Chapter Text
The Change God likes to think they know everything!! All the potentials for the future is the mere concept of it is change itself after all!!
They like to think they know everything, that itself changes.
There's a place, a passage. A transition between what exists and what doesn't. A field of flowers that goes on endlessly in all directions. It's the only place she has left, now that her country is gone.
They've been there plenty of times!! They are best friends after all!! What kind of friend would they be if they didnt check in on her!! (ᗒᗣᗕ)
Every time they leave, they forget. Until the universe lets them remember again, and shows them the way into the backdoor. They always take it, at least they think so. It's cool, being able to see colors.
Most importantly…
THEIR BESTIE!!(⌒▽⌒)☆
The statue of themself takes life. The universe surrounds them entirely, the sky filled with its stars. Twinkling in colors that can only be viewed here.
Geee. They missed colors! Too bad they don't exist anymore.
They don't remember what happened, for it to only exist in the transition between what is and what isn’t. Maybe the concept of change itself didn't exist when colors did. Maybe the loss of colors was the first change! They dunno!!
Isn't it exhilarating? Not knowing every possible answer to every question? Let alone not knowing the correct answer to something that already happened?? (¯▿¯)
The Change God flickers away from the stars, looking down at the flowers instead. Forget-Me-Nots.
Many. Many Forget-Me-Nots. as far to their left and their right as they can see. Its endless. The blue overtakes everything.
Would they run off the world, if they were to try and find where the field ends?
Maybe some other time. Right now they have to find where she is.
They stare off into the distance, looking north. South. Southeast. Southwe- oh. There it is!
To their west, was a tree. Fifty or so feet tall, bark glimmering like silver and leaves a deep yellow. Fake stars hang from the upper branches at various lengths. They do not recognize the type of tree this is.
They don't try to remember, if the Universe wanted them to remember it, they would've done it.
If she wanted them to remember, she would let it be so when they talk.
They start walking towards it. Stone feet crushing flowers that don't exist. Monochromatic cloth brushing up those that are safe from the path of Change.
They can't help but wonder if there was a time where they also had color.
Maybe they wonder because they know nothing of what was lost. That they don't know what the options can possibly be.
Maybe she does. They'll have to ask.
They approach the first favor tree.
There’s someone sitting on the roots. Looking down at the floor. Wearing a darker shade top, wrapping around her neck. A matching pair of pants, all soft with purple stardust at the bottom from existing here for so long.
It takes…a moment! For them to recognize who they're looking at!
But they know that hair. Completely darkless, cut short to around their jawbone. With the exception of two long strands of hair, so long they touch the floor.
“oh my goodness HIIIIII!!!ヾ(☆▽☆) ITS BEEN FOREVER!!” They squeal. Taking a seat on a root directly to the right of them.
The Speaker of the Universe startles, and they look up at the Change God. Their jellyfish strads spring to life, drifting about as though it was in water.
The embodiment of Change looks at her face.
They're crying (for the world, for everyone).
They're crying and…
and…
It feels wrong. Worse than the kings crying. Worse than…anything really. So they don't look at their friend’s face. Maybe they don't want to be looked at right now?
Could’ve that was the Universe breaking. Actually.
Usually it feels like someones ripping them apart. Not painful, they dont think. But they dont like the feeling of their consciousness being scattered around like stars.
Oh me, they love this place. Where the universe can't violently swat their mind for trying to recall.
“Oh! My!” The Speaker laughs, her voice is as pleasant as wind chimes. “Hello, Change! It's been quite a while!”
“Has it really?? (⊙_⊙) was just messing around when i said its been forever. I. Do not know how long it's been.” They squeak. This place had a weird effect on what the Change God remembered.
Everything that was forgotten, and yet none of it at all. It's really cool!
The Speaker pauses, thinks for a moment. Then dusts off her shoulder.
“No. Sorry. I lied. It hasn't been long at all. I say…only a year—” She wipes her face, the tears still pour. “—but it feels like a long while…missed you.”
“NOOOO!! IM SO SORRY!! (╥﹏╥)” The Change god makes extra sure to exaggerate their feelings. Getting off their seat and wrapping their arms around her.
She feels cold. Cold and hard. Like the stone that makes this body.
The Goddess chuckles, giving them a gentle squeeze before breaking away.
They don't look at her expression. Sitting back down on silver bark.
“Oh. Don't make that face!! It's so SAD!” The Speaker of the Universe cries out, fake pain lingering in her voice. “I forgive you. You're forgiven. The Universe pardons your crimes.”
(o´▽`o) HEHHEE LAKSJFIZABDUSUA
The Speaker of the Universe huffs, full of fondness. Then her tone..drops off. “Now…you want to talk about something in particular?”
