Tales Of A Lonely Moment [ Cookie Run: Kingdom ]

Recital IX: Meanwhile, in another universe

See, here's the thing. Someone from another universe cannot die in a different one, or everything will go to shit.
Regarding that, if a timeline starts collapsing, which it never has, the only way to stop it is from the inside. Which, in turn, will kill you.
It's rather unfortunate business really, but it's never happened, and it never will. The Time Balance Department made sure of that, no one was ever allowed to cross timelines. Of course- what was that?

Croissant tapped her hand impatiently. She'd sworn that she'd felt something. A quake.
Ah, yes. Croissant. Now, you're probably wondering; ain't she supposed to be dead? We all watched her die. It kind of hurt.
Yes! But also no. With branching timelines, the whole thing gets a little fuzzled. With the reset, it makes things a little more complicated. Yes, Croissant died before the reset. But after the reset, she was rebaked, and given her former role. It makes things a little awkward, considering String Gummy watched her die.
Oh, the reset?
To put it simply, the witch got bored. She destroyed the entire timeline you know as "Ovenbreak." Quite fitting name, really. Then she got bored again, rebaked everyone, but only a small amount have their memories of the Ovenbreak timeline. Ah, correction; The Ovenbreak only cookies have every memory, but only few cookies who are from both can remember. "Kingdom" only cookies, such as Pastry, Clover, and Latte, have no recollection of the past as they did not exist. The cookies who reside in both timelines who remember everything are;
Gingerbrave, Strawberry, Snow Sugar, Pancake, as well as Angel and Devil. Sea Fairy does not count, as she is a god and was never destroyed during the reset in the first place.
Now, once again, someone from another timeline cannot die in a world that isn't their own, or the world will collapse.

Another quake. Croissant sighed, pushing herself up from her desk. Quicker than anyone could've stopped her, she found her way to the directors office. She knew who it belonged to, though she didn't know if they were here.
"Croissant?" Another cookie hung from the hallway edge, holding onto the ledge of the wall with a single hand. "What are you doing?"
Croissant had almost knocked, but Twizzly Gummy's alternate version had interrupted her. The multiverse was an odd thing- there were different versions of original versions working here, which was weird- and no, for the love of the witches, this isn't entirely a Marvel reference. Only slightly.
"..I was..looking for the director." Croissant admitted. Twizzly looked amused, until she realized they were serious.
"Oh. Uh, they haven't been here in a while. I think." She frowned, seemingly trying to remember something.
Croissant huffed. Of course.
"You haven't seen any reports of- your variant, have you?" Croissant mentioned. The other cookie shook their head.
"Nope. She's been pretty dormant..weird, for him." She looked up as someone called her name. "Sorry, Croiss, gots to go!" Twizzly grinned and leapt back down the hall.
Alone again, Croissant stared at the door. Should she try to go in?
Timekeeper isn't even here. What did it matter?
Another quake. Everything shook, and she heard glass shatter in the room in front of her.
He attempted to turn the doorknob, and to his surprise, it worked. Odd.
It should be locked.
The door swung open, and the figure in front of her froze.
"I thought..." Croissant frowned. "...you weren't here.."
Timekeeper's breaths were shaky and quick. Croissant stared for a moment, realization dawning. Timekeeper was covered in blood.
"..Director...?" Croissant whispered. Timekeepers face darkened.
"Get out." Timekeeper snarled. Croissant didn't move.  Before they could say another word, the entire area shook once again. This one was worse than the others, sending both of the cookies to the ground.
"Director, what's going on?!" Croissant found it difficult to stand up, as the ground had not yet stopped shaking.
"It's no-noth-" Timekeeper shook their furiously. They seemed unable to get their words out, their body trembling.
"Timekeeper...?" Croissant whispered. "What did you do?"
They looked like they hadn't slept in weeks, and their hair was bushier than usual. The room was filled with a loud ticking noise, which emitted from Timekeeper himself. Their hands and clothes were covered in blood.
Everything here pointed to murder.
Why had Twizzly Gummy Cookie been so dormant?
"Leave." Timekeeper growled.
She didn't move. She stood still, glaring.
"Timekeeper. What is going on?" Her voice grew dark.
"Croissant!!" A cookie yelled from the hallway. "Croissant, somethings really, really wrong!!"
Croissant stared at Timekeeper for a moment longer, before running down the hall to figure out whatever the fuck else could be going on.

"...so you're telling me.." Croissants hands trembled. "The timeline is.."
"Collapsing, yes ma'am." Buttered Bread Cookie nodded. "Eventually, it will rip a rift through time and space as we know it, and.."
"..destroy everything." She whispered. "Is the director aware..?"
Buttered Bread Cookie shifted awkwardly.
"Uh.. it appears there's, um, evidence that.."
"What?"
"That's it's..somewhat their fault.."
"What?!"