Child of Time (69 page)

“Many can ascend. Several can even merge with a
universe but only one can merge with time.”

“I am only slightly surprised, time has always
favored him.”

“The greatest paradox of all. The impossible
sustaining the impossible.” The voices were disembodied but seemed
vaguely familiar to Kiyan.

“Some of us became paradoxes in our own right. You
merged with a universe and I became a set of stars but we all drew
our power from the time vortex. He is far more powerful than either
of us.” The absurdity of eavesdropping on a cryptic conversation at
the moment of his death struck Kiyan funny. He sensed rage from
around him.
Odd, I’m listening to a star and a universe hold a
conversation and Reigns can’t touch me.
This only added to his
amusement.

“Strange, it almost feels as if he is observing us.
Not the other way around.”

“Shush, It is about to happen.” Kiyan was slightly
confused. He opened his eyes to see what it was that the star and
the universe meant. The only thing that he saw was darkness but
then he made out the tendrils of energy that were spiraling around
him slicing into the darkness holding Reigns back. Deciding that he
had begun slipping back in time he decided to use the energy. The
spirals of energy expanded until he was the center of a maelstrom.
His reach expanded and cut into the darkness. It was not much
longer before he found his parent’s energy. They were tattered
fragments of themselves when he found them. A thought was all it
took to restore their energy to normal levels.

Kiyan pondered the source of his energy. His mind
traced the source to everywhere. All time seemed to be giving
energy. Not only his own time stream but every time stream. He
tested the waters and pulled on the energy. A flood responded to
his request. He still did not feel the normal effects of a slip
that would have made him feel like he was on fire by now. He waved
a blast of the energy into the darkness with a thought. A giant
hole was left in the wake of his attack.

Reigns retaliated with an attack like the original
that was meant to separate Kiyan from Theo and Kendra. Predicting
the attack he raised a wall of energy that rendered the strike
harmless. He realized that time was not flowing backwards like
expected. With energy like this he knew that he could defeat the
foe.

Finding familiar time streams Kiyan followed them and
discovered his friends in imminent danger. Left on the drakken home
world they had been found by an army of drakken drones. They had
put up a fight but were now being overwhelmed. He smiled inwardly.
He would protect them like he protected his parents. It did not
matter that they were corporeal and he pure energy. With a thought
the drakken drones were erased from time and his friends were
secured in the heart of his maelstrom.

One was missing though. Kiyan retraced the time
streams until he found the one he was looking for. It had been
close to his own but then it had ended. Damaged. In a moment it was
repaired and placed with the other time streams.

Now without any distracting thoughts concerning his
friends Kiyan roared. He requested power and relished the glut that
flooded him. He let the massive energies build up before sending it
into the clouds of dark energy.

Kiyan knew that his father was right although the
plan to trick Kendra and him out of the universe to safety was
frowned upon. The momentary annoyance was dealt with before he
altered the plan to his own liking. Reigns had merged with the dark
universe like Kiyan’s own ancestor had once done with a light
universe. Finally recognizing the voices he smiled. Reigns was not
going to be destroyed until the entire dark universe was gone. This
was child’s play he thought. He held the power of countless light
universes in his hand. One dark universe was nothing in the grand
tapestry of reality.

Before committing the final act Kiyan witnessed
Reign’s acts through time. The misdeeds of the past and future were
observed. There was no longer any good left in the man that hadn’t
been consumed with the hunger. The balance was decided against
Reigns. The past would stand as a testament to the future misdeeds
and the justice of the sentence. Sentencing would be executed now
and the future would be preserved free of the blight.

With that decision Kiyan channeled energy into the
dark universe. He felt Kendra and Theo attempting to draw on the
energy vortex that was him. He let them have as much energy as he
knew that they could handle. The way they hurled these fragments of
energy at the darkness was almost amusing. He grew bored and
decided to end the conflict. His energy exploded and swept through
the waves of darkness leaving nothing behind. He fed the explosion
and watched its progress. The wave front expanded until it had
reached the ends of the dark universe. With no more universe to
expand in the flood changed direction and flowed through time.

