Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The stars, once a source of light and hope, were now just silent witnesses to a world in mourning. For Ciel, they were a thousand shattered memories, each one a shard of the sky that had burned away with Ragnarok. It had been decades since she watched the crimson fragments fall, since her world had been remade at the cost of her hero's life. Since the sacrifice Zero made, her promise made to him in quiet lonesome — to build lasting peace — was kept, but the void he left was constant, an aching grief that never left.

Not really.

Years had passed, slow and surely by the day and night, peace having settled over the land, but in the girl's heart, it was victory that Zero never got to see. She led the world forward, building upon his heroic altruism deed, but every triumph was bittersweet, a phantom win in a war where the greatest prize was already lost. The researcher's former lab, a testament to an era defined by conflict and camaraderie, has been preserved over the time. Sitting in the dusty silence, gloved fingers tracing the lines of her final work, one that Ciel had worked on in secret.

The Chronos Lotus.

At least, that's what she called it. Not for its power but for its quiet beauty, a symbol of a dream that could only bloom in another time. Its form elegant, polished metal with the barrel shaped like petals in a perpetual state of opening. Its true complexity hidden beneath, a core of temporal chaos contained by her most advanced physics — a final and most desperate act of a genius trying to defy the rules of the universe. The tool of ultimate hope, born from the depths of her despair.

Zero...

The thought passed like a whisper of the wind, a past that haunted the corners of her mind. Cobalt blues closed, a flash of crimson armor and defiant light filled her vision. That memory still fresh as the day it happened. The debris of the satellite similar to a meteor shower, falling as she fell, quiet grief lost in the sudden yet loud relief of a world saved. Remembering her tears, the futile cry of a heart that screamed his name; a sad finale.

The scientist had told herself it was finally her acceptance of fate. Peace attained purchased with a hero's life. But in the late hours, fueled by the ghosts of cyber-elves and own brilliance, she worked. Not to bring him back but to simply touch the faintest possibility. A single, silent message to another era. A prayer in her own actions.

Work on the Chronos Lotus had long been finished, but the pain didn't fade. The weight of her genius, and immense responsibility it brought, had taught her to accept what it was, to endure at the end of the day. Today, those years of grief and gentle acceptance culminated in one last act of letting go.

With a heavy sigh, Ciel carried the device out of the lab. Her legs took her toward the most ancient ruins of Area Zero, a place only she truly knew; hidden beneath the canopy of a colossal, fossilized tree. A place of eternal slumber where her memories felt most at home. There — in a small, hidden fissure — she placed the device. Brushing the dust off its gleaming surface one last time, a final farewell.

"Sleep, my wishful dream..." Ciel whispered, voice a fragile thing against the wind. The world has changed. So some sorrows, in her head, are meant to stay buried with the past. 

Slowly standing back up, looking at the now hidden item. Heels turned, walking away from the spot as blonde locks follow behind her, the ethereal time-gun now a part of the ruins, a secret entrusted to a silent world. She didn't know that, decades later, a new generation of heroes and a new kind of war would unearth her tragedy; mistaking her grief for an artifact of power, and in doing so, rip open the fragile threads of time itself.

Chapter Text

​It began, as many things did, with a routine patrol. Not by Aile or Vent, but Ashe's squad, investigating anomalous energy readings deep within what remained of Area Zero. They hadn't expected to find anything more than a stray Giga Mantis or a malfunctioning Golem. What they unearthed instead, nestled within a hidden fissure beneath a gargantuan fossilized tree, defied all their classifications.

​News of the discovery traveled quickly through the Grand Nuage, reaching the ears of Prairie and her most trusted operatives. Aile and Vent, having just returned from a skirmish with a particularly resilient Maverick force near a forgotten research facility, found themselves summoned to Guardian HQ. The atmosphere filled with a palpable sense of curiosity; touches of apprehension.

Prairie's fingers danced upon the control panel, holographic projections dynamically shifting in response. Maintaining a position of close watchfulness, Vent stationed beside her, Model Z hovering next to him. From across the room, Ashe and Grey surveyed the unfolding events. Ashe, with her arms crossed and a wry smirk gracing her face, exuded an air of fierce confidence, while Grey, ever the observant one, watched quietly.

"They found it deep in Area Zero." Ashe explained, calling out to the HQ's commander that typed away. "Buried in the ruins, almost perfect preservation. Said it was hidden, almost like someone wanted it forgotten."

