Hi guys, I wrote this fanfiction due to my imagination running wild with me with all the possibilities, as per the great words of our fallen friend Merlin," A wizard does not make mistakes, he makes unexpected possibilities." Hope you enjoy it!
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Chapter 1
As Jim woke up with his Motor Petal magazine still on his face, he started to remember all his memories from the previous timeline. He shot out of bed and ran to his mother's room to check if was still asleep and surely, she was. He then ran downstairs to the garage to find that the trash was spilled just as before, he got a warm feeling in his heart as he knew he was back at the beginning of it all, but as he stood at the garage door he waited for his best friend but nothing but an empty driveway.
"Tobes was here when the raccoons knocked the trash over. Where is he?" he looked at his phone to see the time, "come on Tobes."
He slowly walked to the trash and picked it up, "Morning, Jimbo." A Familiar voice called out to Jim.
Jim stop immediately and turned around, "Tobes!" he ran and hugged toby till they fell to the ground.
"You seem happy to see me. Are you doing ok, Jim?" Toby asked with concern for his friend's newfound happiness to see him.
"Ahh, sure feels good to be back."
"Uhhh, ok. So, does that mean you didn't make meatloaf for lunch today?"
"Come on, Tobes, you know you have been on a diet for 14 years"
"Yeah, your right. It's probably for the best that you didn't make me breakfast"
"Let's get going, I don't want to be late."
"Wanna take the canal today, Jim?"
"NO!" Jim Stopped Toby's suggestion, "let's stick to the roads for the morning."
"Wow, this is a first" Toby joyfully teased Jim as they rode off to school and talked their usual conversations.
As they arrived at school, Jim started to recall all his previous memories from the old timeline. The time they had detention and the group of detainees messed around the schoolyards while senior Ule was "occupied". And the time he knocked Steve's tooth out at the locker, which was supposed to happen a few days from now.
The final bell rang and the students started to move to their first class, and for them, it was Mr. Strickler's class.
Jim spent most of his time staring at Claire during class and when Strickler noticed and asked Jim a trick question, Jim surprised him by answering the correct answer by not even changing his gaze off of Claire. The bell rang and Jim went to Strickler and asked if they could talk after gym class.
"Come on Tobes, you got this!"
"Almost there, almost got it…" Toby struggled on the rope as Jim encouraged his best friend and just then Jim saw her sitting on the benches of the gym talking to her friends, it was Claire. It was his chance to put things into motion with her.
He approached the girls "So, uh. The school play? I heard they're looking for people?"
Claire took a page from her books and gave it to Jim, "Have at it Romeo."
"Jimbo!" Toby called out just as Claire and her friends left the gym.
"Hey, nice work, Domzalski" the couch complimented Toby for completing the rope climb.
Jim felt a warm feeling in him again, one filled with happiness for his friend. He felt happy again for this truly was a new start for all of them. He then had a great idea; what if the amulet chose Toby? It could prevent his death and change the future completely for the better?
After gym class, Jim went to go see Strickler and put his second plan in action to a better future.
He told Strickler about him wanting to join the Romeo and Juliet play at school.
"Romeo and Juliet? You never seemed to show any interest in the theater before, Young Atlas?"
"Yeah, I don't know, something tells me this will be worth my while." Just then Claire came walking across the soccer field with her friends and the two of them share a gaze as they see each other. "Anyway, I wanted to come by and ask you if you'd come over for dinner?"
"Dinner?"
"I'd like to introduce you to my mom."
Walter smiled and gratefully accepted. "I'd be honored, Young Atlas"
"Great then you can come over after school, but I'll be a bit late. I have an audition to attend."
"Oh? So you'll be leaving me and your mom alone?"
"Yes. Is that a problem? You two can get to know each other."
"Ok, then, Young Atlas."
"Ok, I gotta go, see you later Mr. Strickler."
"See you later."
Jim went out and Strickler gave a genuine smile of happiness.
After a few more classes the school was finally done and Toby and Jim walked to the gate.
