Mirabelle awoke in the dead of the night, unable to stay asleep. Five days until they got their wish if what Loop said was true. She didn't know they weren't giving all the facts but she was anxious and excited and...

She looked out over the city of dazzling lights in a chair on the balcony. Like stars fallen to earth and still shining. She thought about how big the city was. She had seen cities on her quest but this... this was a metropolis. Her journeys has never quite taken her to anywhere this big.

"The city can be a lot," a voice declared.

Zick smiled, jumping down from two floors up and sitting on the railing. He sneered at her, whip at the rest. He warned coldly, "Scream and I flick my wrist and your throat is slit before anyone can hear you. I just wanna talk."

Mirabelle stood her ground and snarled back. "I'm not interested in anything you have to say Zick. How are you even here?"

"Oh I just jumped that train to hitch on another," Zick chuckled. "Avoid the guards."

"What do you want?" Mirabelle demanded.

"Chaos," Zick declared. "Infinite change. Infinite red. Infinite possibility."

"You're just a sadist using my god to defend your sins," Mirabelle snapped back. "You're supposed to use negative change to grow PAST it. Heal. Become stronger after you heal. Not... hurt people."

"Oh really," Zick mocked. "And how did following our God pan out? I'm sure the Housemaiden-"

Mirabelle raised her open palm, readying Papercraft.

Zick chuckled, "OK. I can take a hint lassie. Just... the king is in the way of the infinite change, and we share... a mutual enemy."

"What enemy could we possibly share?" Mirabelle demanded.

"The Bodycraft Enforcement Division's leader," Zick replaced. "Captain Jince. I've been trying to kill that blinding fool for a year and he just-"

Zick stopped and leaned in close, staring right into Mirabelle's eyes. "Hey, your eyes are still red."

"What does that even mean?" Mirabelle demanded.

"That shade I show people is red," Zick continued. "But I see it in everything. Your eyes turn red when you cry."

Mirabelle took a deep breath and steadied herself. Even if she needed support she didn't want or need it from someone evil like him.

"Just..." Zick sighed. "Captain Jince. Ask about him. He has to die."

"I didn't crabbing ask," Mirabelle growled.

"Your loss," Zick declared. "Look, I'm icing this blinding bigot tomorrow. He's the king of Ka Bue's bodyguard. Help me or don't."

Mirabelle's eyes went wide with shock. She was so horrified by the implication of this brazen murder she didn't quite register the bigot part or what Zick said. She called out, "Isa wake up!"

Zick leapt down, smoothly handing by his hands on the edge of the railing to safely drop down on the balcony a floor below. Isabeau rushed to the balcony to see Zick gracefully leap from railing to railing, onto the roof of a neighboring building, and disappear into the night.

"Was that-" Isabeau demanded.

"He's going to assassinate someone named Jince," Mirabelle explained. "We have to warn somebody."

"Yancy," Isabeau suggested. "We can contact Yancy. She's looking for Zick anyways." Isabeau turned to Mirabelle and asked gently, "Are you OK?"

Mirabelle started to cry, "No... you?"

Isabeau sighed, "No... but... five days until the festival. We're gonna get through this. Right?"

"We are," Mirabelle assured. She hugged Isabeau, "We are. Together. That's what family does bro..."

The next morning Yancy read over notes on her investigation of Something New. She nodded, "OK. Yeah. That lines up. We have to find him he's somewhere in this blinding city."

Everyone sat in the lobby eating breakfast which was served each morning by the hotel. Loop interjected, eating an omelet drowned in black pepper, "I've been meaning to ask. Where did everyone hear that term?"

"Oh the king's advisor uses it since he showed up eight years ago," Yancy replied.

"And that would be..." Odile inquired. She had a hunch but had to confirm it.

"Vel," Yancy replied.

"Course it's her," Odile groaned.

"OK so," Bonnie inquired. "Back up. Vel is the king's advisor?"

"More of an oracle," Yancy elaborated. "Sees the future. He... did leave for a bit. Said he had to handle something."

"The King," Isabeau declared. "He forsaw The King! Is that why he told the Housemaiden-"

"Must have been," Mirabelle replied.

"That's all well and good," Loop reminded. "But for now we have to handle Zick."

"He's dangerous," Odile agreed.

"And if Jince is suddenly iced the festival will be postponed," Yancy. "So you guys can't revive your sibling. But... Odile can we speak privately?"

"We have nothing to hide from each other," Odile assured.

"That's fine but... maybe it's best to wait," Yancy replied. She continued, "Anyways, we need to find Zick."

"Why not ask Vel?" Bonnie suggested. "She can see the future. Forsaw The King and taught the Housemaiden about Wishcraft to prevent it right? Now she's the king of Ka Bue's royal advisor. We could just ask her directly to use her oracle... power... thing."

"I will speak to her," Loop interjected.

"Can we trust him?" Odile inquired. "Truly? By the sound of it he showed up randomly eight years ago and just kinda took a position of power. Is it just me or does Vel sound... sketchy?"

"No I should go," Mirabelle insisted. "Zick is basically mocking my faith. I have to stop him."

"No I should-" Odile interjected.

"No!" Mirabelle yelled. "Odile! No! You need to rest! OK?"

"But what about you?" Odile demanded.

"Just..." Isabeau tried to back Mirabelle up and de-escalate the conversation. "You're really tense Odile. You've got enough going on. Just, take a day."

"We could play chess," Loop suggested.

"Fine fine," Odile conceded. The were right. She knew they were. "I'll try to relax."

"We can make cookies!" Bonnie exclaimed. "The room has a kitchen!"

