Sweetie’s ninth loop began with a simple idea. ‘I don't want to see my friends.’ The idea slowly formed into a theory; could she skip school for an entire loop? She could probably fudge two days from Rarity and Twilight, but the other three would require her to actually not go. Sweetie bit her lip.
‘I could probably do it, but is it worth it? I mean, sure any effects it causes will be gone by next loop, and I’ve always wanted to play the bad filly. Plus, I really don’t want to have to go through that talk with Bloom and Scoots. Should I do it…’ Sweetie debated it as the sun slowly rose behind her.
“Sweetie Belle, wake up, it’s time for school!” Rarity’s voice barely registered on Sweetie, as the idea, as stupid as it was, slowly grew more and more appealing. Besides, she did need time to copy over her notes and double check them. Sweetie sat there for a few more moments, before shrugging and standing up, letting the paper plane in her magic drop.
Oh why the heck not. You only loop once.
“I’m not feeling too well sis.” Sweetie stumbled down the stairs to where Rarity was, holding her head. Rarity placed two plates of pancakes down, and put a hoof on the filly’s head.
“You are a bit warm, do you want something to eat? I made your favorite.” Rarity smiled as she levitated a plate in front of Sweetie, who had to cover her mouth and stop herself from throwing up. Sweetie would never tire of pancakes, but it was important for her act.
“No-urp-thanks.” Sweetie swayed slightly and lowered her head.
“Wow, you really are sick. Alright, I’ll go tell Apple Bloom you won’t be coming today shall I? You go back to bed and sleep this off.” Rarity watched as Sweetie nodded, and slowly walked back upstairs. Turning, she headed toward the door to break the news to Apple Bloom
Sweetie closed her door and levitated the paper plane once more, sighing as her headache cleared. Nothing was more convincing than a headache, and saying no to her favorite food. Now she just had be in bed at midday for when Rarity came to tell her she was going to Manehattan, and she was set until Wednesday.
‘Alright, let’s check over my notes while I have time.’ Sweetie slowly rifled through her paper, and began to read.
Time loops
Ways to get out:
1: Death(sometimes).
2: Stopping the cause(usually).
3: Performing the right sequence of events to find the ‘true’ loop(sometimes).
4: Cleaning up the world, or scrubbing it with toothpaste(never, but sounds like fun).
5: Kill the mastermind(Sometimes).
Tested:
Having people in same room as me.
Leaving something outside room.
To be tested:
Being outside room.
Objectives:
1: Deal with DT and SS.
2: Get CM, and get friends said CM.
3: Learn every question going to be asked during school so I don’t have to listen during class.
4: Win snowball fight.
5: Get out.
6: Get DT and SS to become CMC.
7: Regain friends
‘Alright, so I’ll test being outside my room once I’ve copied the notes and put them into my saddlebags. I’ll take two of the loop books, the ones that have the most information, as well. Oh! I almost forgot, a note for myself in case me leaving means I restart at loop one with no memories.’ Sweetie nodded, that sounded like everything she would need. All that was left was to wait for Rarity to come up, and get to work
“I’m sorry Sweetie, but you can’t miss a third day.” Rarity had come on Wednesday right on cue, and had quickly convinced Twilight to force Sweetie to go to school. Sweetie decided it was a good time to test her acting skills, and was currently pouting, giving both angry glares as she grabbed her saddlebags, and marched away from her home.
‘It took a little longer than expected to make notes of everything. I’m exhausted.’ Sweetie stifled a yawn as she paused, looking back to make sure Rarity and Twilight couldn’t see her. Sweetie decided the treehouse was the best place to hide while she skipped. It would be one of the first places they’d look, but she didn’t want them to think she had gone missing.
“All that’s left is to write myself a note to leave on the table, but I can do that on Friday.” Sweetie plopped her saddlebags down, and opened one. Pulling out one of the loop books, she opened it and sat down to re-read it. Sweetie felt she had been pretty extensive her first time, but it didn’t hurt to go through it once more.
Sweetie’s ear flicked as a bell sounded off in the distance. Time sure flew when she was reading. Packing up the book, Sweetie left the treehouse and began to trot back home. Once she got on the path, she turned and walked down the path she would normally go coming back from school.