"My doctor says I'm almost done with my braces. Only four more years."
Just then they heard Steve laugh as he shoved Eli in a locked and shut it closed. Jim remembered the if he goes to stand up to Steve then, Steve will be on his case all the time, so the best option was to stay out of it, for now at least, because eventually, those two become great friends.
"Yeah, I'm gonna go home before Steve finds something big enough to shove me in. good luck with the audition." Toby started to fast pace towards the gate.
Jim remembered his idea from gym class and this was the time for him to put it into action. "Hey, Tobes?"
"Yeah, Jimbo?"
"Take the canal, maybe you'll stumble upon something… interesting."
Toby chuckled, "Yeah, right, Jim. Nothing interesting ever happens in Arcadia."
As toby left the school Jim when towards the theater for auditions, it was his turn next for the audition. As he walked up to the stage, he remembered an old friend's quote and the same quote he previously used the first time he auditioned.
"I'm James Lake Jr. and I'm here to try out for the part of Romeo."
"Go ahead, Mister Lake." Miss Janeth commented.
Eli stood up and gave Jim a cardboard sword he previously used in his audition.
Jim took it, and it felt familiar in his hand like a was wielding a sword again.
"Destiny?" he chuckled, "Destiny is a gift," Jim looked at his cardboard sword as though he was speaking to it, "some go their entire lives living in the existence of quiet desperation, never learning the truth, that what feels as though a burden pushing down upon our shoulders is the sense of purpose that lifts us to greater heights," he pointed his sword to Claire who was mesmerized by his speech as if it was meant for her, she stared at awe at his speech as he continued, "never forget that fear is but the precursor to valor, that to strive and triumph in the face of fear is what it means to be a hero, don't think… BECOME!"
The theater was in total silence as for what they just witnessed. Jim stood still with a shy smile on his face, "Did I do something wrong?" he asked.
Just then the whole crowd busted out in applause and whistles as Jim stood surprised by their reaction. He looked at Claire that was staring at him with a smile on her face. He bowed and went downstage. As the auditions continued, on the other side of the town Toby decided to take the canal and was met with a new destiny as the amulet called out to him.
"Tobias" a mysterious voice called out to toby as he saw a pile of rocks in the canal. He walked towards the rocks and dug through them, "Tobias Domzalski" Toby saw a blue light glow through the pile and heard his name come from it. He saw it was an amulet and shouted out of excitement, he couldn't wait to tell Jim about his finding and got on his bike and rushed to Jim's house. As he rode off towards Jim's house a mysterious gaze followed him from within the sewers. Two eyes quickly turned into six eyes, "So it chose a human?" the mysterious figure groaned to himself.
Back at school, the auditions were almost done and Jim stared at everybody in awe as he thought of how things will turn out this time. As he was lost in thought, Claire came and sat next to him.
"Great performance."
"Huh, oh, thanks."
"I'm Claire by the way."
"I'm Jim. We have class together."
She chuckled, "I know, I just wanted to introduce myself again seeing as how we'll be together on stage a lot."
"Oh, I see. But I'm not so sure I'll get the part."
"Oh, I'm pretty sure you nailed it out there."
"Oh? You think so?"
"Yeah, totally. Where did you get that quote from anyway? It's not in any of the scripts?"
"I got it from an old friend of mine and it helped me a lot through life where I got stuck."
"I see. It was a great speech. It felt like I knew it from before but I just can't get around it."
Jim got shocked by her answer and looked at her in surprise but she was looking down as she was thinking of the quote. "Maybe you heard another version of it before somewhere. I did hear it was popular in some old-school movie."
"Oh, yeah… What movie? If such a great quote came from a movie then it must have been a very great movie?"
"Yeah, it was." Jim lowed his head as he remembered his previous life which he based his lie on. "It was one filled with great happiness and just as even amount sorrow. The protagonist was a foolish boy who thought he could carry the weight on his shoulders alone, but it only caused others around him to sacrifice themselves to save his idiotic lifetime and time again, but this time he must save everyone from that fate and this time he truly must carry the world alone for his mistakes."
