Kronos (Book One)

Turbulence

The sky welcomes the flying trio leaving the kingdom of Crete. Holes of sunlight peek through the clouds. Takashi Watanabe grins from ear to ear that Poseidon has no control over the air. They passed over several islands without a problem in sight, but the time traveler's eyes are akin to a hawk.

He won't let the myth of Icarus' death come true.

As time goes on, more sunlight breaks through the cloudy sky. Takashi sees the sun in its full glory while hearing the sound of neighing horses. I heard this before!

He blinks multiple times. A golden chariot with fiery horses travels with the Sun in tow. A figure is driving the chariot while another leads ahead but the brightness obscures them.

"STAY AWAY FROM THE SUN!" Daedalus reminds the others.

"Icarus, descend!"

"But it feels so great!"

Icarus starts flying up, but Takashi grabs him by the ankle while flapping with the other.

"It's not safe to do that! Listen to your dad and come down!"

The warmth of the sunlight entices him to get closer. He kicks the foreigner away and soars higher. Taki reorients himself and flies higher to stop him. The wax melting off his wings forces him to descend.

Icarus' almost wingless body falls in front of him.

"Slow!"

Takashi flies down to catch a stalling Icarus–

He grunts from the burning that shoots through his chest. He looks up-- another flaming arrow hits through his torso.

"Who are you to stop me from doing my job?! Pay with your life!" The rider of the chariot shouts.

The next arrows of ember tear through his wings. Time resumes from the accumulated damage. Icarus and Takashi are falling to the surface of the water. Daedalus swoops down to catch his son, but it would be too late. Out of the corner of Taki's right eye, a dark figure is watching this unfold.

"Rewind!"

Icarus and Taki's wings reform while falling upward. Daedalus is returning to his normal position. The time traveler's wounds from the projectiles heal over. The chariot above them feels a pulling sensation, driving the Sun back. The god in question goes to strike him–

"Let him go, Helios!" The flying woman leading him intervenes. "He's not here to disrupt your job. Please."

He exhales. "You're right, Hemera. I will let these mortals go."

Taki lets it get to a good point. "Play!"

"STAY AWAY FROM THE SUN!"

He immediately flies above Icarus to prevent him from looking at the sun.

"Takashi, what are you doing?"

"Look straight ahead!"

Icarus rises upwards after seeing a bit of daylight.

Taki pushes his feet down. "ICARUS! Don't do it!"

"You are not my father!" He fights back.

"Your dad told us not to get close to the sun! Listen to him!"

Daedalus turns around from the argument. "Son, listen to me! I won't lose you!"

Icarus' overconfidence takes over. Who are they to stop him from enjoying this wonderful light?

A throat punch cuts off Taki's oxygen. Icarus rises with Taki's body on top of him. The nearby sun melts some of the wax holding their feathers. With a quick inhale, the time traveler wrestles for control and headbutts the young teen. Icarus blacks out with blood pouring from his nose.