Bonds Of Destiny

by Venquine1990

Vampires often have only one chosen soul mate, their One. And after the Battle For The Land Of Time, Merlock is ready be with his one, Sarah, for the rest of eternity. He reunites with some of his old Vampire friends and family and unites them with his new Time Friends. Many hardships of his past will come to light, but will they test his bond? Romance and humor ensues.

1. Inviting Friends And Enemies

Hey everyone,
So, this story is in honor of a series that is BEYOND underrated. Flint the Time Detective, while repetitive in certain points, is bloody brilliant, hilarious and has great moments of hidden – and not so hidden – romance, humor and tension. It was one of my favorite series growing up and I'm feeling nostalgic, so I decided to finally write a fanfic with my favorite couple for this series in mind. Trust me, this is going to be great.
Also, quick notice for those of you who are actually FtTD fans, I might interpret certain scenes differently from you and a few characters might seem slightly out of character. I am also going to create my own little bit of head canon in regards to this story and it will be entirely based on the fact that Merlock is a vampire. His backstory, his kind and its culture and ways of living and being will play a large role in this story.
Okay, enjoy,

Venquine1990
PS. Just for the sake of this story I binge-watched the series and made an Excel document on all episodes and Merlock's involvement in them. Yeah, I'm a geek.
PPS. A lot of writers debate between "Sarah" and "Sara", but I prefer the former. If you prefer the latter, I apologize, but I'm sticking to my guns.

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Bonds Of Eternity
Chapter 01
Inviting Friends and Enemies

1st of May 2418
Tama City, Japan
Merlock's POV

It's been about two months since Flint managed to knock the mask off the Dark Lord's face and befriend him. Two months since we put a stop to his plans to end the Great Clock in the Land of Time and start the Great Clock in the Land of the Dread. Two months since I have last seen my beloved Sarah. Yet I haven't really been sitting still or doing mindless chores the last two months. Ever since a week after our return, I have been extremely busy.
First, I was called before the council about a week after my return. The results of this meeting rubbed me the wrong way and I knew my time was running out. There was only so much more I could do before those "well-meaning" wolves would find a way to push their wills upon me and my friends. I spent the next three weeks doing extensive research and a lot of observations. I even got permission to use my Time Scooter for my studying.

Each time I left to do what I felt I needed, I missed my Sarah even more terribly than when I was back home. But my research, both out in the field and at home, bore me some great results and helped me slowly form a plan to solve the problems I dreaded might soon be on my doorstep. And not just mine. One of my hardest tasks in the last two months was sitting my friend down and talking with her. Bindi is stubborn, but she has a good heart.
We almost spoke more in that one conversation than we ever did in the year we have known each other. I told her many things about me and my kind as well as our ways. And as I explained these things, I could see two things happen. I could slowly almost feel my friend's heart breaking and shattering, but I also saw her understanding slowly growing in her eyes. It took her a few days afterwards, but she eventually accepted my words.

By now almost everything is in place and I only need to take care of two more things. And while some may say that you should save the best for last, I have simply saved the easiest tasks for last. And one of these two tasks has me calmly sitting behind my computer, the large blue screen in front of me showing a ringing phone symbol. I won't deny that there isn't a small part of me that is nervous, but I have long since learned to replace this emotion with confidence.
The phone symbol rings another two times and then the screen shows the office room of another house. There is a young child-like boy standing sideways on the chair and looking at something on the right side of the screen, just out of sight. The boy has messy black hair that is held up in a single thick ponytail above his head, pointy ears that stick out of the sides of his head, friendly and innocent black pupils for eyes and wears a red fur-skin outfit.

"Well good morning, Flint." I happily greet the young man. A part of me hates myself for this and yet at the same time I curse myself silently for this hatred within me as I know how irrational it is and where it comes from. It also doesn't help that every time I see this young man and feel this hatred, I am reminded of my worst failure as a Time Detective. But of course, the boy himself is like a balm to the hatred that tries to burn my soul as he is just too innocent.
"Hey! Hi Merlock! Long time no see! How you doin'?" The boy happily asks me and his voice is so full of happy kindness it's like he considers it the best thing in the world that he gets the chance to speak with me. I feel my smile growing slightly at this and answer him: "I am doing well, Flint. I was wondering if you could fetch the others for me. I have a proposition for you all." The boy tilts his head, but then he confirms my request.
He turns around and while he's still on the high-backed office chair, he shouts: "HEY GUYS! MERLOCK'S ON THE BIG SCREEN AND HE WANTS TO TALK TO US!" His voice might be a bit shrill, but it's not very loud. Yet I am still quite sure that even those who live on the upper floor of the house Flint is in have heard him. A man with a lab-coat, brown shirt, black tie and unruly short black hair comes around the corner. Then from the staircase that is seen in the back of the room, two voices are heard.