They know why.
“Sooooo…..The king. (ﾉ_ヽ)” The change god’s shoulders slump and they look down at the flowers at their feet.
They are all dead.
“My King.” The Speaker of the Universe corrects. Her voice dipping into disdain and disgust. Like bile.
“Your king.” The Change God nods. Then pauses. “Was he actually the king?”
“He was.” She hisses, sizzling like stars, they can feel the way their rage. Fires so hot they can smother everything in an instant.
The Change God already got all their anger out over this. They just feel….a bit solemn. They don't want to lose their country, but there's still opportunity for change. For something.
…The chances of it though…
“Was he a good king? (￢_￢)” They ask, looking up at The Speaker again. Pointedly not at her face.
She hasn't moved. Her hands curl into fists on the tree root where she sits. Her jellyfish hair strands floating idly in the air.
“At some point.” she hums, clattering like muffled bells. The Change God watched her. “I trusted that his wish wasn't malicious, the one I knew was never that.I thought.....maybe there was a chance...that…i didn't check.”
There was never a chance. He didn't remember her. He just remembered wishcraft. Nobody remembers her. Not even themself, outside this place.
They don't say that.
By all means, they should be mad, furious even.
…but to say that the drama wasn't at least fun to watch would be wrong, and they're still friends.Very close ones, in fact.
They can figure it out. Maybe they can be angry after, but….they cant blame her for making a mistake like that. They probably would've too.
“The universe still granted it though.” The Change God hummed. The Speaker of the Universe takes a deep breath. In and out.
“Didnt break any rules. It's my job to catch things like that.” There's no emotion in her voice. There is no melody. “I made a mistake. Im….sorry….i dont have the strength to undo it anymore. Not for a wish so strong.”
The Speaker of the Universe…is weak?
…Why?! (o_O) They can't even hide their surprise for that. The Speaker of the Universe is in as much control of the stars and fate as the Universe she represents. How is she unable to do her job!?
They rummage through their memories. Dipping into old Nostalgia and current events, and all the ways the paths converged into a single road to figure out what changed.
They politely ask the Universe (Politely, and definitely not a little bit frustrated) to remember parts of what was lost. As long as they are in this place, that isn't very real anyway.
…
…wait.
This place that isn’t very real?
…shes here. In a passage. A transition between tangible and intangible.
They know this place too, almost as well as she does.
They may sometimes hang out here, but never for long. They'll take her to the world, and show her all things that have changed outside her home. In turn, she'll take them to see all the wishes that have yet to be granted, all the endless ways the future’s possibilities can be changed.
It was exciting for both of them. To see the world from the other's perspective….
….and…now she can't leave.
It’s….wrong.
She's wrong.
They've been friends for centuries, yet they almost didn't recognize her. She doesn't normally look like this. They may be ever changing, but that doesn't apply to her as well. She changes sometimes, but it's only temporary. Their friend is very attached to a very certain appearance.
She had a crown, didn't she? She spoke for the Universe! The stars and the planets and the moons and the dust. All that is intangible in the ever expanding cosmos.
She wore that pride on her head. A small sun, no?
They had a dress, too. Didn't they? All prime with wishes and souls…and…foamy?
Those memories are nothing but a blur of shapes.
They grasp at anything
There was starlight…starlight thats….in..
Her creatures….Her people….
That…dont remember her.
Ah o(〒﹏〒)o
It's been a couple of years since the country vanished. She probably has some, but not everyone.
She'll need plenty of rest too, after what remaining scattered starlight is returned. They wonder if everyone who was there when it vanished died. It was very jarring after all.
….what did happen again?
Memories buzz through their ever expanding mind like thousands of cicadas. They come up empty.
Whatever happened, the goddess ended up wounded. Which is bad, seeing as parts of herself are scattered within her children. Her creatures.
They quietly thank the Universe. Not actually sure if they listened, but it's always good to make sure.
“Hey! Don’t wallow in what we can't fix! Or destroy, in this case (＃￣0￣).” The Change god pays attention to her body language “I've already got something to work off of!!! ٩(◕‿◕｡)۶”
She says nothing. Yet they can see her straighten up. Her hands relaxing again on the silver bark. her hair gestures slightly, asking for them to continue.
“One of my amazing Head Housemaidens has blessed a very dedicated follower of mine. Shes immune to being frozen in time!” The Change god says in a singsong voice. Crossing their arms in pride.
Mirabelle has already come so far in her journey. She's gained so much confidence and is surrounded by people who love her.
They want her to learn more about themselves with it. Isabeau and Bonnie too. Those three deserve it.
