The end of the rift was as straightforward as most of the others the girls had found themselves exploring before. The Time Piece sat in the middle of a thin circle of trees and scattered training equipment, shining against the shadows that surrounded them. Normally, its discovery would come with a rush of success. Hat Kid, however, was too caught up in the visions they'd just witnessed and the chaos they'd be dropped back into to feel any true sense of victory.

The saying 'Hurt people hurt people' seemed to fit everyone she'd met on Earth in some way or another—those of Subcon Forest especially—more and more as time went on. Of course, it hardly justified any of their actions either. Not the Mafia Boss' dissatisfaction of life before he took over the island that became Mafia Town. Not Mustache Girl's pursuit of justice resulting in the near-destruction of the planet. Not Snatcher's desire to protect his home causing him to kill anyone who entered and take their souls. Not Vanessa's complicated rearing and broken heart leading to the torment and death of so many.

Understanding someone's pain or how they came to be who they are wasn't the same as excusing what they did. Hat Kid certainly didn't excuse Vanessa's actions, particularly since she clearly hadn't learned from them at all. Not to mention, her relationship with her mother aside, there had been an extent to which the ice queen had rarely been told 'no.' She got away with hurting the guards and servants, just like she got away with abusing her Prince in life.

How different would things be if the knights hadn't been subjected to that awful magic? Would they have still done everything they did out of blind loyalty, or would they have stood up against the royal or the better of themselves and others? Maybe they could've even given a young Vanessa more of the guidance she had desperately needed.

In the end, that was neither here nor there: The past was the past. For not the first time, Hat Kid asked herself that forbidden question: Was there anything they could do? Well, they were already neck-deep in Subcon Forest's affairs, but could they do something that really mattered? Something that might encourage a change for the better. Something that might actually help the people of that cursed place.

She stopped short of grabbing the Time Piece, spotting something else glistening behind one of the trees. At first, she thought it might be the reflection of the hourglass bouncing off a half-submerged sword. Sidestepping around, however, the young alien was glad to see it was one, last storybook page. Eagerly, she took Bow Kid by the hand and pulled her after it.

"Haven't we already seen enough?" the other child asked with some reluctance, partly because she was a little shaken by the visions and partly because the Time Piece was still right within arm's reach. "There can't be much else: We already know how things end."

"We've come this far," she replied, determined, "Even if we can find just a small clue, it'll be worth it."

"Worth what? Hat, you're getting too attached!"

The girl paused once more, this time looking back at her friend. Bow Kid's gaze shown with empathy, but also sad concern.

Tugging herself free, Bow rubbed her arm, "I get that you want to help them—I do too. I wouldn't have followed you down here if I didn't. But don't you think you might be taking things a bit too far? I know they're your friends, but we weren't supposed to interfere in their lives in the first place.

"And, Hat… What'll you do when we go home? What do you think our chances are of coming back here for another mission? If you keep this up, are you really gonna be ok? You need to draw a line somewhere. Let them solve some of their own problems."

Her brows furrowed, blues eyes lowering to her feet. Was she getting too carried away? Except for this one time, she didn't feel like she ever really took her focus off her goal: To collect all of the Time Pieces and return home. Yes, she tried to help people, but she knew her priorities, right? She reminded herself of them constantly, and she always kept in mind that she would inevitably have to leave. It was just… getting a little harder to accept it.

Hat Kid, shaking her head, "I just need to do this… I know we can't solve everything even if we were allowed to, or even if we tried, but I at least want to know that they're gonna be fine. I want to make sure things don't end up worse than when I got here."

Bow continued to stare at her friend, worry never leaving her face even as she relented with a sigh, "And I just want to make sure you're not going to get yourself hurt in the process. Or expelled from the Fellowship. You know, it'd be pretty lonely there without you."

She chuckled, "If all goes well, I promise I'll stick with you on missions from now on. It's not like I've managed all that great by myself anyhow."

…

It was hard to tell how far back in time they'd gone. The foyer of the manor didn't look terribly different from Queen Vanessa's own storybook or Hat Kid's own exploration of it. The vanity mirror was already cracked and a frozen figure stood stationary near the doors. The only way to even guess was by checking if there were possibly more modern utilities in the others rooms as there would someday be, but the vision kept them room in that one space.

Possessed statues and vesselless, grey souls alike were gathered together, keeping low to the ground in submission to Vanessa's looming presence. She had already fully transformed into the monstrosity they knew her as in the present, shadows and a dangerous, red aura parading around her hunched body. Most notably, she swung a familiar burner from a chain in one hand.

"I read a very interesting book today," the queen aid in her usual, fear-inspiring voice, "This forest's history runs quite deep, doesn't it? I'll bet I've learned some things even mother didn't know.

"Like how to guarantee that a person stays mine. How noble of you all, to offer up this truest test of loyalty, hehe! Do you think it works for love as well?" her tone suddenly sharpened, "Go! Scatter! Keep alert for any sign of him! There's work to be done."

…

The burner! Whether it was the artifact itself or whatever was burned in it that caused the dark magic, it still had some importance… What if they could take it? They knew where it was now: It had to be inside the manor. As much as Hat Kid cringed at the idea of going back to that place, chances were, now was a better time than any to go. Vanessa was pushing deeper and deeper into the woods—their biggest threat was no longer guarding her own territory.

But what would they even do with it once they got it…? Destroying it came to mind, but in the very least it'd be out of the ice queen's hands. If they figured out how to make it work, then maybe they could even reverse the spell that kept those lost souls under her control.

Both Hat and Bow seemed to reach the same conclusion at once. "Snatcher and some of the spirits might've told us to stay away from the battle," Hat Kid grinned, "but I think we've finally found a job we can do."

Plan in mind, they grabbed the Time Piece—watching everything crumble around them in an instant as they were swallowed by its brilliant light and spirited back to the present.