Chapter 6:
Third Person:
Clockwork couldn't help but feel relief as he finally was out of the Far Frozen and back on the right track to his master's lair. Though he knew the lair would become his should his master perish- in the meantime, he slept in his own 'mini-lair' that was connected to the lair (as he was an apprentice). He felt a bit thankful that Frostbite was nicer than what was described in the books- in a way, Frostbite reminded Clockwork of a very energetic uncle. Still, he thought it was nice that Frostbite showed him the 'infi-map' even if Frostbite kept calling Clockwork 'Young Wise One.'
Still, at least now he was on the correct way to the lair, though the feeling that someone was watching him had appeared yet again. He started to wonder a bit slower and a feeling settled inside his gut. He shook his head slightly when he got a mild feeling of déjà vu. He scowled deeply, getting tired of feeling so…vulnerable. He looked around and spotted a head duck down behind a nearby floating rock. There.
Smirking, he floated a bit faster and around a rock. Then he waited. As soon as he saw his 'stalkers' come out of his hiding place to follow, he got a good look at them. Like him, they looked like younger ghosts. The girl had really long black straight hair that covered her face, but when he looked closely he could see she had white skin with white eyes to match. Her black clothing covered every inch of her and she had a black clock on top of it. She looked maybe a year or two younger than him, making her eleven or ten. He wasn't sure if the other ghost was a boy or a girl, but it was covered with stars from head to toe with a pitch black background except for it's face which was white with red eyes (not even pupils showed). Its black tendrils curled around him slightly.
He came out of his hiding place and tried to look intimidating with his arms crossed and his chest puffed out.
"Why are you following me," Clockwork asked sternly.
The girl just giggled, causing Clockwork to deflate. The girl looked Clockwork over before bursting into laughter at him. The other ghost looked at her baffled, but didn't vocally question it.
"Sorry," she laughed, "But you look so funny! Nocturn, do you see his chest?"
Nocturn, the other ghost apparently, looked over Clockwork before cracking a small smile.
"Figures that the Master of Time's apprentice has a clock in his chest…"
"It's not funny," Clockwork whined slightly.
The girl continued to giggle, but put up her hand slightly,
"Sorry, sorry! You're right…. So you're Ratio's apprentice?"
"Yes," Clockwork said proudly, "Who are you?"
Nocturn looked like he was about to make a snarky comment, but the girl nudged him in the side roughly,
"I'm Saga, apprentice and daughter to Mortem, Death herself. This is Nocturn, apprentice to Nox, Master of Dreams."
"-Who is so more powerful than Ratio," Nocturn chimed.
Clockwork scowled,
"Is not."
"Is too."
"Is not."
"Is too."
"Is not," Saga chimed in, causing both of them too look at her.
She smiled innocently,
"The books say each of them are equally powered… Besides, Mortem could kick both of your masters' butts!"
"Could not," Nocturn and Clockwork protested.
"Could so," Saga stuck out her tongue, "But that's not the point. The point is…"
Saga turned to Clockwork and grinned,
"Have you visited the Observants yet? Cause they're even more funnier looking than you."
Clockwork still felt a bit insulted that she thought he was funny looking because of the clock in his chest, but he slowly nodded, confirming that he hasn't. Nocturn watched him curiously,
"Say, how did you get that scar?"
Nocturn lingered closer and pointed to the scar on his eye,
"Scars are from battles… So did you win or lose?"
"Nocturn," Saga scolded, "That's rude!"
"Like I care."`
Nocturn huffed and rolled his eyes. Clockwork glared slightly. Though he figured if he saw someone with a scar, he would say the same thing only for Ratio to scold him. Saga continued to scold Nocturn before Clockwork intervened,
"I don't remember."
"How could you not remember," Nocturn asked skeptically, "I bet you just lost the battle and don't want to say so."
Clockwork's anger flared and he took a few deep calming breaths. Ratio had told him that anger was a bad emotion- if you get angry, you get sloppy. That could be dangerous. Clockwork finally just smirked,
"I suppose you would know a few things about losing battles."
"Are you suggesting I can't fight," Nocturn growled.
"Take what you will from what I said," Clockwork said with a shrug calmly.
Nocturn looked ready to charge- since he still couldn't make his own dream dust (and he used up the dust his master gave him for the day), he would have to settle it himself. Saga quickly stepped in between Nocturn and Clockwork to keep a fight from breaking out. However, she was surprised when Nocturn just stopped and laughed. He has guts! Nox always said people like that make thing interesting! Both Clockwork and Saga looked at him confused.
"You're alright," Nocturn finally said, "For the stiff's apprentice."
Saga let out a sigh of relief and pulled Nocturn away with her as she started to leave,
"It was nice meeting you! See you again soon! Hopefully!"
Clockwork smiled slightly and he briefly wondered if he just made new friends.
Clockwork was almost to the lair. He could see it off in the distance and he couldn't help but smile in relief. He may have gotten lost, but today was a good day. He made new friends after all.
"You look pretty happy kid… Enjoy it now cause happiness never lasts long when nightmares lurk nearby…"
Clockwork tensed slightly and the voice nearly sent a shiver down his spine. He turned around slowly to face a ghost that reminded him most of Nocturn, but he had the same eyes of Saga. He wondered briefly if Saga was related to the ghost before him or if it was just a coincidence. He looks like Nocturn so he must be Nox- the Dream Master… Interesting… Clockwork backed a bit from the Dream Master, intimated by his appearance. The Dream Master gave a malicious grin and looked Clockwork over slowly.
"Tick-tock, tick-tock," Nox mocked the ticking of Clockwork's clock inside his chest, "Interesting little trinket… Understandable that the oh so wonderful Ratio would take an interest in you, small one…"
Clockwork continued to back away slowly. Nox loomed over him, towering well above his head, a large Chesire grin revealed small fangs. Clockwork felt uneasy with the Dream Master so close.
"Oh how easy it would be to end you," Nox warned, "But I have better things to do with my time without having to deal with a scolding from the Observants and Ratio if I do hurt you… So go… Before I change my mind…"
