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Scales was once again amazed. She was starting to worry she would get overawed if too many more things happened. They were now in the Time Stream. What does it look like, you ask? One may envision a huge tunnel of sorts, going to infinity in either direction, comprised of an uncountable number of colored strands, each splitting, multiplying, or fading away. If that's what you imagine the Time Stream as, you're completely and totally wrong. It's MUCH cooler than a weird colorful tunnel thing. Picture an unmeasurable space, the skies shifting from every color imaginable and some that never have been imagined. This infinite space was filled with giant spheres, looking like planets but each was twice the size of Jupiter. The giant planets all floated an equidistant space away from each other, rotating slowly. Each planet was connected to every other planet by threads of light, each with beads moving down their length. Spaced regularly around the huge planets were crystal palaces, each roughly the same size and made of different formations. Each palace was roughly the size of New York, Toronto, and Tokyo all massed together. Somewhere nearby, in a cleared space where no worlds or strands of light touched, was another immense crystal palace. It was roughly twenty times the size of our sun. "So, what do you think?" asked Arik cheerfully, snapping Scales from her wonderment. "It-it's beautiful!" Scales said. Arik nodded. "Yeah, I've been here a million times and I never get tired of it." He paused. "No really, I have been here one million times, I counted." Scales arched an eyebrow. "Things must get really boring, huh?" Arik shrugged. "Yeah, but my father also took us on plenty of temporal outings. Once, when I was really little, he took me all the way to the end of the Dinosaur Age." He hesitated. "It was a little heartbreaking for me, to tell the truth." Scales nodded, not really listening. She had just noticed that they weren't standing on anything. "Uh, Arik, how is it that we're floating in the air?" Arik looked down. "Hm? Oh, that. I stopped thinking about that after my hundredth visit. It's nothing to worry about, not really. Come on, we have to find the right time and place." He started floating away from Scales, heading for a strand of light. Scales quickly followed suit. "Arik, just what is all this? When you called this place the Time Stream, I was sort of expecting a straight tunnel made of lots of colorful strands." Arik smirked. "You'd think so, wouldn't you? This place is sort of inaccurately named, you know. A lot more goes on here then the simple flow of time." "Oh?" Arik nodded. "Those huge crystalline structures are the dwellings of the High Ones, whom you would call the gods. The one that's bigger than all the rest is the home of the Goddess of Infinity." Scales eyed the giant palaces. "Do they really need such big houses?" "Actually, yes." Said Arik. "The palaces are mostly vessels of power that is distributed among the entire Time Stream. With all the power required to need this place going, they need big vessels." Scales nodded. "What are those weird light things?" "The strands of light represent transportation for those who live here, for one thing." Scales blinked. "People live here?" Arik shrugged. "Well, live is a figurative term. Each of these giant planets represents a planet back in the real world. Whenever a good or intermediate person dies, their soul comes here, manifesting on the planet attuned to their world of origin." "Really?" Scales asked, interested. "There are a few people I'd like to see again. Which one is the representation of Earth?" Arik shook his head. "Sorry, it won't work." Scales frowned. "Why not?" Arik looked at her, his eyes a little sad. "Don't you think I looked the first time I came here after my family's death? The beauty of the afterlife can only be perceived by those who have passed on. Those of the living world are unable to feel it. When I touched down on the planet holding Earth's dead, I found it barren, empty aside from the whisperings of ghosts." Scales sighed. "Damn. I miss my mother. So, what are we looking for anyway?" Arik stopped at a strand of light. "Here we are! The strands serve for more than transportation. Each represents a millennium for a given world in every place on that world. If memory serves correctly, this is the stream we're looking for. We'd better split up, that way we can find the right place on the stream." "How will I know where this right place is?" Scales asked, unsure. Arik pointed to a spot on the thread of light. "If you look closely, you can see dates written inside the light. Each date is understandable to the one who's looking at it. For me, the correct year is 59,997,800 AO. For you, it's 2200 BC. Once you find it, call me and I'll come over." Arik started floating down the strand, towards a planet. Scales went in the opposite direction. As she flew along the light, Scales once more thought how peculiar this all was, and how it was even more peculiar that she had already gotten used to this sort of thing. She also couldn't help thinking about Arik, and how he looked when he talked about how he was alone. Just like her...she snapped out of her thought chain when she suddenly saw the right year number. "Hey Arik, I've found it!" Scales yelled. Arik flew back up the strand at surprising speed. "Great! Let me just get this thing working properly." He inserted his claws into the strand, pressing the date. It highlighted, and suddenly a series of options popped up. There were twelve of them, so they had to be months. "Hey Scales, when's your birthday?" "Uh, I was created on December 1st." Scales said. "Yeah, that'll work." Said Arik. He selected the last month on the list. Another menu popped up. He pressed the first symbol on the menu. Another menu popped up, this one listing several thousand destinations. Scowling, Arik scrolled down until he saw what he was looking for and pressed it. All the menus disappeared and some sort of receptacle appeared over 2200 BC. "There, the date and place are set. Ready to go, Scales?"
