Chapter Text
One moment you and your family were sitting on the beach in Bambouche, and the next the world was collapsing.
It had been a week since your group arrived in Bambouche, a little over a month since you defeated the king and saved all of Vaugarde. Things were a little rocky at first - Frin was still recovering from spending all that time in forever school - but things had been slowly getting better every day.
When you introduced Nille to the party, she was a bit nervous at first, but she quickly fell into place as a solid part of the group. You had all decided to spend a couple of weeks in Bambouche before setting off again in your travels. Today, your family decided to spend some time relaxing at the beach.
You were sitting in the sand, using your fingers to draw pictures with Frin, when something shifted.
The feeling crashed into you like a large wave, causing you to topple over. The nauseating stench of burnt sugar rose into the air as everything began to darken. Pushing through the oppressive force, you manage to wrench your head up just enough to see the sky.
It looks just like it did when Frin broke the world.
You wanted to cry out, but the sounds wouldn’t leave your mouth. You could barely breathe past the thick, disgustingly sweet air.
The last thing you saw before it all went black was Frin’s face, more horrified than you’d ever seen them.
Suddenly, you snapped back to reality, the overwhelming, choking air of burnt sugar clearing to a light haze in an instant.
You found yourself leaning on a fence overlooking an oddly familiar vegetable field, the sounds of the ocean replaced by the soft chirping of birds and “meeeehs” of sheep. Confused, you look around, trying to figure out where you are and how you got here.
Upon turning around, you know exactly where you are.
You’re in Dormont.
That smell of burnt sugar, the feeling of the world closing in on you-
That’s what happened when Frin tried to rewind time, isn’t it? Is that what happened? But why now? And why do you remember it this time?
Are you all stuck in forever school now?
You don’t stop to think about what to do next as you run to your nearest family member for help. You dash from the field, turning the corner to see Belle sitting on a bench, going through a pile of papers.
“Belle!” You shout, running toward her, “I think we’re back in forever school!”
She turns to you, with a confused look on her face. “Forever school? Oh, did you fall asleep and have a nightmare?” Her face shifts into one of gentle amusement. “Don’t worry Bonnie! I’m sure a strong young gentleman like you will be just fine!”
“It’s not a- what?” You cut yourself off as the words catch up to you. You stand there, silent for a moment, staring blankly at Belle.
At least, you think it’s Belle. Her hair and face definitely look like Belle, but her outfit is very unusual. Her usual cloak is gone, instead replaced by a light shaded cardigan you have never seen her wearing. Even more strangely, her circle broaches are missing, and she’s wearing odd jewelry in the shape of a lowercase “t.”
“Belle?” You pause. “What are you wearing? Where are your Change broaches? What-”
“Bonnie I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Belle interrupts, indignant, “This is what I was wearing this morning, and what I wear every day. Did your silly nightmare really shake you up this badly?”
“What?” You don’t know what to do. “If this is a prank it’s not funny! I-” You don’t know what to say. “Why are you acting like this?” Something was wrong. This wasn’t like Belle.
“Bonnie. I don’t like this tone that you’re taking with me.”
Something was very wrong.
“I don’t know where you got the idea that I was messing with you bu-”
You don’t stay to hear what she says. You turn and bolt away, hoping that you were going in the right direction to find Frin.
You enter a clearing just outside of town, and there you see what you think is Frin.
Sitting, eyes closed and smugly grinning while leaning back against the trunk of a tree, is what appears to be Frin in the most horrific outfit you’ve ever seen. Instead of their normal darkless cloak and hat, they are wearing a lightless shirt with bold darkless text stating “I hate my wife,” accompanied by a pair of light shorts and a cap.
Struck still in shock, as if frozen in time by the King's curse, you stand there for what feels like forever, staring at this mockery of your friend. At some point, he seems to notice you, opening his eye, turning to look in your direction as his grin turns into a grimace.
‘Frin’ lets out a long sigh before speaking. “Can’t you go bother someone else Bonnie? I don’t want to deal with a whiny child right now.”
You don’t know what to think. Before you can stop yourself, you quietly call out.
“Frin?” You don’t like the darkening expression on their face.
“I know you aren’t deaf kid. Go talk to Mira or something. I don’t care, just leave me alone. Whatever your issue is, you’re not making it my problem.” He turns away from you, closing his eyes and leaning back on the tree.
Slowly, you manage to pull yourself away and out of the clearing, moving faster with each step as you run back into town.
Something has happened to Belle, and to Frin, and maybe the others too.
It couldn’t have happened to Dile too, right? She was smart, she would’ve been able to figure something out, right? You cling to the hope that you’re not the only one left unaffected by whatever is happening to them. You don’t know what you’ll do if you’re alone.
As much as you hate it when the others coddle you and treat you like a child, deep down, you know that you are. You barely understood what was happening with the time loops, and this is so much beyond that. You can cook, you can fight, you can take care of yourself, but this?
You don’t think you can solve this. Not by yourself.
That’s why Dile has to be okay.
You pass through down, pointedly ignoring Belle as you run to the shop you hope Dile is in. You think you remember her going shopping the day Frin had their freak-out. You are so glad when you see her perusing the shelves, wearing her normal clothes. You think if you weren’t already crying on the way in that the sight of her, normal would have been enough for you to start.
“Dile!” You shout as soon as you see her, rushing with your arms out to hug her. You crash into her, causing her to stumble, as she wraps her arms around you to comfort you.
