#xverart

The Narrator: You're on a path in the - .

Voice of the Smitten: You foul beasts, all of you! How dare you deny us our happy ending?!

The Narrator: Excuse me?

Voice of the Hero: He's being mad about last time.

Voice of the Smitten: We were just about to grasp the beginning of our beautiful life together, and you - you wretched, evil, dark hearted monsters - took it away from us! She trusted us wholely, and you stabbed her at the gates to freedom!

Voie of the Hero: The whole situation sounded fishy, don't you think? Or is your mind so hazed by your own desire for love that you can't see? No one just falls in love with you that easily. And especially after murdering us.

The Narrator: 'Murdering us' ? 'Stabbing her at the gates to freedom' - what are you two talking about?

Voice of the Hero: This isn't our first time back here.

The Narrator: Great, just what I feared ... (Sigh) How many times has it been?

Voice of the Hero: This is number three.

Voice of the Stubborn: What does it matter how many times we've been here before? If we are back, then she is back too - that means we've lost to her. We have to get to her now and settle this once and for all!

Voice of the Smitten: Yes, take us to her post haste! We have an appology to deliver!

Voice of the Stubborn: The hell we need to appologize for? Finally getting her and letting her kick the bucket on the cold, stone floor?

Voice of the Smitten: The brutal death of our dearly beloved by our wretched, cold hands! Oh, I can't even imagine the way she feels right now. The memories of our betrayal must still linger on within her mind...

Voice of the Hero: It appears to me that those two are going to be our main source of pain before she potentially stabs us again.

The Narrator: Alright, okay, I am not going to bother with the beginning of everything - it seems like you already get the jist of things, so let's get a move on.

---CHOICE---

[Explore] Everything feels ... off. [go to: 100]

[Explore] Stabbing her so close to freedom really did feel awful. [go to: 120]

[Silently proceed towards the cabbin.] [go to: 130]

---

[130] --- The Narrator: Your familiarity with the cabin is shifted. A sturdy, wooden bridge, cast above a rapid river is what leads you to the mountain that the cabin resides ontop of.

Voice of the Hero: You ... weren't kidding about the mountain part, were you?

The Narrator: Do I still need to let you know, after two cycles, that the things I describe to you are facts?

Voice of the Hero: (Sigh) Do we really have to climb all the way up? I can't see anything apart from the roof of the thing!

Voice of the Stubborn: And? A little bit of warming up never hurt anybody! And it's not like it'll hurt us! Let's get a move on!

Voice of the Smitten: If I could, I'd fly up those rocky cliffs in the blink of an eye to get her, but our love is worth all the pain those sharp rocks and - !

Voice of the Stubborn: Ugh, just cut it out already, will you?

Voice of the Smitten: How dare you! I was - !

Voice of the Stubborn: Shut up already! You don't - no - you REFUSE to get it, do you? No matter how much you try, no matter how many cycles we live through, no matter how many versions of 'oUR DeaRlY beLoVeD' we meet - it all ends the same! Either we beat her, or she beats us! I don't know how long it'll take for you to get it into your thick skull, but it's time for you to snap out of it!

Voice of the Hero: ... Holy shit ...

Voice of the Smitten: ... Your words, my friend, hurt worse than anything she could've ever done to us. Why must you dismiss my feelings for her like that?

Voice of the Stubborn: Oh you'll live, let's just get this done with already!

The Narrator: Okay, your mind is becoming a lot more heated and cluttered by now and I am starting to get scared with how easily you'll be able to get to a rational decision, so just please hurry up!

---CHOICE---

[Climb up the mountain to the cabin.] [go to 131]

---

[120] --- Voice of the Smitten: Yes, and now is the perfect time to show our deepest regrets to her. Maybe, just maybe, she still finds it within her heart to forgive us, and move on from our disastorous mistake!

Voice of the Hero: I can sort of get behind that. Imagine how we would've felt if we got stabbed in the back right as our hand was on the door.

The Narrator: If the worst monster you've ever seen in your entire life would pass by next to you and you had to kill it - would you feel bad?

Voice of the Hero: Depends.

The Narrator: Well it shouldn't 'depend' in this situation. She's a murderous, world destroying monster who you've already killed once! In this situation tho, the monster has already ended you - twice - before you could've gotten rid of her completely.

Voice of the Stubborn: Are you going to give us another one of your lazy, badly written metaphors or are you going to let us go now?

The Narrator: I'll keep them to myself then.

---CHOICE---

(if you haven't read already) [Explore] Everything feels ... off. [go to: 100]

[Silently proceed towards the cabin.] [go to: 130]

---

[100] --- Voice of the Hero: Yeah ... it's almost like the whole forest was burned up. And I can't see a damn thing either.

Voice of the Stubborn: The scary aesthetic never stopped us before, because we keep on persevering! Just push through it and get this done!

Voice of the Smitten: Not even a chance to pick a rose for her. Oh, the beauty you have ripped us away from...

The Narrator: As you stumble your way across the path, blinded by darkness and holding onto the charcoal trees for support, your foot lands right before something that sends an icy chill up your spine. Your foot touches something sharp and metallic.

Voice of the Hero: What is this thing? A beartrap?

Voice of the Stubborn: There isn't just one either, they are scattered all over the place. They're even hung up on the trees. Looks like the lady doesn't want us running into her anytime soon.

Voice of the Smitten: Or perhaps, she's keeping herself safe, and trusts us to find our way through this maze of traps, so that none may get to her but us!