"Yeah, sure." Said Scales, grabbing his wrist. "All right then." Arik placed the Chronos Ruby in the light receptacle. "Chronos Control!" They vanished in a flash of light.
Scales blinked the glare from her eyes. And for maybe the fourth time that day, she was amazed beyond belief. She and Arik were on a cliff overlooking a huge city, surrounded by green hills and forests. The city was about five miles in diameter. The design was really quite ingenious. Right inside a huge circular wall was a river that ringed the entire area. Bridges led from gates over the river to a large circular strip of land. From there was another ring of water, followed by another ring of land, and another ring of water, and a big island in the center. On the island was the city itself, filled with buildings of an architectural design completely foreign to Scales, roofed with gleaming copper, silver, and gold. In the center of the city was a magnificent palace, not as magnificent as the crystal vessels they had just left behind, but still quite pretty. Some distance away, Scales could see the ocean on the horizon. "This is Atlantis?" she asked her companion. Arik nodded. "Yes. Told you it was nice, didn't I? Come on, we have to get to the city. It's a bit of a long hike down the cliff, though." Scales smiled. "Who needs to hike? I have a much better way of getting right to the gates." "Oh?" Arik asked, his curiosity piqued. "Pick a place near the gates, any place." Scales said. A little confused, Arik pointed to a tree a few yards away from one of the gates in the walls. Scales nodded. "Now it's your turn to hang on." She grabbed Arik's hand. "Chaos Control!" They vanished in a flash of green light, reappearing behind the same tree Arik had indicated. Arik jerked away from Scales, looking around in astonishment. "So, that was the famous Chaos Control technique. Interesting." He looked around the tree. "I don't think the guards saw us appear. Come on, we have to get in and see the king." "How come? Don't we need to find the Ruby?" Scales asked. "Yes, but I think Darius might be able to tell us where we can find it. I hope Sauron and his forces haven't arrived yet." He started walking towards the gate. "Follow my lead, I've dealt with these fellows before." As the two reptiles approached the gate, Scales saw two burly chimpanzees wearing outfits that obviously designated them as soldiers. Each had a little bronze hat with a spike on top and carried a spear in one hand. The chimpanzees crossed their spears over the gate at the sight of Scales and Arik. "Halt! Who goes there?" asked the chimp on the left. "I'm Arik, Guardian of the Master Ruby. We've been through this fifty times before, Champ and Chump." Arik said, looking a little tired. The chimpanzees gasped. "How did you know our names?" asked the one on the left, Champ. "Maybe he's a spy." Growled Chump. They pointed their spears at Arik. "Go away, spy! We ain't letting you into Atlantis City!" said Champ. Arik frowned. "Come on guys, I attended your sister's wedding! I have a pass from the King that will let me right through. Let me just get it." Arik started to reach into his dimension pocket when the guards pointed their spears inches from his chest. "Make a move to get your weapon, and we'll run you through spy!" yelled Chump. Arik blinked. "Fellows, please-" "Don't talk, spy! Go away!" said Champ. "But-" Arik protested. "Go away!" repeated Chump, stabbing Arik a tiny bit in the chest. The raptor winced and staggered back. Scales stepped forward. "Now gentlemen, I'm sure we can work this out in a nice and orderly fashion. Chaos Control!" All movement ceased, time frozen. Arik, who was unaffected, looked impressed. "You can freeze time too?" Scales nodded. "Yeah, but it doesn't last long. Come on, let's get through the gate before Dumb and Dumber wake up." They jumped over the chimpanzees and ran through the opening in the wall as the time freeze wore off, leaving the confused monkeys pointing at nothing. Scales and Arik went across the numerous bridges and land strips, passing some nice trees and flowers before finally reaching the city entrance, and another set of guards, these two frogs. As they raised their spears, Scales prepared to stop time. Then one of the frogs caught sight of Arik and lowered his spear. "Arik? That you?" the blue frog said. Arik smiled. "Glox! Uglyte! So good to see you again." Scales stopped her preparations. "You know these guys, Arik?" The other frog, who was pink and apparently Uglyte, nodded. "Of course he knows us! He attended our wedding, after all." She said. Scales sighed in relief. "Good, I was worried you two would be as stupid as the chimps." Glox, the blue frog, shook his head. "Yeah, sad but true. Glad my little toad over here got the good looks and brains in her family's gene pool, I am." Uglyte croaked and elbowed her husband. "Anyway, are you here to see the king, Arik dear? And you've brought a friend as well." Arik nodded. "Yes, we were hoping the king could help us find something of great importance." Glox and Uglyte moved away from the city entrance. "Go right on in, Arik. Oh, and good luck with the lady there." Arik and Scales stared at the frog for a moment, before understanding what he was saying. "Oh, we're not together." Said Scales quickly. "She's just helping me for now." Arik agreed, just as quickly. "Sure, sure." Said Uglyte, looking like she didn't believe it. The two lizards frowned at her, but walked past the frogs, entering the city. When Glox thought the two were out of earshot, he whispered to Uglyte, "I think they like each other." "WE HEARD THAT!" Arik and Scales yelled back. The two frogs gulped and went back to standing guard.