"What's the big idea? Why would you ask such a question of me? You look fine. You always do." A young teenage boy with brown hair and blue eyes, who wears an orange top, dark green shorts and brown boots asks the girl that walks down the staircase behind him. The girl herself has soft pink hair and blue eyes and wears long-sleeved yellow shirt and blue trousers with black suspenders over her shirt. She also wears brown shoes.
And while the boy might think that his sister looks the same way she always does, I easily see that he's wrong. Sarah seems to have recently brushed her hair as her bangs aren't hanging down her forehead as much. She has also tucked her shirt into her trousers and has tightened her suspenders a bit. Thanks to this, the growing curves of the young woman are slightly more visible and they are a sight to behold.
"Oh Tony, never mind. You just don't get it. You're such a kid." Sarah argues with her twin brother. Tony wants to retort, but I interrupt the two. "Tony, greetings. Sarah, you look radiant as always." And I make sure to send her a radiant smile as my desire to see her happy is usually my main priority when around the beautiful maiden. I know this sometimes might seem as if it comes at the cost of the mission we are on, but this has never been the case.

Sarah sends me a dazzling smile that makes her face light up, her cheekbones stand out and her whole face shine with her happiness as she says: "Thank you, Merlock. That's incredibly sweet of you." She turns to her brother and the whole look disappears off her face as she angrily states: "See, Merlock gets it." But her brother just lowers and shakes his head while raising his arms and he tells the room to just forget it and that he doesn't get it anymore.
I feel for the younger man as I can only imagine what he will be going through in the upcoming months to years. The two siblings might be born with a time difference of less than five minutes, but it's quite obvious that Sarah is already growing into the mentality of a young woman, while her brother is still stuck in his pre-teen mind. I try not to consider this a good sign and just focus on Flint, who asks me about my proposition.

A part of me dreads what I am about to do – and what I am already doing – but my research has proven fruitful and my observations have made me assured that this is the best course of action. "And besides, you've already taken the necessary steps that make chickening out now impossible. You need to see this through. It's now or never and you know it." I think to myself. Luckily this thought doesn't take long enough that I keep the others waiting.
"Indeed Flint. It's been two months since we went up against the Dark Lord and his plans for the two Great Clocks. I feel that we all deserve a reward, not just for our victory, but for all the hard work we all put in during the last year. It certainly hasn't been easy to collect all of our Time Shifter friends and we have come face to face with many hardships.
However, while it hurts my pride a great deal, I cannot deny that, if not for Petra Fina coming back with food, we would still be stuck in that corridor with all those vines. Worse, we could have even been the first to be subjected to whatever would have befallen Earth if the Dark Lord had managed to permanently stop the Great Clock in the Land of Time. Because of this, I want to offer her a temporary truce and invite her along on the picnic I have planned.

What do you say?" The family of three, Flint and Rocky, the fossilized Stone Axe who is also Flint's father, all turn to each other with questioning looks on their faces. "Merlock, are you sure you can get Petra Fina to come quietly and enjoy a picnic with us? Without her trying to stamp one of us or hurt either you or Flint?" Sarah asks worriedly and my slowly beating heart speeds up a bit at the care that comes through her tone.
I smile at her with love and reassurance as I say: "There is no need for you to worry, Sarah my darling. I have much more planned than just this one simple picnic. I am aware that, in all the time we have worked and fought together, I have never shared much of my backstory or what it means for me to be who and what I am. I have little doubt that, with the right words, I can even make Petra Fina interested in my tale, if not in meeting some of my older friends."
Tony tilts his head and repeats my last two words before he asks if I mean friend from before I met them. I nod at him and say: "Indeed. I feel it is about high time that my old friends from before I joined the Time Police meet my new friends. Plus, I know a delightful spot where we can hold our picnic without anyone being able to spot us or interrupt us." I quickly start pressing the right buttons on my computer once again.