As Claire listen to his talk she grabbed his hand, "If the people in the movie saved him then he must have also been very important to them as they were important to him, so in a way, if he needs to carry the world again then those people will still help him carry the world because he is still important to them." Jim stared at Claire as he looked in awe.
He thought to himself. 'Does she somehow remember the previous timeline as well?'
"Ah, where did that just come from," she pulled her hand back and shook her head, "sorry for that, I don't know what just came over me."
"It's fine, I liked that part you said, 'She does remember.' He thought to himself.
She chuckled and started to stand up, "Well anyway thanks for auditioning today. You did great and helped us find a Romeo."
"You think I could be Romeo?"
"Well after that performance, you could be a star actor. So yes, I'm definitely sure you'll get it. Goodbye, Jim, see you tomorrow." She smiled and waved as she walked towards her friends.
Jim smiled and waved back as he greeted her off, "Yeah, goodbye, see you tomorrow." As he said that he smiled even greater with happiness filling his heart. It felt like he was falling in love all over again for the second time.
Meanwhile back at Jim's house, Barbara and Strickler were having a great conversation and Barbara was taking in the dishes when there was a knock on the door. "I could get it for you, Barbara?" Walter offered.
"Thank you, Strickler"
Strickler answered the door and toby was out of breath at the front porch, breathing heavily with his hands on his knees. As he looked up he was surprised at who he saw.
"Mr. Strickler?"
"Yes, Tobias? Jim isn't home at the moment. He's still at auditions for the school play."
"Ok, thank you, Mr. Strickler, but what are you doing here if Jimbo isn't here?"
"I'm having dinner with Miss Barbara. Is that a problem, Mr. Domzalski?"
"Who's at the door Walter?!" Barbara loudly asked out of the kitchen while she was battling a burning pie.
"It's Tobias! I presume he's looking for Jim!"
"Ok, he can join us for dessert."
"NO!" Both Strickler and Toby Shouted in surprise.
"It's ok Miss Lake, I'll just wait for Jimbo upstairs in his room."
"Ok, He will be back any minute now so you can just make yourself at home, Toby."
"Thanks, Miss Lake!"
Toby walked by Strickler and up the stairs while Strickler closed the door. Just as Strickler turned around he saw blue light emulating from Toby's backpack. He was shocked as he thought that toby could have the amulet. Just as he wanted to follow Toby, Barbara came out of the kitchen with a dessert that she overspread with whipped cream on it. He halted in his pursued and walked towards Barbara to assist her with the dessert.
Somehow, they talk so much and enjoyed it so much that Walter forgot about toby and the amulet. Just then Jim came through the door and saw his mom and Strickler enjoying coffee and talking.
"Hi, mom. Hello Mr. Strickler."
"Hello Young Atlas"
"Hello Jim, Mr. Strickler told me you had auditions today?"
"Yes, it went great. I think I can become Romeo."
"That's great, just don't take on too many tasks young Atlas."
"Young Atlas?"
"Oh, I call Jim that because he has so much on his shoulders at such a young age. I hope you don't mind Barbara?"
"Oh, not at all. I think it suits him because it's true what you just said about him wanting to carry the word on his shoulders."
"Uhhh, I'll just leave you two to continue enjoying each other's company. Oh and don't worry Mr. Strickler, I can carry my weight, I'll accept help where needed and push through where I'll push through where only I can be able to carry that weight."
Strickler and Barbara looked at Jim in surprise at his words and thought to themselves 'When did he become so grown up?'
"Ok, but don't overdo it, Jim," Barbara asked Jim with concern in her voice, knowing that she can't talk him out of his choice but can only help him, she knew him better than anyone.
"I won't mom. Goodnight, mom, goodnight, Mr. Strickler."
"Goodnight, young Atlas."
"Goodnight, honey. Oh, and yeah Toby is waiting in your room for you."