Scales peered around in amusement at the city of Atlantis. Everywhere she looked were anthropomorphs of all species, running around, doing their business, and playing in the streets. None of their garments were familiar, but all the clothes looked pretty good. Scales was having trouble taking it all in, when she suddenly realized something. "Hey Arik, where are all the humans?" The raptor quickly grabbed her mouth and held it shut. "Don't talk about humans around the Atlanteans!" he whispered fiercely. "They don't like the human race very much. Everyone on the continent is anthropomorph and has a serious dislike for the race of man." "Oh, sorry." Scales said when Arik released her mouth. "I won't do it again, I promise." Arik nodded firmly. "See that you don't. Come on, we've got no time to waste." The raptor led Scales through the streets of the city, passing many golden statues and monuments that made Scales wish she had a camera. After a bit of wandering, they reached the palace. Scales was a little disappointed to find it had looked bigger from a distance. It had a few towers, and was round in shape. The top was flat with a dome made of solid gold supported above a large hole by short columns. When he saw her look of disappointment, Arik explained the building's size. "The king doesn't actually live in the palace. It's more a place of business than anything else. He actually stays in a very nice apartment downtown, along with most of the nobles and important officials of the city." Scales was a little impressed. "That's an interesting arrangement." Arik grinned. "To tell the truth, the palace was originally going to be bigger, but the architects ran out of the solid gold they were going to build the entire thing out of, so they had to settle for ordinary stone and a few gold tower points." He headed for a grand archway leading into the building. "Come on, let's see the king." Arik showed his pass to the guards inside the incredibly ornate and tastefully decorated palace, and they let him and Scales into a corridor leading to the administrative office. As they walked down the hallway, past marble pillars and paintings, Scales murmured to Arik, "I'm not surprised they ran out of materials, look how much they did with the interior and the rest of the city!" Arik nodded. "Yes, I personally think they were being a little extravagant. I admire cities and beauty as much as the next dinosaur, but I think they could have used a little less gold. It's practically worthless on this continent, considering how much of it they flaunt about. Hell, I've seen chamber pots in this place made of gold!" Scales giggled, but silenced herself as they reached the end of the hallway, and a large door. She wanted to be polite and make a good first impression on the ruler of Atlantis. Arik quietly pushed open the door and beckoned Scales forward. They walked in and were inside a large round room. Above them was the big golden dome they had seen from outside, sunlight shining in through the gaps in the small columns. The floor was a big mosaic tile showing a bearded man with no clothing and holding a trident raising a big piece of land from the sea. In the middle of the room was a large desk with a big, nice throne-looking chair behind it. A couple of other chairs were placed before it. Sitting in the chair, writing on a piece of paper, was a green Doberman with a small circlet on his head and some regal robes. He was obviously the king. The dog didn't glance up, but he heard them coming in. "Just a second, let me finish out this fishing law and...done!" He set down the feather pen he had been using and looked up. He did a double take, then got out from behind the desk. "Arik? Is that you?" "Do you know any other blue green-eyed raptors?" The reptile joked. The king chuckled. "Ah, it's good to see you friend! I haven't seen you since what, last month?" He noticed Scales. "Ah, and I see you've finally found a woman!" Scales and Arik both blushed. "Uh, we aren't together." Scales said quickly. The Doberman seemed disappointed. "Oh well, maybe you'll find somebody someday Arik. Now, who is this scaled beauty who stands before me?" Scales blushed. "The name's Scales, your Majesty." The dog shook his head. "No need for that, my dear! Just call me Darius, all my friends do." He paused and examined her more closely. "You don't look like any species of anthropomorph I've ever seen. What breed are you?" Scales paused. "I'm...not really sure." She said, a little confused. "I think I'm part raptor, part chameleon, part monitor lizard, part king cobra, and part Komodo Dragon." Darius' eyebrows rose. "Yours is a twisted ancestry, my lady." Scales blushed again. "Uh, you could say that." Darius slapped himself. "Where are my manners? Come, sit down, sit down!" He escorted the both of them to the chairs before his desk. Arik, not needing to sit due to his metabolism, remained standing while Scales sat down. Darius eased back into his chair. "Will you be staying along? You know you are always welcome in my home." Arik shook his head. "We won't be staying long, I'm afraid. We have important business to attend here, then we must go." "Oh? What is this business?" Darius asked. "Have you ever heard of anything called a Chronos Ruby?" asked Scales. Darius looked thoughtful. "No, I don't believe so. What are these rubies like?" Arik pulled out the Master Ruby. "There are seven jewels