Chapter Text
Chapter 2
Reunion and Apologies
Agatha made sure both of her parents were busy with work to pay much attention to her. She was old enough not to need constant attention, but she wanted to make sure they wouldn’t notice her missing for however long this might take. Time does move slower in her home world after all.
It’s been a few weeks since Martha and David took her in. She couldn’t put off a visit to her creator or her cat any longer. Poor Curious must be worried sick about her. Plus, there’s a good chance her creator knows what happened to her brothers.
She sneaked into her bedroom and opened up a portal on the ground. Jumping through it she reached the central domain of the Great Tree, transforming into her Goddess form on the way down.
The Blacksmith was at a table working on some wooden carvings when Empty came in. Her eyes lit up in excitement when she saw who teleported in. “Empty! It’s been far too long.”
“Yeah, no kidding. Sorry for not visiting in so long. You see there was this massive space rock and this weird dream I kept having in my human form showed me taking this thing out and I just sort of acted without thinking. Never would have thought it would take me this long to recover.”
The Blacksmith fondly shook her head. Then her eyes glowed yellow, showing that the Tree was now in control. “A little careless of you don’t you think?” she asked.
Empty sheepishly rubbed the back of her head. “No kidding. Remnant’s completely different now. It must have been centuries by now. And I haven’t seen my brothers since I came back. Do you know where they are?”
The Tree shook her head. “I’m sorry Empty, but your brothers are no longer on Remnant. They had left a long time ago and I haven’t been able to track their movements.”
Empty felt like another hole opened up under her feet and swallowed her whole. “They… left me?” If she could cry right now she would. “Why? What happened? How could they just leave me behind like that? Why abandoned Remnant? That was our home!”
The Tree wrapped her arms around Empty. “I know. And I am so sorry. I wish I could explain everything, but this is something you need to find out on your own.”
“How?”
“Fear not. For the one with all the answers lies underneath your feet,” The Tree explained. Empty looked underneath her feet and The Tree laughed. “Not here. On Remnant.” Empty rolled her eyes, not really in the mood to deal with her creator’s cryptic bullshit right now.
She pulled away from her creator’s embrace. “Thanks, I guess. Look, I’m going to visit the Cat. You know where they are right now?”
The Tree nodded. “They were in the garden acre last I checked.” Empty gave her thanks and started to leave when The Tree called out to her. “A few cycles ago a human has made his way to this realm. And shortly upon his arrival he plucked a fruit from the time tree.”
“A time traveler,” Empty realized. The Tree nodded. “And I’m guessing he hasn’t caught back up to his current time yet?” The Tree shook her head. The hidden warning was clear. Until this human caught up to his timeline, Empty could not interact with him. Less she risk damage to the space-time continuum. “I can send a message to make sure he doesn't seek me out until then right?”
“I don’t see why not,” The Tree replied.
“Great. I can focus on that later. In the meantime, I need to go beg the Cat for forgiveness.” Empty left and made her way to the Garden Acre.
“Is that?”
“The Legendary Sister of Empty!”
“She has returned!”
Landing in the Garden Acre in her dragon form attracted a lot of attention. After she transformed into her humanoid form, Afterians from all over surrounded her. And although she sees familiar faces, none of them recognize her. It’s no surprise. They all must have gone through ascension several times over by now.
All except for….
“Mistress? Mistress! Is that really you?”
The crowd parted as the Curious Cat rushed past them in an attempt to reach their creator. Empty knelt down and opened her arms wide. The Curious Cat jumped into her arms and Empty held the Cat close. For a while, the two just stayed there. The Cat’s sobs slowly quieted and they said "I was beginning to think you would never come back.”
Empty held Curious closer. “I’m sorry. Remnant was in danger. I didn’t think it would take me this long to recover.”
Curious sniffed. "I know. The Tree filled me in. She told me you needed time, she just didn't know how much." They looked at her with bright eyes, their ears drooping. “I have so many questions for you mistress.”
Empty's grip tightened around them. “Well I’m not going anywhere right now. Ask me all the questions you want.”
"What's going on with Remnant right now? Are Masters Light and Darkness doing all right? How long will you be able to stay? Will it take you long to visit me again?"
As Curious and Empty went on with their game of over 20 questions, the Afterians went off to give the two some privacy. Some went back to doing their purpose. Others hurried off to tell the rest of the Ever After that the Sister of Empty has returned.
Empty and Curious paid them no mind. Curious climbed onto Empty's shoulder like they had done so many times before, asking one question after another before Empty could even finish answering the last one.
Empty answered the best she could. Stroking the Cat's head and nuzzling them against her cheek. While she wasn't able to answer everything, the answers she did give made Curious's ears lift a little higher with every word.
No one else noticed a figure watching from deep within the trees.
It lingered there in the silence, still enough to blend in seamlessly with the shade of the trunks. A gloved hand rested over the hook of a cane, one finger tapping soundlessly against the hook at the top. The figure's head tilted as Empty and Curious continued to catch up.
"Welcome back, old friend," he whispered.
Then his body began to fade.
First the cane.
Then the arms.
Then his torso and legs.
The top hat and the fixed smile stayed a moment longer before it too, faded into nothingness.
"And just like that... Empty returns to the stage."