“Welcome home Sweetie, have a good day?” Rarity smiled warmly as Sweetie entered, and she beamed a smile in response. Sweetie knew Rarity would notice if she told an outright lie, but she had only asked how her day was.
“Yep!” Sweetie trotted toward the stairs and up to her room before Rarity could enquire further. The mare chuckled, and returned to her work on a gown.
‘Three down, two to go.’ Sweetie was feeling pleased about her acting skills. So far; everything had been easy. Why, if Sweetie had known she could skip school this long before this loop, she would have done it ages ago.
The next morning, breakfast was interrupted by a knock at the door. Rarity opened it to see a nervous Cheerilee at the door.
‘Oh, Sugar Honey Iced Tea.’ Sweetie kept her face innocent but curious as both glanced to her.
“Uh, hello Rarity. I was just coming to make sure Sweetie Belle was ok. Will she be attending class today?” Cheerilee smiled warmly as she looked at Rarity, who narrowed her eyes and looked slowly toward Sweetie.
“Yes, just as she attended class yesterday, did she not?” Rarity watched her sister for any signs of guilt or the ‘busted look’, but found nothing but innocence. Rarity had never known her sister was such a good actor.
“No, Sweetie Belle wasn’t in class yesterday.” Cheerilee looked at Sweetie as well, and both slowly approached the filly.
“Very well, would you please explain why you didn’t go to class yesterday Sweetie Belle?” Rarity leaned forward and looked Sweetie directly in the eyes as she shrugged.
“I got lost.” It was an obvious, and poor excuse, but it caused both to pause and share a glance.
“Cheerilee, would you be a darling and escort Sweetie Belle to school so she doesn’t get ‘lost’ again?” Rarity smiled pleasantly at the teacher, who gave a slow nod as she bit her lip.
“Uh, sure, are you ready to go Sweetie Belle?” Cheerilee began to back toward the door. Sweetie stood up and beamed a pleasant smile at them both as she picked up her saddlebags, and trotted merrily out the door.
“See ya Rarity.” Sweetie paused and waited for Cheerilee to start walking as well, before trotting toward the school once more. Cheerilee picked up the pace, trying to keep up with the filly. Turning the corner, she blinked, Sweetie Belle was gone.
Sweetie hid in the bush as Cheerilee began to look around, before biting her lip and rushing back to Rarity’s. As she realised there was an evil smile on her face, she winced as guilt laced through her. Turning, she quickly began to run toward the edge of town.
‘Ignore the guilt, they won’t remember this after Friday anyway. And even if they do, this isn’t going to damage me beyond a grounding and an armed escort to school for a week or two. If this is what it takes to get out, I’ll gladly accept the punishment.’ Sweetie dove into the treeline as Rarity and Cheerilee jumped out of the corner, and began scanning for her. Sweetie felt her heart beating fast as they slowly approached her hiding spot, and stopped.
“Tch, when I find Sweetie Belle she is grounded for a month!” Rarity stomped her hoof as she began to trot away. Cheerilee followed closely behind, before she paused and sighed.
“I’m really sorry Rarity, but I have to get to the school, the kids are waiting for me.” Cheerilee bit her lip again, and glanced in the direction of the school. Rarity paused, and gave a nod.
“No problem, I’ll get my friends to help me search for her. Ask Apple Bloom and Scootaloo if they know where she’s hiding, and join us after school.” Rarity and Cheerilee split, and slowly left Sweetie alone.
‘This is getting serious. Rarity I can handle, but Twilight too? She probably has some sort of tracking spell too. I’ll have to be extra super sneaky if I want to not go to school today and tomorrow. But I don’t want Rarity to worry, I’ll have to make sure to be found right as school ends. Oh! I know just the place’ Sweetie smiled, and slowly looked around. It would take a lot of effort to sneak all the way into her room, but Rarity’s face when she realised she had been there the entire time would be priceless. Sweetie winced as another stab of guilt passed through her.
‘I’m going to have to grow a heart of stone eventually. I don’t think I’ll be able to cope with hearing Apple Bloom and Scootaloo do...that...every loop.’ Sweetie sighed quietly as she snuck into the house and up to her room, closing the door. Turning, she closed the curtains on her window, and sat down to continue reading her book.
