Chapter 218: Can't Catch A Break

Ripples flowed freely through a meadow of time. In the reflection of the liquid black endless images reflected. Moments that just became the past, or events from times forgotten by all but the most ancient. 

The ripples spread into the distantless realm. The ripples were like small disturbances caused by a light rain. They originated from the same spot, slowly with the rhythm of a beating heart they formed from the image of a man, in the realm of nothing, yet everything that came to pass. 

The man, Known as Ragnar of Nightwater was shrouded in the liquid, his clothes just like the realm reflected the past. At his hip was a liquid black sword. A quiet scene was playing out in the realm: With the sword playing a tug of war with the black liquid. The realm was reaching out to the sword, trying to encase it in its fouldes. Yet the sword was constantly cutting it, stopping the black water from encasing it.

"That's enough, Nightwater." 

The man spoke, and his dark blue hair blew away from his face. 

"Like it or not, we are one with this realm." 

He told the sword sternly. The sword almost seemed to let out an audible sigh, as it let itself get consumed by the water and disappeared from Ragnar's hips. 

Ragnar began walking, producing countless ripples through the realm, revealing an ineffable amount of random scenes. From family dinners, to villages burning. Secret councells between Sun Dinosaurs, and gossip in time itself.

Ragnar ignored all of it. Instead he grumbled to himself in pity.

"Never a moment of silence"

Suddenly the realm shook, and giant waves formed. A red headed woman became visible in the swirling waves. 

She was knocking on a black door that seemed awfully similar to the Nightwater. 

Ragnar grunted and left his realm, appearing next to the disturber. Around them was an endless world of white. With them being the only variable in the dimension. 

"Maya, how are you even here?" 

Ragnar asked with a sigh, looking at the woman who had a weird glint in her eyes. 

"Ah, you know, reasons. Anyway."

She paused dramatically. 

"You were so cool! Blowing things up like that, destroying an entire pantheon of families. I've taught you well Ragnar, I'm so proud of you!" 

She became more and more excited and her eyes sparkled in the white light with a slight tint of madness. She wiped an imaginary tear from her eyes and continued. 

" Well, you young man, are in trouble! Do you have any idea how many beings want you dead, one way or another? I'm honestly impressed. Not even I have so many beings hating me!"

She said, chaining the subject instantly. 

Ragnar shrugged his shoulders. 

"What do you want me to do about it? I can't really change anything!"

"Wrong, silly boy. You can team up with the heavy hitters. System, the Sun Dinosaur of systems. The writer. Nyx. All of these beings are on your side of things. Heck, that yerk Cronus who thinks himself too good for this reality is even on your side." 

She said and suddenly her mood changed again.

"You youngsters. Things were different in my days, before those damn dimensions. You don't understand how easy you have it."

She sighed wistfully. 

"When I was young there were no limitations or dimensions. Well, there aren't dimensions in every hole, and the place outside is still as chaotic as ever. But you dimension kids don't understand how easy you have it!"

She continued. 

"As much as I'd like to hear you talk like an old grandma about your "Days", I'd rather hear about the reason you came."

Ragnar said, his expression blank like the space around them. 

Maja froze, then rerouted again. 

"Sure, I wanted to do that anyway. I came to gloat after all. How does it feel to have no family? Your dad's dead. Mom died, no siblings. The friends and family you had are either dead, or you can never interact with them again. Ohhh, the bliss! I wish I could kill my family. What's left at least!" 

She delighted and hummed the last line. 

"Right, now I remember why I came."

She said, her tone turning dangerous. 

"Ragnar."

She purred

"I need you to do something for me. You see, I'm limited. The me you see, isn't truly me! I can't interact with things fully, kill those I want. So I need you to kill someone in my stead. An annoying person. A FAMILY member of mine. Oh and while at it make it two."

She growled at the word family, like it was something disgusting. 

Ragnar looked Maja in the eyes and said. 

"I don't know why you think I'd do that for you, without a reason, but please wake up to reality. I'm not your servant!"

"Oh, Ragnar, how blissfully ignorant. I wish I was as dumb as you. No, no, no, I don't need you to kill him for me! You'll do that on your own after all, or you'll just die trying! And you see, the reason I'm here is because I don't want you to die trying. As I kind of need that bastard Kronius dead!" 

"If you're so limited as you say, how are you going to help me, or force me to do anything?" 

Ragnar said, as he began preparing to leave. 

"Good question Ragnar, one that I will answer with my own. You've been to Justice prison haven't you?"

The question halted Ragnar's movements. He stood completely motionless, as a cold shiver ran through his spine. Suddenly a memory came to pass. A red headed girl sat around the christmas tree with her family, having a blast. Living the dreamy family life. Ragnar began trembling, finally he saw the resemblance. He took a step back and said.

"You're Maya, child of Trickster. The one I saw in that prison!" 

Maja smiled, her teeth glistered ominously in the white dimension. 

"Got it in one, Ragnar. Trickster is a real tricky one, you know. it had Justice seal me up, since it couldn't. It doesn't like me killing my siblings. And I can't really be killed so Trickster went for the next best thing. But as long as there's a small little opening, I can leave whenever I want."

She approached Ragnar, and Ragnar instinctively entered his realm to escape her. But as he appeared in his realm a door opened next to him and she walked in. 

"You know Ragnar. Out of all Trickster's children I'm the least evil one. Why is that? Well, because I kill other children of Trickster doing the world a favor. And when I'm finally done killing all my siblings. I will personally erase the concept of families."

She smiled. 

"I'm one of the stronger children of Trickster. And trust me Ragnar, your world view is and will forever be narrow. As you chose to forever be part of this reality, to be its timeline. And that's fine and dandy, noble even. I might even let this place be peaceful after you kill Kronius and Alice for me. After that this place holds no interest anymore and I'll leave you be!" 

Maja said, as she grabbed Ragnar's arm.

"Now, make yourself useful. Remember this. Sun Dinosaurs grow through their realms. In other words, strengthen your realm. You can do that, right?" 

She smiled. 

"Good luck, remember. Time is what you make of it, I think."

Her voice began to grow distant.

"I never really experienced time, I wond…"

Her words faded, as Ragnar disappeared from his own realm. 

…

"Well, this is interesting." 

A voice rumbled, startling Ragnar. 

He was in the same realm as before, yet it didn't feel like his own. In front of him was a mirror image of himself. 

"Who are you?" 

Ragnar asked the being, as he summoned his black sword again. 

"I'm Ragnar, the original timeline. Though I guess you're also Ragnar, the original timeline."

The supposed original timeline stroked his liquid black beard. 

"I was erased from time itself. To bring you to me, who never existed in time, you must be outside of time. But who could do such a thing?"

He mumbled to himself. Then the man turned to Ragnar and looked him in the eyes. As the two locked eyes they could see each other's timelines. The new Ragnar saw the timeline which he never experienced. A peace he never imagined. The perfect world he wished for. 

The old Ragnar saw the new reality. The wars, the hatred between friends. How things had changed for the worst. 

"Now I get why you were sent here by that being." 

The old began. 

"It seems I must teach you how to become stronger the most efficient way, before you can return. After all, we Eminento Tyranicus don't grow the same way the others do. Come with me, we have much to discuss. Let's begin with meeting the writer. He must know what's happening!"