“So I thought it might be best to try this first. You know, since it doesn’t involve me having to try and revive you.” Sweetie lied masterfully, glad to see that the four Alicorns believe her immediately. Moving on, Sweetie watched them all stand close to the door. While they waited for the clock to tick over, Sweetie was allowed to dwell on her thoughts.
Sweetie had decided not to tell them the results of the test, glad she hadn’t told Twilight until right before it, not leaving her enough time to write notes. After a week, Sweetie had only grown more determined to keep trying. If she was going to dig herself a grave and fill it with ponies, she might as well be thorough.
Sweetie hid her convulsion as best she could, glancing around as no one noticed it. Good, Sweetie didn’t want them knowing what she really felt, especially not right now. Sweetie needed someone to get through the Loop. That was her current goal, she had to stay focused. Don’t focus on what terrible thing you caused a few days ago, nope, don’t focus on-
“Sweetie are you ok?” Twilight turned, noticing Sweetie curled around herself, shaking occasionally. The filly jumped, and Sweetie gave a shaky smile.
“I’m fine, just nervous,” she spoke, trying to clear her head of the dark thoughts clouding it. It wasn’t like their comfort would help. No, the next day their words would vanish, their meaning wiped away by the Loop around her. Sweetie shook her head rapidly, trying to focus on what she would do once they were also Looping.
Yes, that was a safe thought. Twilight would likely use the time to try and work out how Starswirl escaped his Loop. Celestia and Luna might help her learn magic, maybe even teach a few awesome magic tricks just for pranks. Plus, their years of experience would provide countless hours of stories. Cadance might not be useful in regards to getting out on staying entertained, but Sweetie was sure she could use a compassionate heart on occasion.
Sweetie smiled softly, letting herself imagine what she would do with the four Looping. Sweetie would start small, but eventually she might be able to grow the group into an even larger one. Rarity would of course be first on the list. Followed by the Crusaders, and the Elements…
“Sweetie, it’s time.” Jolting at Luna’s words, Sweetie quickly smiled, and nodded as she began to watch the clock. Raising a hoof, she held it up as all four prepared to run out the door the moment her clock reached midnight.
11:59…
12:00!
“Now!” Sweetie turned her head, watching as the four leapt into the hallway, startling Opal, making her lose the mouse for a moment. Opal quickly caught it, and quickly dashed away. Gasping for breath, the four waited, hopeful that this would be it. Sweetie closed her eyes and hugged herself. Any moment now they were going to fade into dust.
12:01
Sweetie opened one eye, looking at the clock. Looking to the four as they slowly began to stand up, Sweetie watched as they all patted themselves down. Sweetie watched for signs of sickness in Cadance, but they just stood there, smiling. Sweetie stood up, tears streaming down her face. The clocked ticked, minutes passed, the four smiled warmly. Sweetie slowly stepped toward them, tears now streaming down her face.
Suddenly, they vanished.
Blinking, Sweetie glanced toward her clock.
12:00
“B-But…” Sweetie gritted her teeth, and walked out into the corridor, where Opal was playing with the same mouse. Slapping the mouse, she watched it run away, and glared at Opal.
“Stupid cat,” she spoke, and walked back into her room, closing the door with a slam. Walking over to her bed, she climbed under it, and curled into a ball. Sweetie didn’t understand, why had the Loop reset? Had it reset? Time had definitely gone backward. Sweetie was certain of it now, whatever force was keeping her in the Loop, it wanted her alone. Sweetie gritted her teeth, bitter tears leaking into her mouth.
Schrich, schrich, schrich.
Blinking, Sweetie opened the door with a casual flick of her magic. Seeing Opal at the door, she growled and turned away, slamming the door closed. However, she hadn’t been quick enough, for a moment later a bundle of fur curled up next to her. Sweetie clenched her teeth and curled up into a tighter ball. After a moment, she turned around and hugged Opal.
“I’m sorry.” Sweetie cried into the soft fur.
“I’m sorry.”
Well that didn't work.
Welp... I totally forgot about the mechanics of this sitch... going back to the first 10 loops to check...
Paranoid Conspiracy Theory: Discord is actually Sweetie Belle. The energy from Sweetie's Looping is used to force her transformation and thus break Starswirl's Loop.