Dile looks down at you, worry clear on her face as you sob into her arms. “Boniface? What’s wrong?” She pulls back slightly to give you space to speak.
“D-Dile! We were in Bambouche, we beat the king, and-and we got Frin out of forever school, and-and, we were together and happy, and,” your breath hitches as you stutter and sob your story, “and then the sugar smell was back, and I was back here! And nobody else remembers! And they’re so weird! Belle was just so wrong and-and Frin! They were wearing this awful shirt, and he was so mean! And-” You can’t get yourself so say anymore as you begin crying harder.
“Oh Boniface…” Dille gently pulls away to look you in the eye, “I’m sorry that Siffrin was mean to you, but you know how men can get sometimes. You just have to man up and learn how to take it.”
You stop. You don’t want to think about what your face looks like right now. It can’t be good.
You shove yourself away from Dile. You don’t know what is happening. You don’t know why this is happening. This can’t be happening.
But it is.
“Why are you all like this? Why are you all so weird? What happened?” You shout at Dile. You know it’s not her fault, but you’re so scared and angry, and-
“Young man, I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but-” ‘Dile’ reaches her hand over to you. You slap it away.
“Don’t touch me! You aren’t Dile! I hate you! I hate you! I HATE YOU!” You scream so hard your throat hurts. You don’t care. You can’t bear to look at her any longer.
You shove your way out of the store and run away into the woods. You can’t bring yourself to check on Za. As much as you want to see him okay and normal you know that he won’t be. You don’t think you could handle having your worst fears confirmed.
As much as you don’t want to admit it, you’re alone.
You are ripped out of your spiralling thoughts when your foot snags on a root, bringing you to the ground. Slowly, you shift yourself around to check on your injuries. Your left knee is scraped up fairly badly, with smaller cuts on your hands and other leg. You stew there for a few moments before you hear a familiar voice ringing through your head.
“Kid? Are you there?” Could it be? You put your hand up to your ear in the sign that they had taught you what feels like forever ago.
“Loop? Is that really you?” You can’t keep the shakiness out of your voice even as you try.
“Yeah kid, it’s me. Are you and the others okay? I tried using my calling craft, but it felt like something was blocking me from reaching them. You don’t know how relieved I am that I was able to get through to you.” You can tell, even as they try to hold their tone steady and even, their fear peeks through.
“No!” You cry into your hand, “Everyone else is acting so strange! They were wearing weird clothes – especially Frin – and, and saying all these weird things, and being so mean and,” your breath hitches as you start sobbing again like earlier, “and I thought Dile was normal, but then she wasn’t, and I didn’t see Za yet, but I know he’s going to be the same, and, and,” you pause just long enough to catch your breath, “Loop, please tell me you’re normal. I can’t be alone, please, please don’t let me be alone.”
“Kid,” Loop starts, “Bonnie. You’re not alone. I’m here for you.”
Loop’s voice is calming, but, “That’s what Dile said, but then she was weird too! How do I know you’re you and not-” Loop cuts you off.
“Bonnie. I don’t know what’s happening to the others, but I promise that I will help you figure it out. What you’ve said about the others,” they pause, “It matches with what I saw of your fighter. I didn’t get a close or long look, but he was definitely wearing something different. I-” they stop, as if trying to find the words to say. “Meet me at the favor tree. We can figure out where to go from there.”
You hear a light “click” in your head, signalling the end of your connection to Loop. You drop your hand from your ear and begin to stand, taking in your surroundings. You’re surrounded by trees on all sides, stretching on far enough that you can’t see the town behind you. Or on any other side of you, for that matter. It’s a miracle you managed to make it this far without running face-first into a tree. You’re completely lost.
You turn in the direction you think you came from, but it’s starting to get darker and harder to see. You don’t know if you’re getting closer or farther away from town. You do the only thing you can think of, and bring your hand back up to your face in that fourth craft symbol.
“Kid? Did something happen?” Their voice comes through clear in your head almost instantly.
“Loop,” you stutter, “I got lost in the woods when I ran away from Dile. I don’t know where I am and it’s getting dark. I’m scared.”
“Oh kid… Stay on call, I’ll come find you.” You hear rustling as Loop begins to move. “Do you know which direction you ran in?” Their voice is so calm and collected, you can’t help but feel your panic begin to lessen.
“I ran out of the shop, but I wasn’t looking to see where I was going. I just needed to get away from her and everyone else. I’m sorry Loop, I wish-”
Loop abruptly cuts you off, voice strained and stern. “Don’t-” They take a deep breath in before starting again with their previous calm tone, “Don’t wish anything. You don’t need to do anything beyond what you’re already doing. It’ll be okay kid, I’ll make sure of it.”
You don’t know how long you sit there in the woods talking to Loop, but as the woods around you continue to darken, you see a light shining through the trees.
“Loop! I think I see you!”
You shove yourself off the ground and begin running toward the light. Sure enough, the spiky shape of their head quickly comes into view.
“Bonnie! Are you okay?”
You don’t answer Loop, instead throwing yourself into their body the second you can and wrapping your arms around them in a hug. They flinch back at first, before gently wrapping their arms around you, returning your embrace.
You stand there for a long time, sobbing into their chest as they comfort you, whispering gently and rubbing circles in your back. Their presence is soothing, especially because it’s the only one you have.
Whatever warped your family, whatever brought you all back to Dormont, you don’t have to deal with it alone.