similar to this one scattered about the world. A villain already has his hands on one of them, and we're trying to get the other six before he does." "And you believe one of these rubies is in Atlantis?" Darius asked. Scales nodded. "We're sure of it, Your Maj-I mean, Darius." Darius scratched his chin. "Tell you what. I'll have my researchers see if they can look up anything about peculiar rubies. It'll take a few hours for them to find anything in that mess of a record room. How about you two go out on the town while they're working, kill some time? There are plenty of places in Atlantis for you to have a good time." Arik looked at Scales. "That sounds like a fine idea. I know a good bazaar we could go to." Scales grinned. "Sounds good. When should we come back, Darius?" The dog looked up at the dome for a minute. "Return in three hours. We should have found anything pertaining to this Ruby of yours by then." Darius looked at Scales. "Could you please step outside for a second? I would like to talk with Arik for a moment before you head out." "Well, all right." Said Scales reluctantly. She exited, and Darius leaned over his desk. "You know, I think she's the one." Arik blinked, confused. "What do you mean? You're already married." The king of Atlantis shook his head, chuckling. "No old friend, I mean she's the one for YOU." Arik sputtered. "Me? Impossible!" Darius frowned. "Why not? I see some potential between you too." Arik scowled. "Don't be ridiculous. We practically come from different worlds, we could never be together. Once our quest is over, she'll go home and we'll both resume our normal lives." Darius shrugged. "Why couldn't you just visit her, or even better, move? I'm sure you get very lonely in your hut." Arik looked down. "Look, there's another reason she can't possibly be the one." "Oh? Why is that?" asked Darius. "Well, she's immortal." Arik answered. The dog's eyes widened. "Really? Guess I should have known. Her beauty was too great to be of this world." Arik tried to refrain from slapping his friend. "Get serious! If we actually form a relationship, I'll age and wither away, leaving her alone forever. I don't want to hurt her by doing something like that!" Darius stroked his chin. "I admit you have a point. However, I still say she's the one. Don't worry Arik, these things usually work out." Arik frowned. "Darius, I don't even love her!" The Doberman laughed. "Not yet, you don't! Hahahaha!" Arik rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Darius, if I am going to be settling down, it's with a mortal, female raptor. While I do admit Scales has certain alluring features, she's not the one for me. It wouldn't work." "If you say so." Said Darius. "But I am somewhat of an expert in these matters. Old friend, and I truly think she is the one for you." He nodded at Arik. "You can go now." Frowning a little at the king, Arik walked towards the door and went through. Darius chuckled and leaned back in his chair. "Yes, those two will be at each other's lips soon enough. I promise it."
Scales was a little surprised. Arik looked a little grumpy when he walked out of the large chamber. "Arik? Are you okay?" The raptor's expression softened a little. "Yeah, I'm okay." "What did Darius want to talk to you about?" Scales asked. "He was just recommending some shops we could go to." Arik lied. "Okay, let's go then." Scales followed Arik out of the palace. She hadn't believed a word he said.
Once they were out of the Palace Square, Arik took Scales to what could only be described as the bazaar. There were tents and booths everywhere. People walked all about, buying and selling stuff. Every now and then, somebody tried to steal something, only to immediately get caught and beaten to a pulp by the disguised police force. Scales felt her more female instincts kicking in, recognizing a mall when she saw it. "Arik, can we buy something PLEASE?" Arik took a step back, having never dealt with a girl in shopping mode. "Well, I don't see why not. I believe I have some money with me. Shall we start looking around?" "Let's!" said Scales, starting to become more like Amy on a shopping spree than her normal self. The duo started to go through the bazaar. Arik found himself regretting to suggest this place, as Scales literally dragged him from tent to tent, peering at the objects for sale and finding nothing but disgust for some of the items. In a jewelry tent, Scales threw a ring back in a pile she had pulled it from. "You call this quality merchandise?" she demanded of the cloaked merchant. The man shrugged. "Why is it not quality?" "Because I say it isn't quality! The imperfections on the paint job you used to make the ring look like it was made of bronze is quite shoddy, and any person with good eyesight can see the flaws in the piece of glass you call a diamond that's set in the ring! I ought to report you to whatever business assembly Atlantis has for selling shoddy goods." Scales growled. The merchant blinked. "Eh heh, those are just my display pieces miss. For your silence, how would you like something more real?" Scales considered. "Exactly what kind of piece are you offering me?" The merchant reached into his robes and pulled out a beautiful necklace, with a silver chain and a ruby, emerald, topaz, sapphire, garnet, opal, and diamond in settings at the front. She gasped. The merchant placed it on his table. "For your silence