Darkness Kitten

"Beggin'"

The sound of thunder fills the air of Gotham, clouds looking heavy, almost like they are holding back the rain but at any moment will release it as heavy bullet rain. A figure covered in darkness, with features of a victorian era dress, looks over the city. All Lady Gotham could do is watch as her people all walk on the streets, all looking over their shoulders more than usual, for even they can sense the weight of something waiting to happen. Her shadows were more dark and tense, to the point that her children were suspicious of every alley, door, and shadow they pass.

It's been only a few months now since this feeling filled her city. Ever since the message from their prince rang through her core, since the order to all his people was to abandon the town known as Amity Park. It has been almost a year and a half since our prince defeated Pariah Dark, and he has never issued an order to us. One that binds us to his words. Just that tells us all that something very terrible happened to him.

A shift of energy forms next to the ecto-entity, a portal that feels ancient and powerful. Glancing over Lady Gotham merges with the shadow of the watchtower's gargoyles and waits as the portal finishes forming. Not a second later, someone she never thought to come into the mortal realm, floats out of the portal, and looks her straight in the eye.

"Good evening, Lady Gotham."

Drifting out of the shadows, she gives the Ancient a bow of respect. "And a good evening to you, Father Time."

A light chuckle fills the air as Clockwork waves the portal away and turns to the sight of her city. "Now, now, I go by Clockwork these days. And I must say my lady, Gotham seems to have since ecto-entity as of late. Should I thank the knights that have taken up the mantle to protect the city?"

Gliding through the air, Lady Gotham floats up next to the Ancient being of time. Looking over the city, her core buzzes with pride that Clockwork notices what her knights have done for her haunt.

"Yes, it is them that you should thank for the decrease in death in the city. Though we both know that you already knew that. So I much ask, Clockwork, do you have a reason for this surprise visit? Those it pertains to the order that has been issued by our highness? This feeling of doom has only increased over the months since the order, and now even normal mortals can feel it." Watching the people, she watches fewer people on the street, like can tell that something bad is going to happen, and wants to be under shelter when it comes.

Sigh. A sigh of deep pain exhales itself from Clockwork. Shoulders that hold the responsibility of all timelines of every dimension, look more tense and tired. Just like that, Lady Gotham fears whatever he is going to tell her.

"You have to understand something before I tell you anything concerning the prince. I have the ability to glance into any timeline I so desire at any moment; however, some escape even my eyes. For those being, there are only three reasons for that. One is that they are outside the timestream designed for them and have hidden in another timestream. Two, they cease to exist in any dimension or realm. Third, there are higher people at play that have the power to block their timestream from me for a few moments. In those few moments, they could do whatever they want, things that can permanently change their timeline no matter what I do to fix it."

"I'm going to assume that the first two are very rare to happen, and even if they did occur, you would be able to reverse the damage they did. And you must understand how I can't believe that from happening. Who can be more powerful than you to not only block your view of them but their timeline as well?" Disbelief fills my core, and fear starts to form at the thought that there are beings that can pull a stunt like that.

Anger fills the air, pulses of the ancient being that glares into the smug air of Gotham. So much anger that Lady Gotham calls forth her shadows to shield her from the strong emotions being admitted by the man next to her. All she could is send her own emotions of concern out toward him, hoping that he notices it.

Not even a second has pass before the emotions vanish from thin air like they were never there. "My apologies. I am unused to these emotions, so forgive me for my outburst. But for your question. Yes, some beings are able to block me from seeing. You know them as the Observers, though they are mainly just kids trying to act like adults with power. They have the power to watch and judge the timestream, and only that. They should bring their judgment to the council of the realm and to the king, but since the council has been destroyed and the previous king locked in eternal slumber, they have gotten in their mind that they have the power to make the final call on what they see needs to change in the timelines. Because the new prince is not of age to take up the throne as the king, they want it to stay that way and get rid of the prince. I have stopped them and proved that the realm needs a king. I blamed myself for not watching them closer because they were able to sum up all their power together to block me from the prince's future enough for something dangerous to happen."

Silence fills the air. Nothing could be said that could make either of the beings feel good about the information shared. Pain for the future king, sorrow for the realm's people, anger for those that made this happen, and guilty that they couldn't do anything about it.

"I'm sorry for the prince, but I must know. Why have to come to me to tell all this to? Surely there are more powerful allies that could help rescue the prince from his capturers. What could you gain from me?"

A smile, though small, forms on Clockwork's face.

"Ah, you are correct that there are more powerful allies to help in this endeavor, however they will not be able to help the prince in the way that he needs it. What our prince needs are mortals that side with justice but also with human morals. He needs a mortal that will side with him even when others say otherwise. He needs a link that connects them to the mortals, to help him recover from the trauma he has and will suffer at the hands of his capturer. What I can gain from you are those mortals that I speak of, that I know will do the right thing no matter the odds."

Gasp. "You want my knights to rescue the prince? Surely you joke, you can't possibly tell me that they even know about the prince or their connection to him. I agree that they side with justice no matter the situation, but they are paranoid about everything that comes their way. Questioning everything that happens and crosses their paths."

Laughing at the reaction the Lady Gotham is having, Clockwork faces her and looks her straight in the eye. " Lady Gotham, it is because they are paranoid that they will question everything and look into everything that can explain their paranoia. I need them to question everything and even more to be able to connect the dots between what is wrong with the city to the prince's condition and location. Though it will take time, I am watching over the prince now and doing what I can to protect his mental state from being permanently damaged. His sister is doing what she can and will soon turn to this city for answers and aid in the rescue of her brother. When that time comes, direct her towards the cat, she will help connect the points to further haste the knights."

Finish with his conversation, Clockwork turns and forms a portal to the Infinity Realms.

Bowing her head goodbye, something clicks in her mind, a realization. "The prince is your coremate. It is why your core is experiencing those bursts of emotions isn't it"

"Everything is how it should be. And shall continue being so." And with that, the ancient being of time disappears from the mortal realm back to his lair.

Turns towards her city, and as the last bit of sunlight disappears behind the horizon, she watches as her knights start to emerge from the darkness and out into the city to protect their people from harm.

'Soon, you all will be part of something so much bigger than you, so vital that it may change the fate of this dimension forever. May you make the right choices, for the future of many lives rests on it.