Both Strickler and Jim were surprised. Strickler suddenly got up, "Sorry, Barbara, I just remembered I still have a presentation to go work on."
Jim saw through his lie, but couldn't do anything yet to stop his and turn him over to their side.
"Oh, ok. Thank you for tonight it was great."
"No, thank you, Barbara. You made my day into a splendid one. And thank you, Jim, for inviting me over."
"Anytime, Mr. Strickler. next time I'll join you."
"That be great."
"Goodnight Walter. Jim could you see him out please." Barbara asked while she cleaned the table.
"Sure mom. This way Mr. Strickler."
When they got to the door Jim when outside with Strickler and walked alongside him as they approached Strickler's car.
"So… your Presentation?"
"Yes, it's a history presentation."
Jim stopped before they reached the car and Strickler turned around to face Jim, "Mr. Strickler if ever we get into conflict, just know we will always be friends and I'll always help you on the right track as you helped me in the past." Jim remembered Strickler's sacrifice to save him and he wanted to convince him there and then to come over to the good side, but he knew now was not the right time.
Strickler was dumbfounded by the words that Jim just said but somehow felt very touched and happy and the words. "Thank you, young atlas" he reached out his hand for a handshake, "Till we see again, young Atlas."
Jim suddenly remembered Strickler at his final moment together with him. Jim walked slowly towards Strickler and pasted his hand. Strickler was dumbfounded once more. Jim hugged Strickler and started to cry. Strickler embraced Jim and held him till Jim felt he had enough and pulled away. Strickler looked at Jim, "My young Atlas, just how much weight do you have on your shoulders?"
"More than you can imagine… and it's just getting started"
Strickler was completely shocked at the words of a 15-year-old. Jim turned around and walked towards the door but stopped at the stairs. He turned around and saw Strickler was still staring at him in shock. "Hope your presentation brings you to the light." Jim smiled and continued to the door. Strickler turned around and tried to puzzle all the random pieces together that Jim has thrown at him tonight.
Barbara was coming out of the kitchen when Jim came in, "Did Walter leave?"
"Yeah, mom" Jim answered as he heard the car pull away from the driveway.
He walked towards Barbara and hugged her tight, "I hope you find happiness, mom"
Barbara was this time the dumbfounded one, "Uhhh, ok. But I already have happiness. In you my son." She pulled him closer into the hug.
As they were hugging Toby came downstairs, "Finally I thought you were never going to come home, Jimbo…" he saw the mother and son as they were having a moment and slowly hid around the stairs.
As Jim pulled away from his mother, he started to walk towards the stairs, "It's ok, Tobes. I'm done now. We can go talk in the room; I have a feeling you found something amazing."
"How'd you know that?"
The two went upstairs and Toby started to explain his weird experience at the canal and Jim tried his best to act surprised at the events. Just as Toby pulled out the amulet, it started to glow blow. More intensely than usual. As it glowed, Jim started to feel a pain in his chest and the light began to blinding him, but weirdly it didn't look like Toby was being affected by it. It looked like he could even see the blinding light at all. The pain subsides and everything looked normal again except for Toby and Barbara who were standing over him. "Ahh, what happened?"
"You fainted Jimbo"
"Yeah, luckily you didn't hit your head. How do you feel Jim?"
"Fine, maybe it's the stage fright I had earlier that affected me now. I didn't eat either."
"then you should come and eat now. You to Toby. You've been in this room for a long time now, I bet you very hungry?"
"Yes, I am, Miss Lake. And, thank you for the offer."
After they ate the boys returned to the room, " So what happened Jimbo?"
"Like I said, just fatigue."
"Listen, Jimbo, I know you better than your mom, so don't lie to me. And before you fainted you were in some kind of trans"
"What trans?"
"You kept saying 'for the good of all"
"And anything else?" Jim asked curiously
"Nope just that"
"Oh ok. And what about the amulet you got did anything cool happen to you yet?"
"Cool? Like what?"