---CHOICE---

(if you haven't read already) [Explore] Stabbing her so close to freedom really did feel awful. [go to: 120]

[Silently proceed towards the cabin.] [go to: 130]

---

[131] --- The Narrator: You begin your ascent up the mountain, following a dangerous, narrow path up the first couple of miles, which slowly become narrower and narrower. Eventually, you find no more path to lay your foot on, and you are forced to scale the mountainside. Your hands and claws, digging into the sharp edges of rocks and cliffs, pull you upwards, as you feel every muscle within your body both aching and burning in pain. It is an agonizing, yet rewarding feeling climb, as every successful push, every successful pull, and every successful step feels like an achievement before you realize, you cannot see the ground anymore.

Voice of the Stubborn: Yes! This is pure, unfiltered ecstassy right here! I can feel every fibre within us pushing its limits! This is what living feels like! This is the taste of victory!

Voice of the Hero: That's ... quite the way up ... (Sigh) Don't get dizzy. Just don't get dizzy. Don't get dizzy ...

The Narrator: You're doing just fine, you are almost at the top.

Voice of the Stubborn: Come on boys, just a little more!

---CHOICE---

[Push your way up the mountain.] [go to: 132]

---

[132] --- The Narrator: You finally make it up to the cabin, entering its iron gates and stepping inside. The confines of the cabin smell of fragrance and elegance, but - wether because of your exhausted mind, or your past cycles - the beauty of it all strikes you as faux. The ground is covered in the patles of roses, and a red capet leads you down to the basement. The only furniture of note is a marble table with golden edges. Perched on it is the pristine blade you've learned how to wield.

Voice of the Hero: Suffering through all of that and being met with this is actually really, really nice!

Voice of the Smitten: She laid out all of this for us. To see our strength. To see if we can be gifted her forgiveness. We made it up here - .

Voice of the Stubborn: What did I say about snapping out of it? Keep your head in the game. And you, the one who describes stuff, don't bother with any other option - we are taking the blade!

The Narrator: Well I was hoping you would do that in the first place so you are just helping me save ink.

---CHOICE---

[Explore] The carpet just leads to a mirror. [go to: 140]

[Head down to the basement.] [go to: 141]

---

[140] --- Voice of the Hero: The mirror is back again, yeah.

Voice of the Smitten: Perhaps to let us take a final look at ourselves and see if our face is full of shame and desire to be forgiven, or to make sure we don't disappoint her with our looks.

Voice of the Stubborn: Who cares? Just kick it away already and get going!

---CHOICE---

[Head down to the basement.] [go to: 141]

---

[141] --- The Narrator: You walk up to the stone arch entrance of the basement and stop right before the stairs. Do you really think there's a mirror there?

Voice of the Hero: Yeah, it's all grimey and gross though. Maybe we could wipe it clean?

The Narrator: I can't even begin to fathom what those past cycles must've done to you to make you start seeing things, but right now is not the time!

Voice of the Smitten: One last chance before our fate with our beloved is decided.

Voice of the Stubborn: I will, actually, end you if you keep this up. Just kick it down the stairs and get moving!

---CHOICE---

[Wipe the mirror clean.] [go to 143]

[Kick the mirror down the basement.] [go to 144]

---

[144] --- The Narrator: You raise your foot above your waist, bending your knee upwards as you attempt to kick away whatever obstacle was projected ahead of you by your mind, but your foot doesn't connect with anything. Instead, you fall forwards, the velocity of your kick carrying your unbalanced body ontop of the hard, stone stairs, tumbling down to the bottom. Each bump, each flip, each hit feels like something bruises or bends within you.

Voice of the Hero: Nice going on the warpath.

The Princess: "I see you've made quite the journey down my steps, my pretty little bird."

The Narrator: Her voice, coated in a layer of gentleness and passion, graces your ears.

Voice of the Smitten: Just her voice alone is enough to ease all my pains...

---CHOICE---

[Face the Princess] [go to 150]

---

[143] --- The Narrator: You reach forward and extend your hand outwards into the air.

Voice of the Hero: Why am I not surprised?

The Narrator: You descend from the top of the stairs, the rose patels and red carpetting guiding you along and covering your feet from the cold marble steps. Your descent is lit by candles, hung up from above and dripping wax onto golden trays. The air downstairs creeps up, carrying warmth and damptness, like a humid day. If the Princess really lives here, slaying her might be doing her a favour! Her voice, coated in a layer of gentleness and passion, graces your ears as it carries up the stairs.

The Princess: "My pretty little bird, I can hear your feet thumping against my steps, and it makes me feel warm to know you've returned to me."

Voice of the Hero: I ... I don't know how to feel about this. She sounds ... too good to be true.

Voice of the Smitten: Our argous journey up this mountain was not in vain, my friend, you see. She missed us dearly!

---

[150] --- The Narrator: As you raise your head, your eyes meet the Princess' across the room. Your eyes glide along her long hair covering her neck and shoulders, and seemingly flowing into her giant red dress, with her arm still in a shackled chain that you can't quite make out where it goes.

Voice of the Smitten: She is absolute beauty herself! Just looking at her is enough to make me want to jump out of this form and leave you four horrible beings to your lonesomes without her!

Voice of the Hero: I ... woah ...

Voice of the Stubborn: Now ain't that a dress too big? It's like she thinks that by creating a silken barrier around herself, she can escape our confrontation! I wouldn't mind staining it, if you catch my drift.

The Princess: "Welcome, my pretty little bird! I hope your journey wasn't so grueling. Please, come and rest with me, you look beaten."

