Time

Return

"Now you know who you used to be and what you've all experienced, all the things you've seen are your past lives," Tabitha said as she finished recounting the fates of the people around her. "It's up to you to decide what to do about it. Unfortunately, I don't have the power to bring you all back, but I can erase your memories of the bad stuff."

Listening to everything Tabitha was saying, many of the people in the room mostly wanted that, wanted to get rid of the bad memories.

After their little meeting was over, Archie decided to approach Tabitha and Jughead, still standing in the office.

"Hi."

"Yeah, Archie, what's up?" Tabitha and Jughead asked in unison. "You should go to Babylon like everyone else. We'll be joining you soon too."

"I've been listening to everything you've been saying Tabitha, and I realized something: you mentioned that you don't have the strength to bring us back. But what if instead you brought back just one of us? Would you have the strength to do that?"

"Theoretically, I should, but I don't know. Why would you be interested in that?" Tabitha asked, probably already knowing the answer.

"Don't tell me you want Tabitha to bring you back," Jughead interjected.

"Maybe."

"Look Archie, isn't that a bit selfish, towards others? By the time you get back, everyone else will be living out their lives here. Isn't there anything keeping you here? Your version of that time there, you suffered so much and lost so much. Don't you want to, live your future life normally this time?" Trying to convince his friend, Jughead.

"Jughead, realize I don't belong here. Wouldn't you do the same thing if you were me? And don't say you wouldn't, because we both know you would. Tabitha, I don't know you that well, you know, but if you and my version of that time are friends, then I'm asking you to trust it is the one to trust."

"What, are you even going to do?" Asked Tabitha warily. "There's something I don't quite understand."

"I'm asking to be transported back in time to the original timeline," said Archie confidently.

"What?" Tabitha asked. "Let's say I send you back in time. What are you going to do? Change the course of history? It won't work."

"We won't know until we try," Archie objected.

"Tabitha, I'm sorry, but I think Archie is right in this situation. If I had the opportunity, I would risk everything to get that possible life of ours with you, even if it was just for a little while," said Jughead.

"Jughead...Good. Then I think you, Archie, should prepare yourself. Maybe even say goodbye to the people you care about." To Mom, and maybe Betty, at least the versions from this time."

"I'll try."

"When you're done, come to Pop's," Tabitha said.

***

Archie strolled down the street, wondering if he was doing the right thing by going back. If he did, he would change the fates of many. Even Tabitha and her powers couldn't do it. Why should he? As far as he could remember from the memories his other version had shown him, he had acted rashly at times. When he reached the house and went inside, he saw his mother cleaning the house. Archie decided not to say goodbye, because he would see her soon, even if it was a different version. But there was still something to be said.

"Mom."

"Yes, dear?" Mary asked.

"I'd like to go to Greendale to get the material I need to understand poetry better."