#!posts!

[forthedancingandthethriving]

I'm not crying, youre crying,,,

God, this was so bittersweet. I loved it, but it was so bittersweet,,

Thank you SMG4 for all these memories.

[forthedancingandthethriving]

Oh.

Oh I.

This is.

I think.. I think I'm gonna,,, I don't even know.

This is.

Fuuuuck me,,, I had a feeling it was coming but,,,,,

God, 14 years,,, and now its all coming to a close...

Its bittersweet,, but at the end of the day, it makes sense. Luke's been doing this for over a decade now, the series ending would be inevitable. Doubtful he made the decision lightly,, I'll miss SMG4, I'll miss everything about it,, but it was wonderful getting be a part of this fandom, seeing everything grow.

I'm sure the fandom will live on, theres no doubt about that. But regardless,, this was a wonderful series to watch and grow with. And I can't wait to see what Luke and the others focus on now :)

[forthedancingandthethriving]

For April Fools I'm turning everyone in this AU straight and cis, sayonara you queer shits

[forthedancingandthethriving]

WHAT. WHAT. WHAT. WHAT. WHAT.

[forthedancingandthethriving]

The Second Piece

Deciding that maybe they should be more careful, this time it's the present group and past group who decide to go through.

Mayro (Present Mario) is actually getting along decently well with Mario (Past Mario). Glitchy (Present SMG4) and Snitchy (Present SMG3) have already had to stop SMG4 (Past SMG4) and SMG3 (Past SMG3) from having fights about six times now. After briefing the past group on that they really, REALLY need to be careful with what they say and do even if they're in a different timeline. They do not want to get imprisoned.

Anyway, they go through and crash right down into the middle of a party happening in a very familiar (to the present group) manor.

And a very familiar avatar, with her usually straight hair now curly and covering one eye and a red dress with floral patterns. A single blue eye glaring down at them with contempt.

So yeah, their first impression of this world is getting thrown into jail since Tulip is currently running for the position of the now vacant Red Minister spot. Yup, they're in the evil Tulip timeline. It doesn't take the present gang a lot to realize what happened, even the kids can realize that this is the version of Tulip that never got Dale's guidance, and they therefore decide never to mention this to her.

Eventually, they are released from the prison after a few hours, because Tulip 'decided that they were just idiots who had a bad stroke of luck'. But they are warned not to anger her any further, as lately she's become extremely obsessed with things regarding time and other such things. It takes no genius to figure out what's going on, and it's surprisingly Mario (past) who connects the dots.

---

"You-a said that this crazy-a lady is dating John Persona?"

SMG4 pinched the bridge of his nose. "Ren Amamiya, Mario. Ren Amamiya. Get it through your thick skull."

Glitchy resisted the urge to roll his eyes at his past self. "Yes, Mario. John Persona."

Mario tilted his head. "Then won't-a he be a part-a this timeline in a major way?"

Everyone shared a look.

"... he's kinda got a point there."

---

They do manage to find Leblanc and after giving the poor Thieves the scare of a lifetime (thanks to SMG3 just being blunt as hell and also trying to threaten them, which doesn't go well as he gets smacked by Abyssal) before they explain what's going on. And then they get the explanation they were waiting for.

The Tulip of this timeline was actually a friend of theirs and wasn't really looking forward to going into politics. However.. that all completely shattered when her version of Dale was murdered. To this day the Thieves don't know if it was the Black Mask or someone sent by her parents. Regardless she was absolutely SHATTERED by what happened, and it absolutely didn't help when a woman named Goma Adachi appeared following the deaths of her parents and Archie. Suffice to say that Tulip was shattered in this timeline, and following an accident with a machine that's left her blind in one eye, she has gradually been turning from the fun and upbeat girl they knew to someone far crueler.

With what's already happened, it does not take the others long to figure out that this Goma Adachi is probably someone working for the Abyss.. and then Abyssal realizes it's prrrrobably Admin Gohma.