---CHOICE---

[Explore] "Hold on, this is going a bit too fast!" [go to: 160]

[Explore] "I'd rather have you come and rest with me instead." [go to: 161]

[Explore] [Make bird noises.] [go to: 162]

[Explore] Fellas, I don't know what to do - [go to: 163]

[Approach the Princess.] [go to: 164]

[Slay the Princess.] [go to: 170]

---

[160] --- The Princess: "Oh, is it? Why do you think so? Is it perhaps the guilt you feel from last time, keeping you away from me? When you stabbed me in the back before our happy ending? Or perhaps the time before that, where you helped me escape, and how that felt? My pretty little bird, your heart aches so badly from the past that's already so far behind us. Just let it go already, would you? Let go of those past mistakes and embrace the me in the now."

Voice of the Smitten: So she has forgiven us! Thank you, my love! If you can forgive me wholeheartedly, I can forgive myself, too!

Voice of the Hero: Does that mean you also forgive us, or are we still the 'wretched, evil, horrible monstrocities' like you said?

Voice of the Smitten: My heart is maybe patched for you, my heroic friend, but you, bloodthirsty hound, get no such treatment!

Voice of the Stubborn: Like I give a shit about your forgiveness.

---CHOICE---

(if you haven't read already) [Explore] "I'd rather have you come and rest with me instead." [go to: 161]

(if you haven't ready already) [Explore] [Make bird noises.] [go to: 162]

(if you haven't read already) [Explore] Fellas, I don't know what to do - [go to: 163]

[Approach the Princess.] [go to: 164]

[Slay the Princess.] [go to: 170]

---

[161] --- The Princess: [Chuckling] "Oh you would absolutely love that, wouldn't you? Feel me lay down on your feathery body and allow you to take control? But sadly, I'd have to say no to your offer. My heart might have forgiven you, and it may have forgotten your past mistakes, but my mind hasn't."

The Narrator: She raises a hand to her mouth, covering it as she laughs at your suggestion at closing the distance between you two.

Voice of the Hero: That's reasonable, I suppose? We did kill her, and if I look at it through her lens, then yeah - I wouldn't want to approach someone who I know has backstabbed me once already.

Voice of the Stubborn: Oh, I see. If she doesn't want to come to us, then we have to go to her. Fine by me. I'll show her what's good.

---CHOICE---

(if you haven't read already) [Explore] "Hold on, this is going a bit too fast!" [go to: 160]

(if you haven't read already) [Explore] [Make bird noises.] [go to: 162]

(if you haven't read already) [Explore] Fellas, I don't know what to do - [go to: 163]

[Approach the Princess.] [go to: 164]

[Slay the Princess.] [go to: 170]

---

[162] --- The Narrator: What?

Voice of the Hero: Huh?

Voice of the Stubborn: THIS IS HUMILIATING!

Voice of the Smitten: Hear our song, my beloved! Our heart reeks of sorrow, and so our song is sad, but your love can make it all happy again!

The Princess: [Happy chuckle] "You really are my pretty little bird, aren't you? Singing out your little heart to me like that makes me just want you more. Please come back to me, pretty little bird."

Voice of the Hero: Can we make a pact to never, NEVER do that again?

Voice of the Stubborn: I second this.

The Narrator: I agree. Let's forget this has ever happened.

---CHOICE---

(if you haven't read already) [Explore] "Hold on, this is going a bit too fast!" [go to: 160]

(if you haven't read already) [Explore] "I'd rather have you come and rest with me instead." [go to: 161]

(if you haven't read already) [Explore] Fellas, I don't know what to do - [go to: 163]

[Approach the Princess.] [go to: 164]

[Slay the Princess.] [go to: 170]

---

[163] --- The Narrator: In that case, here's a good idea: actually end her! You don't have to listen to any of the vaguely seductive nonsense she's spewing to try and get to you. Hell, it's making me uncomfortable with how she's calling you her "pretty little bird".

Voice of the Hero: I guess it felt kind of cute at first when she said it, but now I think about it and just feel like - "no".

Voice of the Smitten: It is simply a cute nickname she has given us! Why must you all dismiss her attempts?

Voice of the Stubborn: It's humiliating and debilitating. I don't like being babied like this. It's like she sees us as nothing but a pet she could stuff into a cage.

Voice of the Smitten: If being in a cage is what it takes to make both of us happy, then we might aswell crawl to her!

Voice of the Hero: What?! No! Absolutely no! Just, no!

The Narrator: Oh my goodness this is actually going to go horribly wrong. Quick, pick a decision and do it now!

---CHOICE---

(if you haven't read already) [Explore] "Hold on, this is going a bit too fast!" [go to: 160]

(if you haven't read already) [Explore] "I'd rather have you come and rest with me instead." [go to: 161]

(if you haven't read already) [Explore] [Make bird noises.] [go to: 162]

[Approach the Princess.] [go to: 164]

[Slay the Princess.] [go to: 170]

---

[164] --- The Narrator: You step forward, your eyes still on her form as she also moves in. She ... shouldn't be able to move around this much.

Voice of the Hero: Do you know how long her chain is suppsoed to be?

The Narrator: Yes, it should be tying her to the basement's far wall, but she's currently face to face with you and you only walked a couple of steps away from the basement entrance.

Voice of the Stubborn: Maybe she already broke free, she's just not telling us.

The Narrator: There's no way. She's bound to the wall. End of story.

The Princess: "There we go. And now that you are back with me, I've gotta say ... I missed you so, so much, my pretty little bird."