"It might be an heirloom," Grey added. "Maybe a dusty old trinket from the Elf Wars."

​"It looks... Old." Aile observed, mint-green blinking once

Vent, leaning against a bulkhead, shrugged. "It's a piece of ancient tech. Probably another Model W scrap. The Masters are always after that junk.".

​"Old or not," Model X's voice resonated in her mind, a tone of ancient wisdom. "I sense an immense power from it, energy unlike anything I've encountered before."

​Vent studied the time-device, inspecting it before glancing at his twin sister. "It doesn't look like anything Serpent or Prometheus would have cooked up. Too refined."

​Prairie nodded, confirming Vent's suspicion. "Our initial analysis indicates it's a device designed for temporal manipulation. A time-travel gun, to put it simply. And its origins are a complete mystery. There are no known records of such advanced temporal technology existing in any era we've documented."

A collective gasp rippled through the room, everyone taken aback by this information. Time travel; a subject that was only ever acknowledged in fictional stories, but hearing about it in actuality, presented a different situation. Perched on a console, the commander's doll peered at the object inside the suspended force field: a gun-like device adorned with a lotus motif, undeniably beautiful in its elegant construction of polished metal.

"A lotus...?" Prairie whispered to herself after taking a closer look as well, an almost dream-like impression. A lotus — where would she have seen something like it before?

​"But why would someone hide something like that in Area Zero?" Grey asked, silently observing the Chronos Lotus from his side.

"The safest place for a dangerous secret is often in plain sight, or in a place forgotten by time." Model A remarked, flying up to him.

Ashe's brash voice cut in, trademark confidence radiating from her. "Well, you know what they say! Finders keepers, right? It was my team that tagged it. We could probably sell it, it looks too pretty!"

"Absolutely not, Ashe." Prairie stated firmly, swiveling around on her console. "This is not for sale, and it could be too unpredictable."

With a pout, Ashe shrugged, her interest subtly revealed despite her attempts to appear otherwise. "Fine, then we don't. Just so long as I get a cut of the discovery fee."

"This isn't any ordinary relic, Ashe." Prairie spoke then, her attention focused on four of them, voice turning firm. "It's a temporal catalyst. Allow me to explain."

All of the four Chosen stared as she gestured to a holographic display, which shifted from the Chronos Lotus to a complex diagram of interconnected lines and branching paths. "When we speak of time travel, we're not just talking about simply going back and forth. We're talking about dimensions, paradoxes, and the very stability of reality itself."

​"Dimensional travel?" Vent questioned, brows furrowed. "Like jumping to parallel worlds?"

​"Not quite, but related," Prairie clarified. "Think of our timeline as a river. A single, flowing current. Simple time travel is like moving a boat up or down that river. But what if you threw a massive boulder into the river upstream? It would create ripples, change the flow, perhaps even divert the course entirely. That's a paradox. And the Chronos Lotus, from what we can gather, is powerful enough to not just create ripples, but to fracture the river itself, creating new, divergent streams — new timelines."

"So you're saying that we'd be sent into a temporal paradox?" Grey asked, almost confused as the information sunk in everyone's head.

​Prairie nodded. "Our preliminary simulations, using only a fraction of its estimated power, showed catastrophic results. Entire historical events were rewritten. People who should have existed, simply vanished. The potential for 'timeline collisions' — where different versions of history try to occupy the same space — is incredibly high. And the energy required to stitch those rips back together… It's beyond anything we currently possess."

​"The Butterfly Effect on an unimaginable scale," Model X mused, a hint of unease in his voice. "One small change in the past could eradicate the present as we know it."

​"Or create a thousand new presents, each more chaotic than the last." Model Z grumbled, perturbed by the concept.

"Oh, come on, Prairie! Who'd be dumb enough to do that?" Aile rose a brow, though a hint of curiosity flickered in her eyes. "Besides, if it's so dangerous, why didn't the Guardians just destroy it?"

"A valid question." The commander replied patiently, focused on the brunette. "But even destroying it would have unforeseen consequences. The energy contained is powerful. It might create a black hole, or worse, shatter time into uncountable fragments."

"It's kinda spooky though..." Aile admitted, shivering slightly. "Knowing something like that was just... Hidden away."

​Prairie sighed, running a hand through her hair. "The fact remains, such a device, if activated, could cause irreparable damage to the very fabric of history. Imagine it in the hands of a Maverick lord, or even a misguided human with dangerous ideals."