and a lowered price of one hundred Poseidons, this can be yours." Scales turned to Arik. "Arik, can we please get this necklace? Pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease?" she begged. Arik opened his mouth, about to say no, until he looked into her pleading eyes and saw something strange. For some reason, he couldn't bear seeing her look sad if she didn't get this necklace. Fishing into his dimension pocket, he took out a few coins and placed them on the table. The merchant accepted the money and handed the necklace to him. "A fine choice, sir. Please do come again, and recommend my shop to all your friends!" he said loudly, in case any other customers had been around during the business transaction. He then whispered, "If you tell anyone what kind of fake stuff I'm pushing, a few friends of mine in the assassin guild will kill your girlfriend." "I'm not his girlfriend!" Scales hissed. "Then they will kill your sister." The merchant reiterated. "I'm not his sister either." Scales said. The merchant blinked. "Then...gah, just don't tell anyone, okay?" He bowed to them. "Thank you for your patronage. Please come again." As they left the tent, Arik handed Scales the necklace. She put it on and surprised Arik by giving him a big hug. Before he could think, she was off of him and admiring the necklace. "So, how do I look?" she asked. Arik looked up and down Scales' body. "You look great!" he said truthfully. "Thanks! Now, where should we go next?" she asked. "Well-" Suddenly, a weasel ran past them, shoving Scales to the ground and ripping off her necklace at the same time. Cackling, the rodent ran off. Arik growled. "Scales, you stay here! I'll-" He was interrupted by a feral roar from Scales as she shot up and started running after the weasel, leaving the raptor behind. "Go after that rascal and get your necklace back." He finished lamely. "Gee thanks Scales, ruin a chance for me to be heroic and get back that expensive necklace for you." He frowned. "Wait, why do I even care whether or not she would find me heroic if I got her necklace back? Oh god, Darius must have messed around with my head more than I thought. As if I was actually falling in love with her!" Scales walked back towards Arik, wearing the necklace. "Hey, sorry if I startled you by doing that." She said. Arik sighed. "No problem, I was just hoping to be dramatic and get the necklace myself." Scales smirked. "Well, too late now. I'd say that thief will never steal again." Arik groaned. "What did you do with him?" Scales chuckled. "Not much, just rendered him unable to father children. I also left him hanging naked from the top of a flagpole nearby." Arik shook his head. "Sometimes you scare me." "Only sometimes?" Scales joked. "Come on, where are we going next?" Arik looked around and saw a food stand. "Would you fancy some fish?" he asked. "Would I!" she said eagerly. They went over to the stand to get some fish.
Elsewhere, on a beach north of Atlantis...A white portal suddenly flickered to life, startling a fiddler crab who was about to put the moves on his prospective mate. As the crustaceans scurried away, a creature stepped out of the portal. He paused, sniffing the air. He was a large raptor, almost twice Arik's size. He had gray skin and a black tail. He had red stripes on his back and arms, and a pair of long white scars running over both his eyes. The raptor in question had gotten those scars when he was fighting a Tyrannosaurus Rex, and the giant lizard managed to scratch him with its claws. The Rex didn't live to regret this, for the raptor immediately killed him right after. The raptor had no ornaments save for a few feathers attached to a simple necklace. In his right hand he held a large red jewel. He checked the jewel, seeing the image of a beach exactly like the one he was on now, or should I say, it WAS the beach he was on now. He grinned, showing very sharp teeth. He turned around and yelled back into the portal. "Okay boys, come on out! We're in the right place!" With some whoops from the other side, other raptors started to come through the Chronos-powered gate. The raptor chuckled. Soon he, future Emperor Sauron, would have the second Chronos Ruby.
Well, how was this for a chapter? I apologize for taking so long, and fear it'll take a short while before I have the next chapter up. I believe it would be safer for me to work at a slightly slower pace than you're used to, to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome. Anyway, it's finally time for a Scales interview! Scales: Finally, I thought we'd never do another one of these. Me: Scales, how are you enjoying your new adventure so far? Scales: Not as much action as I had expected, but I think I love it anyway! Atlantis is a beautiful city. Me: Thank you. Now, since I can't think of much else to ask you that wouldn't be a little prying, let's see if we have any fan questions. Scales: Okay. Me: Maverick wanted to know whether weasels were predators. Scales: Yeah, weasels are predators, why? Me: Well, I think he's wondering about whether or not you eating the weasels in the last story counted as violating the predator's code. Scales: Weasels are mammals, so aren't members of the code. Besides, they're also sort of scavengers, so it wouldn't apply to them. Me: Sorry to cut it short, but that's all the time we have for today. See you soon! Scales: Don't forget to review. Please!