"Does the amulet have some kind of writing on it?"
"Well now that you…"
Barbara interrupted Toby by yelling from the stairs, "Jim I'm leaving! I just got a call for a nightshift exchange! There is more food in the oven! Good night Toby!"
"Good night, Miss Lake"
"Good night, mom"
Jim silently listen for his mom's car to pull away and then shot up from his bed, "perfect!" he shouted. "Follow me, Tobes"
"Ok, but where are we going?"
"To the backyard"
As the boys arrived at the backyard Jim made sure they were alone.
"Ok, Tobes. You said something about there being writing on the amulet?"
"Yeah, but it's in some weird language."
"Here, let me see?"
As toby gave Jim the amulet it started to glow again but this time it repelled Jim and shoot him across the yard, and his chest started to ache again in the same spot where the amulet has always been placed.
"Jimbo! You ok?!" Toby rushed to Jim but placed the amulet away from him so it doesn't repel his friend again.
"Wow, that stung." Jim tried to hide his chest pain from toby by chuckling at the event the just occurred.
"What just happened?"
"Don't know. Guess the amulet doesn't like me?" he chuckled in pain.
"Don't move too much, you could have broken something"
"Don't worry I've had worse than this"
"Worse than being shoot across a yard by a mysterious magical amulet that hates you?"
"Yeah, much worse" Jim chuckled but Toby just looked at Jim as if he didn't believe him and thought Jim was joking.
After they got up and sat down for a while, they got up again, "Why don't you try and concentrate on the amulet's words?" Jim tried to convince Toby.
"I already tried, Jimbo."
"Just one last time, it could be something life-changing."
"Ok, but don't be surprised when nothing happens, again."
Toby stood with the amulet in his hands and tried to concentrate on the scribbles on the amulets. As he concentrated the blue light started again and the dials started to move. Toby threw the amulet out of shock and it landed on the grass.
"Go pick it up, Tobes"
"Why don't you go pick it up?"
"And get blown away again?"
"Oh… Yeah, ok"
Toby slowly moved towards the amulet and softly picked it up with his face away from it and holding it far from his body as though he was holding a bomb.
Toby slowly opened his eyes and looked at the amulet, he was amazed at he could now read the words on it. "Jim! I did it! I can read the words!"
"Good, what does it say?" Jim tried to bait Toby into saying the incantation aloud.
"For the Glory… of Merlin… daylight… is mine to… command…"
The amulet started to glow again and blue armor started to float around Toby and started to attach to him, but the suit of armor was too big to fit his body but after a few seconds it started to shrink down to fit his body perfectly, after a few more seconds a large sword appeared in his hand and he pulled him off balance even more than the suit of armor did, but it started to also shrink down to a perfect size for Toby to wield it. "Wow! Jim looks at this. This is so cool" he swung his sword around but as he turned to face, Jim he saw that his friend was in terrible pain. "Oh no, Jimbo!" Toby dropped the sword and ran towards Jim with all his strength.
"AHHHHHHHH!" Jim screamed in pain as he laid on the ground clenching his chest as it felt like it was on fire.
"Jimbo!"
"What happened to me?" Jim asked as he lifted his head. He looked around but he could only see white as far as his eyes can see. "Where the heck am I?"
"In a space between life and death, where time and space don't exist," a mysterious figure started to explain as he walked out of the white into a visible sight, "but ironically we only have about two hours give or take to take to each other as you can not stay here for long. So let's get straight to the point; YOU ARE MY LAST FRAGMENT OF SOUL LEFT, MEANING YOU ARE MY LAST CHANCE FOR CHANGING TIME." Jim froze from shock when he saw the figure. It looked like an older version of him with a beard.
"Who are you?" Jim finally got a question out.
"Isn't it obvious, I'm YOU and you are ME."
Hope you guys enjoyed chapter 1. I'll try to release a chapter every weekend but university does demand its time as well. So hopefully I'll release it as scheduled. again thanks for reading hope you stick along for this journey till the end...