​"So, we're keeping it locked up?" Vent stated, crossing his arms. "Good. Messing with time is just asking for trouble."

​"Precisely," Prairie agreed. "Which brings me to the next part. Our scientists have managed to stabilize it, but its potential is vast, and frankly, terrifying. We need to understand its capabilities, not to use them, but to defend against their misuse should another similar device exist, or if this one were ever stolen."

​She paused, letting the weight of her words settle. "For now, the Chronos Lotus will remain under the strictest lockdown, deep within the Guardian archives. No one, not even myself, will have direct access without multiple fail-safes and specific protocols."

A shared look passed between the four, the potential for such power to be misused sent a shiver through them. Grasping the significance of Prairie's words, recognizing that this wasn't merely a potent weapon, but a potential threat.

​"So, what do we do if someone tries to steal it?" Ashe asked randomly, staring at her.

​"We stop them. With extreme prejudice," Prairie stated firmly, leaving no room for doubt. "This device is too dangerous to allow even a glimpse of its true capabilities to the wrong person."

​"A beautiful name for such a destructive potential," Model Z observed. "If someone truly created this… Who?"

​"Their intentions must have been pure if they hid it in the end, however misguided the ultimate outcome," Model X countered gently. "Perhaps a desperate attempt to rectify a past mistake, or to prevent a future tragedy."

As they finally turned to leave the room, a faint almost imperceptible shimmer pulsed around the Chronos Lotus on the display. No one noticed it.

​But of course; someone watched them leave, optics a searing crimson, fixated from afar. A smile, devoid of mirth, ghosted across metallic lips. The 'Chronos Lotus", they called it. A mere toy in his estimation.

But a very interesting toy indeed.

Perhaps… Perhaps it held the key to a true re-awakening. A means to finally escape this dreary existence. His gaze, an unwavering beacon of menace, remained fixed, a silent promise of the chaos to come.

Chapter Text

​"So, a time-traveling flower gun," Vent said, breaking the silence with a wry grin. "What are the odds?"

​"Hey, it's not a flower gun!" Aile retorted, though she couldn't help but smile. "It's a Chronos Lotus. It sounds elegant."

​"And deadly," Model Z's voice echoed in her mind. "That contraption is a mistake waiting to happen. Messing with time is a game for gods, not for mortals and certainly not for Mavericks."

​"I believe it was created with good intentions, Z." Model X replied, his tone as calm and collected as ever. "But you are right. The potential for misuse is immense."

Vent, walking further ahead, scoffed. "Good intentions or not, it's a huge pain. I was looking forward to a quiet night of just not fighting anything."

​"I think Prairie wants to be extra careful," Grey said as he strolled alongside Ashe, his gaze soon fixed on the floor. "She seemed… Really serious about this."

​"Prairie's always serious, Grey." Ashe replied with a laugh. "But yeah, I get it. This thing is way beyond the usual Maverick junk."

​As they reached the cargo bay, a specialized unit was already preparing the Chronos Lotus for transport. The device rested on a small, antigrav platform, a silent testament to the genius of its creator.

​"It's just so… Quiet." Aile murmured, stepping closer to observe it. "You'd think something with that much power would be humming or glowing or something."

​"Its true power is not in the physical, Aile," Model X corrected. "It is in the theoretical. The ability to unmake what has been made."

​Aile reached out, but Vent's hand gently stopped her. "Hey. Let the experts handle it."

​"I know, I know," The brunette pulled her hand back. "I was just thinking... I wonder what it would be like. To see the past. To see what the world was like before all this. Before the Mavericks and the wars... And before the Biometals."

​"Don't get any funny ideas, Aile..." Model Z firmly shot, a stern note of warning. "The past is the past. We're here, in the present, for a reason. And it's not to go gallivanting through history like a couple of tourists."

​"A little curiosity is harmless, Z," Vent teased, earning a playful shove from Aile. "Besides, you're the one who lived through it. You could just tell us."

​"The past is filled with sorrows and struggles you would be better off not knowing," Model Z replied, a hint of somberness in his tone. "We must focus on protecting the future, not reliving the mistakes of the past."

​"He's right," Model X added softly. "The past holds many beautiful things, but also many tragedies. The path forward is the one we must walk."

​Aile sighed, a soft huff of air escaping her lips. "I know, I know. Just... Daydreaming."