I know that their screen now shows my face in a small side box, probably in the top left corner, and I send them a file that shows a map. The map has a T-split road that runs along the center and bottom of the map and the top half is covered in forest and trees. There is a mark in the center top of the T-split that I placed there myself and a small clearing is shown near the top of the map. "I know that clearing. Many people see it from above, but no one's ever been there."
Sarah exclaims and I reply: "This is nearly correct, Sarah. I managed to find it shortly after I joined the Time Bureau and started to keep the peace across time. I like to go there when I need some quiet time to think and feel as if the walls of my home are closing in on me. Trust me, the stories that people who have flown over it share about the clearing are a sincere understatement of its beauty." The three kids let out sounds of awe and Flint asks:

"And you're willing to share such a beautiful place with us and Petra Fina and your other friends?" I happily nod to confirm this and grin again at them to show them how happy I am with them as my friends. "Indeed, I believe it will be the perfect location for our picnic, for me to tell you all that there is to know about me and for you to meet my friends from the past. I will even provide most of the food and only require you to provide blankets, is all."
Instantly I know I have Flint on board as the boy, even after a year of living in the 25th century, is still so focused on food and eating new things, it's almost like an obsession to him or something. Yet the others laugh softly at his excited exclamations and silly dance at the notion of food and Sarah tells me: "That's very kind of you, Merlock. But just to accommodate Flint's appetite, we'll make sure to prepare a bit of food ourselves as well. When did you want to meet up?"
I send her a full-on smile with my vampire fang blinking thanks to the little magic that I have within me and tell her: "I was hoping we could meet at the appointed marked location the day after tomorrow at around 1 o'clock." The twins share a look and Sarah asks Tony if he has any plans that day. Tony mentions his homework and Sarah quickly assures him that she'll help him with that. Tony happily thanks his sister and I think:

"Oh Sarah. So kind, so ever generous." And while some characters would shake their heads to keep themselves focused, I have trained myself enough over the years that I don't need this. Then Dr. Goodman finally speaks up and says: "Well then it's settled. Merlock, I wish you good luck in convincing Petra and we'll see you on Saturday at 1 o'clock." I happily nod at him and press the right button to end the call.
As the screen turns black a soft pink tentacle lands on my shoulder and a bright pink snail with a white mask-like face floats beside me. "Merlock, are you sure you shouldn't have told them? Warned them about the potential danger?" The little snail asks, her soft voice having a bit of a musical tone to it and also sounding quite worried. I grab and squeeze the tentacle on my shoulder and reassure her before I remind her that such things aren't discussed over the phone.

The next day
2nd of May 2418
Tama City, Japan

It really is remarkable that I was able to find Petra Fina's home address only three weeks after our great fight at the Land of Time. I have kept this information to myself up to this point, but I know that, if Petra does anything to ruin my plans, I will not hesitate to call on the full force of the Time Police and ransack her house. Still, that's not why I'm here right now or why I'm standing in front of her front door with a white handkerchief in my hand.
The door opens and a woman who is somewhere in her thirties, perhaps forties stands there. I know her to wear a red and grey dress that hardly covers most of her upper legs, red leather boots that go up to above her knees and red leather gloves that reach up half her upper arms. I have also almost always seen her with her long green hair in a high ponytail and a curl at the end. Therefore, I am a little perplexed at how she looks as she opens the door.
The woman's hair is down and covers most of her back and even a bit of her arms. She's also wearing a simple red shirt and trousers. If I didn't know for sure that this was the Interdimensional and famous Time Thief, I know I would have had trouble recognizing her with how normal she looks. Yet I don't let this show on my face as she asks: "Oh look, it's blood boy. Here to surrender, I presume? Interested in joining the other side, perhaps?"

