𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝕋𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕎𝕠𝕟'𝕥 𝕃𝕒𝕤𝕥 𝔽𝕠𝕣𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣. ⏱

1. The Knights

  It was a very quiet evening in the Castle of Eternity. Everything seemed to be in order. It's been about ten years since Alice took the Chronosphere and the whole Underland rusted till It's (Short-lived but still) death.
No one bothered the Master of Time since then.
But it was about to change…

  Many knights entered the castle by storm. Their harsh voices made the walls tremble. The men were big like trees. Their faces were black, their eyes were bloody red. I dare say, no one in Underland has ever seen these men before.
  The Seconds heard it all and soon they and Wilkins went out to meet their guests. The very moment the butler saw their swords, he knew he had to act like he's not afraid of them.
-Get us what we want and we won't hurt you! - Said one of the intruders.
-No, Sir! You GET OUT of the castle! You were not invited! - Wilkins bursted angrily.
The intruders didn't leave and then a regular battle ensued.
Seconds and Minutes were fighting bravely, but it couldn't stop them, even the Hour was defeated.
The fight expanded into the darkest places of the castle.
Time got out of his room, hearing noise. -What is going on here?!
-Don't let them get any further! - Wilkins shouted to the Minutes and then turned to Time. -Sir, save yourself! We have an unannounced company!
Time saw Minutes and Seconds being smashed into pieces and rushed back to the room looking for a weapon. He grabbed a black sword which was hanging just above the fireplace.
-Who are they? - Wilkins heard his voice behind him.
-No idea!
- Are you sure you asked them to leave?
Time pushed away an enemy who was going for the butler. They were fighting back-to-back for a while.
-Of course! But these fellows are pretty naughty!
-Well then, we will teach them to behave!
They were avoiding the blows gracefully, but the fight was not going to end so easily.
One of the intruders, the leader, stepped out to fight against Time.
-Well, well, well…- He said with a nasty grin on his black face.
-If you want to speak, then make it quick!
-Who are you?
-I am Time. Keeper of all that is and shall be!
-For real? I thought you were bigger. That explains these huge shoulder pads…
-Listen, I have all the time in the world to speak with you, but I'm just not interested!
   They clashed in a sword fight. The blades were hitting quickly. The confusion around them eased almost to the end. Everyone wanted to see which one was going to win.
-Leave it, Master! - Wilkins shouted. But Time wasn't eager to surrender.
Suddenly, the intruder countered the black sword with his red blade, then grabbed Time's wrist. They were standing face to face.
-Who do you think you are?! Get your filthy hands off me!!!- Time yelled and broke his hand out of his grip.
The leader smiled a bit. - We came here for the darkness…
-I don't care! Get out of here!!! GET OUT!!!
-Make me!
-You bet I won't heal that wound…- Time drawled angrily and took the final momentum ready to stab the enemy, but unfortunately, he was just waiting for that. He made a perfect dodge right before another man stabbed Time from behind.
-There are too many of them! - Wilkins shouted and looked back at his master, but it was too late.
  A blue lightning came from the wound and hit the man who dared to immerse a blade into Time's back. They both screamed in pain and fell. The attacker was clearly dead…
You can say Time didn't realize what just happened.
Wilkins came to his side as quickly as he could. - Are you okay? - The butler asked, but he was not listening to him.
-'The darkness'…?- Time was thinking out loud, trying to get up. His electric-blue eyes were running around. His head was buzzing.
- The clocks! - The answer hit him in the face. He gasped and ran through the nearest corridor.
Someone was there lately. Inside the room of Deceased Underlands. The gates were open and some of the clocks were lying around, torn from their places.
How could he not notice that before?!
He ran straight to the place he was most worried about.
-They took them…The evilest creatures in history…ALL GONE! - In the blink of an eye Time got back to the others and without second thought grabbed the nearest enemy by his shoulders. -Where are the clocks?! What have you done?! - He was shaking him desperately.

But they left as quick as they appeared.
Leaving him without the answers.

-It was a fight against time and…I lost?- He whispered, startled. He couldn't believe it.
-They are gone, you need to…-Wilkins tried to touch him, but abruptly an electric shock went through Time's body and made him tremble. He grabbed for the nearest column preventing himself from falling.
-Sir?! - Wilkins didn't know what to do. Time was not responding. He felt kinda dizzy, standing weakly on his feet. He couldn't walk away from the column, that's for sure.
-Don't move! We will take you upstairs! I'll go to the Underland. We need some stuff we don't have here….
  Seconds, which were able to move after the fight stepped out, but Time wasn't willing to go with them anywhere.
-Give me the sword…-He said and once he got it again, he leaned on it, walking very slowly to the throne hall. He sat down on his throne and was grasping for breath for a while. He had a chance to think for a minute.
Being sure he wasn't needed, the butler turned his back, ready to go, but the sharp voice of Time stopped him suddenly.

-WILKINS!!!
…
They are coming for them!
They took the clocks of the deceased!

-Oh, Sir! How are you feeling? - Wilkins ran to his side, unwittingly ignoring his words.
-We need to go see the White Queen! Now! - Time's eyes were big. He was moved and tried to get up quickly, but the pain stepped in and it was too overwhelming. He couldn't get up.
- Easy, Master, you need to rest, you need to…
-Warn them, Wilkins! Don't let that girl come back here! It will be a disaster!
-I will, but you need help immediately!
-I said warn them, right now!...PLEASE!
-A-alright! As you wish!... Hold on, Sir!

He said and then left the castle.