Finally every speck of darkness was gone. Nothing
remained of the dark universe of Reigns. Kiyan had obliterated him
the moment he had entered the universe. Now devoid of energy the
universe began to collapse in on itself. Soon only a pocket was
left where he existed in his maelstrom. He found it nearly
effortless to sustain his pocket universe for the time being.

Now that he had accomplished the purpose that drove
him, Kiyan was left wondering what to do. His friends were safe and
his parents were swirling in the vortex. The universe that he had
called home for his entire life was being reshaped. The drakken
universe was no longer recognizable. It was like the last few years
of Kiyan’s life had never existed. That thought drew Kiyan back to
the day everything had started. Time existed on the refuge worlds.
Home. Kiyan could almost smell the scents that heralded breakfast
wafting up to his room.

Chapter Twenty-Five: The Ending of
Dreams

Sitting bolt upright in his bed Kiyan rubbed his
eyes. Oddly everything felt normal. Like it should be. Breakfast
was indeed wafting upstairs. Kiyan knew that Marisa would be after
him to take a bath before breakfast momentarily if he didn’t hurry.
Reaching for his cloths Kiyan stopped when he noticed that they
were several sizes too small. Even his hands looked small. Stepping
over to the mirror on the wall Kiyan saw a boy peering back at him
where he had become accustomed to a young man.

Prodding at his face failed to produce any changes in
the reflection. Ultimately deciding that he had been having a
dream, Kiyan was about to finish dressing when he discovered that
he was already clothed. Not recalling having dressed, Kiyan was
further confused. Finally chalking it up to not being fully awake
He made his way down the stairs. Marisa was busy in the kitchen
talking with James so Kiyan slipped outside. Recalling that Marisa
hated the door being slammed he softly closed it behind him.

“Do you want to go for a flight?” Kiyan just about
leapt out of his skin when he suddenly heard a voice behind him.
Turning he found himself eye to eye with Terra. She looked younger
than he had remembered her but then again it had been a dream. How
was she standing in front of him?

“I was, um, I was... I was going to take a swim.”
Kiyan stumbled over the words in his confusion.

“Later then? Sorry I startled you.” Terra frowned and
was about to say something before she turned and walked off. Freya
glided down and shifted to a small bird that perched on Terra’s
shoulder. A moment later the duo was lost to sight around a
corner.

Unable to figure out what was going on Kiyan set out
towards the lake. A slight rustling of air was the only warning
that Kiyan got before Ray settled onto his shoulders. Kiyan reached
up and scratched Ray's head and received a rough rumble that could
be construed as a purr. Kiyan saw Jeremy up ahead and decided to
take an alternate route to the lake. After entering the woods Kiyan
decided to skip the lake altogether. He needed to get some things
figured out. There were too many people from yesterday and last
night's dream walking around in the village.

Finding a spot near the top of the ridge that
overlooked the lake Kiyan took a seat. The sun was above the
horizon by now and the valley was well lit. The lake and its
waterfall reminded Kiyan of many fun filled days playing and
learning bending. Kiyan scowled. He really was having a hard time
telling what was dream and what wasn’t. He hadn’t even been tested
yet so how could he remember learning to bend. The conflicting
memories was making his head hurt. Dream and reality mixed and
swirled in his head. Kiyan knew that Marisa was going to be worried
if he didn’t show up soon.

A soft foot step on grass alerted Kiyan to the fact
that he wasn’t alone. “Do you mind if I join you?” Kendra waited
for Kiyan to nod before taking a seat next to him on the rock.

“I should have known that you would find me.” Kiyan
glumly watched a pale blue dragon fly overhead.

“Is everything alright?” Kendra waited patiently for
Kiyan to respond.

“I had a strange dream last night. Then I saw Terra
then Ray and... I’m just confused now, I can't tell what is real or
a dream.”

“I spoke with Terra earlier. She was worried about
you.” Kendra noticed the agitated expression that Kiyan wore when
she mentioned Terra.

“She isn’t supposed to be here. Terra came from the
dream. She died.” Kiyan remembered the details of how he had met
her clearly.

