ACT 3

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

ACT 4

Siffrin (hide1) (...)

If you've asked all questions in a loop

During Kingquest

"Nothing to ask."

After Kingquest

"Nothing to say."

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

(...)

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.)

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.)

(...)

(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.

(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.

King Oh...... Ooooooooh......

King I have......
I have decided my will is more just than the will of Vaugarde.

King Vaugarde doesn't know......
No one knows that I am doing what needs to be done!!!

King They do not understand!!!

King Someone who selfishly does what needs to be done, against the will of the people......

King In Vaugarde, such a person can only be called a King.

Mirabelle (stressed1) So you know!!! You know that what you're doing is wrong, that no one wants to be frozen in time!!!

King Against the will of the people......
Yes.

King Against the will of the Universe......
No.

King It is not wrong.
Our will is not wrong.

King I just want Vaugarde to stay like this.
Forever.
Forever.
Forever......

King !!!!!!

King . . . . . .

(The King looks straight at you.)

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

King Where are you from?

(You flinch.)

(...)

(You do not answer.)

(You cannot answer.)

(You hear the King laugh.)

King Oh......

King Quite honestly......
It just happened.

Isabeau (omgggg1) "IT JUST HAPPENED"?!?

Odile (urgh1) How?!?

King After I fully accepted the power at my disposal......
I found myself like this.
Towering over everyone.

King But I do not mind.

King I can see very far, in this body.

King I can even see......

King . . . . . .

(You offer the Bright Flower to the King.)

King ......

Odile (hm1) What.

Mirabelle (awawa1) Siffrin?!?

Isabeau (hahaaa1) Uh, Sif, I don't know how it works where you're from...

Isabeau (hahaaa1) But in Vaugarde, we only give flowers to people we, um... Actually like.

Siffrin (tired1) (...) "I remember that you can give flowers to whoever you want, as long as they're..."

King ......Important.

King Friends, family, rivals...... Enemies......

(The King takes a step forward, and gently takes the flower from your hand.)

King ......

King Bright one...... No matter how this battle ends......

King Will you remember me......?

Siffrin (hide1) (...)

• "Yes."

  King ......

  King Ha......

  King Let us make this battle a moment truly worth remembering, then!

• "No."

  King Ha.

  King ......

  King If it's any consolation......

  King I'll remember you after I defeat you, bright one.

King Oooh, oooooooh......

King This sticky, sweet smell......

King It is around you......

King It is around me.

King It is around all your companions.

King It is around the whole of Vaugarde.

King Hahaha......
I wonder how this country looks, from the outside in.

King Skipping and stopping......
Rewinding and restarting.

King It is not true eternity......
But it is close enough, I suppose.

King Whoever caused this   must've had a belief stronger than mine......

King Ha......
So you remember......

King I wished......
I wished......!
Oh......!!!!!!

King What else? I wished for power......
The power to make my true wish come true......!

King The power to Craft myself as a deity, the power to freeze time!!!

King Hahaha......
What about you, forgetful one......?
What are you hungering for? What is your wish?!?

King WHAT BROUGHT YOU HERE?!?!?

(...)