I let a soft scoff escape my lips at the very thought and reply: "More like here to offer a truce. We have both worked hard and fought valiantly to preserve the Land of Time and we deserve a reward. I understand that we are on opposite sides of the law and I have no doubt that there will come a time where Miss Grey will call on either Flint or myself to take you in. But that time has yet to come, so I don't see why we can't celebrate our victory together one last time."
The woman has her arms crossed and a raised eyebrow, but she's not laughing me in the face. I take this as a good sign and continue my spiel. "Miss Petra Fina, you know what I am. Yet in all the time that we have worked together and against each other, I have never spoken about myself or about what makes me who I am. I believe now is an opportune time for this. And I know what you're going to ask. Why should I care?"
The left side of the woman's mouth tilts up in an amused kind of smile and I continue: "I know you, Petra, and I know that you are a hopeless romantic. The ending of my story will sound, some might say, as if it comes straight out of a Disney movie. And while I am well-aware that you are most against match-making from that time we found Raldo with your younger self, I might even be able to find you a partner, an eternal one at that."

I know that my affliction would normally make my heart beat much slower than that of normal people, but because Petra Fina is such a vital part to my plans, my heart is now racing in my throat as we gaze at each other. Petra seems to study me and I calmly stare back, my face not giving away anymore secrets, but also not giving off a guarded expression. The raised eyebrow remains for a few minutes and then she asks: "When do we do this?"
If I had had a need to breath, I would have let out a sigh of relief. Instead I hand her a printed version of the map I showed the Goodmans the other day and say: "Tomorrow at 1 o'clock. Flint and the others will also be there, but they are aware that you are coming and that I consider you my guest. They will not attack or arrest you, you have my word." Petra nods as she takes the paper. She asks if her boys, Dino and Mite, can come and I answer affirmative.

She looks straight up at me and says: "Understand one thing. I will come in costume as I have no intention of being seen with you guys. I have a reputation to uphold, after all. And you better give more information in regards to this partner you're thinking of." I nod in consent to this and point to the marker and the clearing as I tell her that we will meet at the mark, but that I will take her to the clearing for the picnic, out of sight of others.
Instantly, because the woman knows how elusive and famous the clearing is just like Sarah, I have the woman's interest and she again confirms that they'll come. I give her a grateful smile and give her a quick reminder to bring a bit of extra food as Flint will also be there. I request that she also brings a blanket for herself and then greet her before I leave her apartment building. And as I head back home, I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

I arrive home and slump down on the couch as the tension over whether or not this will work and the tension of what might transpire come tomorrow drains me, even with my inhuman levels of stamina. Bindi the Time Shifter floats over and asks if I'm alright and what happened. I smile at her and say: "I'm fine, Bindi. It's just my concerns over how all of this could go either incredibly right or horribly wrong. And asking your enemy to come to a picnic is – well, no picnic."
And while some might hate me for a pun like that, Bindi just giggles behind her tentacles. I grin at her and then rest my head back on the backrest of my couch. I tell her to just let me rest and ask her if she could fetch me a glass of water. The Time Shifter happily complies. And while I would normally not require another so soon after my last, I pull my sack of blood from the pocket on my back and drip a few drops in the glass before I down the liquid.
There is not enough blood in the glass for the water to taste all that different, but the tinge of the fluid still leaves a bit of an aftertaste. Still I'm not just drinking an extra bit of blood due to my nerves, but also as a precaution. If things go south tomorrow, I want to be ready. I want to be prepared. And I want to be as strong as possible. And while I would rather draw my strength from another source, for now the blood of a killed fox is my solution.

That night
Merlock's home

The whole day ticked by quite slowly and yet at the same time the clock seemed to be going 100 miles a second or something. Whenever I would look at the clock it would feel as if a single minute took a good ten to pass. But then I would turn my focus elsewhere for a while. And when I looked back, more time had passed than I had anticipated. Often a few hours had passed when I thought it would only be one or two.
Thankfully the time for dinner has passed and I am back in bed. I know I don't really need to sleep, but I've gone to bed early just in case. My body needs to get as much rest as possible. Still, while I normally only sleep one night a week, I actually feel my eyelids getting heavier as the night goes on. And in my sleep a smile adorns my face. Just like most other times when I sleep, I dream of only one thing. Or better said, one person; my soul mate.

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Sweet dreams, Merlock.
So, everyone, next chapter is going to be LOOOOOOOOOOOOONG! I'm going to cover Merlock's backstory – or better said, my Head Canon – and create a whole lot of lore. I'm also going to create a few OC characters who are going to play minor to mayor roles in the story. But don't worry, the mayor roles won't overtake our main characters and the minor roles will still be like Important Background characters that will even be featured in several chapters.
Good? Good,

Venquine1990