After a while, she heard Rarity return, and glanced at her ‘borrowed’ clock. School had ended. There was the sound of multiple hoofsteps, Sweetie felt a giddy smile fall on her face. This was it, time to make her appearance. Oh, this would have to be her best acting yet. Sweetie breathed in, and slowly walked down the stairs, a curious look on her face.
All seven faces slowly turned toward her, and blinked. Sweetie looked between them in confusion, and tilted her head. Rarity’s eye twitched, and she leered over Sweetie.
“Where have you been?” Rarity’s eye twitched as she breathed heavily over Sweetie. Sweetie frowned, and pointed to her room.
“I’ve been in my room all day, why?” Sweetie turned back to Rarity, and blinked, taking a step back as her face got even closer.
“Why did you leave Cheerilee's side?” Rarity forced herself to step back. Behind her Cheerilee bit her lip.
“I forgot something, so I raced back home to get it. When I got back to where Cheerilee was, she was gone. I came to the house to find you but you were gone as well. You told me Cheerilee was gonna escort me to school, and I thought you’d be angry if I went by myself. So I waited for you to come home.” Sweetie looked down at her feet and scuffed the ground, crouching as she shivered under Rarity’s gaze.
Rarity tried to find a possible way that Sweetie could be lying, but the filly’s behavior was simply too truthful to be anything but honest. Turning, she glanced toward Applejack, who narrowed her eyes.
“Ah can tell you’re lyin’, Sweetie.” Applejack watched as the filly growled, and stood up straight. Sweetie suddenly looked a lot more serious, and a lot less innocent.
“Darn, I was so close too.” Sweetie folded her ears back and glared at the wall. Curses, that was why she’d been trying to avoid lying. Sweetie had fallen for the obvious trap, and now she was going to pay for it. Rarity stepped forward, eyes blazing fire.
“You’re grounded for two weeks, and I will personally carry you to school tomorrow.” Rarity turned and bid her friends farewell. Sweetie lowered her head and sighed. No matter, it was only for one day. Sweetie supposed skipping school for an entire week would have to wait for another loop.
Sweetie slumped on her bed and sighed, she was exhausted. It wasn’t the fact Sweetie had been carried like a foal to school, or the laughing of the other students, that had caused her to feel like this. It was the fact that she had been actively avoiding Scootaloo and Apple Bloom all day.
‘They were playing with Diamond and Silver, which means the previous loop was correct, they now become friends while also kicking me out. I’m not sure how to solve that though. Maybe if I go to school next loop.’ Sweetie closed her eyes and sighed, rolling into a sitting position and grabbing a piece of paper. Pausing, she began to write.
Dear Sweetie Belle, if you are reading this, you have indeed lost all memory of the events that led to this note. If Saturday exists for you; congratulations on getting out of the loop. (You won’t have any memory of this, but it still deserves congratulations.) If Saturday does not exist, you are still stuck, and my memory has been erased. Here is what you need to know:
Sweetie began to briefly describe all the loops she had been in, and placed it on the top of a pile of papers, the copy of her notes. Picking up her saddlebags, she triple checked all the correct papers were safely secured. Levitating the clock over, she waited as time slowly ticked by.
11:58
Sweetie snuck slowly out of the room and turned to look toward it, standing in the hallway. Beside her levitated the clock, taking the place of a paper plane for now. Sweetie breathed in, and waited.
11:59…
12:00
Sweetie watched as every piece of paper in her room, including the books from Manehattan, vanished. Sweetie peeked her head in, the teddy bear she had thrown outside was back in its proper spot too. Sweetie unpacked her notes, and sat back down on her bed.
‘Ok, so now what do I do?’
See if you're out of the loop or not?
5282323 Pretty sure she isn't.
GOOOOOOOOOOOO BANANAS!
Maybe she got lucky and is out, I doubt it. She really has to tell someone. There is nothing bad that can happen from it (I think).
What happens if she sticks an
armhoof out of the room when the reset happens? She should attach a string to the teddy next time, except I expect the string will just be cut.It appears being outside the room resets everything (except her memories)- maybe even passive influence on other ponies (if that was what made the CMC abandon her).