Scales was once again amazed. She was starting to worry she would get overawed if too many more things happened. They were now in the Time Stream. What does it look like, you ask? One may envision a huge tunnel of sorts, going to infinity in either direction, comprised of an uncountable number of colored strands, each splitting, multiplying, or fading away. If that's what you imagine the Time Stream as, you're completely and totally wrong. It's MUCH cooler than a weird colorful tunnel thing. Picture an unmeasurable space, the skies shifting from every color imaginable and some that never have been imagined. This infinite space was filled with giant spheres, looking like planets but each was twice the size of Jupiter. The giant planets all floated an equidistant space away from each other, rotating slowly. Each planet was connected to every other planet by threads of light, each with beads moving down their length. Spaced regularly around the huge planets were crystal palaces, each roughly the same size and made of different formations. Each palace was roughly the size of New York, Toronto, and Tokyo all massed together. Somewhere nearby, in a cleared space where no worlds or strands of light touched, was another immense crystal palace. It was roughly twenty times the size of our sun. "So, what do you think?" asked Arik cheerfully, snapping Scales from her wonderment. "It-it's beautiful!" Scales said. Arik nodded. "Yeah, I've been here a million times and I never get tired of it." He paused. "No really, I have been here one million times, I counted." Scales arched an eyebrow. "Things must get really boring, huh?" Arik shrugged. "Yeah, but my father also took us on plenty of temporal outings. Once, when I was really little, he took me all the way to the end of the Dinosaur Age." He hesitated. "It was a little heartbreaking for me, to tell the truth." Scales nodded, not really listening. She had just noticed that they weren't standing on anything. "Uh, Arik, how is it that we're floating in the air?" Arik looked down. "Hm? Oh, that. I stopped thinking about that after my hundredth visit. It's nothing to worry about, not really. Come on, we have to find the right time and place." He started floating away from Scales, heading for a strand of light. Scales quickly followed suit. "Arik, just what is all this? When you called this place the Time Stream, I was sort of expecting a straight tunnel made of lots of colorful strands." Arik smirked. "You'd think so, wouldn't you? This place is sort of inaccurately named, you know. A lot more goes on here then the simple flow of time." "Oh?" Arik nodded. "Those huge crystalline structures are the dwellings of the High Ones, whom you would call the gods. The one that's bigger than all the rest is the home of the Goddess of Infinity." Scales eyed the giant palaces. "Do they really need such big houses?" "Actually, yes." Said Arik. "The palaces are mostly vessels of power that is distributed among the entire Time Stream. With all the power required to need this place going, they need big vessels." Scales nodded. "What are those weird light things?" "The strands of light represent transportation for those who live here, for one thing." Scales blinked. "People live here?" Arik shrugged. "Well, live is a figurative term. Each of these giant planets represents a planet back in the real world. Whenever a good or intermediate person dies, their soul comes here, manifesting on the planet attuned to their world of origin." "Really?" Scales asked, interested. "There are a few people I'd like to see again. Which one is the representation of Earth?" Arik shook his head. "Sorry, it won't work." Scales frowned. "Why not?" Arik looked at her, his eyes a little sad. "Don't you think I looked the first time I came here after my family's death? The beauty of the afterlife can only be perceived by those who have passed on. Those of the living world are unable to feel it. When I touched down on the planet holding Earth's dead, I found it barren, empty aside from the whisperings of ghosts." Scales sighed. "Damn. I miss my mother. So, what are we looking for anyway?" Arik stopped at a strand of light. "Here we are! The strands serve for more than transportation. Each represents a millennium for a given world in every place on that world. If memory serves correctly, this is the stream we're looking for. We'd better split up, that way we can find the right place on the stream." "How will I know where this right place is?" Scales asked, unsure. Arik pointed to a spot on the thread of light. "If you look closely, you can see dates written inside the light. Each date is understandable to the one who's looking at it. For me, the correct year is 59,997,800 AO. For you, it's 2200 BC. Once you find it, call me and I'll come over." Arik started floating down the strand, towards a planet. Scales went in the opposite direction. As she flew along the light, Scales once more thought how peculiar this all was, and how it was even more peculiar that she had already gotten used to this sort of thing. She also couldn't help thinking about Arik, and how he looked when he talked about how he was alone. Just like her...she snapped out of her thought chain when she suddenly saw the right year number. "Hey Arik, I've found it!" Scales yelled. Arik flew back up the strand at surprising speed. "Great! Let me just get this thing working properly." He inserted his claws into the strand, pressing the date. It highlighted, and suddenly a series of options popped up. There were twelve of them, so they had to be months. "Hey Scales, when's your birthday?" "Uh, I was created on December 1st." Scales said. "Yeah, that'll work." Said Arik. He selected the last month on the list. Another menu popped up. He pressed the first symbol on the menu. Another menu popped up, this one listing several thousand destinations. Scowling, Arik scrolled down until he saw what he was looking for and pressed it. All the menus disappeared and some sort of receptacle appeared over 2200 BC. "There, the date and place are set. Ready to go, Scales?"
