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The dread that filled the Infinite Realms was palpable. Most ghosts hid in their lairs and the few who were out were either heading towards the Meeting of the Council or hurting about in a frenzied disarray unsure where to go or what to do.
Clockwork looked into one of his many mirrors and saw the GIW prepping their weapons.
If something didn’t change soon, all would be destroyed. The Infinite Realms would collapse into itself dragging all realities with it into Unreality.
In another mirror young King Phantom sat grimly in front of his council, his face did not betray the grief he felt at the loss of his friends only hours before.
The beings of the Infinite Realms were powerful, but they all fell under the curse that the Observants had cast when they sided with GIW in order to gain more power. No one shall do anything to those who challenge the monarch and no monarch shall leave the Realms. They had stated, and soon after the GIW had declared war on King Phantom, not the Realms.
And while Phantom was king he was also young, and did not know who to undo the curse the Observants had collectively cast.
And so, they were stuck with Phantom being the only one capable of defending. And even then, he could only defend from within the Realms.
Clockwork was supposed to be at the Meeting of the Council, and he knew his absence would further increase the dread in the room. Knew that even now, Phantom was fighting to keep his own dread contained, keep it from showing to the council and the rest of the Realms.
But there were things to be done. Plans to be set in motion and terrible decisions to be made to keep the Mutliverse itself from collapsing.
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Many assumed that Clockwork’s obsession was watching over the Time Stream. But they were wrong. Or at least partly so. Clockwork was an Ancient, and one of the older ones at that. Furthermore he was the Ancient of Time. That ever flowing river with its many streams and tributaries. And like a river could change its course, so his obsessions could shift.
It had taken on many forms during the millennials of his existence. He still winced to remember his obsession at seizing control of that one particular earth where he was worshiped as Kronos.
He was particularly fond of this current version of himself. Finding the best time line for each dimension had always been one of his obsessions, but the second had formed after he had spotted a glimpse of a possible King. A King who was merely a boy, and a halfa at that.
At first he watched out of curiosity, but then when he met the boy and began to watch him more closely the curiosity turned to fondness. It was a strange emotion. Something Clockwork had not felt since his incarnation as Kronos had fallen in love with Rhea. Though the feeling was different.
And it was at this moment when his secondary obsession at guiding the young King took over his primary obsession of maintaining the Time Stream.
This would have consequences he knew. And the young King might never forgive him.
But he would save the boy. He would give the boy another chance to live
And one day, perhaps, he’d be grateful.
Clockwork ignored the fact that all futures where he went through with his decision were blurry. But the glimpses he caught…
He would see his King live.
There was no other option.
Clockwork stood still and gathered himself before extending his reach as far as it would go, all the way the the edges of this section of the Realms. Then with the sound of clanging bells said, “Time Out.”