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luxreader · 2 months ago

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Written in the stars (forever on loop) chapter eight - everything stays, but it still changes

Pairing: Pre poly! Chain x reader, Wind & reader

Rating: T

Summary: You find yourself on an island talking to an older version of a new friend, which leads to some questions and revelations. Meanwhile, the boys end up in Wild's hyrule and there's some honest conversations.

(Aka: You get told the truth, Sky gets a formal apology, and Wild chills by your grave)

Warnings: grief, cursing

Other: if I missed anything please let me know

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Five long days into staying alone in town have left you ready to scream. Being constant on edge and wrangling the situation at hand is ever exhausting.

You find yourself strapping your sword and shield in place with your bag.

Your things are all in your bag, and all you have to do is go find some wild herbs for the town healer. The job isn't difficult but something tells you to bring your stuff.

("Never leave an unfamiliar place without your things. Okay, dearest?" A man smiles at you, both hands holding your own. His red scarf flutters behind him. "You never know what is going to happen, and with all my enemies... I just worry.")

Whatever that voice is, you're going to listen. These half memories or whatever they are may be driving you up the wall with confusion and guilt, but they seem to be useful.

Their advice - when it is advice - is usually sound.

The second part about all the person's enemies seems weird, but that feels like a therapy topic, so you tuck it away for later.

Spooky is quick to follow you into the trees, stalking along beside you. Their movements unsettling in the quiet they exude.

All you have to do is find some willow bark and some blackberry leaves. That shouldn't be too hard...

Blackberries grow wild in the summer. So, in theory -

You have got to pay more attention, you trip over a - shadow? - root and tumble forwards towards swirling purple.

The world shifts, and you pass through something cold and clinging...

You stumble out of the sensation half bent over, stomach flipping inside out before righting itself and your head spinning and throbbing to a unique can-can beat.

Groaning as you straighten up, you blink until your vision clears, and you can see that you are on a beach.

Weird.

You were just outside a town...

Great.

Magic really sucks apparently. Evil portals, cursed soulmates, and whatever Ganon is... yikes.

Spooky brushes against your side, which is reassuring at least.

"Hey, pumpkin," you smile at the large animal.

Spooky gives a low rumble of a purr for a moment, tail swishing idily.

"What on earth is that?" A woman asks from the right.

You turn, finding her pointing to Spooky.

"A big cat?" You offer.

"LINK!" Someone calls.

You blink, looking around for whichever hero has been summoned.

If you've been dropped off to meet a new hero... that will suck.

"LINK!" Someone else calls.

You frown, unsure why they're so frantic - right.

Spooky.

The panther is probably quite the sight in general, let alone on a beach.

There's murmurs and movements.

Looking to Spooky, you smile softly to the large cat, "It's okay, pumpkin."

Footsteps on the sand shift towards you, unfamiliar but steady.

An older man approaches, likely in his late fourties or early fifties with sea curls that are a graying blond. He wears a blue tunic, a cutlass on his hip, and has a winding nautical tattoo on his left bicep.

That can't be the Link they called for... can it?

You step a little closer to Spooky, setting a hand on their back lightly.

The man looks at you and stops short. "Well, I'll be. Look at you!"

You try to place him, something tugs at familiarity, but you don't know what. You couldn't say...

He looks a little like Wind, but that can't be. Wind is all fourteen, and this man is much, much older.

Spooky dosen’t seem too upset just yet, so you don't immediately run.

The man frowns, "You don't recognize me at all, do you, sweetheart?"

His voice is strange, and the familiarity in it is enough to

"No?" You say, trying not to read into any of this. Maybe this man is just lost?

"That makes sense... you know me as Wind, I gave you that seagull figurine Sky carved."

"I- Sky made it?" You manage to echo.

Why does this man even know about the figurine?

"Yeah, he was always so talented." The man nods easily.

"Spooks?" You prompt the cat with the nickname.

Spooky seems fine with the man, going to sniff him before sitting down at his side and giving you a yawn.

Well then. That is quite the message. You can't be certain what the message is exactly, but there is one by golly!

The man - Wind? - chuckles, reaching out to pet Spooky. "You always did have a way with animals."

"I guess?" You manage weakly.