"Yeah, sure." Said Scales, grabbing his wrist. "All right then." Arik placed the Chronos Ruby in the light receptacle. "Chronos Control!" They vanished in a flash of light.
Scales blinked the glare from her eyes. And for maybe the fourth time that day, she was amazed beyond belief. She and Arik were on a cliff overlooking a huge city, surrounded by green hills and forests. The city was about five miles in diameter. The design was really quite ingenious. Right inside a huge circular wall was a river that ringed the entire area. Bridges led from gates over the river to a large circular strip of land. From there was another ring of water, followed by another ring of land, and another ring of water, and a big island in the center. On the island was the city itself, filled with buildings of an architectural design completely foreign to Scales, roofed with gleaming copper, silver, and gold. In the center of the city was a magnificent palace, not as magnificent as the crystal vessels they had just left behind, but still quite pretty. Some distance away, Scales could see the ocean on the horizon. "This is Atlantis?" she asked her companion. Arik nodded. "Yes. Told you it was nice, didn't I? Come on, we have to get to the city. It's a bit of a long hike down the cliff, though." Scales smiled. "Who needs to hike? I have a much better way of getting right to the gates." "Oh?" Arik asked, his curiosity piqued. "Pick a place near the gates, any place." Scales said. A little confused, Arik pointed to a tree a few yards away from one of the gates in the walls. Scales nodded. "Now it's your turn to hang on." She grabbed Arik's hand. "Chaos Control!" They vanished in a flash of green light, reappearing behind the same tree Arik had indicated. Arik jerked away from Scales, looking around in astonishment. "So, that was the famous Chaos Control technique. Interesting." He looked around the tree. "I don't think the guards saw us appear. Come on, we have to get in and see the king." "How come? Don't we need to find the Ruby?" Scales asked. "Yes, but I think Darius might be able to tell us where we can find it. I hope Sauron and his forces haven't arrived yet." He started walking towards the gate. "Follow my lead, I've dealt with these fellows before." As the two reptiles approached the gate, Scales saw two burly chimpanzees wearing outfits that obviously designated them as soldiers. Each had a little bronze hat with a spike on top and carried a spear in one hand. The chimpanzees crossed their spears over the gate at the sight of Scales and Arik. "Halt! Who goes there?" asked the chimp on the left. "I'm Arik, Guardian of the Master Ruby. We've been through this fifty times before, Champ and Chump." Arik said, looking a little tired. The chimpanzees gasped. "How did you know our names?" asked the one on the left, Champ. "Maybe he's a spy." Growled Chump. They pointed their spears at Arik. "Go away, spy! We ain't letting you into Atlantis City!" said Champ. Arik frowned. "Come on guys, I attended your sister's wedding! I have a pass from the King that will let me right through. Let me just get it." Arik started to reach into his dimension pocket when the guards pointed their spears inches from his chest. "Make a move to get your weapon, and we'll run you through spy!" yelled Chump. Arik blinked. "Fellows, please-" "Don't talk, spy! Go away!" said Champ. "But-" Arik protested. "Go away!" repeated Chump, stabbing Arik a tiny bit in the chest. The raptor winced and staggered back. Scales stepped forward. "Now gentlemen, I'm sure we can work this out in a nice and orderly fashion. Chaos Control!" All movement ceased, time frozen. Arik, who was unaffected, looked impressed. "You can freeze time too?" Scales nodded. "Yeah, but it doesn't last long. Come on, let's get through the gate before Dumb and Dumber wake up." They jumped over the chimpanzees and ran through the opening in the wall as the time freeze wore off, leaving the confused monkeys pointing at nothing. Scales and Arik went across the numerous bridges and land strips, passing some nice trees and flowers before finally reaching the city entrance, and another set of guards, these two frogs. As they raised their spears, Scales prepared to stop time. Then one of the frogs caught sight of Arik and lowered his spear. "Arik? That you?" the blue frog said. Arik smiled. "Glox! Uglyte! So good to see you again." Scales stopped her preparations. "You know these guys, Arik?" The other frog, who was pink and apparently Uglyte, nodded. "Of course he knows us! He attended our wedding, after all." She said. Scales sighed in relief. "Good, I was worried you two would be as stupid as the chimps." Glox, the blue frog, shook his head. "Yeah, sad but true. Glad my little toad over here got the good looks and brains in her family's gene pool, I am." Uglyte croaked and elbowed her husband. "Anyway, are you here to see the king, Arik dear? And you've brought a friend as well." Arik nodded. "Yes, we were hoping the king could help us find something of great importance." Glox and Uglyte moved away from the city entrance. "Go right on in, Arik. Oh, and good luck with the lady there." Arik and Scales stared at the frog for a moment, before understanding what he was saying. "Oh, we're not together." Said Scales quickly. "She's just helping me for now." Arik agreed, just as quickly. "Sure, sure." Said Uglyte, looking like she didn't believe it. The two lizards frowned at her, but walked past the frogs, entering the city. When Glox thought the two were out of earshot, he whispered to Uglyte, "I think they like each other." "WE HEARD THAT!" Arik and Scales yelled back. The two frogs gulped and went back to standing guard.