But I thought things outside her room reset, not inside?
if I was sweetie bell I guess I would build my knowledge and skills more make plans for the futures.
like practice lying against apple jack or make a few escape plans.
fast traveling? maybe the answers not in pony village? explorer to find a statuary to hide out the loops when rest is needed?
maybe find some sort of spell for a stand in sound good so don't need to be stuck in school every loop.
so maybe spend time every day at twilight library for reference or ask twilight to demonstrate more useful magic to learn?
5282521
More like she is the loop.
EEEEEEE! that is the most adorable way to swear ever!
this story is very complex in a good way!
So.. if i understand it right, the loop "safe zone" is centered around her, only herself (as a person) and inanimate objects can loop safely, and the safe zone seem to follow the terrain as it seems to not bleed out into separate rooms (or it does and we didnt see Rarity melt everytime)?
Sweeties doesnt seem to be forced to go back to the room when it loops, so she could relocate.
MMMmmhh. With this in mind, Sweetie could have copies of artifacts/unique objects with her since she isnt forced back to the room as it loops. Could she duplicate them? If someone doubt of her LOOP problem, she could show that as proof (or build up a small hoard )
On the other hand, she could use that to start her week wherever the hell she wants, just "end" her loop at some location to start from there. So long as she doesnt end in prison.
5282571
at that point, yes, as that was as far as we knew
however, this experiment shows that the loop follows her, and it appears that she is the only organic life form that can survive the looping
Cherlee began to back toward the door
was back in it’s proper spot too
1. Cheerilee.
2. Its.
So now we know... Guess it's time for Sweetie to 'move house' and be 'kidnapped' while still having her mass of hoarded items. Now she just has to find a good hideout... Maybe she could have 'confessed' to AJ about her knowing that Scoots and AB stopped being her friends and basically ostracised her. She know it's the truth and when she questions AB and Scoots, they'll also have their truth but without Sweetie knowing. So then she gets inflicted with a dilemma, both truths are right but she herself probably can't accept that and must think that one of them is lying and probably ends up on Sweetie but then Sweetie keeps telling the truth and then the universe in AJ's head rolls in on itself as her understanding of the 'truth' becomes muddled and then she realises that Sweetie broke her mind.
No, don't ask me why I came up with this scenario or how, I don't know either
So we now know for fact that the loops are centered upon her...
this leads to some interesting experiments. For one, I have to wonder what would happen if she loops while in the room that someone was in on Monday.
Hypothesis: Two instances in time were pulling on her friend's existences. One in the room they had been in on Monday and one in her room post-loop. Were she to loop with them while in the room that they were in on Monday on Friday, they would then be in the same place that would have been pulling on them had they looped elsewhere, preventing the second instance of them from appearing, and thus they would truly enter the loop, at least until she loops elsewhere. Though, we have seen that things can actually carry over between loops as with the new friendship with DT and SS thing, so if she successfully did this, there is no telling what may actually carry over now...
That said, what would happen if she looped in their room WITHOUT them in the room with her? I can only think BAD things. While as we've seen, her bear DID come back when she did not loop in the room and it reset appropriately, that is an inanimate object. What would temporary erasure from reality do to a living being? I cannot think of anything good...
This all said, she Really needs to recruit Twilight. Ask her to write a letter to herself explaining the situation and ask her to magically seal it in some way, where if possible, only she could open it. Once Sweetie gets through (note that I didn't necessarily say survives) Twilight studying her a few loops, she will be able to answer all of Twilight's questions before the vivisection begins! Then she has at her disposal the unstoppable force that is Twilight Sparkle! Huzzah!
So... easy way out if Sweetie's gonna try skipping school again: Confess to the group that she's avoiding school because all her friends hate her now. Hell, test out revealing the loops. As friggin' insane as it would sound to them, AJ would be able to tell she's speaking the truth!
Also, bloody brilliant chapter!
The speed in which you release these chapters is so awesome! :D
5282665 You think that's complex? Read "Hard Reset". It gets so complex, you're head implodes then explodes from the wtf of it all. It's also a time loop story, so that's cool. Probably the best on the site.
5285394
I agree Hard Reset is he best Tie Loop story on the site. But this is a close second.