---CHOICE---

[Explore] "Please stop calling me that" [go to: 600]

[Explore] "You are getting far too close to my liking. Are you still chained up?" [go to: 610]

"I missed you too." [go to: 620]

[Explore] "Can I still just pull you out of those chains, or do I have to cut you out again like the time before that?" [go to: 630]

[Explore] "You are acting far too nice considering what I did last time. Wouldn't you be scared that I'll do it again?" [go to: 640]

[Save the Princess] [go to: 700]

[Slay the Princess] [go to: 170]

---

[620] --- The Narrator: The Princes then leans in, caressing your face as she guides it down towards hers in a ... I am not - I refuse to describe this to you!

Voice of the Hero: What? What is it?

Voice of the Stubborn: I think he's jealous that she's kissing us right now.

Voice of the Smitten: As expected from a dastardly, unforgiving villain such as the Narrator himself! He can't simply process the passion, the emotions, the feelings that carry into a deep kiss as ours right now - !

The Narrator: However, your perfect little smooching time is interrupted by the feeling of your blade slipping out of your hand.

Voice of the Stubborn: There ... is no ... way.

The Narrator: She shoves you away, saliva leaving your mouth as your lips part from hers rapidly. Your blade is now in her grasp, and you have fallen on the floor.

The Princess: "I am sorry, but like I said, just because my heart has forgiven you and your mistakes, my mind hasn't. I am so, so sorry for what's going to come next, my pretty little bird - but if backstabbing is all you know, then it is all you will get!"

---PROCEED TO SAME CHOICES AS AT: 170---

---

[700] --- The Narrator: Yeah? Well how are you going to do that?

Voice of the Smitten: Easily! We'll take her hand and guide her out, like true gentlemen!

The Narrator: Well I am not going to describe it to you then, and since I only describe facts, then it doesn't happen! Too bad!

Voice of the Smitten: Hey.

Voice of the Smitten: Yes, you brute?

Voice of the Stubborn: Make it count.

The Narrator: Stop it! What are you doing? Get your hands off of me you morron!

Voice of the Smitten: This cursed blade is of no use to us! It's simply decoration! Or worse, an ill temptation! Cast it into the shadowey corners! Away with you!

The Princess: "I am so glad you're finally tossing that knife away from us. You look way better without it."

Voice of the Hero: I guess your plans for "not describing anything" to us really went well, didn't it?

The Narrator: [Groan] If you want to doom all of us, then fine. Have it your way, you lovebird maniacs. You take The Princess' hand and gently guide her to the basement stairs. Her, dragging her long, red dress behind herself as she follows you excitedly. And oh damn, no door either to lock you two morons in there either! How peachy for me and all of humanity! You finally pass the final step of the stairs, and end up on the ground floor of the cabin.

The Princess: "Wait ... before we get out of here, I wanted to give something to you. I ... really didn't think it would just happen so easily. I really thought that you're going to pull a fast one on me back there and stab me in the back once again. But I'm glad you didn't. So, take this as a thank you, my gratitude!"

The Narrator: And then, like she was back in her younger, less eldritch, less disgusting days, she raises on her tippy-toes, and kisses your cheek... Ew.

Voice of the Hero: Aw!

Voice of the Smitten: Your jealousy shows that you have never felt the true warmth of a pair of lips coliding with yours, laying on your face. Perhaps you could partake in our feeling, and finally, just for one moment, allow yourself to feel how kind she is.

The Narrator: Just shut up, okay? I need to open this bottle of gin.

The Princess: "Now, come on! The gate is open for us!"

The Narrator: She eagerly pushes you forward, getting the two of you closer and closer to the edge of the cabin's gate before she leaps into your arms, pushing both of you off the same cliff you climbed not so long ago......

Voice of the Stubborn: Hey! Don't just dip out on us! We're going to die if you don't give us any options on what happens next!

Voice of the Hero: You know she's been calling us her "pretty little bird" this whole time, right? We are one, we could fly out of here ... so why the hell we never did that before?!

The Princess: "Thank you! Thank you so much! I - I can't describe how finally being with you feels! It's .... colder than I expected. But it's probably just the wind! Fly, my pretty little bird! Fly! ......"

[But you do not get the chance to fly away with her, nor do you get the chance to respond. Something has taken her and left something in her place instead.]

[THE END - 6/6 - "Lovebirds" - Soar away with your love in your arms.]

(Don't like this ending? Go back to previous choices and see what you end up with!)

---

[630] --- The Princess: "Don't worry about the chains. They are long gone. The only thing keeping me down here is my want to keep waiting for you."

The Narrator: She isn't lying, as she raises her wrist, pulling the chains upwards and pulling with her other hand, piling and piling up more and more iron into her hand, before she reached a broken knot.

Voice of the Hero: Atleast she's honest.

---CHOICE---

(if you haven't read already) [Explore] "Please stop calling me that" [go to: 600]

"I missed you too." [go to: 620]

(if you haven't read already) [Explore] "You are acting far too nice considering what I did last time. Wouldn't you be scared that I'll do it again?" [go to: 640]

[Save the Princess] [go to: 700]

[Slay the Princess] [go to: 170]

---

[600] --- The Princess: [Giggling] "Why? It's just a silly little nickname. It's cute, isn't it? Calling someone who clearly towers over in both height and strength something so cute?"

Voice of the Hero: NNNNNo. It's weird, I don't like it.

Voice of the Stubborn: It's embarassing.

Voice of the Smitten: Well -

The Narrator: I am vetoing whatever you were going to say.

