fix: wire movement controller before state machine; harden machine lookup

debug/test_level_builder.gd

@@ -65,6 +65,11 @@ func _build_player() -> void:
 	shape.shape.height = 1.8
 	player.add_child(shape)
 
+	# Movement controller MUST be attached first, before machine/children
+	var mover_script = load("res://movement/player_movement_controller.gd")
+	if mover_script:
+		player.set_script(mover_script)
+
 	# State machine
 	var sm := Node.new()
 	sm.name = "MovementStateMachine"
@@ -91,14 +96,6 @@ func _build_player() -> void:
 		if st_script:
 			st.set_script(st_script)
 
-	# Movement controller
-	var mover_script = load("res://movement/player_movement_controller.gd")
-	if mover_script:
-		player.set_script(mover_script)
-		# set_script does not auto-call _ready(); do it manually
-		if player.has_method("_ready"):
-			player._ready()
-
 	# Camera
 	var camera := Camera3D.new()
 	camera.name = "Camera3D"

movement/player_movement_controller.gd

@@ -12,6 +12,21 @@ signal chain_updated(count: int, bonus: float)
 
 var machine: MovementStateMachine
 var jump_buffered: bool = false
+var _ready_ran: bool = false
+
+# ── Helpers ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+func _ensure_machine() -> MovementStateMachine:
+	if typeof(_machine) != TYPE_NIL and is_instance_valid(_machine):
+		return _machine as MovementStateMachine
+	var candidates := [
+		get_node("MovementStateMachine") if has_node("MovementStateMachine") else null,
+		_machine if is_instance_valid(_machine) and _machine.has_method("register_chain_mechanic") else null,
+	]
+	for c in candidates:
+		if c and (c is MovementStateMachine or (c.has_method("switch_to") and c.has_method("register_chain_mechanic"))):
+			_machine = c
+			return _machine
+	return null
 
 # ── Input references ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 func _unhandled_input(event: InputEvent) -> void:
@@ -31,22 +46,29 @@ func _unhandled_input(event: InputEvent) -> void:
 
 
 func _ready() -> void:
-	_machine.player = self
+	if _ready_ran:
-	_machine.params = params
+		return
+	_ready_ran = true
+	var node := _ensure_machine()
+	if node:
+		var sm := node
+		sm.player = self
+		sm.params = params
 		# Mirror signal up
-	_machine.movement_event.connect(func(ev, data):
+		sm.movement_event.connect(func(ev, data):
 			if ev == "chain_updated":
 				chain_updated.emit(data.count, data.bonus)
 		)
 
 
 func _process(_delta: float) -> void:
-	var fsm_node = _machine.get_node("MovementStateMachine")
+	var node := _ensure_machine()
-	if fsm_node and fsm_node.has_method("switch_to"):
+	if not node:
-		_machine.input_jump_just_pressed = Input.is_action_just_pressed("jump") and not _machine.input_jump_pressed
+		return
-	_machine.input_jump_pressed = Input.is_action_pressed("jump")
+	# Keep one consistent source of truth for inputs
-	_machine.input_sprint = Input.is_action_pressed("sprint")
+	node.input_jump_just_pressed = Input.is_action_just_pressed("jump") and not node.input_jump_pressed
-	_machine.input_crouch = Input.is_action_pressed("crouch")
+	node.input_jump_pressed = Input.is_action_pressed("jump")
-	_machine.input_dash = Input.is_action_just_pressed("dash") and not _machine.input_dash
+	node.input_sprint = Input.is_action_pressed("sprint")
-	var input_v := Input.get_vector("move_left", "move_right", "move_forward", "move_back")
+	node.input_crouch = Input.is_action_pressed("crouch")
-	_machine.input_dir = input_v
+	node.input_dash = Input.is_action_just_pressed("dash") and not node.input_dash
+	node.input_dir = Input.get_vector("move_left", "move_right", "move_forward", "move_back")