Chapter 10: Father Time
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Jack had indeed gone to pick something up that would help them greatly on this journey. Standing beside him on the edge of the cliff was none other than Father Time. The man hadn't changed much in the past five hundred years since Nat last saw him. He still wore the same ancient robe with a snow white bear that stretched down to his waistline. His most prominent accessories were the massive hourglass draped around his neck, and his staff, which was decorated in dozens upon dozens of clocks, each set to a different time and would make sense to no one but him.
Exchanging a quick glance with Tooth, Nat flew off towards where her old friend stood standing. Before Father Time could even blink, Nat threw her arms around him in a massive hug. After a minute, she pulled back and gratefully confided in him, "You saved us! I cannot thank you enough for what you just did." Turning to Jack, she hugs him as well before adding, "And I can't believe you were brilliant enough to find him and bring him here. That was an excellent idea."
Smiling at Nat, Father Time replies, "It was my pleasure. I still owed you that favor for returning my clocks to me all those years ago."
"What you did today definitely makes up for it," Nat assures him, finally pulling herself out of Jack's embrace.
"But stopping you from being attacked was not why Jack brought me here today," Father Time begins, looking between the two of them.
Her forehead creasing in confusion, Nat turns to Jack as she asks, "It's not?"
Shrugging, Father Time admits, "No, it's not. But I believe Jack should be the one to explain it to you. It was his plan after all, and it is a phenomenal one."
Giving Jack her full attention, Nat says, "Hit me with this plan of yours, then."
"Yeah, I think we would all love to hear exactly why you left us in the middle of a battle," Bunny gruffly remarks as he crosses his arms in annoyance.
"Trust me, this makes up for me not being here earlier," Jack promises Bunny before turning back to Nat. "I brought Father Time here because I thought he could help prevent you from fading away. I know the only way we can stop it is for you to restore all four symbols, but he can definitely delay you from fading away completely." As he eyed the hole in Nat's stomach, he notices that it has grown since he left not even an hour ago. Clearing his throat, he continues, "Father Time, would you show her?"
"Absolutely," Father Time instantly complies, pulling a small necklace out from his robe.
"What is that and how is it supposed to help, exactly?" Tooth curiously asks, flitting around them to get a better view of the necklace. It was a small, golden hourglass that was secured with a thin piece of rope.
Holding up the necklace for all to see, Father Time explains, "This, Tooth, is a necklace that when worn, inhibits the wearer from temporarily feeling the effects of time." As he finishes, he gently secures the necklace around Nat's neck. Making sure it wasn't going to fall off, he slowly removes his hand from the clasp.
Gently grasping the necklace between her thumb and index finger, Nat looks from the necklace to Father Time before asking, "But how does this help me? My problem isn't me specifically feeling the effects of time."
"Actually it is," Father Time begins. "With each passing second, the remaining seasons continue to fade away into nonexistence, leaving nothing but black goo and ash everywhere it goes. And because you are so intertwined with the seasons you yourself, as I'm sure you noticed, have already begun to fade. Therefore, the purpose of this necklace is to delay the fading at least until all four symbols have been purified."
Blinking, Nat looks back down at the necklace again. The sand slowly ticked out grain by grain as she collected her thoughts. Finally looking back up at Father Time, she gushes, "This is. . . simply amazing. I honestly don't know what to say besides thank you." Turning to Jack, she adds, "And the same goes for you. If you hadn't thought of asking him to come with you this wouldn't have ever happened. Thank you both." On that final note, she concludes by turning to both individuals in turn and offering them her sincere gratitude.
Placing a hand on her shoulder, Tooth suggests, "Maybe you should go purify the drop of fire now? I know the fading is delayed, but we're not sure for how long so we still need to keep on schedule."
Nodding, Nat agrees. "You're right. I'll be right back. You six just stay here." Without waiting for any of them to comment on her plan, Nat rocketed back off of the edge of the mountain towards the pedestal. She gently scoops up the black blob that was once a proud, vibrant drop of fire. Closing her eyes yet again and hoping that she would succeed in this attempt, Nat pours her energy into the summer symbol just as she had with the one from spring. As golden light spills from her and into the black blob, the surrounding land begins to glow as well, the blackness slowly starting to creep backward and towards her and the fire.
The blackness was soon expelled and the flame suddenly erupts into its normally vibrant self. Carefully, Nat lowered the drop of fire back into its pedestal where it hovered in place and danced in the gentle breeze.
Having at last expelled the corruption and at last purified the symbol, Nat made her way back towards her fellow Guardians and Father Time. Now they were halfway done purifying the symbols; halfway done with defeating Grim. And now that the possibility of her fading away was practically nonexistent thanks to Father Time's necklace, Nat was eager more than ever for their arrival in Portugal. Autumn wasn't going to restore itself, after all.