---CHOICE---

(if you haven't read already) [Explore] "You are getting far too close to my liking. Are you still chained up?" [go to: 610]

"I missed you too." [go to: 620]

(if you haven't read already) [Explore] "Can I still just pull you out of those chains, or do I have to cut you out again like the time before that?" [go to: 630]

(if you haven't read already) [Explore] "You are acting far too nice considering what I did last time. Wouldn't you be scared that I'll do it again?" [go to: 640]

[Save the Princess] [go to: 700]

[Slay the Princess] [go to: 170]

---

[640] --- The Princess: "Oh, you are still hung up on the past, aren't you? Can I not change since then? Do we have to keep this cycle going? I'd rather not. Let's just be happy together, you and me - no bad past to think back to."

The Narrator: And by that she means letting her escape into the world and destroy everything.

Voice of the Smitten: Oh please, she's just telling us that we shouldn't be eating away at ourselves by thinking of our past actions. It's the past! It's gone! If she can move past it and see us for who we are in the current moment - then she deserves our honest love back!

Voice of the Hero: It does feel kind of reassuring that she actually doesn't want any bad blood between us. Maybe she did forgive and forget.

---CHOICE---

(if you haven't read already) [Explore] "Please stop calling me that" [go to: 600]

(if you haven't read already) [Explore] "You are getting far too close to my liking. Are you still chained up?" [go to: 610]

"I missed you too." [go to: 620]

(if you haven't read already) [Explore] "Can I still just pull you out of those chains, or do I have to cut you out again like the time before that?" [go to: 630]

[Save the Princess] [go to: 700]

[Slay the Princess] [go to: 170]

---

[610] --- The Princess: "Oh? These rusty things? No, they have nothing over me now. The only thing that kept me here was the thought that, one day, you'll come back to me, my pretty little bird. And look at you, right in front of me, wielding the same blade you cut into my back with - but now holding it not to hurt me, but to protect me."

The Narrator: She isn't lying, as she raises her wrist, pulling the chains upwards and pulling with her other hand, piling and piling up more and more iron into her hand, before she reached a broken knot.

Voice of the Hero: Atleast she's honest.

---CHOICE---

(if you haven't read already) [Explore] "Please stop calling me that" [go to: 600]

"I missed you too." [go to: 620]

(if you haven't read already) [Explore] "You are acting far too nice considering what I did last time. Wouldn't you be scared that I'll do it again?" [go to: 640]

[Save the Princess] [go to: 700]

[Slay the Princess] [go to: 170]

---

[170] --- The Narrator: You grip onto the blade, springing forwards, your eyes locking with hers, as her face shifts from an inviting, seductive smile, into a look of disbelief and anger.

The Princess: "Are you serious?!"

The Narrator: Before you can do so much as lunge yourself at her, she whips her chained arm around, hitting you right in the face with its thick, heavy, iron knots. You are sent onto the floor, your teeth barely clinging onto the gums of your mouth where she had hit you, and your jaw feeling fractured.

Voice of the Hero: Why?! Why does it have to hurt so bad every single time?!

Voice of the Stubborn: Pfft, who needs teeth? We have the blade, we have the claws, we have the hands, the feet, to do everything to finish the job! And now, we have a new reason to hit her back! And now, you lovesick freak, can see that she does not love us! This is how it should've gone since the beginning!

Voice of the Smitten: I don't believe you! I refuse to! There can still be a way to make things right! She said - she said she's forgiven us! We have to appeal to her heart!

The Narrator: That's going to be difficult with how little teeth you'll probably have left by the end.

The Princess: "You knew I wanted to leave! And you knew I wanted to leave with only you! It was all that I've ever wanted, and it's still all that I want now! Why must you keep hurting me?! Why must you keep trying to fight?! Just be happy together with me, please!"

---CHOICE---

[Stand back up and keep fighting.] [go to: 172]

[Stand up and drop the blade.] [go to: 180]

[Stay on the ground and say nothing.] [go to: 190]

---

[172] --- The Narrator: But you don't let neither the pain nor her words get to you as you rise back up to you feet, pushing yourself up and standing in front of her. Your vision is hazed, however; - the whip from the chain seemingly also having damaged one of your eyes.

The Princess: "You are forcing me to do this! I love you, you know I do! Just stop fighting me already and love me back!"

Voice of the Hero: That's hard to believe when we have a handful of teeth missing because of her.

Voice of the Smitten: She isn't lying! She loves us! I can feel it, you just have to let go of your skepticism and see her for who she is! Accept her!

The Narrator: But you push the thought of forgivness aside, raising the blade once more and jumping her. Your blade sinks deep into her shoulder, causing her to scream out in pain. But in return comes her fist, blowing your face away from her view and knocking you off of her. You feel your neck strain from the power of the impact.

The Princess: "I'll beat it into you if I have to!"

The Narrator: She then begins the humiliating process of whipping your back with her chain, each blow either dislocating or breaking a tiny piece of cartilige in your spine, unfathomable pain spreading across your back, leaving you not a single second to even register what is being done to you.

Voice of the Smitten: This is what you deserve! Our punishments weren't enough yet it seems. We'll learn to love her now!

Voice of the Stubborn: You say one more word from now on and I will break your neck.

The Narrator: The pain becomes too much for your mind to comprehend. You slip into a numb, mindless state of confusion, agony, and silence. You are unresponsive, but you are not dead. Blood pools onto the marble floor of the basement underneath you. Your spine is broken in so many places, it would be impossible to count all the fractured bits. The Princess grabs your unresponsive body, dragging you up the stairs you came down from, and taking you out through the cabin's door.

Voice of the Hero: How can she do that? She wasn't able to leave the cabin before.

Voice of the Stubborn: She needs us to escape, so she's parading our corpse around as her key to salvation.

The Narrator: The Princess steps outside the cabin, facing out into the wast emptiness before her ontop of the mountain before looking down at you.......

Voice of the Hero: ... Yeah?