5285394 Try its unofficially official spin-off sequel, Hard Reset 2: Reset Harder, by horizon.
I'll tell you a bit of a hint: Twilight's no longer the only Looper, but all the loops are unsynchronized, meaning that whoever dies first resets and keeps all knowledge, while the other Loopers get reset to their prior loop's beginning.
It gets extremely complicated, hehehehehe...
You Only Loop Once
(Yolo!)
I found that part hilarious!
You know, assuming you meant it like that
31.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_maax00wLJC1qfsomt.jpg
5282665 it is not complex, it is convoluted just for the sake of being convoluted, the author literally YOLO'd this. What about this is complex?
Complex suggests that something makes sense, it is just hard to follow. However the ponies in her room didn't just cease to exist, or wither away, they literally aged to death. Nothing else in that room would age 500+ years, just them. And that somehow allowed the Other them to hate Sweetie and love each other, without questioning why. That is just one issue so far... There is also the instant character reversal of DT, the way Scootaloo learned how to fly, and the fact that we know SB doesn't have things reset by area, yet her room resets if she isn't in it. Can any of this make sense? If so, then fine, it is complex and I am too simple to understand it.
I hope nothing is trying to affect her mind...
The approach of that something has been halted,
that creature of darkness
lurking in the hearts of all touched by this infinite nightmare.
Presently,
you must strive for that light
lest it flickers and fades with the coldness
of this single, solitary,
never fortnight.
We shall read on.
Ohhhhhh. That's cool!!!
Maybe now Apple Bloom and Scoots won't hate her now?
It's like a super reset. :3
I would say, if this hasnt happened in later chapters, she walks around outside, and finds a bug to crush. then, the next loop, she goes back to see if the bug is alive or not. if the bug is still alive, go nuts. unless the ponies are in the room during the reset, you can literally do whatever the fuck you want, just dont get caught and killed
5361650
Yeah, the deus ex machina of only her friends aging centuries while she and everything in her "stasis" range were left untouched REALLY bugs me.
5487132 I think even The Docotor would be calling bullshit. wibby wobbly timmy whimy
5285394 what about the best night ever?
Leonzilla
5285944
5282666
I am looping through time. As proof, I have in my possession one thousand, three hundred, twenty-seven Alicorn Amulets.
5709719
-And we have a winner for the Nobel Prize for "Best way to use a time loop"!
5709719 How about you melt those down... and forge a new amulet ?
...
+ 9000 magic atk and def, points.
Congratulations! You are stronger then 30 alicorns.
6111282 I have, in my possession, 300 bells of Grogar, 560 Bags of Dark Rainbow Power from Tirek, 1337 Crystal Hearts, 2 Jars of Liquid Sonic Rainboom and Over 9000 Alicorn Amulets
that didnt reset?! oh no...
hmm thats either good or bad depends on what would have happened if the safe point didnt move with her
6111282 Your name... Knights of the Old Republic. Yes! Very fun game!
The plot thickens... I wonder if something was halfway out of the barrier? Would it be sliced in half, survive, or be lost to time as well?
I've been looping for a while now, and I have, in my inventory,
-9999+ Alicorn Amulets
-25 vials of Distilled Pinkie Pie
-3 Tardi
-1337.9001 kilowatts of mana
-420 buckets of pure chaos magic
-1 Death Star core
-42 Infinite Improbability Drives
-1 Ares 3 hab computer
-1 planet made entirely out of rolls of Duct Tape
-The entire dimension of Tartarus
-A moon made of Transformium
-20 copies of the Elements of Harmony
-7 Trees of Harmony
-A gigantic nuclear furnace
-Ridiculous amounts of hydrogen
-Incandescent gas
-Mars
-3 sets of those superpower amulets from Legends of Everfree
-50 batteries each containing all of the power Twilight fought Tierek with
-500 copies of Captain America's shield
-Hermes from The Martian
-Aperture Labs
-The Borealis
-The entire internet
(Steps back from pile of all the stuff)
Now, what can a stallion do with all this?
7620476 make lemonade
and |>|_|-/| [[___]/_[|_~]]]
7620476 You could crash th-th-th-th
Multiverse has encountered a fatal error. Please try aga-
7620476
OVer 10000 alicorn amulets, and only one death star core?
Oh Sugar Honey Iced Tea
You know what, I agree.