CittyTheKitten

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Wolfwrathknight

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ⴵ

Never in his bewildering, most unhinged fantasies did he ever consider the possibility of becoming a tickin’ demigod overnight.

The Pillar of Time and Space, no less!

Who is he kidding? Sans felt spectacularly ill-equipped for this role, for he deemed himself a nobody but a kid with clever tricks who eagerly prepared himself for the thrilling venture beyond his timeline to quell his curiosities.

When did everything go wrong from there?

En route to his timeline, he remembered the picturesque clockwork ticking idyllically while he cried out for help. His bones got torn to bits before getting pieced together like intricate puzzle pieces, glued together with boiling golden ichor.

When he thought nobody would come, he remembered a monochrome child rushing to his side before losing his consciousness, which should’ve been impossible, but he would’ve died there without their timely presence.

He remembered the sunlit courtyard with columns decorated with the foliage of olive green and golden flowers trembling in the breeze, and the nymphs who sought for the elderly woman whose presence felt like the coming of spring, the Pillar of Life he only ever heard from his stories.

Despite the horrific sensation he experienced, the demigod kindly informed him his body is in excellent condition, but reminded how he would feel something.. different.

True enough, something doesn’t feel right.

HE didn’t feel right.

The ichor which tormented him earlier humming within his bones, leaving peculiar patterns in his forearm, fine constellations threaded through the marrow like stardust stitched onto him.

Before Sans could dwell on it longer, the knights escorted the child through the corridors with a somber chessboard pattern, surrounded by pristine marble and silvery green, stretching endlessly beneath vaulted ceilings. He felt terribly small compared to the fortress..

There, he witnessed his father in the middle of a discussion with the other grownups, one who looked like him but.. colder. It seemed the king did not show, but he would’ve been terrified of him more. He wondered how he would react to finding countless versions of Prince Asgor—

Lost in thought, he never realized how the conversation died down until he met the scrutiny of those councilors. He would’ve preferred getting scolded by his father then and there, grounding him from ever leaving his timeline. Whichever helps him keep his sense of normalcy.

Gaster scolded him, reasonably so, but unlike those counterparts of his, he tightly embraced him with visible relief upon seeing his son in one piece.

But the tension in the room did not ease, and their time was cut short. He loathed how overwhelmingly tense and suffocating it felt, even his visit to the principal's office feels a lot less scarier. Why were they being so serious?

Why were these grownups referring to him by Chronos? The title is reserved for the first demigod, not a trickster like him.

Never him.

Perhaps it’s the pounding headache tearing itself within his skull, or he simply could no longer bear to listen, but eventually the discussion blurred into meaningless noise. It seemed teleporting felt too risky with this newfound power of his, so Sans simply excused himself and slipped from the conference room.

❝I mean no disrespect, but he is still a child.. Why must you expect so much from him?❞ He heard one councilor pose a question before shutting the door behind him, concerned for his wellbeing.

But the other did not sound too friendly, ❝Would you prefer he dies from something beyond his control?❞

❝..Pardon?❞

❝For generations, those who inherit the concept of time and space were mortals of exceptional potential. It seems this is the result of your handiwork.❞

Father responded, exhaustion bleeding into his word, ❝I will not deny my son possesses quantum-related quirks, and the dangers tied to him,❞ Soon enough, his voice falters as he steadily grew troubled by the thought, furrowing his brows, ❝But the divine is something beyond my equipment could measure, beyond my initial intentions. Given his weak constitution and the circumstances he will be forced to endure; I fear how much damage this would bring upon him..❞

❝You are a good father, Doctor,❞ A councilor commended sympathetically, ❝I understand how this must be difficult for you, which is why we believe supervision is necessary from this point onward.❞

❝You don’t mean..?❞

Like father like son, both of them knew exactly where this conversation was headed.

❝To help him control his newfound powers, we propose he reside in the Unified Council. We will provide the necessary living necessities, proper education, discipline, and an environment suitable for nurturing his quirks..❞

The rest dissolved beneath the rushing noise in his ears.

How could he ever forget the sense of contemplative dread weighing on him and his father? Even he could not find the words to protest.

To leave everything behind to protect them is nigh-impossible for him, but the thought of endangering them terrified him. For how long until he could finish his training?

How about his friends? Will he ever get to see them?

