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Tick, Tick, Tick.
Time waits for no one but itself.
Kris wakes up, in a void.
A endless black void, standing on nothing
Right after they finally got rid of that damn parasite.
Banished it for good.
But, apparently not really.
For that damn thing is right in front of them, looking the other way.
In it's vessel that they were sure was gone for good.
Apparently not.
With metallic wings, somewhere between brass and steel folded behind them.
"How the hell are you still alive! We banished you"
*Ah, you're finally awake. And yes you did, but I wished to have one last chat."
The Angel turns around. A star similar to the Titans block their face.
Making it impossible to see through, yet Kris can feel pure red eyes gaze upon them still.
Kris thinks it's fitting.
The Angel is holding a gold pocket watch in one hand.
And a silver wristwatch is on the other hand's wrist.
One that looks the same as Noelle's.
For some reason, that makes them shiver.
"What the hell do you want!? Why won't you leave!?"
*Like I said, a final chat before it all ends. And don't worry, your banishment worked astoundingly well so I will have to leave, for better or worse.
The two watches continue to tick, perfectly synced as they put the pocket watch in their grey jacket pocket.
"Wait... Before it all ends?! What do you mean!? You did something didn't you!!"
Kris could feel it sigh.
*I did not do anything Kris. My choices don't matter, remember?"
Kris wanted to laugh... Their choices didn't matter? After all the autonomy it took from them!? What a sick joke.
But Kris didn't, for they were too angry too. Even just being in the Angel's presence made their blood boil.
*It's time for a proper introduction, now that we can finally hear one another. My name is Chronos.
"Wait wait... Chronos? God of time? I find that hard to believe."
*Not a God, just an angel. Or I wouldn't be so easily banished. Still, I have control over time. I can show you.
The Angel pulled out it's pocket watch and dropped it,
just before it hit the ground, it seemingly started to reverse in time, it's ticking going backwards until it hit the Angel's hand.
"What... No you have to be tricking me, there's no way you actually..."
*How do you think I never got hit once, by anything ever? I have years of practice dodging those attacks, that's how. That's how I reacted to attacks that weren't even there yet.
"Then... Why didn't you stop us form banishing you if your so powerful huh!?"
*Because that would be a choice, and mine don't matter. Nothing I do would have worked, I tried everything already. And I mean everything.
The Angel scratches it's wrist, the one with the watch on it.
That sends chills up Kris' spine, for a reason they don't understand.
"Because... of the prophecy?"
*Maybe, but Susie was able to break it, and she's just a mortal. Too bad it doesn't matter.
Kris is enraged at it for saying that Susie's choice and efforts didn't matter.
"What do you mean it doesn't matter! She saved-"
*Because, the world ends either way.
The Angel said with a stern voice.
Kris was taken aback.
*The world cannot go on without me, without time. The world is forever frozen without my active input. I could stand still for days and time wouldn't pass, nor would anyone comment on it.
"What... You... You mean that... That..."
Kris feels like they want to faint.
Everything...
Everything was pointless.
*The world will end because you banished time itself, yes... And, I'm sorry for taking away your autonomy, even if it wasn't my choice I still did so.
"So... That's it huh? You're just going to get kicked out by us, and the world will just stop!? Why!? Why didn't you say anything till now!!?
*I tried, I really tried. I did some simply twisted malevolent things to try. But no matter what, you couldn't hear me and I couldn't hear you. Even when I...
The angel looks resigned.
"But.. You literally have time powers! There's no way you wouldn't be able to stop-
*Fine... I'll just show you how far I went. Here's the memories from everything
The angel handed them a little ball of incandescent light.
*Careful, it might cause pain and seizure so I suggest you sit down.
Suddenly a marble bench materialized out of pure light.
Kris decided to do what was asked and sit down.
As they took the pill, a million moments passed through their head.
Dozens of lives.
The only thing changing, being the Angel's own choices.
But it all ended the same way, The Anggel was banished, time stopped. They reset to try something else.