There isn't an argument against that right now since you have a panther but still... it's strange to be talking to someone who may or may not be the much older version of someone you know.

The man looks at you with a heavy understanding that you don't much appreciate. A fond reminiscence mixing with someone between Pity and empathy...

"Where are you in your adventure?" The man asks a little softer.

"Uh... just fell through my second portal?"

"You just left that town you were going to stay in, right?" He asks this with soft blue eyes that echo that of the boy you got the figurine from.

You nod. "Yeah..."

The man - Wind, because you know this is an older Wind the same way you know how to apparently fight - gives a half bitter smile. "I'm sorry."

"What?"

"I'm sorry," Wind says again before he continues. "You don't know it yet, but we failed you so many ways, and I'm so sorry."

"You - you haven't failed me."

Wind shakes his head, "We will. But that's the way it goes. Sometimes, you fail despite your best efforts."

"You're being weird," you breathe out.

Wind laughs a little, "I guess I am. I'm sure you have questions about what's happening with the dreams and the - what did you call them? - half memories?"

You go still, eyes snapping to meet his gaze as they widen.

He knows about that?

You haven't told anyone.

Except... this is Wind, isn't it? If you're reading things right, you aren't done with this adventure yet...

Maybe you tell him about it later?

"I'll answer everything the best I can." Wind says, "Why don't you come with me, and I'll make you some hot chocolate, and we'll talk?"

Ah yes, bribery.

You do like hot chocolate...

You look to Spooky, "What do you think, pumpkin?"

Spooky just yawns again.

You smile a little, "Okay."

Wind chuckles, "Stick with Spooky. They're a good cat."

"I know," you say softly, reaching out to scratch behind the panther's ear.

Spooky purrs a little, almost puffing up with pride.

Wind leads you to a house that seems more like a guest house than anything. It has all the things one needs to have a house functioning, but they all seem mostly unused aside from the hallway full of pictures.

It's clean enough, maps on the wall and pictures interspersed.

He goes to the kitchen, and you trail after him. Eyes taking in all the light wood furniture around you.

"You can ask anything, I'll try my best to help." Wind informs you.

"Okay... well... how are you?" You ask more on reflex than anything.

It seems like a great starting point anyhow...

He laughs, shooting you a look that screams amusement. "I'm okay, got old, and my joints hurt, but that's to be expected. How are you?"

"Good?"

He hums a little, setting a pot on the stove with milk in it. "That's good."

"So... none of us die on this adventure, right?" You ask.

Wind chokes a little, whipping around to look at you. "What? No! None of us died."

"Oh, good! Good..."

"Are you sure you're okay?" Wind asks as he looks you over.

"Uh - yeah... Just - I don't know..."

"That's okay. You don't have to know right now."

"Okay..."

"You have no idea what you're doing on this adventure, do you?" He asks.

You shake your head, "Not really."

Wind nods to himself, glancing to Spooky. He takes a slow breath.

Then he looks to you, face pulling a little funny around his eyes.

"Oh, sweetheart, I am sorry. I would do anything to make your burden lighter. You know about soulmates by now, don't you?"

"Yeah... I'm sorry, by the way. I shouldn't have kept reading..."

Wind smiles softly, far more for show than anything else. A deep grief you can't understand just yet settles in his gaze. "(Y/n), you're allowed to know. You, of all people, have a right to know."

"Oh fuck, am I actually being haunted by your soulmate?" You ask, the previous theory sounding horrific just now.

Wind gives a quick half dizzy laugh. "You - wait, you think you're haunting yourself?"

That's-

What?

'Haunting yourself'?!

"What?" You ask.

You are pretty sure that you bare a resemblance to awide-eyed gold fish at the moment.

"(Y/n), sweetheart, you aren't being haunted. You can't haunt yourself. You're my soulmate - or well... you're the Hero's soulmate."

"That's - no! No!" You deny immediately.

"What is it, you say? Denial isn't just a river in Egypt?" Wind muses the phrase fondly.

Wow. Okay, apparently, you teach him modern Earth phrases. (Why would you do that? He will be such a menace!)

You shake your head to yourself and ignore how weak your knees feel.

"I'm not the soulmate! I'm not - I grew up on Earth! I'm from a whole different world!"

Wind softens immediately. His eyes go warm and sympathetic, "I know it's a lot, but I'm serious."