​As the four of them oversaw the final checks, the mood was oddly peaceful. The routine of the task was a stark contrast to the immense implications of the artifact they were moving. The quiet banter of the Biometals and the lighthearted bickering of Aile and Vent felt like a small, comforting bubble against the vast, unknown threat that the Chronos Lotus represented.

​Once the device was secured in a heavily armored transport container, the group moved it towards the exit. The path led them through a less-used service tunnel, a shortcut to the secure vault area deep within the Guardian HQ's foundations. The tunnel was long, sterile, and eerily quiet, the only sound the low hum of the transport's anti-grav unit.

​"This feels too easy," Ashe muttered, her hand subconsciously hovering near her Biometal. "Like a trap."

​"Don't be paranoid, Ashe." Grey replied, even though he too felt a prickle of unease. "It's just a transport."

​But Ashe's instincts proved right. Just as they rounded a corner and the secure vault entrance came into view, a sudden blinding flash of pure light erupted at the other end of the tunnel. It wasn't the brilliant red of an energy blast or the crimson hue of a Maverick's attack. It was a cold, ethereal white that felt as if it were sucking the very warmth out of the air.

​A shape emerged from the light, a massive quadrupedal figure of pristine white, a Reploid-like lupine creature. Its optics glowing an icy blue, a swirling trail of frost and snow following in its wake with every step. The creature then let out a vocal howl that seemed to shake the very foundations of the building.

​"What in the—?" The beginning of Vent's statement was interrupted by the creature's sudden move. Rushing swiftly, appearing as a blur of white and ice, bypassing the four Chosen completely. The Chronos Lotus its itarget.

The wolf's jaw closed down on the transport container, not with destructive force, but rather with peculiar attraction. Turning around without haste, it quickly retreated in the direction it had come.

​"Hey! Get back here!" Aile yelled, instincts taking over. Without a second thought, she and Vent activated their Biometals, their bodies enveloped in the familiar flash of light. The heroine's armor materializing as she gave chase, Vent's own form right beside her.

​"Aile! Vent! Wait!" Despite Grey's call, it was already too late. The two figures had become a blur, pursuing the pale lupo and its stolen treasure through the twisting tunnels, leaving Ashe and Grey in stunned silence.

The tunnel's illumination diminished, the residual evidence comprising a subtle ozone fragrance and the rapidly disappearing ice trail on the ground.

​Ashe looked at Grey, eyes wide with disbelief. "Well... That happened."

The pursuit was a whirlwind of turns; the twins chasing after the canine through the intricate tunnels. The creature, carrying the stolen object, moved with speed, actions graceful save for the subtle crackling of cold and paws that danced across the ground.

Aile, merged with Model X and L, advanced forward; temporary platforms of ice created to carry her, riding it like a frozen skateboard. Channeling Model Z and F, Vent followed close behind her, unleashing a rapid-fire succession of fire-infused shots, hoping to slow down the creature.

Aile, however, was in a zone of her own, the thrill of the chase overriding her caution, changing into Model PX. "I've got it!"

Utilizing Model P's stealth capabilities, she successfully navigates towards a blind spot, deploying multiple kunai. Two projectiles landing impact upon the lupo's shoulder, until surrounding cryo energy solidified, effectively neutralizing the attack.

"It's too fast!" Vent cried out, the fire shots fizzling harmlessly against the shimmering ice trail. "Model H, give me some speed!"

He changed form, now a color of veridian and ivory, twin sabers appearing in his grasp, cutting through the air with a flash of wind.

​"It's heading for the old research sector!" Vent's voice cut through the rush. "Why would it go there?"

​"Perhaps it is looking for a place to hide," Model H suggested, sounding clipped and analytical even in the heat of the chase. "The old labs are full of nooks and crannies."

​"Or perhaps it's a diversion," Model Z's voice chimed in. "Don't lose focus, Vent!"

​Dashing ahead, Aile saw the lupine skid to a halt in a large, circular chamber. The room filled with dusty and forgotten equipment, clearly a dead end. But the wolf wasn't trapped. It simply dropped the Chronos Lotus, turning its head to look at her with piercing, ice-blue eyes. The heroine gulped, stiffening up in place almost, cautiously taking a few steps before a low chuckle sounded throughout the chamber.

