Hello!
This is my 2nd Futurama fanfic, my first being Don't Change. Time Waits for No One has some similar elements to Don't Change, like time travel (I find the idea of time travel in Futurama extremely interesting ). But it's not meant to be a prequel or anything, it's an entirely new piece. Anyway, I hope you enjoy, please r&r. Constructive criticism is welcome.
Thanks,
-Penguin Dust
P.S: I don't own Futurama. I do, however, own this story. Anyone who tries to steal from this story is lower than dirt. And also, thank you to the people who reviewed my first story. I really, really appreciated the feedback.
Time Waits for No One
Chapter 1: Are you awake?
He woke up, drifting in space. Fry wiped his eyes and thought, Where am I? He looked to see the space around him. His face was reflected in the bright yellow starlight. Better question, what am I? Fry had turned into nothing. A floating entity, if anything at all. His red hair, his signature red jacket, all gone. Fry tried to scream but nothing came out. He tried to talk again,
"...He-hello?"
"Hello."
Fry looked up. But there was nothing, just the stars and night sky. He called out again,
"Hello!?"
"Hello." The voice repeated again. Fry was getting creeped out. Who was talking to him? Was it just his overactive imagination?
"Who...are you?"
"I'm not sure."
"Hold on a sec, buddy. How can you not know who you are?"
"I'm not sure. Do you know who you are?"
"I'm Phillip J. Fry."
"But who are you really?"
Fry thought about this. He knew who he was, didn't he? He was Phillip J. Fry, born on August 9th, 1974...he knew everything about himself. Or did he?
"I...I'm Fry. What are you, God, or something?"
"Perhaps, perhaps not."
"So...let's say you are god, does that mean you know everything?"
"I might."
"Can't you just say yes or no!?"
"I could."
Fry smacked his head. It was useless trying to get somewhere with this guy.
"So...do you know why I'm here?"
"Yes."
"Can you tell me?"
"Certainly. You are here because you desire to leave."
"I...what?"
"You desire to go back to your time."
"Well, I..."
"God" was right. Fry did want to go back to the 21st century, if only for selfish reasons.
Fry had been depressed for a while. Shortly after the opera, Leela said yes to going out with him. Fry was excited; this was his chance, he could finally get the girl of his dreams. But the date turned out to be less than phenomenal. Fry managed to spill slurm on Leela, crash into her at an ice skating rink, and rip her pants. Fry humiliated himself, but he humiliated Leela even more. The conversation they had that night only made things worse.
"I'm...I'm really sorry, Leela."
"Hm."
"No, I really am! This date was totally screwed up because of me."
"Oh really."
"Leela!"
"What do you want me to say, Fry!? That I enjoyed it? No, that date was probably the worst I've ever had! I'm sorry Fry, but our relationship will never go beyond friends."
"I'm not happy with just friends! I want to be more than that! Just give me a chance!"
"I did, Fry." Leela looked exasperated. She opened the door to her apartment.
"Fry, this was a pity date...and nothing more. I...like you as a friend. Nothing more. I'm sorry."
"A...pity date? I don't want you to feel sorry for me. I..." He looked down. Leela frowned and gave him a peck on the cheek. She went into her apartment and closed the door quietly. Fry stood there, his hand on his cheek. He loved her so much, it hurt a lot to be told by the person you love that they'll only be friends. Fry sat down outside her door, would she feel guilty? Maybe even come out of her apartment and say she didn't mean it. Fry waited and waited, but in the end, he knew he was deluding himself.
And that's why he was here. Fry simply wished to go back. He realized no matter what he did, Leela would never look his way. It would unrequited love for the rest of his life. That's not what he wanted. Wishful thinking...?, Fry thought.
"So do you want to go back?" "God" asked.
Fry thought for a minute. Did he really want to leave the future? It was the only place where he felt he belonged. Yet, Fry did yearn to see what he had left behind. Would people be glad to see him now? Maybe they'd give him a chance. More of a chance than Leela did. Fry gritted his teeth at the thought of Leela. I should get over her, anyway...She isn't that special..., Fry thought, even though he knew this wasn't true.
"So you are ready."
"Umm...I don't know...Hold—"
Before Fry could answer, he was falling. He could see the years passing by him. 3000, 2999, 2998, 2997...Fry was traveling back him time. He screamed, he wasn't ready. Fry didn't know what he wanted. Suddenly, Fry got a little drowsy. He started to drift into sleep, falling face down into a pit of memories and regrets. It was a nice feeling. I wouldn't mind, Fry thought, with a sudden change of heart, never waking up...
"Phil...?"
Huh?
"Phil!?"
Fry started to open his eyes. He was being shaken by someone he didn't recognize. Oh, I'm back to my old self, Fry thought as he realized he was back in his original garb.
"Who are you?"
"It's Yancy, Phil! Your older brother!"
"...Yancy?" Fry exclaimed. It was weird being called Phil again, after being referred to as Fry for such a long time.
"Phil!" Yancy hugged Fry tightly. There were tears running down his cheeks, Fry tried to give a reassuring smile. Then it dawned on him, Fry had been missing for years now. He had been living a carefree life in the future, but his family was going through turmoil.
"I'm here now, Yancy. I won't...I won't go away again." Fry hugged his brother tightly, it was a bittersweet moment. I guess people really did care about me.
"We need to talk." Yancy said finally, after recomposing himself. Fry nodded and took his hand. Yancy and Fry went off into the night, New York's bright streetlights following their shadows.
Did you enjoy the first chapter? I'd like to know what you think. More chapters are on the way.