Chromatober 2024 - Steve Lab Edition

Day 3 - Connection

World / Series: Steve Lab, Rainbow Quest, Steve Saga (Mentioned/Implied)
Timeline: During Chapter 3 of Darkest Hands of Time: Morning Hour
Overall Feeling: Melancholy Angst
AU: Steve Labs, Darkest Hands of Time
Characters: Prof. Favre, Darkest Hour!Sabre (Saga)
Settings: Forest
Word Count: 1692

*

Prof. Favre huffed as they landed in the forest, leaning against the tree as he waited for the throbbing headache to settle down and his vision wasn't distorted beyond comprehension. He didn't dare move anymore either, wanting to risk collapsing or throw up his lunch for that matter. As much as he enjoys visiting other worlds, he can never enjoy the severe repercussions that come with it.

Mostly considering the feeling of being literally ripped apart beyond comprehension and then stitched back together is a feeling he would rather keep to himself and not to any other unfortunate soul.

Once he was sure that he was well enough again, he stood up and brushed off any dirt and dust that was on his coat. Then looked around, noting that they were in a forest, which was honestly a curious thing to see. He doesn't show up in the forest usually, especially in the Rainbow Quest continuity, unless it was the beginning. Although he can't help, he feels as though there had been changes to this continuity, well, more specifically– to this loop at the very least.

Like there was an ancient connection leading him here, one that he hadn't felt in such a very long time.

Nonetheless, he might as well see what this loop would bring and if nothing changed, he would go visit some other universe and watch their story unfold. Especially Code Jumpers, now that is a story he loves nothing more, then to discover every secret and lore he could ever hope to find. With a smile, he wandered off in the direction he knows is the Red Steve house, the beginning point, mostly to see if the story had progressed around there or had continued to the Orange Village.

It was always good to backtrack sometimes to make sure his knowledge was correct, but he needed to stay undetected by Rainbow Quest Sabre at all cost to avoid any existential crisis–

He froze.

In the distance, in a flower patch is a small child, but not just any child, but a child version of Sabre.

It wasn't Rainbow Quest Sabre either.

Settling his ragged breath– when was it so hard to breathe? He wasn't sure, he reluctantly got closer after calming down, feeling the string of connections he had to them, despite how tattered and near the point of snapping like ice it is, leading him closer to them. Giving him more evidence that they are in fact who they believe it is.

Now, he was far, not close enough to see them more clearly.

He breathlessly laughed, of course it's them, he shouldn't even be surprised anymore. Of course they were so bored, that they chose to play a game, to make a new story in the Rainbow Quest continuity, no doubt The Powerless God themselves have given their blessing to allow this to happen in the first place.

Whether it was to see what would happen or to take a moment to rest, he doesn't care.

He wasn't one of them anymore.

He is simply just Professor Favre.

And yet, despite his initial fears...he couldn't let this child be alone. No matter how much he wants to leave, to pretend they weren't here, he has a feeling that if he leaves now, it would spell some unusual consequences to the future of this unknown story. Against his better judgment, he allowed the thread of connection to the child pull him close until–