He's Clockwork. He's Father Time (I think). He knows what he's doing.
(Clockwork's Lair – Time: It's that guy's place. I'm not sure it works the same way there.)
"We shall take our leave now."
The two Observants glanced towards Cujo for what has to be at least the twentieth time since they arrived at the clock tower.
The canine returned the wary looks with a blank stare, probably fascinated at the sight of the giant eyeballs that they practically are.
Even for the ghost of time, their appearances always felt unnecessarily long. And only when the pair finally took their leave did Clockwork sigh.
Cujo sat uncharacteristically still, watching in captivation as his current pet sitter of the week switched to his oldest form from his adult one.
Clockwork chuckled at the exchange that transpired no longer than an hour ago.
(Hooray for flashbacks!)
Phantom confidentially strolled through the halls of the citadel. The familiar methodic tick-tocking resonated throughout the tower. It was loud but not at an uncomfortable level for Danny. The steady beating becoming a recent form of comfort to the halfa.
Behind him was Cujo, following behind at an equal pace to his guide. Until they finally caught sight of his host. The dog paused at the sight of the purple cloaked figure, who had his back towards them, while Danny continued forward.
The ghost boy stood firmly in place on the floor a few paces from his fatherly figure. He didn't so much as announce his presence as he waved for Cujo to come closer.
Cujo complied as he scurried to his friend's side, still watching Clockwork. Taking the same distance from the rather high powered ghost as Danny.
There was no movement made. Only the winding of gears being an indicator that time was even still running. Cujo remained perfectly still and stiff, like he was back to his guard dog days alive. Danny simply waited patiently with a cheeky smile, swaying every so often in the air before returning to the ground.
The silence ended with Clockwork finally speaking. "Hello, Daniel."
Danny's smile widened. "Hi Clockwork!"
Cujo listened attentively as the two exchanged greetings.
"Now, should I ask to what do I owe the pleasure?" The purple cloaked figure finally turned around from his screen, revealing his currently adult form.
"Oh come on, Clockwork. We both know that you know what I'm going to say anyways, so what's the point of saying anything?"
"That doesn't mean they can't be spoken." As he spoke he shifted to a child.
Danny knew better than to debate with the all-seeing, all-knowing ghost Master of Time. "Well either way, you know why I came here." Danny took a step back and opened his arms to present his companion. "So here."
Cujo was still staring at Clockwork. He wasn't even blinking.
Clockwork smiled with amusement as he changed to his oldest form and looked down on the pup. "You don't have to just stand there. Relax. Sit."
With those simple words, Cujo seated himself on the spot without a sound.
Danny gaped for a short moment before quickly commenting aloud. "That worked out better than I thought." He smiled as he continued. "I'm taking this as a 'yes, I'll take care of him for you this weekend.' Thanks Clockwork; you're the best. Bye!" The boy flew off, leaving behind Clockwork and Cujo with his toy.
(And end flashback.)
Who would have thought that Cujo would immediately sense Clockwork's high level of authority and power, and figure out Danny's strong sense of trust and affection for him? Obviously Clockwork; and apparently Danny had his suspicions as well.
Cujo hadn't moved a muscle since he sat down beside the time ghost until the two Observants arrived. And that was only a simple turn of his head.
With the cyclopes gone, the two remaining in the building turned back to each other.
Clockwork smiled in his adult form. "Now then…" He floated over to the rack and picked up one of the time medallions, then the squeaky toy and held it up for Cujo to see. As he placed the medallion snuggly around the dog's neck by tucking it under the collar, Cujo wagged his tail at the sight of his toy.
The age-shifting ghost turned towards a screen towards his left and threw. "Fetch!"
Cujo yipped and dove for the toy.
After vanishing, Clockwork stated, "go wild…"
(Pisa, Italy – Year: 1178)
In a quick flash of light, the small green canine appeared beside what appeared to be a tower in process.
Sniffing the unfamiliar air, Cujo caught the familiar sound of a squeak. Above him.
Cujo turned up. It was only one floor apparently. So he grew, and then leaped.
The whole building shook as he landed on the edge of the circular roof – or was it a floor? It didn't appear the place was close to completion, given the multiple pillars and half-built walls on one side of the circle. Regardless, the force of Cujo's landing sunk his end of the tower into the soft earth below by a miniscule height.
The sight of the toy just a little ways to his right and on the edge of the structure had Cujo leaping once again. Shaking once again occurred and the pink toy slid off down into a rather convenient portal of swirling ethereal blue.
Cujo didn't hesitate to dive for it.
The white stone building sunk further down another centimeter.
(Back at Clockwork's…)
The pattern of search, chase, and destroy occurred throughout multiple timelines as Clockwork watched in amusement.
"Let's see…He's already tilted the tower, and crushed a part of that pyramid." Clockwork began listing off the dog's actions with his fingers, pondering and making sure he hadn't missed any timelines. "He's caused a couple supposed earthquakes. And he sunk that ship without even touching it like he was supposed to. So only one thing left…"
(~65 billion years ago)
*Squeak*
A herd of a couple dozen bipedal lizards paused at the unusual sound. Curious, the group headed towards the source. Behind some trees, in a clearing, laid a pink and somewhat round entity. Whatever it was, they weren't sure.
The largest, most likely the leader of the pack, walked up and nudged it with his round snout.
*Squeak*
Taken aback by the sound again, the lizards backed up guardedly. And when no more sounds or movement occurred from the creature, the leader tried again. And again. And again…
Nothing happened.
