Finally. It's over.

Turquoise eyes sweeps the battle ground. People from different races shout out their cries of victory that could pierce the heavens; cries of victory over a common foe, the Emperor who enslaved the world. There's no time to weep for the fallen or worry about the world going back to it's usual course like wars and glory that will happen in the near future. What matters most today is celebrating this glorious victory. No more heartaches and sufferings, no more misery and pain, no more lost hopes and dreams...

Dreams. Turquoise eyes look up the sky and close to feel the waves of positive energy coming from the cheers, also thinking of what life would be like if the Emperor that appeared from the skies never came. Is it even possible to have known the father -

"Erno!" Someone calls out.

Turquoise eyes open spontaneously and sees a four-winged Skywrath hovering above. "Damascus." The boy replies.

"Found you at last!" Damascus said. "I feared the worse after we hot separated from our friends. I am glad you are well. Come, we must rejoin the others. They have gathered in one spot and I volunteered to search for you."

The turquoise-eyed boy named Erno tiredly smiles. "I'm glad everyone came through. Lead the way, Damascus."

As the two friends pass by celebrating people, Damascus speaks up.

"What are you thinking back there?"

Erno blinks then slightly smirks. "I wonder what would be like if the Emperor and his minions never arrived. Maybe I could've known my father well."

Damascus' slightly taken aback. "But you already did when you travelled to the past and prevent the Emperor's coming."

Erno shakes his head. "No. I never made myself clear. What I mean is what my life will be like if father was around while I was growing up."

"Ah. I am sorry if I misunderstood."

"It's my fault, too. Either way, I always wanted to know my father better. Among our friends, I'm the only one who never have a father. Mother and those who knew him would tell me how great he is but those stories are not enough to satisfy my desire to know him. And every time I see you with your father and others talk about theirs, I feel a twinge of envy inside my heart." Erno sincerely said as he places a hand to his chest. He drops his hand to his side and continues to speak. "You're lucky to have known your father and felt his love."

Damascus sadly smiles. "I understand what you are saying." He recalls his own father sacrificing his life to save him and his allies. It was that selfless act that pushes him to become an avenging Skywrath. "Our mothers also died so that we may live."

"Yes."

They remain silent, never hearing the loud cheers of celebrators around them.

Damascus decides to break the silence between them. "You know, I have a feeling you never told the whole truth about your arrival in the past. Will you tell me about it?"

"You can keep a secret, Damascus?"

"We have been friends, just like our fathers have been. Would I betray our friendship?"

Erno smiles. "No, you won't. Anyway, when I arrived, I actually lost my memory."

"Eh? You mean to tell me that you have amnesia?"

"Yes. And the irony of it is I even forgot my name. And the first person I met and the one who gave me my name to use that time is no other than Rubick the Grand Magus."

"Really?"

"Yes. It happens that 'Erno' is father's second name. Funny, I traveled with him to the Ancients' territory without knowing he was my father all along."

Damascus' impressed. "Amazing. Do you think the amnesia is caused by your time-travel or your battle against the Behemoth while time-traveling?"

Erno shrugs his shoulders. "I don't know and I don't care anymore because we accomplished our mission."

"But instead of this future be erased as what we thought, it became a separate timeline from the past, or shall we call the past the original timeline. Thus, we continue to exist and have to fight for our freedom."

"True, but most importantly is we have fixed the past. At least the dark future, this future past, will never exist in the original timeline."

"I believe you are right." Damascus hesitates first. "I have concerns though. What if our parents in the original timeline never get together? I remember father's stories that he had a hard time winning mother's heart before the Emperor's conquest, and he mentioned that your father is... not interested in love."

Erno somewhat becomes gloomy. "... So is mother when I saw her in the past."

"I am sensing that you are withholding something from me."

"... Mother is very, very, very young compared to father's age."

It shuts Damascus' mouth. "... I believe we must end the conversation about the original timeline. Let us focus in reaching our friends, shall we?"

"Yes. Thank you."

As they continue on their way, Damascus suddenly speaks up. "Ah! I just remember. It is Yakov's birthday!"

"Really? That's great. Another thing to celebrate."

As they reach their friends and greet Yakov happy birthday, Erno secretly smiles as he remembers his father's quirks and greatness from the original timeline. 'The Erno of the original timeline, if he will ever exist, will have a grand time with father, no doubt about it.'