From the shadows, a figure emerged, clad in armor of a sinister crimson hue. Presenting a complete and regal appearance, exuding an aura of chilling power. Golden hair cascaded over his shoulders, a saber was held in one hand while the other rested casually on the hilt, a mocking smile gracing his face.

​"So, the little heroes arrived." His voice coming out as a resonant purr, filled with ancient malice. "How touching."

Green eyes widened in shock, accompanied by a sharp intake of breath, as Aile instantly recognized the form; visibly trembling. It was impossible; that couldn't be, she has Model O. "No... No way, that's..."

"Omega." Model P's voice lowered.

"But how can this be...?" Model X questioned, confusion emitting from the azure Biometal.

Vent assumed a combat-ready posture, positioning himself near Aile. "Give us back that device!"

​"Give it back...?" With a wicked smile spreading across his face, Omega gestured towards the time-gun, conveying a sense of disdain. "This is not a toy for you to play with. This is a key. The key to finally setting things right. To correcting the mistakes of a foolish hero who dared to destroy me."

Unexpectedly, having served as a distraction to the two Guardians, the frost-colored wolf shattered the container with ice spikes, revealing the time-device before seizing it in its jaws and tossing it to Omega; a turn of its head to his side. The elegant gun flew, now caught in sinister hands, petals beginning to spin. A subtle, pinkish glow emerged from its core, intensifying with each rotation.

​"No, he can't be planning to actually—" Model X started, filled with alarm.

​"Don't let him use it!" Model Z's voice barked a growl, a rumble of pure rage.

But it was too late. He lifted the Chronos Lotus, emitting a pulsating pink light as it expanded outward, a ring formed out of shimmering energy — creating an opening in reality, shockwaves spreading thoroughout. The center of it resembling a pond's surface, reflections rippling with blurred images of the past and future. A frightening yet captivating spectacle, opening before them.

"Don't you dare mess with time, you jerk!" Aile cried, propelling herself forward; unleashing an ice dragon in attempt to halt Omega before he could execute his plan.

"Aile! Don't be reckless!" Vent shouted after her, following behind his sister.

The portal fully materialized, revealing a swirling pink void with palpable density in the atmosphere. Within its depths, a blurred and shifting vision of a desolate landscape, red in color, punctuated by broken pillars and destroyed mechs.

Omega maintained composure, raising his hand in response. The white wolf initiated a rapid attack back, movements a blur of ice and metal, exceeding the limits of their visual perception. Vent was forced to dodge, ice blasts from the canine's mouth forcing him to pay attention to it.

Aile, meanwhile, opted for a direct strike. Raising her halberd, resonating with a chilling energy, aimed for Omega's chest, resolved to conclude the fight before he could potentially travel to who-knows-where.

But as she closed in, the wolf appeared from nowhere, tackling her with a brutal, crushing force. ​Aile was sent hurtling backward. The world spun in a dizzying spiral; pinkish light bleeding from its center, reaching out with panicked eyes.

"Vent!"

​"Aile!" Vent screamed, watching in horrified alarm as his sister was shoved directly into the swirling vortex.

​"A simple miscalculation," Omega mused, delivered with a disconcerting laugh, entirely unmoved by the event. "It seems that my loyal companion has sent her to the wrong era, little hero. A pity. I was hoping to send her to her own pathetic end."

​Vent didn't listen, not caring enough to listen to his words. Without a moment's hesitation, he leaped forward; an act of reckless courage as he dove headfirst into the swirling portal, a defiant streak of green and white against light rose, a warrior chasing his last hope.

Omega stood, the Chronos Lotus still glowing in his hand. He hadn't expected them to be so foolish, but it didn't matter. Just as he was about to step through, a new voice echoed in the room.

​"HEY! You're not getting away with that!"

​Ashe and Grey, having finally caught up, stood at the entrance to the chamber, armed and ready.

Omega turned, his cold smile reappearing on his features. "It seems I have some children to deal with. How tiresome."

"Who're you calling a child?!" Grey snapped.

"I'd love to stick around, but I have more important duties to attend to." Omega turned as he watched the Reploid wolf vanish into the portal, a flash of white, before he plunged into the void himself, disappearing without a trace.

"Hey, wait!"

​Ashe didn't hesitate. "Grey, we have get to Prairie!"

Acknowledging the situation, Grey pivoted and rapidly retreated through the tunnels with Ashe, the recollection of Aile and Vent's disappearance acting as a somber burden, coupled with the visual of Omega and the white lupine. Their best heroes were lost.