Until something familiar actually occurred. The nearby foliage rustled. And the earth shook.
*ROAR*
Snapping out of their fascination with the small object, the leader seized it and the pack bolted.
Out through the bundle of leaves, was Cujo. And he had just witnessed the pack of unfamiliar creatures running off with the toy. And they were fast.
Cujo gave chase, barking for the group's attention. Wrong move.
The lizards thought they were being chased by some predator, given that they didn't recognize the sound and the fact that it was following their direction. Oh, and also the many trees being knocked over and shaking the earth in its wake. So they didn't realize that as they made their way through the maze of trees and rocks, they were heading towards what they were initially fleeing from. The vibrations from Cujo's chase resonating with that of their predator wasn't helping either.
By the time the ghostly canine caught up to the trail of his toy's scent, he watched as one of the many lizards was consumed in the maw of a tyrannosaurus. With the toy. His toy.
Cujo had been pretty lax the many hours as he chased after his squeaky bear through new terrain. He was even hopping from iceberg to giant iceberg at one point! But when an overgrown reptile just swallows the thing whole like it was some garnish to the main dish, while stuck in an unfamiliar environment with equally unfamiliar organisms all getting in his way – that thing was going down.
"Grrr…"
The dinosaur didn't take notice of the pup until Cujo started growing. He just watched in fascination as the minuscule creature grew to half his height. Still not impressed though.
Cujo pounced.
*ROAR!*
The massive reptile was knocked down onto the ground in one go.
One problem though. The toy was already knocked out of the lizard's mouth when Cujo attacked. Too bad they were too busy fighting to notice anything.
While the two opposing creatures tried to tear each other's throats out, another very large reptilian creature dove through the air and seized the toy, thinking it was prey. It flew off without a moment of hesitation. The pterodactyl's long beak opened and closed continuously, trying to snap the thick rubber neck of the supposed prey.
By the time Cujo processed the fact that his enemy was done for, he realized his squeaky bear was long gone. The scent wasn't though. Cujo growled ominously in exasperation. This place was truly a warzone of the beasts.
The not-as-massive-comparatively-speaking hound went searching. And made a ton of noise and destruction in the process. Self-restraint was thrown out the portal the second that toy was ever taken out of sight.
Barks, roars, quaking, screeching…It was pandemonium. Cujo was not holding back. Though everything else had that home field advantage, Cujo was a ghost mind you.
By the time he managed to save his toy from being dropped into a lava pit, there was already piles of reptile bodies, clouds of ashes, and a trail of destruction going across Pangea twice.
(Clockwork's Lair)
"Aiding the extinction of some dinosaurs…Check." Clockwork pondered again in his solitude. "I believe that marks the end of my session with you, Cujo."
The ghost summoned another blue portal behind him for Cujo to access through.
Within seconds, Cujo appeared. His fur matted with dirt and ashes from prehistoric times. But he seemed pleased with himself none the less, probably because his toy was safe and sound in his mouth.
Cujo promptly dropped the toy on the floor with care and stood firmly like the guard dog he was meant to be.
As Cujo remained still, Clockwork swiftly removed the time medallion from under the collar.
Even after the now-an-adult ghost placed the medallion back on the rack, Cujo was still motionless. But now his tail was wagging for only the second time he has been in the time ghost's presence.
Clockwork shook his head at the dog's behavior towards him, somewhat amused. "Relax, Cujo. Get some rest." And with that Clockwork went back to watching over the timelines.
(Observants' Court – Present I would say)
"Observant High Council, what say you!"
"Guilty!"
In the center of the floor was Vortex, hovering once again in a cylindrical glass casing. Energy from the Spectral Barometer blasted him with every attempt at accessing his powers. It took a while for the new one to be created before the Observants could have Vortex back in confinement.
"Guilty!" The verdict was unanimous.
(Meanwhile, back at Clockwork's Lair)
Clockwork watched the assembly through his many screens with his arms crossed, head shaking softly back and forth in annoyance. And Cujo was lying behind him, gnawing at the incredibly large leg bone of an extinct lizard.
"They're wasting their time holding another ruling for Vortex. He's just going to escape again before they can actually do anything meaningful. Besides," Clockwork turned his head back to Cujo, who is currently scratching his ear with his hind leg. The ghost gave a grin rather fitting for his now youthful form. "I need him to clean up any traces of Cujo from the prehistoric times, and catalyze some melting of the ice age."
Sensing the look directed towards him, Cujo paused and looked up towards his caretaker. His face indicating his curiosity. That didn't last long as the time ghost suddenly had his toy in his previously unoccupied hand, and flung said toy through the monitor. Being the playful pup that he currently is, Cujo pursued with renewed energy, and dove in as usual.
Left on his own, Clockwork pulled up the pocket watch on his waist. "He should be escaping in about…"
…
*Squeak*
"Arf!"
*CRACK!*
"What in the–?!"
*Bark!*
"Aaaaaaahhhh!"
*CRASH!*
"Free! Finally, free again!"
"…now."
"CLOCKWORK!"
The Master of Time smirked. Satisfied. "Everything is the way it's supposed to be."
What? A know-it-all's got to find entertainment where he can get it. It's not just the Far Frozen that gets bored. He knows what he's doing.
Also, I'll try to remember to get chapter 8 up around winter time. If I get the chance to of course. See you all in like 6 months! It was a pretty fun summer.