But….As much faith as they have in Mirabelle and her party, the chances they win are small enough to see the gaps between the grains of sand. Let alone all of them survive. All they can do is watch, unless prompted directly for help.
Alternating the possibilities of future events…that's always been her thing.
They (metaphorically) shake those thoughts away as the jellyfish strands of hair ripple in delight, imitating a soft darkless glow in her excitement.
Awe!!! They forgot she does that when she's very happy.
“Oh really now? What's her name?” Hope twinges in her voice. The Change God knows she knows better than to do that.
“Mirabelle Prunille Pois Chevalier. My little darling Mirabelle! Oh she's so cute!” The change god voice falls to fondness for their housemaiden.
HOW COULD THEY NOT? (´ ω `♡)
“Oh! I'm familiar with that one!” Her voice hums with birdsongs they aren't familiar with.
Huh?
“You are?” The Change God for a moment forgets, and looks up at-
Nope. Okay that's DEFINITELY the Universe getting upset.
Even in a place like this, her face still doesn't exist.
“I am!” The Speaker of the Universe brightens a little more, then it dims out. “Though she was really little. She attended one of the….err….Winter Festivals some…nearly two decades ago?”
“Oh she really was little. A baby even!” The Change God cackles.
They don't remember this event. Or what Winter Festival she’s referring to.
“Indeed, anyway. What is she doing?” The Speaker of the Universe asks.
“Heading back to Dormont. She's gathered a little group of friends now that want to help her. They are going to fight the king!” The Change God waves their hand in the air.
As if the chances of them winning wasn't the tiniest twig on the largest tree.
“Ah….oh. I wish I could watch it.” She sighs in disappointment, her glow dissipating. The Change God immediately recoils in confusion.
She can’t??? (⊙.⊙)???
“You can't see through your children's starlight?” They blurt out without thinking about it.
Wait. Why would that matter? None of the saviors are her children. Three belong to them. Odile follows the expressions and Siffrin- is from-
…
….Oh FORSAKEN CRABS! HOW DID THEY NOT THINK ABOUT THAT? (;´༎ຶٹ༎ຶ`)
“….is there one of my children in her little group?” They can HEAR the notes rising in her voice. “I…have plenty here and there, but the King makes them a little hard to see.”
“I think so!” They reply. The Speaker of the Universe stops. Their hair goes back to obeying the laws of gravity.
They take a moment to look away.
The first favor tree hasn't changed at all, but all the Forget-Me-Nots are either dead or wilting.
Huh. Wonder what that could say about the mental state of the Universe and its Speaker ( `ε´ ).
“Really?” She mumbles under her breath. Her hands move to her face. They make sure they don't look at what she's doing. Caramel drizzles. “OH STARS, THERE IS!”
“INDEED!!” The Change God shouts. “See? Now you can watch it with me!” even when I don't remember you exist.
“The Universe has gazed upon a field of sunflowers it seems.” The Goddess’ hums of gratitude ring with fondness, her hair glowing like a gentle lantern. The Change god cackles.
“You are its crabbing voice, I hope it's watching!!!!” They shout, looking up at the sky they can see through the favor tree.
I know you're watching!! (°∀°)
“You are right. Siffrin, Huh? What a lovely name.” She mumbles, a tone similar to that of a loving mother. “Four stars, hm? They couldn't have been very old when it happened. Yet that is still more than average….maybe they were part of the-
Static scratches at them. They must've made some kind of sound because the Speaker of the Universe perks up a bit in surprise…then shrinks. Her glow vanishes.
….
Okay. we ignore that. Because there's no point and will make their friend sad.
“Okay enough of your swooning. There's a point to all of this!” The Change God waves their hand to dismiss what just happened. The Speaker of the Universe perks again, folding her hands on her lap.“Point being…I think…ill need your help”
“My my, The god of CHANGE altering fate? With their own hand?” Mmmmm they kinda regret this actually. “Well. you came to the right place then.”
The smugness in her voice. Unbearable
“Believe it or not Speaker, I don't want to lose my country, and also this is not my hand.” She nods along, they can see her hair strands moving along with her. “since this is your mistake….can we…maybe somehow up those chances with a wish?”
“Up the chances?” she presses.
“Preferably with a little show. I deserve it.” The Change God crosses their arms.
“Of course…normally…i won't have the influence for anything like that. Not on my own…but…” The Speaker of the Universe does █- something with their hands
Okayyy dont look.
“But..? |д･)”
“…I’ll see what I can do. You have a fair bit of wishcraft floating around aimlessly in your country.” Her voice dips into teasing. The smallest ripple on the lake.
Wait.
One of her people….a crab ton of wishcraft…
“You….arent going to sacrifice them. Are you?” (°□°;)
The goddess stops. Her hair stops flowing again. They can feel those nonexistent eyes drilling into them.