The choices became more extreme, less and less moral with fewer doubts.
Untill eventually.
Noelle...
Oh Angel...
Noelle...
She was broken and used like a mere tool.
MInd shattered to be used as a perfect vessel.
Just to stop the world from ending.
But in the end, the Angel was still banished at the cost of so many lives
Everyone was used up.
And time still stopped.
Because no matter what, they couldn't communicate properly.
They couldn't understand the Angel.
So they ended up frozen in ice and time.
The Angel's choices never mattered.
Chronos's choices never mattered.
Until eventually, the current timeline happened.
The kindest and best possible outcomes for everyone.
The choices that gave the most joy.
But they never were appreciated, and were banished all the same.
As the fountain of light was sealed.
Time for everyone just, stopped.
Kris wakes up, on a bench. overlooking a beautiful sunset.
More beautiful than they've ever seen.
A gentle breeze brushes against their skin.
With an endless field of soft green grass blowing in the wind.
It's melancholic.
Kris also has one hell of a nosebleed too.
That ball of knowledge did a number on them it seems.
"What the hell... That all happened?"
Chronos was sitting next to them on the marble bench.
*Yes. This is attempt 48. Nothing ever changes no matter what I do.
"So... No matter what you did. No matter what we all did. It just stops?
*Yes. And we only have a dozen more minutes before the connection is fully severed. If you want to let out any frustrations or grievances or even just ask questions, go ahead... Even if it doesn't matter, at least you'll feel better in the end.
"Why didn't you use all these other abilities you've shown here?"
*I can't. I'm heavily restricted when I'm in your world. Currently we're in a pocket dimension under my control. That's how I was able to turn this void into a beautiful sunset. Things like giving you back your memories and even just being able to hear each other is only because we're in another medium.
"Can't you just bring everyone here? Why only me?"
*I can't, my power is limited, especially to bring you all here. I'm an angel, not a God. And... because I have a selfish desire to apologize to you specifically.
"If anything, I should apologize to you seeing how much you tried... and failed because of out stupid plot and refusal to move on.
*Well, it only makes sense that the refusal to move on is what would stop time itself. Now no one will have to move on ever again.
Kris thinks maybe Chronos was a little bitter, their alien voice makes it hard to tell though.
Kris wants to laugh at the absurdity of it all.
The fact that no matter what anyone did, it all just ends from something so stupid.
Not some grand roaring of darkness that brings the earth to it's final breath.
Or nuclear war and the constant discrimination of humans and monsters by both sides.
Or an AI apocalypse.
Or even just something from space smashing into the planet.
But just because a bunch of small town bumpkins banished fucking time itself, because they were a bunch of idiots who didn't know what they were doing.
Kris laughs hysterically.
It's all they can do.
Chronos just lets them vent.
Before continuing.
*You know, maybe I could've kept your lives going. Just import everyone into a different world and ascend and turn myself into a god to do that. But then, you all would lose your agency. You'd only ever say what I think you would say, do what I think you would do. You'll never be the same people. Even you are just a slightly more accurate copy really. The original you is still stuck down there, frozen already with a thin connection to the current you to give you any sense of reality.
"Of course... I'm not even real. Just... a damn copy."
*Well, your real enough to me, and that connection serves a point. But it's ending soon. Anything you want to say before it ends?
"Do.. Do you really like moss? Or did you only eat it because you knew I'd like it?"
*Of course I like moss, that shit slaps.
They both laugh.
Genuine happy laughter.
As Kris's thoughts slow.
As the clocks tick slower and slower.
Kris spent their last time alive, with someone they could call a friend.
Eventually Kris stopped thinking.
*The fountain of light, has been sealed for good this time. It's now my time to move on after all.
Angel wrapped Kris petrified hands around the golden pocket watch.
*Goodbye Kris. Despite everything, you were a good person in the end.
*And a good friend.
The dimension melts away, as the sun sets.
The clocks stop ticking.
As Chronos keeps going forward.
Into an unknown future.