Spooky comes up to your side, brushing against you before sitting down.

"That doesn't make sense. "

"Come on, you're smart. You know I'm telling you the truth," Wind coaxes with a gentleness most often saved for people important to oneself.

Pinching your brows, you swallow hard. This-

The books talk about reincarnation...

You've always been inexplicably drawn to the world of Zelda. To the heroes too, always to them, but also to the world itself.

You've always been drawn to the world. To the people.

The culture.

You can read Hylian despite never learning it!

"Fuck," You breathe out shakily.

"There it is," Wind sighs.

You turn to him with wild eyes, "Why the fuck - how?!"

"I'm not sure. You never told us why you ended up on Earth."

"I blame fucking Ganon." You groan lowly, burying your face in your hands.

Pressing your palms against your closed eyes is your latest attempt at grounding at the moment. It isn't working as much as you might like.

"Sounds right," Wind agrees easily.

"This explains so much."

"It would."

You groan again, dragging your hands down your face and looking up to the ceiling. "That's why everyone was so weird but you and Sky?"

"Sky was weird too."

"He didn't act like the others."

"Yeah, well, the others did spectacular at being rude."

You laugh a little. "Yeah... they were."

"Legend still being a little fuck head?" Wind asks.

You snort, "How would I know? He left."

"I guess that's fair."

"So... I'm really your guys' soulmate?"

He gives you a nod and a sad smile, "You are."

You sigh heavily, "My life is a shitty fanfiction."

Wind snickers at that, "Cheer up, it's not all bad."

"Sailor, I am haunting my own narrative!" You bemoan, inner demons welling up.

"I'll finish the hot chocolate. Why don't you go look at the pictures in the hallway?" Wind suggests.

The idea sounds absurd, but it gives you some space... you'll also learn more about the kid - man? - so there's that.

You go out of the kitchen and to the hallway, finding lots of pictures on the wall.

Spooky stays behind to inspect the kitchen. They're probably hoping for meat.

There's dozens of pictures full of people you half recognize.

Wind is in some, at various life stages. His sister is too.

Tetra is in several, along with Nico.

Oh!

There's a picture of you and the Wind you're familliar with- the young teen with the bright smile. The picture isn't one you remember bjt in it you and Wind are in the middle of some song around the fire, clapping caught kid motion.

Does that mean you are going to reunite with the boys?

The idea makes your heart soar, but it also makes your stomach stage a one man twelve-step mutiny.

There's another picture where Wild, Legend, and Warriors are having a strange stand-off with fire rods and pointing fingers.

You snicker a little.

There's a picture of Wind, Warriors and a much younger Time where all three are covered in mud and laughing.

Oh.

There.

There's a picture of Wind before his first adventure and he's with someone about his age that looks suspiciously like you did at that age...

There's a picture of him in his mid teens with the same person that looks suspiciously like you.

There's dozens of the person that bares an uncanny resemblance to you. Some with him, some alone, some with his sister or with Tetra.

Oh.

There!

There's a picture of Wind and the doppelganger where they both look to be in their early fourties. They're grinning at the camera as they hold up a giant treasure map.

You... aren't that old but you see yourself in the lines of age on the stranger.

Part of you never imagined living long enough to get wrinkles...

Part of you hopes that if you do it's smile lines and crows feet from a happy life.

Wait -

If that's... if that's the soulmate - a different version of you? - what are they doing alive in their fourties?

"That was a good day," Wind says from behind you when he sees what you're looking at.

You turn, seeing the mugs in either of his hands. "Who are they?"

"I think you know."

"Just - tell me... please?"

Wind softens immediately, "That's you... Well, not you because it was a previous lifetime, but it is you."

"I'm- They're not dead?"

"No! Goddess no!" He looks seasick at the thought. "Not at all. They're visiting Tetra right now and checking with Beedle."

"But... I thought - it always ends bad?"

"When you broke the curse -"

"I break the curse?!" You demand as your eyes widen and something hopefully bright and fragile wells in your chest.

Wind nods with a grin, "When you broke the curse it didn't undo any of what happened but because my (Y/n) was alive and I was there in the room when it broke I was released from it."

"Oh. Good! Uhm... I really broke it?"