The Thieves tell the group that Tulip has become especially obsessed with time and other things, and Elanore reasons that it's likely the Hourglass piece that's changed her, and its gone and made itself her Treasure. Luckily for them, the Thieves are more than willing to help out as they've already pretty much mapped out the way to Tulip's Treasure, and they were making the calling card then. It's made, and Abyssal offers to go and deliver it, which they take because everyone knows that they'd be caught pretty easily, especially Morgana.

---

"..what?"

Tulip halted when she spotted a simple red card on her bed. She whipped her head side to side, eye narrowing.

".. no. This is some... terrible joke."

She slowly approached it, and grabbed it. Her breath caught, eyes widening.

Madame Tulip, the grief-stricken sinner of cruelty.

Once a girl who cherished others, you now trample hearts beneath the weight of your own despair, lashing out at the world that wronged you.

Blinded by loss and consumed by bitterness, you’ve allowed your pain to twist into something far more dangerous. We have decided to make you confront the truth you’ve been running from.

Come tomorrow, we will take your distorted desires without fail.

From, the Phantom Thieves

Tulip's breathing began to come in panicked hitches. "Take.. take MY desires?! No.. NO! This is a pathetic- stupid- NO!"

She threw the calling card to the wall. "I won't let them.. I won't! I don't care! No one will take it! No one will take time from me ever again!!"

---

The past and present groups join the Phantom Thieves to Tulip's Palace.. and to say that the fight for the Treasure is rough is an UNDERSTATMENT. Goma Adachi is there, and of course comes the reveal that she is Admin Gohma and the fact that she was not only behind the deaths of Dale, Tulip's parents, and Archie, but she also orchestrated the entire machine incident that blinded her.

This sends Tulip's Shadow into a complete meltdown and transforms into a large machine/coyote hybrid. The Palace itself starts changing, and Admin Gohma admits she may have taken some artistic liberties when messing things up. SMG3 says he's gonna kill her because ts is annoying. Snitchy agrees for once. And it turns out she also took artistic liberties with Shadow Tulip herself, making the boss fight way harder than it should be.

They only manage to get through to the Shadow when Joker appeals to her memory of Uncle Dale specifically, calming the Shadow down enough for the past and present groups to realize that the Treasure is literally embedded into Shadow Tulip, the Treasure is the Hourglass Piece, and there's the very real threat of her having a mental shutdown.

The Thieves are obviously reluctant to do so but also know that they need to, because if they leave the Treasure in her Shadow shes just going to get worse. And unfortunately, Abyssal can't help them out here either with godly shenanigans because shes currently fighting Admin Gohma still.

Finally, its Hex who just goes "this IS still a comedic universe. What if we just... ASK HER to take it off?"

No one thinks it'll work.

It does. Rule of Funny, losers. This is still SMG4 guys.

Of course, the Palace begins to crumble, and they all get out of there. In the real world, Tulip is passed out and does need to be hospitalized due to the Piece hurting her Shadow immensely when it was removed. Admin Gohma, of course, flees. Glitchy hopes this won't become a recurring theme. Snitchy tells him to not be stupid. The others return with the next Piece, but Abyssal notices something.. off.

There's an eighth door. She tries pushing it open, but it's just.. not moving. Not even a budge. What makes it especially concerning, though she doesn't bring it up immediately, is that she can faintly tell what's behind that door.

The Abyss.

She doesn't like what that entails.

[forthedancingandthethriving]

I promise I'm working on Shattered Timelines,, life just sucks atm and I am also pretty sick :(( I should hopefully have the next part out later today or Monday!!

[forthedancingandthethriving]

The First Piece

Because I actually want to get this done in a pretty decent time, I will, in fact, NOT be torturing myself and writing a ficlet every time.

Obviously, Dark Meta Knight further explains to everyone what happened. The present and future gang already know that the Abyss being involved is bad news, and it being unaccounted for after the timelines shattering? Even worse news. It's pretty easy for them to deduce that they have to find the pieces of the hourglass.. but of course they then run into the problem of names.

There are three Marios, and two SMG3s and SMG4s.