Voice of the Smitten: He's gone. Quick, pull whatever strength we have left together and grab her hand! At least let us have this one final moment before we depart!

The Princess: "We could've left so easily together, see?! Why did you make me do this?! ... But, I suppose it doesn't matter now. I am finally outside, and with you. But I - I didn't want it to be like this. I love you still ... It's so cold without you, all the time ......"

[But you do not get the chance to take her hand, nor do you get the chance to respond. Something has taken her and left something in her place instead.]

[THE END - Ending 1/? : "An Abusive Relationship" - Challenge the strength of your love's desires.]

[Don't like this ending? Go back to previous choices and see what you find!]

---

[180] --- The Narrator: (Sigh) Damn it. As you stand back up, your grip loosens around the blade, the weapon dropping loudly onto the floor as you and the Princess lock eyes with eachother. Her face seems to show regret.

The Princess: "I-I see that finally knocked some sense into you, it seems... [Sob] Why does it always have to be like this? Why must we hurt eachother to love eachother? WHY?! Is this fun for you? Because it's not for me!"

Voice of the Hero: She's right. Do we really need to keep this going? Constantly murdering eachother over and over again?

The Narrator: Only until you slay her for the final time.

Voice of the Stubborn: And when is that? When is the "final time"? Do you have any idea how long this is goin to take us? You're the one who seems to know every single thing around here, you just refuse to tell us anything.

The Narrator: I have a duty to keep information as scarce for you as possible. Giving away more and more information will just ruin your chances at keeping a clear mind of your objective. The more I talk, the more you know, the more you question things. I don't like questions, I like actions. My life, my world depends on you being uninformed enough to make a decision right then and there, no thoughts.

Voice of the Stubborn: So you tricked us into being nothing more than a puppet so that you can save yourself.

Voice of the Smitten: I've told you before! He's a wretched, lying monster who wants to keep us locked into this violent cycle with our beloved, only to save himself! He needs us so that he'll live - we are nothing but a tool!

Voice of the Hero: I just never liked you thinking that we were always dumb or stupid or delusional.

The Narrator: Fine! You want to see me take action? Fine then. You kick The Princess away from you and scoop the blade back up from the floor.

Voice of the Hero: No! No you are not doing this again!

Voice of the Stubborn: Again?

Voice of the Hero: Yes! We tried to save her the first cycle and he just took over our body and got us killed!

Voice of the Stubborn: I hate cheaters. Hey, help me get a good grip on him. Don't let him move an inch.

The Narrator: Get your wretched hands off of me you two!

Voice of the Smitten: He's restrained, we have to act now. Quick, before it's too late! Do what's right for us!

---CHOICE---

[Warn her.] [go to: 400]

[Slay her.] [go to: 500]

---

[400] --- The Princess: "What? I- Is this not you doing this again? Is something coming over you? I want to believe that but I can't trust you. I - "

Voice of the Stubborn: Damn it!

The Narrator: NO - ! [Groan] But ... before I could take control and let you finish this once and for all and save everyone in the world INCLUDING yourself - you swiftly swipe the blade away and slump forwards, your weapon darting across the marble floor and crashing into the wall with a clang.

Voice of the Hero: Phew ... That was way too close.

The Narrator: Did you do that?

Voice of the Hero: It's not just you who knows how to control him.

Voice of the Smitten: Consider your plans foiled, villain! The truth of our desires persevere, while your selfish desires for self-preservation fails. I hope it sinks deep into your heart, you filthy thing!

The Narrator: ... What's done is done. I can't do anything to stop her now. Whatever. The Princess, gasping at the sight of you flicking the blade away, rushes to aid you back up on you feet.

The Princess: "You - you meant it! I am so sorry! I'm so sorry! I hit you so hard while this entire time, this hasn't been you. It's somethign else controlling you. But now that's gone, right? You are you again."

The Narrator: She clutches your hand with hers, looking into your eyes with genuine concern.

Voice of the Smitten: We have an opportunity! Quick, kiss her! Prove her that our love was no mere illusion! Prove to her that we are ourself!

---CHOICE---

[Kiss her.] [go to: 510]

[Hug her.] [go to: 520]

---

[500] --- Voice of the Hero: Damn it!

The Narrator: You ignore The Princess' yelp in pain, quickly dashing towards her staggerng form, and driving your blade into her neck, blood flowing out in a waterfall as it pierces and cuts into her arteries. Finally.

The Princess: " ... I see ... Okay ... I see how it is ... "

Voice of the Smitten: No! No! This can't be! Why would you let him escape, you fools?

The Narrator: It was foolish enough to think that there was ever a way where you can rescue her! This isn't about rescuing some helpless captive, or the love of your life, or an equal - NO - this was about saving the world, and the price you all would've paid........

Voice of the Stubborn: .... What? Speak up!

Voice of the Hero: He's gone, again.

The Princess: "If this is how we are meant to be then, fine ... you win, I guess ... ... Do you always have to be so cold?"

[But you do not get the chance to respond, nor will you ever. Something has taken her and left something in her place instead.]

[THE END - Ending 3/? : "A Rightful Cause" - Don't let your inner voices keep you away from your destiny.]

(Don't like this ending? Go back to previous choices and see what you end up with!)

---

[520] --- The Narrator: Eugh ... You reach forwards and wrap your arms around The Princess, the two of you embracing eachother warmly after fighting eachother, both of your bodies bruised and beaten - I hate you, I hate you all and I hate that you are making me describe this!

Voice of the Hero: Come on, we could've asked you to describe far worse things! This is tame.

Voice of the Smitten: Her embrace is like being swallowed by the graceful ocean itself. The calmest thing in the world. Pure bliss!