"Yeah, I woke up from a concussion to a lot of panic and you were muttering about someone being 'a little bitch'..." Wind trails off, sounding fond.

"I - fuck me that sounds like a bad time." You groan, fairly sure that any fight ending with concusions and muttering is a bad one.

"It wasn't so bad."

You give him a dubious look, "Stop telling me my canon events I need to process."

"Ah, yeah, okay," Wind nods, having the decency to look a little guilty. He holds a mug out to you, "Here you go."

You take your hot chocolate, reveling in the warmth against your hands. "Thank you."

"Anytime."

"Do any of them know?" You ask.

Wind shakes his head, "I don't think so. Maybe Legend and Warriors, but it might be too early."

"Great."

"You should let them come to you. Let them figure it out on their own."

"I - why?"

"I'm pretty sure if you break it to them, they'll shatter. They... None of them handled losing you well. None of them are going to react well."

"It feels mean not to tell them."

Wind sighs, leaning against the wall. "Do you think Time, Wild, or Sky would handle you telling them well? That Twilight and Four can handle it? They are always overthinking, all of the Links to ever exist over think."

"You got that as a survival skill," you chide on instinct.

Wind smiles, "I know. But they'll wonder if you're lying, and then they'll do something stupid."

"I guess..." you sigh.

It makes some sense. You see the logic. It just seems mean not to tell them. But really... can you do that to them knowing how much grief they all carry anyway?

They're all so good at self blame, you don't want to fan the flames.

This is a mess.

You sigh, sipping some of your hot chocolate.

"You're taking this well," Wind muses.

You groan again. "Today sucks."

"I know. Come on, let's make you some dinner and get you to bed."

You want to argue, but food and sleep are tempting...

-------

Sky wakes up with a start, hands gripping his blade as his eyes scan a strange new scene. His chest heaves as he tries to catch his breath.

They are in a forest, but it feels different here. There's a vibrant array of plant life.

He groans, falling back into his bedroll.

He wishes he could return to his dream, where he gets to hold his sunshine in his arms.

Dreamland is often kinder to Sky these days.

What are they doing here?

There's shuffling around Sky and the groans of his brothers. The sounds promise action, and that is about the last thing he wants today.

Sky just sets the crook of his arm over his eyes. At least he dosen’t have to look at you after his dream this time.

He feels mean for thinking that, but he does.

You're safe, and in that town, they left, which is good. He's glad about it!

Sky likes you, he just... can't stand the memories you give him and the fear in your eyes at the first meeting.

How is he supposed to go on with the knowledge of how his soulmate would look at him if he terrified them? He's already done so many horrible things. His sunshine would have every right to be scared!

He has to stop spiraling.

There's a shadow to hunt.

Sky takes a slow breath. He needs to get his head under control.

"Oh, I know where we are!" Wild calls from somewhere to Sky's left.

"Where are we?" Four asks tireldy from the right.

"We're in my Hyrule! We're near Hateno! I need to go there anyway."

"What for?" Wind asks.

There's a silence about half a dozen beats too long.

Sky dosen’t like that. In fact, he dislikes it enough that he sits up and opens his eyes.

When he looks at Wild, he frowns.

Wild looks guilty, eyes flicking away immediately.

"Champion..." Sky draws slowly.

"I just... check in with someone every time I return. That's all," Wild smiles weakly.

Twilight sighs heavily. "Wild..."

"It's fine! I'll just visit them while you guys talk to Purah," Wild waves off quickly.

"What are you hiding?" Legend asks with a sigh.

"Uh...."

Sky just groans, "Please tell me it's not a grave."

The comment is off the cuff and something absurd. So imagine the surprise when Wild says, "Well..."

"Wild, no." Twilight manages.

Sky just puts his face on his hands and lets out a groan.

Why wouldn't the champions do that?

"I'm going back to sleep." Sky informs, his head pounding.

"We have things to do." Time sighs.

"I'm not doing this," Sky says, "I'm exhausted, and I need an hour. "

"The sooner we move -"

"No!" Sky snaps, turning his glare to the majority of the group. "I am taking an hour! I have been running myself ragged to be there for (Y/n) while falling apart."

"Sky..." Wind frowns.

"You are all children! None of you could put your grief aside, and I was left trying to reassure them. I hurt too, you know."

