Starcrossed Strangers

Howdy Hey, Flower here!

Welcome to my first ever published work on YWS, and first fanfic I remember doing in quite a while. Quick spoiler warning for the entirety of the game In Stars and Time as well as the Alternate Universe In Repitition and Change. It would likely be best to play or watch the story of the base game at a minimum to ensure you understand parts of the work. This is just a small oneshot I had in mind inspired by both works and wished to share. Enjoy.

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The wind feels nice on your hair as it flows past you.

It is quiet, the rest of the party has already gone to bed, leaving you to your thoughts. It surprises you sometimes, how easily you can try to forget why they aren’t the same as the party you remember.

...

Of course, factually they are, same faces, same smiles, same tears and glares, Siffrin’s puns are the same, Mirabelle’s kindness is undoubtedly hers, Odile is observant as always, and Bonnie is the same kid you all love. Yet it isn’t the same, because it is you who Changed.

Again and again and again and again until there was only the parts of yourself that you had buried away. The parts that were rotting, breaking, failing-

. . …

Seedling has Changed too, but it is different with him. He is still Isabeau, yet you are….not.

Seedling’s earring dings on your cloak as you continue down the path, watching the darkless sands of the beach get closer.

It is strange to be outside of Vaugarde, after so long within Jouvente, so long travelling the country, so long in Dormont, the House, that Blinding Tree. But it is nice. To see more, to travel, seeing the party so happy, seeing Seedling so happy, after it all.

Maybe even seeing yourself happy, sometimes.

Yet it is not all carefree travels, sadly. The party and you have been informed that there has been peculiar spikes of unidentifiable craft in parts of the world, with the closest being near the city you are visiting. You don’t want to jump to conclusions, but you can see the worry in your Seedling’s eyes. The possibility of what craft this is.

…you ignore the stares of the stars above as you feel the sand at your feet.

It feels nice underneath you, shifting and Changing, something you have experienced too much of yet are desperate to have more. You just needed to get away from them all for a bit, to think through it all and see if you can help them.

It is growing darker, the stars beginning to get brighter as they shine within the night sky.

…

…?

Something is glowing by the docks. What…?

You step forward, watching as the glow flickers in the distance. It can’t be a lantern; nobody would craft something so bright at this time. Likely not a light for ships either, this is not a harbor that larger boats would sail towards unless it is an emergency.

You get closer. As you do you begin seeing more than just the glow. It looks like a bright light, spanning outside of its source in all directions, connecting to….

…

To a lightless body like yours. Is this the source of that craft?

You step onto the dock, your sandals making a small thunk on the wood. The source startles, turning quickly to look at you with a scissors sign ready.

They…they look like you used to, eyes wide and eyebrows furrowed on an otherwise featureless face. The star in their chest thrums with craft, the batches of constellations entwining the rest of their body as you continue to stare. A Vaugardian coin is held within their left hand.

You feel their eyes on you before glancing down at the coin, lifting it up to their chest as it flickers away. Something about the way they move feels so familiar to you, just like-

“Ah, pardon me, I didn’t hear your approach.”

Their eyes have squinted to look like they are smiling, their hands clasped together as they look you up and down. Your silence makes them falter for a moment before they continue on.

“My, struck speechless at the sight of me, how surprising~”

You blink, trying to process the past few moments before opening your mouth.

“Apologies, I was just…not expecting anyone out here.”

“You don’t have to lie you know, I can wager it is a surprise to find someone with as shining of a personality as myself, especially one that looks so….familiar.”

You look down at your hands, a similar shade as the strangers in front of you, a reminder of what you have gone through. What you have failed and survived.

“Yes. I can admit I did not think I would find anyone who looks like me, given the reason’s why.”

“I imagine, it’s not often you see someone touched by the Universe like us. What brings you here this wonderful evening sunsprout!”

Sunsprout? Hm, you suppose given your looks you can see the plant connection, but why the sun? You look at them, feeling that familiarity grow within your chest.

“I was just out for a walk, trying to think about the recent phenomenon that has been talked about.”

“Oh~ Recent phenomenon you say? I am unfortunately a touch out of the loop on recent events these days, care to share.” They blink cutesy at you, leaning forward as if waiting for gossip. You tilt your head to the side.

“It is being shared that there are unknown spikes of craft emerging, with no one truly figuring out what is causing it. I am out here with my…allies to see if we can figure it out.”

You focus your attention back on them, your right hand fiddling with the earring on your cloak. They follow your movement and still, staring down at the item in your hands. You continue.

“Now I could be incorrect here, but someone such as yourself must have a decent grasp on craft types beyond common knowledge. Do you have any leads on this?”

They stay silent for a moment, before turning to look out at the water behind them. It ripples against the docks, the waves a quiet backdrop as the star seems to think. You see a flicker of something in their right eye before they snap back to you with their eyes closed. A strained smile if you were to guess.

“I can’t say I do sunsprout~ But I would be willing to help out. I don’t have much to do anyway and I have been finding myself growing bored.”

You…look at how they hold themselves. You can’t be sure, but if they are who you think they were then...

…

“More help would always be reliable, especially when investigating new areas of craft. My name is Roboro, they/he/it if you would.”

…you can’t let them go. Especially if you can help them like the others have done for you. What kind of person would you be…

“Of Course, sunspout. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance~”

…If you didn’t try to help a fellow Savior lost to time.

“You can call me Loop!”