"Sure Bon Bon," Loop chuckled rustling their hair.

Odile froze. Bon bon? Only Siffrin called them Bon Bon. Only...

That was...

No it's as impossible. She brushed the idea aside. She knew Loop was not Siffrin, but they had some connection...

How did Siffrin know Loop? How did they meet? The more she thought about it the more questions she had. Questions she could ask later, as Isabeau and Mirabelle left with Yancy. Yancy whispered to Odile, "The flesh is fluid. We need to talk about that when I return."

"Oh," Odile replied. "That's what you meant?"

"I'll explain later," Yancy assured.

With that the trio left. Bonnie declared, "Cookie time!"

Odile chuckled and smiled gently, "Sure. Cookie time..."

Deep within the halls of the king, a dispute was occurring. Within the empty opulent halls three spoke in private. The king inquired, "So this is to be the last?"

"Two wishes have been granted that backfired horribly," Vel replied, glaring right at a man clad in heavy metal armor adorned with decorative stars. It was made of an impossible metal, black with dazzling lights, like the night sky itself was wrapped around his skin.

"Your wish is the best thing that ever happened to me," the man laughed. "You're the most useful degenerate I've ever met."

"That's quite enough Jince!" The king exclaimed. An older man with long dark hair and a gentle smile. "Need I remind you you have failed to capture Zick? You're on thin ice, invincible or not."

"I know exactly what I said," Vel added glaring.

"You need me to protect you," Jince reminded. "Need I remind you I could kill the both of you right now? You could do nothing to stop me."

Vel's eyes glowed blue, "But you won't. Not that I can see. I never should have granted your wish. Remember you're only in charge of Bodycraft laws and law enforcement so long as you're the best guard for the king."

"And thanks to that wish I will remain as such forever," Jince sneered. "I'm just trying to stop degeneracy. Return to traditional values."

"You're excused Jince!" The king snapped. "Just because I honor the laws of this land does not mean I value you!"

Jince groaned, "degenerates the lot of you!" He stormed off.

"Why is that a law?" Vel demanded. "Strongest warrior is in charge of Bodycraft? You could just fire him!"

"When we once believed Bodycraft could make one stronger it was established," the king replied. "I'm sorry I cannot change it sooner Vel. However, with the establishment of the parliament, the one you convinced me to establish to give power to my people I may add, I lack the authority to do so."

"Do you regret it?" Vel inquired.

The king shook his head, "No. The power should be in the hands of the people they can rule themselves better than some rich overweight nobleman. Besides, I cannot bear an heir."

"I think it's cute," Vel playfully pinched his cheeks.

"My dear," the king chuckled, blushing. He was no older than Vel, and had a slight stubble. He wore modest attire, to be more like his people. He was a little chubby, but the proper term would be beefy. There was some muscle to it. "You know now is not the time. You've foreseen their arrival."

He kissed Vel briefly. Vel playfully chuckled, "I also foresaw the smile it would leave on your face, Nincy."

He booped Nincy's boss before the doors opened, and the trio entered. Vel greeted them, "Ah yes! You're here about Zick right? I had a vision of how to evade the disaster of his plans."

"Yeah what do you know?" Yancy inquired bitterly. She scowled at Vel.

Vel sighed, "I told you it didn't work before cause Zick's prior killings didn't qualify as disasters. Wishcraft is finicky."

"Your personal quarrels can be settled later," Nincy interjected.

"Yeah we're getting off track," Isabeau added. "Apologies, your majesty."

He began to bow but Nincy raised his open palm. "Just Nincy is fine. No need for any of that royalty nonsense."

"So what HAVE you seen?" Mirabelle inquired.

Vel explained her eyes glowing blue, "Tonight is our best chance to capture Zick. Here's the deal..."

Loop and Odile sat playing chess on the balcony of the hotel, a cool breeze blowing past them. Odile's curiosity festered until she could bare it no longer and demanded, "What's happening to you?"

She could have brushed it aside if she didn't care. If she just kept focusing on Siffrin and blaming herself, but no. She cared about Loop. Even if Loop didn't realize that cause of her past lashing out. Not that they could be blamed for assuming she didn't care.

"Oh nothing, don't worry about it," Loop laughed coyly as they moved a knight to take a bishop.

"I do worry about it," Odile retorted. "You lost an eye. Your head looks different. You have hair now. It's like... are you falling apart? Is this tied to Wishcraft? I... I'm not losing you Loop. You've become... important to me. If we need Vel to wish you to stop decaying-"

"I'm not..." Loop sighed. "Decaying. If anything I feel better than I have in a long time. I... I appreciate it Odile, but I promise. I'm safe."

"OK," Odile conceded, stull curious but understanding Loop wasn't ready to speak further. "If I may ask one other thing. How did you know Siffrin, and of Wishcraft?"

"It's... complicated." Loop sighed. "I... we're friends right? Family maybe?"

Odile nodded.

Loop took a deep breath. In. And out. They reached for the strap of their mask. "OK this is gonna be a lot... don't freak out..."

"Cookies!" Bonnie exclaimed interrupting with a large plate of cookies. Loop sighed with relief. An excuse to back out. Perfect.

The conversation steered away from Loop's past. It was nice... Loop felt like... they had a family again. Odile smiled. Warmly. Genuinely. For the first time in a while.

In Loop's mind it was the first time they made their mom happy.

Bonnie and Loop locked eyes for a moment. They had to tell her. They had to tell everyone. They didn't wanna lose this they didn't wanna lie but...

They cared too much to keep lying.

However now was not the day. 5 days until the festival still remained and today Zick and Mirabelle would confront each other under the stars...