"Sky..." Hyrule tries.

"I'm going back to sleep!"

"I-"

"Let him." Wild says. "He's done a lot for us. We can forage and fish."

Sky tunes the rest out and burries his face in his pillow.

Today is officially the worst.

Sky can't get your first meeting out of his head! Your fear and how you didn't recognize him haunt him daily.

Oh, he tries, of course he tries. He puts on his best act.

But being one of two people not treating you like you have the plague while dealing with his own problems is exhausting.

Even without you here, he is still catching up.

He is only just getting actual sleep.

He is only just getting to want to eat again.

Sky is only starting to feel like more than a shell putting on an act.

There's shuffling until someone sits beside him.

Whoever it is has the decency to be quiet for a good, long while.

It is until Sky gives up on sleep and gives a low sigh that they speak.

"Thank you," Legend says.

Oh.

Sky wasn't expecting his companion to be the vet, and he wasn't expected a grateful moment from the vet.

"I... I'm not going to sit here and make excuses, but I was an asshole to everyone. I think you were probably one of the people most affected," Legend continues, voice low and steady.

Sky dosen’t respond, but he listens.

He can't remember the last time Legend apologized so sincerely...

"You ran yourself ragged, stepping up where we all failed. Thank you."

Sky takes a slow breath. "You don't have to apologize to me."

"Really? I made your life so much harder by taking my shit out on everyone. (Y/n) was pretty much attached to you and Wind because of me."

Sky snorts, "It wasn't just you. I forgive you, I get it."

"Maybe it wasn't just me, but I didn't help."

"No, but neither did Time or Warriors and his cryptic shield comment." Sky rolls his head so he can see Legend.

Legend snorts, "What was up with Time anyway. I could feel his staring, and he wasn't even looking at me."

Sky snorts again, "Who knows."

"We're all taking the day here. You can rest more," Legend says softer. "You deserve it."

Sky hums, settling back down. Maybe he can get a nap after all. He's done plenty to earn it.

-------

Spooky seems happy to hang out on the island, which is good since you've been here for a good three days now.

Currently, Spooky is in the middle of laying across old man Wind's lap and getting all of the love they want.

"I don't know how much longer you'll be here, but I need you to promise me one thing. Okay?" The elderly man asks.

You look over to him, struck yet again by how much older he is. "What is it?"

"If you're ever truly over your head, you take help from wherever it comes. Even the shadow."

"The shadow? Isn't that the bastard lizard thing you're all chasing?"

The man laughs, shaking his head. "The shadow is a lot of things, but it wants you alive."

You frown, trying to figure that one out. "That's not reassuring."

"I know. Just promise me anyway?"

"Fine, old man," you sigh heavily. "If I'm about to die and the enemy wants to save me, I won't fight."

You can't say why exactly this is something that the man wants you to promise. You can't even say you mean it just now...

But the way his shoulders relax a little says more than you know what to do with. It leaves more questioning than before.

"Thank you," Wind breathes out.

You frown, "What happens that you're telling me this anyway?"

"I -" the man starts only to pause. He seems to be trying to find his own words.

Spooky stops purring for a moment, turning their eyes to the man.

You watch, swallowing back the lump that forms at the furrow of the man's brows.

"I don't know that I can tell you... just know that we all make it out."

"That's anything but reassuring." You breathe out with a frown.

The man sighs. "I know."

"It's not like I'm going to fall in love with them all over and be split up forever at the end... right?"

"Let's focus on not dying." Wind says weakly.

You feel your stomach flip. That answer is not reassuring.

"Wind!"

Wind opens his mouth, but a portal opens in the middle of the room.

"Fuck." You groan.

"That's your cue."

You groan louder.

"Adventure sucks," You groan lowly.

The younger version of you that once craved adventure more than anything is probably throwing a fit at the sentiment, but their idea of adventure was a tad unrealistic.

Spooky stands and comes to see you.

You go to the hallway to grab your things, silently wondering what you're supposed to do.

Do you seriously just live with this?

Going off what this older Wind tells you, you'll see the heroes again...

How do you face that?

Are you going to just stand there knowing the truth?

The boys have all been so weird!

Oh, and dosen’t you being the soulmate just explain everything?

