2 sparksChapter 16: [28:48]
Loop 30
Jokey sighs, eyes opening to the familiar sight of the branch. He dully pushes the bucket off, turning to head down the tree trunk. He's gotten faster with practice, it takes half as much time for him to reach the ground as it used to.
Still, the fox is sitting calmly at the bottom, yawning as it patiently waits for him. He blinks tiredly up at it.
"That sure of yerself, huh?"
It shrugs, then stands and shakes itself off, dropping into a chase stance.
He sighs again, deeper this time, and turns to run. He doesn't care which direction he goes in. It doesn't matter anymore.
He has to cross the river this time. He jumps across some stones, almost slipping a few times in his haste to get to the other side.
He tries to ignore the phantom feeling of cold wet can't breathe nonono help .
He makes it to the cliff after about an hour, as always. He climbs up in practiced movements, having the stable and unstable handholds nearly memorized by now.
The fox is at the bottom of the cliff, playing with some twigs while it waits for him. He does his best to tune it out.
He hates how used he's gotten to ignoring it.
He pulls himself up slowly, taking his time to get each step right. It's almost peaceful, almost enough to make him zone out, grabbing each handhold after the other almost without thinking. He pauses, unable to spot another handhold, idly trying to remember where the next is hidden.
His attention snaps fully back as he realizes he can't remember where the next is hidden.
Because he's never gotten this far before.
Because he's halfway up the cliff!
He shouts in triumph, clinging tightly to the cliffside as he looks carefully around for the next handhold. Huh, it must really be hidden well, he can't–
He slips before he can find it, falling into a crumpled heap on the ground. The fox sniffs him almost curiously, whining.
"Oh, jus' smurf it over with already!" Jokey demands, glaring at the fox. It nods, opening its jaws wide. The Smurf whimpers, trying to push himself away. He's too injured to get very far. "Wait, no, I smurf that ba–"
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Comments carried over from AO3 (19)
These were left on the original AO3 posting and are shown as they appeared there.
So. Many. Bees.
🐝
FOXES are not evil!
...THAT Fox is evil!
Eh, more 'mystical force trying to teach Jokey something'...
...And maybe a little bit evil.
You know the universe hates you, when even the fudging WIND works against you!
This time loop is a bit less passive than most XD
When there's nothing else you can do, spite really can keep you going, huh?
Three forces run the universe: love, spite, and boredom.
Exactly!
🙂↕️
Poor jokey...
Has he tried fist-fighting the fox? He might win, as the fox doesn't have fists, and would therefore be disqualified...
Oh my stars 😂😂😂
Fair point, honestly, it would be disqualified from a fist fight.
I didn't think of him just trying to fight the fox... He's like five inches tall, but hey, it's not any dumber than anything else he tries XD
I mean, they often fight Asreal, so...
I think he could take him. Lol
They often RUN FROM AZRAEL. And, you know, there's usually a lot of them... Including much stronger Smurfs than Jokey...
Has he tried just holding onto the cliff instead of going up farther?
He'd pass out eventually. Or an earthquake would happen...
Yes, it is bad that you think it is cute, Jokester Smurf! Lol
He's trauma bonding, lol
To be clear, it IS bad that he thinks it's cute. He and the fox might bond, but it's still a magical monster that keeps literally eating him. It's part of the fic's bittersweet, darkly humorous tone.
Glass-half-full kinda Smurf! 🙂
He's a jolly dude at heart, you know?
See! He CAN stay there for a while! If he can manage to stang a few berries on his run over, maybe he can figure out a way to hang on for a few days, the fox will get bored and hungry eventually!
That's actually a pretty good idea. Something would randomly prevent it from working, of course, as those are the rules of the time loop. Still, though. I might address that in a future rewrite. :)
Come ON than! Use that big brain of yours Jokester! You can figure it out, if you just KEEP TRYING!
You try spending 53 hours straight fighting for your life, see if you don't get a little bit depressed. But yep, he can figure out ANYTHING if he just keeps trying — he may be a fool, after all, but he's hardly an idiot.
PUNCH. THE. FOX!!!
👊 🦊
I love foxes, but this guy's just a DICK.
Yes she is, isn't she?
Is he... Is he DOMESTICATING the fox??? Lol
A little bit XD
To be fair, they're trapped in this together.... Maybe.
(Honestly, even I'm not sure if the fox is actually magical or a normal fox...)
Okay! Something new! New is good! If you can't find a point to trying to escape, change the goal. Make the goal knowing this weird anti-world like the back of your hand. Make the point riding the fox. Make the pony seeing every color the paint can be! There are many things to keep you motivated, ya big trickster! Pick one!
Exactly. There's always SOMETHING to keep you going. Even if you have to change the goal.
You know, if I ever made the timeloop much longer, I'd probably have some of that happen. Have Jokey goof off on some loops and explore and change his goals...
I'm so glad you're enjoying, thank you for all the great comments 😊
THERE YOU GO JOKESTER! Look at things from a different angle!
There's always another angle 😁
Examine the injuries. Bring some leaves with you, and use them to teach yourself about healing!
Oooh, that's a good idea.
New plan? Oooh! Fun!
Why doesn't he wrap his hands in leaves, then try climbing the sharp rocks?
Fun is Jokey's middle name 🤣
And shhhhh 🤫 Spoilers, dear.
Why don't you clime a tree, and glide over the cliff with a leaf? Schemer uses feathers to do that? It might work...
...
STOP COMING UP WITH BETTER IDEAS THAN I DID
(just kidding, don't, these are soooo going into a rewrite someday 🙃)
See? You get a few more days than the rest of the world. You get a little more time to feel, to learn, to FLY. Even with all the bad, that's gotta feel good.
It does. Honestly, I wish I'd expanded on this chapter a little. The fic's pretty dark, but Jokey does have his fun moments. I mean, he gets to FLY. That definitely is a bright spot in all of this.
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