For my sanity's sake, know I will not be tagging them all like this, this is just for written form;

Mayro (Present Mario)

Mareo (Future Mario)

Mario (Past Mario)

Glitchy (Present SMG4)

Snitchy (Present SMG3)

SMG4 (Past SMG4)

SMG3 (Past SMG3)

Reminder that the past versions are pre-Waluigi arc. Meaning it was still incredibly episodic. Meaning.. basically no character development. The present and future versions known how stubborn, prideful, and many other things the past versions are. So the presents and futures just agree to.. let them have the current names. After introductions, figuring everything out

Wisely, for this first one, its decided to keep the past versions back so the present and futures can assess just how bad this all is. Ofc, it takes Abyssal having to assert her authority as an admin (aka scaring the shit out of the past versions) to make them stay. And even then she gives DMK express permission to hit them upside the head if they follow. And so? They could through the first door.

They appear on, what seems to be.. a beach! They explore for some time, but don't find anyone. Until..

---

"There is so much sand," Welony mumbled as she stared down at her feet, and the sand that had decided to stick itself to her.

"Honestly, sand is very welcome after the hell we've been through," Lily responded, watching Mareo gather sand in his hand and chuck it at Glitchy, who snorted and tossed some back in return.

"How is everything there?" Snitchy raised an eyebrow.

"Shit's fucked."

"Fair enough."

"Ah.. hello?"

Everyone turns their heads to see..

"Oh you have got to be kidding me," Lily deadpanned.

---

Yup, the first alternative version they meet? It's Lily!

She, of course, doesn't know them. In fact, she doesn't even recognize them! Why? Because this is Princess Lily Sonata Marianna-Thalassa, Princess-Heir to the throne of Pacific Empire. Though she'd.. prefer it if they just called her Sonata, though, since they clearly have another Lily. After thoroughly explaining their situation to her, it turns out she does have an answer to their troubles, does in fact believe them.

You see, her current guardian, Queen Diana Sinfonia Marianna-Thalassa had captured someone who was a bright color like Abyssal,,, which doesn't bode well, because if an Admin was captured, it meant that Abyssal can't protect them as well as well as she hopes.

Sonata leads them to the castle, thankfully with no incident!! Namely because we have relatively smart people here who understand they probably shouldn't piss off the princess of an Empire. They soon arrive to the underwater castle with only minor difficulty (pirates) and they meet the queen herself!

Queen Diana is understanding but very wary. She tells the group she does have an inkling of an idea about what they may be looking for, and proceeds to pull out two things!

A piece of the Hourglass (specifically the bottom wooden base) and also..

---

"CLUSTER!??!" everyone shouts in shock as the former Admin is dropped unceremoniously to the ground. Everyone steps behind Abyssal out of instinct, who summons her chains. The Admin, however, can't even get a word out before--

"PUT ME BACK IN SOLITARY CONFINMENT. PLEASE."

Everyone stops and stares.

"... What?" Glitchy's eyebrows shoot to his hairline.

"PUT ME! BACK IN! SOLITARY! CONFINMENT!" Cluster scrambled to their knees, looking at the group with wild eyes. "Put me back in their! I am begging you! If I have to spend another day around the Abyss, around Cookie, around DialUp, around Black Doom, I AM GOING TO GO INSANE!!!!"

Queen Diana sighed. "They have been like this since I found them attempting to steal the object."

Abyssal blinked owlishly. "You.. you want to go back in solitary?"

"Anything," Cluster whispered harshly, "is better than having to be around THEM!!!"

The murmurings of surprise came from everyone.

Then Tari's eyes widened. "Hey, did Cluster just mention the Abyss?"

".... awh shit."

---

The first one they meet, indeed, is Cluster. And wisely, they decide not to fight when they are vastly outnumbered, but also because they just really want to get away from the Abyss and their whole entourage.

Our gang gratefully takes both the Hourglass piece and Cluster, thanking both Sonata and Queen Diana before leaving. Only to return to a time room in absolute chaos because Mario decided to charge into one of the doors after the Future and Present groups left, it didn't work, and now everything is on fire.

Yes, Effi did put in a minor failsafe before passing out. No one else can enter any timeline once one group has entered, which does mean everyone has to be sure about their choices, since they have no clue what any timeline is.

Regardless, one piece down! The next six shouldn't be too hard... right?