2 sparksChapter 4: [06:32]
Loop 6
Jokey's heading down the tree trunk almost before his eyes are open, the accursed bucket abandoned on the branch. He's most of the way down when a squirrel jumps onto the empty branch, its tail knocking into the bucket as it leaps to the next tree.
"Ya've gotta be smurfin' me..." Jokey mutters to himself, hopping down the rest of the way and running into the woods, ignoring the bruises he gets from the short fall. He runs in a random direction, a horrible hunch telling him that it doesn't really matter what his destination is.
An hour later, he's back at the cliff.
"Smurf this," he growls, turning around and diving under the confused, sparkly pink fox. No way is he trying to climb the cliff again!
He runs back into the forest, the fox stumbling over itself as it tries to turn and follow him. Ha, he's actually getting ahead! Maybe this time–
He skids to a stop, looking up at the cliff that is once more in front of him. Nonono, how?!
It doesn't matter how. What matters is that Jokey has a longer headstart than usual this time, and he's going to make the most of it. He grabs at the handholds in the rock, pulling himself upwards as quickly as possible. He isn't strong by any measure and climbing isn't even close to his speciality; it would be hard work even with regular handholds.
But these handholds are tiny even by Smurf standards, partly hidden most of the time, and so smooth that it's almost impossible for him to keep his grip. The fox appears out of the forest, sits itself beneath the cliff, and looks up at him. He tries to ignore it.
He's a third of the way up, farther than he's ever gotten before. He sees a rock jutting out slightly, the best handhold he's seen so far, and reaches out for it with hope in his heart.
The rock crumbles in his hand, sending him tumbling towards waiting jaws.
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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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