Wrong Time, Wrong Place

Sacrifice

!!blood and death tw, read at your own risk!!

Timelines had come and go, one thing the star stealer noticed is the slow transition of the timelines of his appearance. It came to a point he wasn't even Stratosfear anymore as his physical form changed, becoming an entity named "Verosfear", he finds it strange but couldn't do much of. Life felt grim and repetitive, forced to relive the day as the Star Saviour and then Verosfear, the only sense of comfort and warmth left in him is speaking to Blueband, the two became the most unlikeliest of friends. He found himself sitting in the arena where the timeline's star saviour would fight him, waiting for the confrontation, deep in thought.

'Red x doesn't seem to know why I look this way, and now I don't have anymore chances to succeed... What's going to happen to me now? I'm going to be stuck here in this loop am I?'

Lost in his train of thought, he didn't notice the presence sneaking into the arena, until he felt someone tapping his shoulder. He looked up and froze, it was Mason.

"You- why are you here?! Who are you to just walk into my domain?" His voice seemed strained.

Mason looks at him skeptically then tilted his head.

"You awfully sound a lot like someone I know..."

"What? How on the stars would I sound like anyone? Go away!"

Mason circled around Verosfear, observing. He sat down in front of him.

"Those stars don't belong to you, you know?"

"They're mine, I need them"

"They're not yours, they belong to the sky"

"Oh really? I don't see your name on them"

"I'm going to hurt you"

"Then why didn't you attack when I approached? Unless there's a reason. You remind me someone"

"I will hurt you, don't tempt me. I'm giving you a chance to turn around and leave safely."

"Or you're someone I know and therefore could not harm me, is that it? Many crazy things happen, that couldn't be just coincidence you give mercy to me of all people"

"I don't know what you're talking about, I've never met you before!"

"Really? So tell me, who are you really? It doesn't seem like you're always this way"

"I... I always been Verosfear"

"Why can't you tell me? Why wouldn't you shoo me off yourself?"

"I just- you're not supposed to confront me, Mason! It'll shatter the time loop and get me into serious troubl-" realization struck and he immediately puts his hands on his mouth, Mason raised a brow.

"You said you didn't know me, yet you know my name? And what time loop?"

"Listen, I- I'm Nick... From the future"

Mason's eyes widen in shock.

"How is that possible? What happened?"

"I've been forced into this, this entire Star Saviour thing was set up! Someone has been forcing me to fulfill a time loop by living through being the Star Saviour then Verosfear, I... I'm so sorry, I don't want you to be harmed, but you were insistent..." Verosfear teared up, sobbing for a moment. Mason sat there in silence, processing what he told him. He moved a little closer to give him a hug.

"It's okay, I didn't think you'd be suffering so much- I'm sorry I ruined it things for you- what will happen to us now?"

"I have to protect you... He can't hurt you"

"Protect? You've already doomed your friend, puppet." A voice boomed at the distance.

"No! Leave him alone!" Verosfear picks up Mason and sprinted off, descending down the shadow hill and off into the forest. He kept running and running, not caring to look at where he's going until a bunch of strings take hold of his limbs and stop him, dropping Mason in the process. Horror filled Mason's eyes as he watches Verosfear being lifted up, Red x walks past him, gazing over to Mason.

"such a little pest you are. You'd live to see the day if you hadn't decided to climb up that gate and confront him, now you will pay for that"

"Please! I won't tell anyone! I don't want to die... Just use me for whatever!"

"Leave him alon-" strings cover Verosfear's mouth, silencing him.

"Too bad, though perhaps I could make use of your identity."

A shard forms at the palm of his hand, readying an attack. Mason braced himself for the attack, closing his eyes, Verosfear could only watch in pure terror. Red X unleashes the attack when suddenly a blur of blue moves in front of Mason, the attack hits on them and falls near him, it was blueband. Blood pours out from the deep wound his chest, he struggles to move but tries to speak.

"Pl-please... Don't h-hurt M-mason, use him for the narrative, th-the star stealer h-had enough pain to feel"

"You have a point. Though you were one of my closest colleagues, did you really have to do this to yourself for them?"

"I've... Grown soft have I? I c-couldn't just sit there a-and watch him suffer, j-just please don't kill Mason, he'll be of use to y-you. I-I pr-promise th-that..." His voice grew quieter, he lay still on the ground with blood pooling around him.

"Oh Blueband... I'll miss you dearly, but I'll take your request and spare his life. Now that you've suggested to me about my narrative"

"thank you..." Soon after saying his words, he closed his eyes as he took a final breath. Verosfear looks over in pure shock, no longer struggling against the strings. His gaze was blank and distant.

"Well it's settled."

A symbol manifests in his hand, it was a yellow star. Mason couldn't move from him spot, still shocked from Blueband's death, he snaps out of it and looks at red x.

"Is this how it will be for me?"

"Don't worry, Maytown will be under safe hands and a good mayor. I promise that"

"Alright... Do it"

Red x nodded and placed the symbol on his face, his body slowly changing into a point like Verosfear. The newly changed Mason falls to the ground, rustling from the bushes can be heard behind him.

"There's a witness? Oh, this will be a lot of work"

He says, preparing for the work he has yet to take care of.

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And that concludes af1, it will cut back into af2 in the next chapter