Come on sweetie, keep your hopes up. figure it out and you will get out of it soon. Just keep trying and never give up hope. without hope, you have nothing
5679075 oh god, reading that comment sent a jolt through me... Seriously, that story was scary.
5679330
5679075
I'll be honest, I flinched when I read that comment.
By this point I'm 100% sure (okay perhaps only 97% but still that is as much as it is reasonable to be) that the author intends to make any attempts to make somepony join her fruitless as it was expected.
So please, I would like to beg the author to end this pointless ark now if it doesn't already intend to.
I just don't find it even entertaining
Am I the only one that feels this way?
~Leonzilla
This, now this is progress.
They found a way to cheat the system, and the system struck back. That implies agency, that implies there is a target out there that can be struck in retaliation.
Get angry, Sweetie Bell, someone is targeting you, so your next step should be to figure out who and how.
5679423 oh my fuck, you're right. Something (probs the thing that helped her out of the Phoenix death looping and other things) is working behind the scenes. Sweetie just needs to find out who, and put them somewhere between Equestria and the nearest black hole.
Well, screw you Opal.
5679148
BUUUUUUUUUUUUUULLLLLLLLLL $#!%
Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh. This chapter was my Idea. The author just used my Idea. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!! Why didn't it work though????????????????
This is about the tenth time or so that I've left this comment but, seriously.
Mirror Pond. Make it happen. If sweetie tried to bring a clone through the loops with her, then she technically wouldn't be bringing anypony but herself.
Drag opal along with you sweets. Something got you out of that loop and it had to be nearby. Only thing besides your sister in the house is opal and that mouse it keeps killing... I also know my literary tricks, opal keeps coming up way too much for my comfort for her to just be a part of the background.
5679423 5679471 I already made a theory on this before in an earlier chapter. I believe the 'Author' is the 'entity' that is minipulating it all. I can't remember it all, or what chapter I posted it in, but I believed that it was basically that: Sweetie Belle actually was real, and that the story we are reading was really happening at that point and time. Think of it as Alan Wake if you played that game. If the Author wrote 'Sweetie turned into a lemon' Then Sweetie would turn into a lemon. So then the Entity that is helping Sweetie, is the Author. After all, the story must go on for 'us' the readers. And when something happens that might give her an edge against the system, such as the Princesses joining her, the Author writes them out. Sweetie, however, is outside the system so she is outside the rewrites too. She remembers them being there, before the Author
'crosses them out'and writes that it failed instead.I see. Opal is the silent guardian. Thus the alicorns would need to jump out the window (or something) if they are to sneekily loop with Sweetie.
I wonder if sweetie will ever test out having opal loop with her...
Welcome back folks to everyponys favorite show: Sweetie's Sanity! Well this loop it looks like she had yet another scaring for life moment, wait, what's that, apperantly half the audience thinks that Sweetie has already lost it, let's look at this chart of how much more scaring for life moments sweetie can take before she snaps! Oh, those are not good numbers...
5679382 I didn't feel any jolts when reading that :/
Opal is Starswirl.
5679983
so... its kinda like "Sophie's world"?
btw, that's an awesome book. its my favorite book actuly.
There is also a Norwegian movie. But I prefer the book.
Opal is either the cause of the loop, part of the loop or is living the loop as well Totally calling it.
Refer to my last comment. I call bull 5h17, and my last comment was thorough in why it is BS. Although I could give more reasons. Why isn't she just going after a dragons' egg like she planned? Although, 2 unaging goddesses biting the dust. A dragon would fair worse. Since unlike Alicorns (born at least), dragons do age. Thus the adorable baby would die of old age right after hatching.
5679382 Ditto
Wait....why didn't Opal die?
Maybe Starswirl is the mouse, a-la Peter Pettigrew.. And his death by Opal keeps accidentally triggering the loops? Sweetie seems such a random target, out of all the ponies in the world.
That better not be Starswirl's Rat/Mouse.
You and your red herrings...
Why do I have a feeling that Opal is integral to this and perhaps even Starswirl's redirected magical energy? She was the reason that Sweetie escaped the death loop, she's the one sucking up the magical energy, she's the being pulling all the strings. Opal always struck me as pure evil but this..... bad kitty!
6129247 maybe It was tiny twilight!