you know about--

(...And wink.)

Mirabelle (worried1) O-Okay...

(Mirabelle learned the Craft Skill "Adorable Moving Shield" again.)

(You need to see if Bonnie is okay.)

(Bonnie is here, alive and whole.)

Siffrin (yelling4) "BONBON..!!!"

Bonnie (shy2) H-Huh?! What did you--

Siffrin (fake2) "Bonnie."

Siffrin (fake3) "How are you?"

Bonnie (wait1) ...I'm... Okay?

Siffrin (fake3) "Good."

Bonnie (shy2) . . .

Siffrin (fake4) "..."

Bonnie (sulk5) And... How   are you...?

Bonnie (sulk3) You look bummed out. What's wrong?

Siffrin (fake3) "Nothing is wrong at all!"

Bonnie (sulk4) ...Okay.

Bonnie (sad1) Well. Um.

Bonnie (serious1) What do you want?

(Nothing.)

(You have to go and see Loop.)

---

Talking to Bonnie again in the same loop

Bonnie (sad1) ...?

Isabeau (hahaha1) Si--

Isabeau (sad4) Woah, what's wrong?

Siffrin (fake3) "I need to do the Favor Tree thing."

Isabeau (hahaaa1) Oh. Do you... Need me to leave?

Isabeau (brag1) Sure. But let's talk later, okay?

Isabeau leaves. Siffrin approaches the Favor Tree.

Loop (ew1) ...

Siffrin (hide5) "..."

Loop (ew1) ...

Loop (fake1) Hey--

Siffrin (hide5) "Stop."

Siffrin (hide5) "Just say 'I told you so', and we can move on."

Loop (angry1) I TOLD YOU SO!!!

Loop (lol1) Teehee, what a stupid idea you had!!! Thinking the King could be turned good!!!

Loop (lol3) He's the King!!! He's probably the reason you're here, or related to it, at least!!!

Loop (angry1) And all you had to do was find out he shares your tragic backstory for you to feel pity for him. He didn't have to lift a finger!

Loop (guilty2) And because of you... Bonnie was--

Loop (sad2) ...

Loop (fake1) Anyway, I told you so.

Loop (away1) But... What he said back then...

Siffrin (hide4) "He mentioned something..."

Siffrin (angry2) "Something about 'Wish Craft'."

Loop (ew1) He did.

Siffrin (angry1) "What's 'Wish Craft'?"

Loop (away1) ...

Loop (away1) I don't know.

Loop (hm1) Wish Craft... Crafting wishes? That sounds impossible, and way too convenient.

Loop (hmmm1) But he seemed to imply you were using it? That's what it felt like to me.

Siffrin (shit1) "I've never heard of Wish Craft before."

Loop (ew1) Me neither. I wouldn't even know where to find information about it.

Loop (away1) But... That IS new information.

Loop (happy1) So, as stupid as the whole "making friends with the King" was...

Loop (fake1) You did find something new.

(Was it worth it?)

(Every time you close your eyes, you still see a hand, tightening.)

Loop (sad2) I'm also wondering... The way you looped last time, wasn't it...

Loop (sad2) ...

Loop (fake1) Whatever, it's not like your Kid will remember whatever just happened anyway!

Loop (fake1) Just put it behind you!

(...)

Loop (lol1) And this whole thing gave you something else, didn't it?

Loop (happy1) Another Memory to equip.

(Oh.)

(You didn't even notice...)

Loop (fake1) You'll always remember this, after all.

Loop (happy1) Let me do the usual.

Loop (teehee3) [You got a MEMORY OF MEMORIES. When equipped, Memory of Memories allows you to read books you couldn't before!]

Loop (serious2) The ones written in that language that just gives you a headache. The ones from your country.

(Oh, how useful and neat, to be able to read your own blinding language.)

(You might as well read any books you find, before you forget again.)

(Like you do everything else.)

Loop (hm1) And, if you can read that language...

Loop (happy1) Maybe you can explore the House a bit more.

Loop (teehee2) Don't despair, stardust. There's still a path to follow!

(...)

---

If you haven't done Loop's hangout yet

Loop (happy1) ...You should talk to me about the loops, too. I can help you figure out what to do next.

---

Loop (away1) In the meantime, though...

Loop (teehee3) How can I help you on this wonderful new loop?