Hylia is a bitch who she should really take better care of her heroes. Apparently, you'll just have to do it.

You put your sword and shield on before grabbing your enchanted bag and going back to the portal.

Spooky sits by the portal, tail lashing.

The older man who is Wind smiles sadly, "Good luck, sweetheart."

You give a weak smile, "Thanks..."

"If it helps... you visit still. You, not my (Y/n), you."

"How do I visit?"

"Magic," he grins.

You sigh. "Oh lord, that's going to be a common answer. I just know it. Come on, Spooks, let's go through the portal from hell."

Wind laughs a little.

You and Spooky go through the portal, and it is not really any better this time than last time.

Your stomach feels like it's on a tilt-a-whirl from hell and your head pounds into time to a waltz you're ttoodizzy to name.

Spooky leans against you and purrs a little.

"Portals suck," you bemoan.

Spooky dosen’t seem nearly as upset.

You're alone in woods that seem vaguely familliar , but that's about it.

Spooky yawns beside you , and you sigh.

"Well, come on, then pumpkin... Let's see where we are."

You let Spooky lead you throughout the trees. The panther seems to have some goal in mind anyhow.

The two of you make your way onto a hiking path of sorts and just walk. The scenery still seems like you should recognize it, but your brain won't place it right now.

-------

Wild, Time, and Twilight go to Hateno alone, only a few hours from camp, but no one else wants to come...

Wild can't blame them.

The champion heads for the apple trees at the hill that leads to the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab and stops at a familiar apple tree.

Undistinguishable in every way except for the way it's younger than the rest.

"Hey, Firefly... I'm back," Wild greets softly.

There's no response, of course, but he never expects one.

Wild sits down at the base of the tree. "I met someone just like you, I could barely hole it together. You always asked what I'd do without you..."

He lets out a shaking sigh that's half a mirthless laugh.

"I learned that apparently I don't do much."

Wild falls into telling the tree - the grave really - about his adventures with the others and about the strange human he met. He talks about his shortcomings and his triumphs.

He speaks as if someone is listening.

Wild has fallen into silence by the time Twilight and Time come over.

"Hey, cub." Twilight says, "You go check in?"

Wild nods. "I did."

"Well, good," Time nods.

"Do you want to say bye before we leave?" Twilight asks.

Wild shrugs, "Might as well. Firefly, these are two of the heroes I told you about... It's about time for me to hit the road again..."

Time and Twilight both fall utterly silent and still before they share a look.

Wild frowns. "What?"

"You really miss them," Twilight says softly.

"Of course I do."

"Is this... the grave?" Time asks with a strange weight in his voice.

Wild nods, "Yeah..."

"It's nice," Twilight says. "Looks good."

"I try," the champion shrugs weakly.

"We can leave if you want more time?" Time offers.

Wild stands and shakes his head, "No. They understand."

"They always do," Time sighs.

Twilight frowns, "Wild..."

"I'm just... tired."

Twilight makes a soft, sympathetic sound. "Cub..."

Wild just shrugs. "We all are."

Twilight crosses the space and pulls Wild into a hug. He wraps his arms around the other tightly, trying his best to soothe the champion.

Time comes up beside them, setting a hand on one of each boy's shoulders. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," Wild says, half breathless, "You're the only people that really get it."

"We're here," Twilight says.

"I know."

The rancher feels himself start shaking even though he's the one doing the comforting.

Something about being here... about being with the two men...

Twilight can't stop the way his heart cracks and fills at once.

Wild shakes right back, letting himself feel things full force.

"It going to be okay," Time says with a conviction he works every day to keep.

Wild believes that for the first time in a long time.

The three spend far longer there than they mean to, but by the time they return to camp, the sun is setting, and their own emotions are a little less tumultuous.

It's not perfect, and things still suck, but it's better than this morning.

-------

Next - wip

Taglist: @danyzta @vrsin @silver-the-pendejo @tulip-does-stuff @justanotherweeb666 @yourlocaltreesimp @blueberrysungie @victoryssong23 @shu-leepy @sleepifonlyigoti @sour-patch-delight @phlying-squirrel @pumpkincitrus @krys0210 @theregoeskittykat @fuckingfaraway @doodle-with-rhy @luxreader

#had to reblog from this person cause same homie #<- prev

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