A Hat in Time Loops

———Loop 5.1———

"You ready to die some more? Great!"

Snatcher's Death Wishes were one of the few things in baseline still challenging to Hat Kid. As such, they had become one of her go-to pastimes. It was kind of like training, right?

Plus, she was really curious about the supposed 'Luigi' she could unlock by completing every Death Wish on the first attempt. She hadn't managed it yet, but one of these Loops she would.

Hopefully this one.

Hat Kid nodded.

Time for some Quality Time With Snatcher. This could take a few hours.

———Loop 5.2———

'So I'm a quadruped again...' was the first thing Hat Kid realized upon Awakening.

She quickly went over her Loop memories. She was a corgi, first of all. She was on a quest to...

Wait. She knew this story.

The backstory of Alan from Corgi Quest! She was the main character of Corgi Quest!

This Loop was going to be fun! Now, which way is South?

Ping.

Someone else was Awake! Pinging back, Hat Kid turned in the direction of the Ping and walked. Turns out that direction was South. Convenient. Hat Kid arrives at a clearing with a canyon to the West.

"Hattie?" Comes a call from across the canyon.

"Yeah?"

"Is this that game you like?"

"Yes!" Hat barks, and that would take some getting used to. "I'm gonna go get a dog sword. You a wizard?"

"I... think so?"

"Cool, you're Conclusions! Figure out levitation while I'm gone. Maybe now I can see what's past the demo!" Hat Kit set off towards the South exit of the clearing.

"You only had the demo this whole time?!" Bow called after her.

Hat Kid didn't respond, already well on her way to Barry.

———Loop 5.3 (Fusion: ENA)———

The world seemed extra broken this Loop.

Hat Kid's Loop memories informed her that the circumstances were near-identical to baseline, but the world was visibly... different.

There were patches that appeared low-poly, like Hat's Virtual Kid costume, which she found was her default look this Loop. Some surfaces were featureless and white, others mimicked TV static. Hat Kid looked herself over, was the Nostalgia Badge equipped or something? No? Weird. 

She had a feeling this Loop would be crashing at some point. For now though, Bow Kid was calling, and the Mafia should be banging on her ship any minute now.

Other than the obvious visual differences, things in Mafia Town progressed as per usual, but around where they'd usually find the Badge Seller...

"Salutations!" spoke an unfamiliar voice, "may I interest you in some fine badges?"

Hat Kid turned, and was met with... something.

The person had a face reminiscent of abstract art; it was half blue, half yellow, with indents between the colors forming a nose and mouth. On the yellow side, the hair on the person's head was short, but it was grown out on the blue side and tucked behind an ear.