Well, today's the day. Time to end this loop. The plan is simple. Get everyone at the village to touch me, each in a different place, if I can. Then ask Beatrice to check me over for curses. Simple, right? Anyway, time to get out there.

I head for the kitchen, getting there before the twins, and start getting everything ready. I pause as the girls walk in "Morning! Don't worry, I ain't going berserk on ya again. I just woke up early." Truth be told, I'm nervous. As the girls join me I focus on working. Something about it is kinda relaxing. Breakfast is ready and served before I turn my mind back to this curse business. I have to crack it this time, I might just go insane if I fail again. Roswaal leaves on business not long after breakfast. Turns out he can fly! Even with everything I've seen here, it still surprised me. Before I know it the twins and I are heading out the door. We take our time, to a little degree, which gives me time to run over everything again in my head.

"You are very quiet, Takara. Are you well?"

I turn to Ram "Yeah, I'm cool. Just… trying to remember the route. Y'know, for when I need to use it myself." Looking around I spot something I'd quite like. I turn to the girls "Hey Rem, give me a boost."

She looks at me, puzzled "Why?"

I point to a tree "I… want an apple! Nothing beats fresh, right?" Rem walks over as Ram giggles to herself. She lifts me up aaaaand, boom! I grab three. I toss two at the girls "Here. No sense in enjoying one myself." We start moving again "Hey, wanna hear a tale from my home? Help pass the time?" Both girls nod "Awesome. This is a tale of adventure. This… is the story of The Hobbit." I launch into it, explaining anything whenever the girls have questions. I'm just about at Riddles in the Dark when we get to the village. With a promise to continue, we part.

Right. That's the people spoken to and the kids entertained. Everyone touched me. What was next? As I'm trying to remember I feel a pull on my sleeve. I see the little blue haired girl again. Oh yeah! The dog! Crap, I have to get bitten again. Hell, as long as I've done everything, right? "Hey sweetie, what's up?" Again, she points and I follow, she picks the dog up. Still adorable, still a little asshole. Go to stroke, bite, done. Thank the Gods that didn't hurt as much this time.

Rem calls me and we leave the village, this time I promise to come back and amuse the kids again. "So, want me to continue?"

Ram looks over "Please. It was quite entertaining."

Alright. "Where was I? Oh yeah! When Bilbo opened his eyes…" The walk back was nice, the sun starting to set as we arrived at the mansion. I carry on telling as we make dinner, both girls asking fewer questions as they start to understand the world more. After our own I'm dismissed. Time to see Beatrice.

I change first, slipping into jeans and a hoodie. Takes me a while to find her door this time, it's the other side of the mansion. I knock and wait.

"Enter."

Stepping inside I bow a little "Good evening, Beatrice. I hope your day has gone well." If I'm polite she'll probably be more open to helping me out, right?

She looks at me a moment "It has been fine. You want something, I suppose."

To the point. I grin "Yeah. I-I'd like you to check if I've been cursed. If you could."

It Has to be someone from the village. It just has to be. She doesn't say anything, just walks up to me and stretches a hand. I feel a tingle, then pain from my left hand. I look down and see black smoke. I don't remember anyone touching me there. Wait! That fucking dog! As soon as I realise, she speaks "Oh, there is one. How did you know?"

I chuckle "Lucky guess. Could you... remove it?"

She nods as a wave of energy washes over me, focusing on my hand. As soon as it begins, it's done. "It is gone, I suppose."

I smile "Thanks. I'll leave you to it. Have a good night." As I leave a realization hits me. The dog did this. THE KIDS! I run toward Rams room. Looks like I'm heading back there.

I pound furiously on her door for a minute. No answer. Fuck! Entrance hall. I barrel into the hall, scaring the crap outta the twins. "I need to go back to the village. NOW! Can you come with me?"

Both look confused as hell. Ram recovers first "Why would you need to?"

I don't have time for this! "I can't explain right now but I believe the kids are in danger. I'm asking you to trust me. Can you help me?"

She nods "Rem will accompany you. I shall remain and watch over the mansion."

I pull her into a quick hug as Rem steps to my side "Thanks."

Suddenly I hear Emilia "Takara? What is happening?"

I spin "Nothing. Just forgot something. Don't worry bout it. I'll see you in the morning." With that, Rem and I leave, running. How the fuck did I miss this? I explain what I can to Rem as we run, her face growing more serious by the second.

We see the lights from the village ahead and slow a little. No use getting there too tired to help. We come to a stop in the main square, villagers milling around, searching. I walk up to the Elder "What's happening?"

He looks distraught "The children are missing! Can you help us look?"

I hate being right! My mind goes back to the dog. Spotting the area it was, I make my way to it, the Elder and Rem following me. "There was a little girl with a dog here earlier. The dog is the cause of this. You got any idea where it went?"

He pauses "A dog? No. No idea. How is a dog…" He stares at a tree, fear in his eyes "One of the crystals is broken. Oh, what if they went into the forest?" Crystals?

Following his gaze I see them. They're on the treeline, glowing. All except one. "Is that a bad thing?"

Rem answers "The crystals create a protective barrier around towns and villages to keep out mabeast. If one is broken then the barrier no longer functions."

Right. So, bad. I turn to the Elder "We'll go look for 'em in the forest. Keep everyone here in case they turn up, alright?"

He looks shocked "You can't go in there with just the two of you! Let me…"

I don't let him finish "DO IT! NOW! We'll be fine." He nods and turns away.

We stand there for a moment before Rem turns to me "Why would you do this? You do not know these people."

I shrug "So? What's knowing people gotta do with helping them? And who says I don't know them. I've spent enough time talking woth them to know their problems. The kids... the kids have their dreams and fancies. They have ambitions. I don't know them well, granted but I know them enough to need to help. And anyways, I'm the kinda girl who'd help a perfect stranger." I flinch at the sound of chains, Rem pulling out her morningstar. "And you ready that... why?"

"Protection." Thank Gods I grabbed my knife. We hop over the fence and head into the forest.

We walk for a short while, both keeping an eye out for anything. Suddenly coming to a clearing, I spot them I rush over, skidding to a halt by a little girl. Petra, I think her name is. "Rem, they're breathing!"

She stops by me and kneels "They are close to death, but alive."

I breath deep "What can we do?"

She thinks a moment "The best thing is to remove the curse. That would mean going back for Beatrice-sama but we cannot leave the children like this." Fuck.

Idea. "Can you keep them stable with your magic?" A nod. Yes! Looking around I notice a problem, the little blue haired girl "Rem, one of the kids isn't here. I gotta go look for her. Can you stay here? Get the townsfolk of you need to." She starts to protest "Rem. You're the only one who can do this. I won't put my life in any danger, just grab the girl and get out. If I'm too long you come find me. Deal?"

She reflects on this "How will I find you. The forest is very large."

Time to see if your nose is as good as I think. "If anyone can, I know it's you. Just… follow the smell you hate." As she looks at me in shock I continue "Yeah, I know you can smell the Witch. I know you probably have a hundred questions. And I have a few for you. So, when we finish this, we can sit down and ask 'em. For now, though, we got people to help." Before I hear her reply I'm running into the trees.

Damn, it's dark. I'm on guard as I step over roots and duck branches. Flashes of the time Rem attacked me. Push them aside. Another clearing, toppled trees. Behind one I spot feet. It's gotta be her! I rush forward, stopping near. It is! Oh, whatever deity is watching me, I thank you. I go to pick her up when I hear a growl. I sigh. Whatever deity is watching me... Fuck you!

Feedback, criticisms and suggestions welcome, as always. See y'all next time.