(º □ º l|l) Okay happy that their worries are unfounded but also they don't like this.
“Im. Too curious as to why you thought that to be mad. Why??” Her voice almost sounds upset.
They don't like that either.
“Well. Wishcraft is- very dangerous! Well- and um- This is a dangerous mission too!” 〜(＞＜)〜Ougggf please dont be upset!!! “You- You- gotta get the starlight back somehow, no?”
“No?!” Their reply is both stern but shocked. Her hands turn into fists...then they relax.
Oh thank you. Expressions, Stars, Universe, themself, whoever (／。＼).
“Well. Yes. Sorry about that. Preferably all those blessed with my starlight will return to the universe after death—“
Hopefully. They don't like seeing their friend this hurt.
....is it painful, what they're going through? Like, actual, physical pain? They are too afraid of the answer to ask.
“—however, I'm not trying to actively kill them! I'll get them all eventually, they should focus on finding happiness despite what happened…and…you know…move on. Change.” She mutters that last part. Oh me, they have to hold back from looking at her face to see her expression.
They wish they could see it at all.
…what…did her face look like?
“Ahh yeah. Guess so.” They'll just have to settle for not knowing. “Really shouldn't have expected anything less from you hm?”
“Yep. However— and don't dare tell this to anyone—“ The disgust her voice is even more so than the disgust she had when they were talking about the king “I am going to kill whoever told the entirety of vauguarde that the way to wish is to clap it at a blinding favor tree and say the wish out loud like its an openphrase door.”
WHEGGEHAET WAAAA?? (°ロ°) !
AN OPENPHRASE DOOR?!?!!!?!?!!!
The Change god imitates a cough, and jerks forward onto the floor. Almost falling on the flowers sprouting at their feet as they laugh and laugh.
“I'M SERIOUS!!” The Speaker of the Universe wails in despair, her voice is as pleasant as a massive bell falling onto the floor. “There's no way I'm able to reach it! If there weren't so many, I'd have no idea what the wish even was!”
“I love you, oh me.” They ‘wipe’ their eyes clean of tears “Threatening someone with such passionate hatred, i see?”
“I hate you.” She huffs in disappointment, and they burst out laughing for another minute.
Alright fun over.
“Okay im normal again (◕‿◕)” They stop laughing abruptly, finding their place back up on the gray tree root.
“Thank you. Hope you had fun.” The Speaker of the Universe scoffs, and takes a deep breath “Anyways, yes. I can do something about it.”
“Like what?” The Change god asks..
“Youll see~” she replies.
Something changes. Shifts. They don't know what yet. It's exciting.
“Wouldnt have it any other way.” They huff out. “You made a mistake, but I have faith that you can fix it. With whatever you come up with.”
“Of course.”
(They ignore that she's still crying. They don't know how they know she is, just that they won't doubt it for a second.)
The gods laugh and laugh.The two’s conversation drifts from the heavy topic. They recount what's happened since their last visit. All the ways that change has happened over the time they've spent gone.
In turn, she answers questions they have about the world around them, or lack thereof.
The colors. They were both around when it was here. What happened to it? Not even she remembers.
The country. What is there to know? Is there a point? Who cares!! At least she remembers a lot.
Everything native there was made of her starlight. Mangalas and Plantains grew there. Migration was important to the animals there. She claims that's related to Mirabelle's quest. They are excited that they don't know what that means.
Her plans for the foreseeable future. She said it was a secret. They tried guessing anyway, they think they're close. She'll find a way to bring her home back.
(They notice nothing wrong.)
Time doesn't exist here, they don't think. They can't keep track of it.
So they don't know how long they spent talking, before they decided to get up off the favor tree.
They wave their friend farewell.
They wade through a field of blue irises.
(They ignore the sound of bells ringing with a tear in the fabric. A white door appearing alongside it somewhere. Calling. Beckoning.)
(That is not meant for them. They don't know why they shouldn’t look, but they don't.)
They find a small open spot in the field. Settling this vessel down on their back. Staring at the stars.
They look at the Universe. They look at colors.
The Universe looks back.
(They don't notice anything missing.)
The face on their mask vanishes.
(and never once, do they notice. Not even the possibility.)
(That they..)
They come with a new face, in a small statue in a House.
(Don't remember her name. Her true name.)
What are they doing here…?
How did they get here?
….
Maybe it was just really boring (￣ヘ￣).
They leave again. Listening to prayers and wishes of their followers for this catastrophe to end. Watching the curse freeze over their home. Watching their saviors, cheering them on. Yet knowing theres very little chance they succeed.
….and they weep.
(Oh ██████, where are you?)