I sat there wondering about my choices when I finally decided what I was going to do.
“I need to understand the details of how this all works.”, I thought. “How the “Time Strip” works and what would happen if I saved Fluttershy...Maybe that book could help me.”
I went back into Fluttershy’s room and went through the oddly colored notebook which sat on her desk.
1 Placing the Curse
“Cut a piece of paper into a thing, long strip, then twist one of the ends and attach it to the other end. This is called a Time Strip.”
“Slip your front legs through the Time Strip, then say eight times, “Doctor, I beg of you.”’
“After a moment the strip will start to glow and you will lose consciousness soon afterwards and find yourself in your desired time and location. You will then be the host of this curse.”
2. Warning
“This is a curse. It allows you to relive a certain period of time forever. Be sure to act in accordance of the rules . Should you stray and break one of them, you will lose something dear to you. The number of ponies who will die on any given day is fixed. It is impossible to change.”
3 Removing the Curse
“There is no way to remove the curse. However, if the curse’s host dies, the time loop will end.”
After reading this I understood what would happen. There were two ways for Fluttershy to me saved. One was for someone else to die in her place, and one was to kill the host...me.
“I can’t do it.”, I murmured. “I just can’t! I-I..” I swallowed deeply. “I have to go. G-goodbye Fluttershy.”
I gazed at Fluttershy one last time. Looking at that innocent filly...Knowing that she would die soon. The guilt was crushing me. But I couldn’t do anything. I couldn't make myself kill anypony to replace her, and I was too selfish and a coward to end the loop and give her my spot in life. I slowly, grudgingly, began to trot towards the drag myself out of the house back to my own home. I had just reached the door when someone called out to me.
“Wait! D-don’t go…”
It happened right when I was about to step out and leave. Somepony put their hoof on my shoulder...It was Fluttershy.
“P-please don’t go. You...came to save me didn’t you?”, Fluttershy smiled a little, but even then, I could see in her eyes that she knew what I chosen.
The guilt, as heavy as it already was, just doubled. I thought I was going to collapse under the weight of my burden.”
“I-I know.”, Fluttershy said as calmly as she could. B-but you can’t…The amount of people who will die on any given day is set. That means if you save me, somepony else...has to d-die. And if you stumble on a step in your plan, it could end up even worse...It’s impossible no matter what you do. The ring of fate...The Doctor is trapping me here. W-why hasn’t anyone noticed? I know...I’ve understood it by now. I know that this world is just an illusion. F-fake. So...Please...If you wouldn’t mind...P-please stay here with me. Don’t go away. Stay here in this endless time loop...for me.
Tears slowly began to well up in her teal colored eye. Those sad, sad eyes. I didn’t know what to say. She already knew what I was thinking. I just stared and listened as she continued talking.
“C-come see me everyday. Y-you’re all I have Thunderlane.”, she stuttered. “Your constant visits are the one thing that keeps me sane. I-I’ll be really lonely if no one comes to see me any more...I don’t know what I would do...I-I’ll go crazy…Come on Thunderlane. Please! I’m begging you!”
Tears began to flow down Fluttershy’s face as she cried into my shoulder.
“Please, please, please, please, please! I-I’m begging you Thunderlane…”, She sobbed. “Stay with me.”
As Fluttershy cried into my shoulder. I didn’t looked. I could feel her hugging onto me as if I was her more cared possession. I felt the guilt I had, because of my decision. I thought about Fluttershy’s final request.I knew it was the least I could do. So I just said these two simple words in the time of Fluttershy’s greatest need. I said…
“I will.”
From that day onwards I came to Fluttershy’s house to visit her at once a day. We had some enjoyment...But when I left our hearts plummeted. Fluttershy’s, because of her waiting fate and mine, because of my guilt. Each time I left...I left her to her fate. Again and again. The weight always got heavier during the times I left her...But then I would go to sleep as Fluttershy faced her fate...We would always wake up on the morning of the same day of our slumber. So we carried on like this forever...Together forever in this eternal, continuous, cycle…
“How many times has it been now? What is it you desire? Do you still not understand? No matter how much you twist that ring of fate you’ll always arrive at the same result. If you still don’t understand this after going through it several times...then continue struggling within this endlessly repeating time period. Heheheh...”
Bad End 1: The Endless Cycle of April 15