Voice of the Stubborn: Yeah yeah, it's nice ... can we get out now?

The Princess: "Thank you, I - .. no .. we needed that. It's so good to know that no one's trying to backstab me this time. Thank you! ... Quick, let's get out of here!"

[proceed to: 511!]

---

[510] --- The Narrator: You hold me down while I'm trying to save all of you and myself and my world, and now you force me to describe this?! What kind of torture is this?!

Voice of the Hero: ... Well?

Voice of the Smitten: Narrator, we choose to, finally, smooch our beloved!

The Narrator: [Sigh] You hold The Princess' cheek, lifting it up slightly and you kiss her, the two of you sharing this selfish, idiotic, and stupid moment - but atleast it's the two of you, together.... Bleghh...

Voice of the Hero: That wasn't so hard now, was it?

The Narrator: I hate you all. I hate all of you so, so much.

The Princess: "M-My ... I guess, that's a way to prove that it is you now, huh? ... That felt nice. Thank you. We've gotta get out of here before either of us collapses, or gets any other bad ideas."

---

[511] --- The Narrator: You and The Princess, grasping eachother's hands together, rush up the carpet covered marble stairs, rushing to doom the world.

Voice of the Stubborn: I'm just happy I finally got to get some payback on our real enemy.

Voice of the Smitten: You have finally turned yourself around and saw what was really worth fighting for! Not for some vague idea of a world ending, but for a new one starting! Our world! With her!

Voice of the Hero: I doubt the world will end, actually. From what I saw, we are both pretty easily killable. We don't seem to be able to really hurt anything but eachother - and even then - we don't want to.

The Narrator: I can't believe I really thought I could trust you four. I am ... so stupid. But it doesn't matter anymore, does it? I can nag all I want. The world is about to end, isn't it? I have all the right to be upset!

Voice of the Stubborn: Just cheer up, will you? It's over. You can finally relax at least after this.

The Narrator: And once you and The Princess reach the top of the marble stairs, the two of you rush out the metal gate that once lead you inside, returning to......

Voice of the Hero: ... To what? Are you going to finish?

Voice of the Stubborn: He's gone. Finally.

Voice of the Smitten: Well, fellas, we did it! Our bickering can finally be put to the grave along with that horrid traitor! Our beloved and us are finally together, just like how it was told by the stars!

The Princess: "It's been so long since I came out here. It felt like an eternity down there without you. But we are now here, together ... even if it's so cold ...... "

[But you do not get the chance to leave with her, nor do you get the chance to respond. Something has taken her and left something in her place instead.]

[THE END - 2/? - "Self-Control" - Cut the strings tying you to your "destiny".]

(Don't like this ending? Go back to previous choices and see what you end up with!)

---

[190] --- The Narrator: The whiplash from both the heavy chain and your head hitting the ground seem to knock out your senses, making you plant your bleeding and bruised face onto the marble floor. It feels cooling, allowing you a moment of peace before you feel the Princess rip your blade out from your limp hand.

The Princess: "I just want us to be happy!"

The Narrator: She raises your blade, ready to strike.

Voice of the Stubborn: Roll already! Roll anywhere that isn't right beneath her!

The Princess: "NO!"

The Narrator: As she sees you trying to roll away, she grabs your arm and pins it down. You are now laying on your back. As you look up, you see her face, tears and ruined mascara flowing down her cheeks as she raises the blade above you.

Voice of the Hero: She doesn't behave like this normally. This isn't like how she was in the first cycle.

Voice of the Stubborn: I am just hoping her technique is as bad as back then. We might still have a chance at pushing through this then.

Voice of the Smitten: My love, look at what they made you do. I embrace whatever death you cast upon me. If it means I'll be able to see you on the other side, I'll wait for you forever.

---CHOICE---

[Give up and let her finish you off.] [go to: 200]

[Catch the blade with your hand.] [go to: 210]

[Reach out to her.] [go to: 300]

---

[300] --- The Narrator: But before she could dig the blade into your chest, your arm weakly reaches out to her. Your hand caresses her face, wiping away the ruined mascara on her face, which now shows regret and concern.

The Princess: "Y-You know I don't want to do this, right? I don't want .. this .. to keep going. I want to be happy with you, together - but you just have a side to you that you can't let go of. It makes you violent, it hurts me ... I don't want to kill you."

Voice of the Hero: I don't want it to continue either. It's all the same. She realises that it isn't us, we show her that we've changed, and then we stab her in the back. Over, and over again. It's just ... sad.

Voice of the Stubborn: But that sadness is a force driving us forwards!

Voice of the Hero: That's a very negative way of looking at things. Maybe you could just, I don't know, let it go?

Voice of the Stubborn: ...

The Narrator: You know why all of you are here, little voice.

Voice of the Stubborn: Don't call me "little".

The Narrator: Your body rises up, The Princess' weight shifting backwards as she allows you to sit. You then take the blade from her hand and - t-toss it away? What? No no no - that's not - WHY?! She is right in front of you! What on Earth are you doing?!

Voice of the Stubborn: I guess, I let it go? Pushing on and on without any reason besides keeping your emotions at bay doesn't really sit well with me. Or atleast, not anymore. I'm done, with you, with all of you, and all of this. Let's just get this done with already. I ... I'll need to think.

Voice of the Hero: Are you being serious?

Voice of the Stubborn: When was I not?

The Princess: "Are you ... being serious? You ... you haven't said much this entire time. Are you really willing to put that side behind? Really?"

