Tales Of A Lonely Moment [ Cookie Run: Kingdom ]

Recital VIII: Choir Eternal

Several days had gone by. The sanity of the queen was slowly failing.
They didn't expect Gingerbrave to show up. They hadn't seen him years, why is suddenly here now? Must the universe be so cruel?
She had to play nice. As did he, of course, though he'd never admit it. They did not like each other, plain and simple. The act they played was for the family and friends who expected their familial relationship to aid their feelings towards each other. To put it rather bluntly, it was incorrect. They weren't even really related- he was simply another version of Gingerbraves aunt. They weren't his Croi..
Timekeeper.
They weren't his Timekeeper.
They were their own, their own universes.
Gingerbrave existed in their universe, yes.
They preferred this Gingerbrave though, the one who actually plays along. Hers doesn't bother to. He just doesn't like her.

Rather understandable, really.

Their grip on the scissors tightened. They needed to do something. Anything. Everything was so fucking boring. What was the point, of whatever life they lived, if they couldn't do anything? Who cared what the Time Balance Department could do? The dullness of their pathetic lives meant nothing to them. They weren't important.

"Hey, Boss?" The Onion Cookie variant tapped her wrench against whatever machine she was messing with at the moment. "Are you alright?"
Timekeeper sighed. No. Yes. Possibly. Who was ever really "alright," as they say?
"Of course I am, dear." She smiled at the younger girl, who grinned and went back to working. How naïve.
The watcher rifts crackled as they spun. These let her watch the universes she liked; like a television, though there was no point for one in her limbo as she could go anywhere, any time, at little to no costs. Whatsoever. Completely, and utterly, no consequences.
She didn't know why she'd reassured herself. He knew it was true. This has been happening years, and what trouble had they ever gotten into?
None.
Absolutely none, and never will.
Their empty hand twitched. Bored, bored, bored.
What to do.
"I'm going to go home, Onio."
Onion huffed, scowling at the nickname.
"Alright, boss. I'll be here.. probably."
"Of course, dear." Smiling, they disappeared into the rift their scissors created.
They floated in the in between for what like a couple minutes, though they knew it was only a second. After a moment, they leapt out of a second opening, finding themselves in the castle courtyard.

Tick, Tock. Tick, Tock.

"Teeks!" Queen Cookie smiled at them, and suddenly all at once, things felt better for a moment.
"Hello, love." Timekeeper sighed softly. Queen was pouring soda over the flower garden when they'd appeared, though she'd set the cab down to wave.
"Is something the matter?" She took her partners hand, the look of concern never dropping.
"Nothing. Just.. bored." Timekeeper snorted. "Isn't that lame? I came here because I was bored."
"Well I think it's good you're here!!" Queen had her hair down, her frizzy locks draped down her shoulders. "Rasp went to see her parents for a week or two. She'll be back by then..I think."

Tick Tock, Tick Tock.

"Alright..I'm gonna go find the others." Timekeeper floated above ground, sitting on the giant, golden scissors she always had with her. They waved to their wife, and disappeared.
Reappearing into the throne room, he noticed it was empty. They must be in the bedroom or something. Or anywhere, really.
Her hand twitched again. He scowled, wishing he'd added the pockets on his pants that he'd been meaning to for a while. Whatever.
They closed their eye, basking in the silent darkness. It felt nice for only a moment, until everything came crashing down again.

The rifts that showed the other version of home had closed. This was bad. This only happens when something so massively destructive to the entire timeline happens- and that hadn't happened in centuries.
She thinks so, anyways.
Opening their own portal, they leapt through. Landing in the family house, she grinned, until they opened their eyes.

Nothing. The house should be here, and yet..
There was nothing.
They were sure they'd gone to the right place.

Tick Tock tick Tock tick Tock

Her hands shook as she slowly came to the realization: everyone was gone.
What had happened?
Had the witch finally had enough?
Why did this happen?
What was the reason..?
The final revelation hit her like a truck.
Her family was gone. They may not have been their version of their family, but family nonetheless..
"Timekeeper?"
Wait. This had never..

"Timekeeper?" Parfait waved her hand in front of her partner. The other blinked, shaking their head furiously.
"Yeah, hey, sorry.."
"..hey, Twizz, what's that noise?" Parfait turned to face Twizzly Gummy, who shrugged. "The ticking?"

Tick Tock, Tick Tock.

"No clue, Fay" Twizzly Gummy messed with her own hair as he spoke, tapping his foot. "Hey, Timekeeper, can we talk?"
Timekeeper looked up as her hand twitched again. Their grip on the scissors tightened again as they glanced around frantically.
"..yeah."
Twizzly grabbed their hand and pulled them into a spare room of the castle so quickly they barely had to walk.

Tick Tock, Tick Tock.

Their hair fluffed. The formerly sleek and taken care of puff was now frizzy and messy. Twizzly looked at them with concern, but the look only lasted for a moment. Their hair only did this in stressful situations. The ticking noise grew louder as they tried to breath.
"Teeks..?" Twizzly Gummy looked like she was going to make a move towards them, but decided against it. "Are you alright?"
"Mhm. What did you-" They sniffed. "What did you need?"
"Woah, dude, that's not important now." Twizzly was much more stern than usual. Her gaze was dark as she attempted to grab Timekeepers hand. They pulled away, their gaze never really matching up with her partners.
"Listen, are you seriously ok? I know when somethings wrong. I know you." Her voice turned to a sort of growl.
"This is..haha, very out of character for you.." They giggled, feeling dizzy. Their vision blurred.
Shit.
Gripping the scissors once more, they attempted to straighten themselves up.
"Yeah, no shit, I care about you, Teeks." He snatched their hand, not giving them a chance to pull away again. Their breathing quickened as their eyes pooled with tears.
They could barely see anymore. All she knew was whoever was in front of her was a danger.
And so, without warning, as Twizzly whispered;
"Teeks..?"
She tugged her hand away from Twizzly Gummy's, raising the scissors.
The tip slid through her body with ease. The others body reacted immediately, lurching forwards. Twizzly coughed, blood splattering forwards. Tears streamed down Timekeepers face, her breathing never slowly. They were hyperventilating at this point, collapsing to the ground as the scissors let out a clang when they fell to the ground. Twizzly's body barely made any noise.
Timekeeper choked on air, shaking. She held her hand over her face, sobbing.
Fucking, fuck.