His little brother? Father buries himself in work until collapsing from exhaustion, who knows if this could push him to work himself to death—

No, fighting the corrosion in the frontlines is even worse. He would die out there, perhaps in the most grotesque and unimaginable ways. The corrosion is much more hostile towards the Pillars. In their own twisted and unrivaled obsession, those creatures would do everything to snuff out their light for as long as stardust is engraved in their bodies.

He does not want to die.

Please don’t let him die.

I don’t want to die—

❝This is too cruel for the child, isn’t there something else we could do for him..?❞ Fortunately, the councilor from earlier protested on his behest, pulling him from his spiraling thoughts.

❝We understand how stressful this must be, even for him, but we refuse to risk losing his life. You would give everything to help him, won’t you, Gaster?❞ Those were the last things he heard before he decided to stop listening, turning to leave the door.

He heard armored footsteps closing in from behind, but before the Knights could follow him, the boy shook his head, ❝No thanks.. I’ll just be nearby.❞

Fortunately, they were wise enough not to press further, given the circumstances. Sans roamed the corridors until he perched upon the enormous ornamental sandglass idling close to the wall.

His eyes drifted to his forearm, pulling his sleeve to reveal the shimmering constellations humming upon the ivory surface. A constant reminder of his thoughtless endeavor.

Theoretically speaking, if he were to chip off the stardust etched upon his bones, and wring out every drop of golden ichor flowing with him. Would he set himself free from this cursed fate?

He recoiled from the tempting thought, nearly tripping from the hourglass, squeezing his eye sockets shut and vigorously shook his head.

No.

No, Chronos must not think of those unnecessary thoughts, he should not be having thoughts like these.

Where did such thoughts even come from?

❝You’re.. Chronos, are you?❞ A soft-spoken voice intruded upon those dark thoughts like a morning dew.

𖤓

The child quietly looked to the elven stranger who donned a golden circlet over the dome of his head, but despite his brief surprise, he never tipped over the sandglass glass he balanced himself onto. The boy took the time to process the message with his head tilted to the side before shifting his focus elsewhere from the stranger.

Children were often told not to trust strangers no matter how kind they seem. But unlike those councilors and the knights in this fortress, something tells him he bore no ill-intentions, none behind the gentleness.

His presence seeped gently into the hollowed corridors like sunlight piercing through the clouds. It brought unmistakable comfort to ease his mind. Yet, for reasons he couldn’t explain, he could not bring himself to meet those starstruck eyes colored in perfect hues of yellow and green.

Being new to the demigod business, the stranger should’ve expected he would not be familiar with the title, the responsibility which follows and the risks it comes with.. or perhaps this is the root of his troubles? The elf offered a sheepish smile while apologizing, ❝Please forgive me.. you may call me Dream, and you are?❞

Dream.. where had he heard that name before?

Oh.

Oh tick..

That's the Pillar of Positivity.

What is he doing here?!

It’s rude to leave him idle, he’s been nothin’ but kind to yer, Sans— say something!

❝Er.. Timekid Sans,❞ he replied timidly upon getting over his stunned silence to finally meet those genuine eyes of his..

Dream could not help the faint smile tugging at his lips. It reminded him of someone he used to know, someone he lost to time.

❝I sensed your unease earlier,❞ he softly spoke, stepping closer, ❝But I understand, I truly do.❞

❝Would it surprise you if I told you.. I still get frightened sometimes too?❞ Dream’s voice softened, slowly extending his hands towards the boy, who hesitated before placing his smaller hands onto his. Though calloused his hands were from the bitter conflict, how the demigod held him felt impossibly gentle.

❝You don’t have to endure this alone,❞ Dream assured him, squeezing both his hands with steady and comforting pressure. Those stars reflected within his eyes shimmering within unwavering resolve and conviction, ❝We will be there for you, we’ll get through to this together, alright?❞

Dream hoped to get close to the new demigod and ease his distress, squeezing his hands once more before offering a gentle smile..

❝Would you like to take a walk? There’s something I’d like to show you.❞

For thereon, Timekid believed they'll be fine.

END SPECIAL CHAPTER

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I would like to use this opportunity to share the song which inspired this chapter and the piece, it reminded me of Elio!Dream and Chronos!Timekid who grew into their roles of mentor and student, and moreso, friends.