---CHOICE---

[Explore] "I promise." [go to: 310]

[Explore] "I don't know, but I know that my mind is clear looking at you." [go to: 320]

[Explore] [Nod silently] [go to: 310]

---

[310] --- The Narrator: A smile spreads across her once sadened visage, as she flings her upper body towards you, enveloping you in a joyful embrace. You two beautiful maniacs.

The Princess: "Thank you! Thank you! I knew there was still something within you that wanted to make things right!"

Voice of the Smitten: This embrace after all the struggle blesses all my pains away! My once sorrowful heart now can finally throb with her love once again!

[311] --- The Narrator: You and The Princess, grasping eachother's hands together, rush up the carpet covered marble stairs, rushing to doom the world.

Voice of the Stubborn: It's not the end of the world.

The Narrator: It is.

Voice of the Hero: No, he's right. This isn't an ending. Endings aren't really - THE end. You gotta change your mind and see things in a different way. This is just letting go.

The Narrator: I can't believe I really thought I could trust you four. I am ... so stupid. But it doesn't matter anymore, does it? I can nag all I want. The world is about to end, isn't it? I have all the right to be upset!

Voice of the Hero: Have you tried not being like that? If he could change his mind then maybe you could, too?

The Narrator: I am not talking to you anymore. And finally, once you and The Princess reach the top of the marble stairs, the two of you rush out the metal gate that once lead you inside, returning to......

Voice of the Smitten: .... Yes? Hello?

Voice of the Stubborn: He's gone.

The Princess: "Neither of us had to die down there to experience this. I'm so glad that I can actually walk out of there with you. It really means the world to me that you let go of whatever feud we've had between us .... Even if it's cold out here, I know it's nowhere near as cold it would've been without you ......"

[But you do not get the chance to leave with her, nor do you get the chance to respond. Something has taken her and left something in her place instead.]

[THE END - 4/? - "The Past Isn't You" - Let go of your violent side for your love.]

(Don't like this ending? Go back to previous choices and see what you end up with!)

---

[320] --- The Princess: "Then, I guess we both know what we want, right?"

The Narrator: She then takes her hands and squeezes them around yours, smiling.

The Princess: "Let's leave! Together!"

Voice of the Smitten: We never wanted anything more! Come, let us leave this prison behind, and let you see our new dawn!

The Narrator: While you do that, I'm going to open myself a bottle of gin. Have fun destroying the world, and all of us. I'd rather not do this sober.

---

[Proceed to: 311]

---

[200] --- The Narrator: But your hands are too slow, and her body weighs you down, allowing you not a single chance at escaping as she strikes the blade into your heart.

Voice of the Hero: Huh ... I guess she did learn.

Voice of the Stubborn: Good for her, I suppose.

The Princess: "Your blood pooling around you shows either that you are dumb enough to rather let me kill you out of stubbornness - or because you finally gave up trying to fight me. I am done. We are done."

The Narrator: Then, she rips the blade out of your heart and slits her wrist with it.

Voice of the Smitten: My love! No! What are you doing?! Are you ... Are you giving up your life like how we gave up ours after you were gone? Do we mean so much to you that there's nothing left to move on to after we're gone? Then come with us, my love - we shall see the pearly gates together!

Voice of the Hero: ... Hey? Hello? Where is he gone to?

The Princess: "This is quite a cold finish, isn't it......?"

[But you do not get the chance to die with her, nor do you get the chance to respond. Something has taken her and left something in her place instead.]

[THE END - 5/? - "Equal Exchange" - She had nothing left but you.]

(Don't like this ending? Go back to previous choices and see what you end up with!)

---

[210] --- The Narrator: You quickly raise a hand in her way, blocking the blade before i could strike into you, its metal slicing into your hand with a wet slash - it feels numbing at first, but then its like a wasp sting.

The Princess: "If you want me to kill you, then let me kill you! I'll die with you if I have to, if that means we can escape together! But if you don't want that - resist and finally let go of this! Just finally be happy with me! For once!"

The Narrator: But before she could push the blade further down, your other arm weakly reaches out to her. Your hand caresses her face, wiping away the ruined mascara on her face, which now shows regret and concern. She sobs looking down at you.

Voice of the Hero: I don't want this to continue. It's all the same. We die, she dies, we live again, she lives again. We kill her. She kills us. Over, and over again. It's just ... sad.

Voice of the Stubborn: But that sadness is a force driving us forwards!

Voice of the Hero: That's a very negative way of looking at things. Maybe you could just, I don't know, let it go?

Voice of the Stubborn: ...

The Narrator: You know why all of you are here, little voice.

Voice of the Stubborn: Don't call me "little".

The Narrator: Your body rises up, The Princess' weight shifting backwards as she allows you to sit. You then rip the blade out from your hand and - t-toss it away? What? No no no - that's not - WHY?! She is right in front of you! What on Earth are you doing?!

Voice of the Stubborn: I guess, I let it go? Pushing on and on without any reason besides keeping your emotions at bay doesn't really sit well with me. Or atleast, not anymore. I'm done, with you, with all of you, and all of this. Let's just get this done with already. I ... I'll need to think.

Voice of the Hero: Are you being serious?

Voice of the Stubborn: When was I not?

The Princess: "Are you ... being serious? You ... you haven't said much this entire time. Are you really willing to put that side behind? Really?"

---PROCEED TO SAME CHOICES AS AT: 300---

---

THIS IS THE END OF THE POST! IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR FURTHER OPTIONS, SCROLL UP!

Holy hell this took a while to get done, 5 days on and off writing! 18 pages in word, almost 7000 words. If you legit read through this and got an ending, or heck, ALL of the endings - I genuinely hope you enjoyed it!