Kiyan didn’t see the surprised look that came over
Kendra’s countenance before she answered. “Your testing is in a few
days. Perhaps you are just a little stressed. Things like that can
give you dreams.”

“That was in the dream too. It’s just that things
here are not what they were yesterday. Terra wasn’t here and Ray
wasn’t a draconic kayloo. Everything is different. You aren’t even
supposed to be here. I only remember you from the dream.” Kiyan
stood and began pacing.

“Have considered that it might not have been a
dream?” Kendra’s comment made Kiyan stop pacing for a moment.

“Like I'm supposed to be some super strong bender
that can ice form and shape shift into an ice dragon?” Saying it
out loud made the dream seem even more like reality.

“Have you tried?” Kendra watched Kiyan intently.

“Of course not, I haven't even been tested yet.
How.....” Kiyan was waving his hands around in an attempt to
illustrate how insane the idea was when he caught sight if an
ornate silver band that encircled his wrist. “Luke?”

“
Yes Kiyan?”
Luke’s response made pieces begin
to fall into place. Kiyan held the hand in front of his face. Blue
flames effortlessly burst into existence with a thought.

“Ice fire is a rather complicated technique. This
year’s testing is going to be complicated.” Kendra reminded Kiyan
of her presence.

“It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve skewed the test
and hidden my true skills. In fact, it will be my third time taking
it if I remember correctly.” Everything made sense now.

“Terra told me that there was something different
about you this morning. She said that you mind was sealed tighter
than a telepath with years of experience this morning.” Kendra
stood and waited for Kiyan.

“So the war, everything really happened. I must have
slipped all the way back here.” Kiyan still had a few loose ends
that he couldn’t quite place.

“And brought all of us with you. Do you remember
anything that happened after you went into the dark universe?”
There was a sense of urgency in Kendra’s voice that made Kiyan look
up. “The last thing any of us remember is entering the portal.”

“There was a time vortex and everything got
destroyed. The universe was collapsing and I just wanted to go home
then I woke up here.”

“The dark universe was destroyed? And a time vortex?”
Kiyan had to suppress a giggle when he saw Kendra’s incredulous
expression.

“Wait, you said us? How many came back through time
with me? How did Terra get here? I saw her die!”

“You are the last one to remember. As for Terra? Well
she has been here since you were a small child. She still loves you
and has been watching for any sign of returning memories. This
morning she was almost in tears when she came to me.” Kendra smiled
and sank to a knee so she was the same height as Kiyan. “I do so
hope I can be a part of your childhood this time.” There was a
twinkle in her eye with a mischievous expression.

“It actually would be nice to have a childhood. Does
Marisa and James know? They are probably worried sick by now
wondering where I am.”

“Ha, I never remember you growing up the first time.
Always running off and getting in trouble every time I turned
around. As for James and Marisa, break it easily. It may take some
time for them to get used to you having gone off and fighting a war
in one night.” Kendra laughed and they started down the hill.

“Ya that might be awkward. I think I will wait on
that one.” Kiyan felt much better than he had earlier. “Where is
Theo?”

“He is on Samtan at the council. I managed to escape
them for some time. Now about those tests that you cheated on. You
said that you took two already?” Kendra tweaked Kiyan’s ear
gently.

“I only pretended not to be able to bend hardly
anything on the second test because everyone was too scared of me
after the first test.”

“You time slipped! I should have known. You knew too
much about me at that time.”

“There are still some things that don’t fit entirely.
I mean what happened to Kayloo Prime and New Thoros with the time
shift? On Sapphire’s world there is an elven boy that is supposed
to be joining the protectorate in the future.”

“As far as Kayloo Prime and New Thoros, our
involvement was a direct result of drakken involvement at some
point. Of course you started the revolution that freed the Kayloo
but that is the nice thing about being able to travel time. It
won’t take much to alter events now that we know what happened. As
for Riftor, we will keep an eye on him.” Kendra gave him a hug and
told him that Marisa was probably getting worried. They had arrived
at the door. Kiyan smiled and slipped inside. The war was a distant
memory as he endured Marisa’s scolding for letting her food get
cold as he ran off to climb the hill.