Scales peered around in amusement at the city of Atlantis. Everywhere she looked were anthropomorphs of all species, running around, doing their business, and playing in the streets. None of their garments were familiar, but all the clothes looked pretty good. Scales was having trouble taking it all in, when she suddenly realized something. "Hey Arik, where are all the humans?" The raptor quickly grabbed her mouth and held it shut. "Don't talk about humans around the Atlanteans!" he whispered fiercely. "They don't like the human race very much. Everyone on the continent is anthropomorph and has a serious dislike for the race of man." "Oh, sorry." Scales said when Arik released her mouth. "I won't do it again, I promise." Arik nodded firmly. "See that you don't. Come on, we've got no time to waste." The raptor led Scales through the streets of the city, passing many golden statues and monuments that made Scales wish she had a camera. After a bit of wandering, they reached the palace. Scales was a little disappointed to find it had looked bigger from a distance. It had a few towers, and was round in shape. The top was flat with a dome made of solid gold supported above a large hole by short columns. When he saw her look of disappointment, Arik explained the building's size. "The king doesn't actually live in the palace. It's more a place of business than anything else. He actually stays in a very nice apartment downtown, along with most of the nobles and important officials of the city." Scales was a little impressed. "That's an interesting arrangement." Arik grinned. "To tell the truth, the palace was originally going to be bigger, but the architects ran out of the solid gold they were going to build the entire thing out of, so they had to settle for ordinary stone and a few gold tower points." He headed for a grand archway leading into the building. "Come on, let's see the king." Arik showed his pass to the guards inside the incredibly ornate and tastefully decorated palace, and they let him and Scales into a corridor leading to the administrative office. As they walked down the hallway, past marble pillars and paintings, Scales murmured to Arik, "I'm not surprised they ran out of materials, look how much they did with the interior and the rest of the city!" Arik nodded. "Yes, I personally think they were being a little extravagant. I admire cities and beauty as much as the next dinosaur, but I think they could have used a little less gold. It's practically worthless on this continent, considering how much of it they flaunt about. Hell, I've seen chamber pots in this place made of gold!" Scales giggled, but silenced herself as they reached the end of the hallway, and a large door. She wanted to be polite and make a good first impression on the ruler of Atlantis. Arik quietly pushed open the door and beckoned Scales forward. They walked in and were inside a large round room. Above them was the big golden dome they had seen from outside, sunlight shining in through the gaps in the small columns. The floor was a big mosaic tile showing a bearded man with no clothing and holding a trident raising a big piece of land from the sea. In the middle of the room was a large desk with a big, nice throne-looking chair behind it. A couple of other chairs were placed before it. Sitting in the chair, writing on a piece of paper, was a green Doberman with a small circlet on his head and some regal robes. He was obviously the king. The dog didn't glance up, but he heard them coming in. "Just a second, let me finish out this fishing law and...done!" He set down the feather pen he had been using and looked up. He did a double take, then got out from behind the desk. "Arik? Is that you?" "Do you know any other blue green-eyed raptors?" The reptile joked. The king chuckled. "Ah, it's good to see you friend! I haven't seen you since what, last month?" He noticed Scales. "Ah, and I see you've finally found a woman!" Scales and Arik both blushed. "Uh, we aren't together." Scales said quickly. The Doberman seemed disappointed. "Oh well, maybe you'll find somebody someday Arik. Now, who is this scaled beauty who stands before me?" Scales blushed. "The name's Scales, your Majesty." The dog shook his head. "No need for that, my dear! Just call me Darius, all my friends do." He paused and examined her more closely. "You don't look like any species of anthropomorph I've ever seen. What breed are you?" Scales paused. "I'm...not really sure." She said, a little confused. "I think I'm part raptor, part chameleon, part monitor lizard, part king cobra, and part Komodo Dragon." Darius' eyebrows rose. "Yours is a twisted ancestry, my lady." Scales blushed again. "Uh, you could say that." Darius slapped himself. "Where are my manners? Come, sit down, sit down!" He escorted the both of them to the chairs before his desk. Arik, not needing to sit due to his metabolism, remained standing while Scales sat down. Darius eased back into his chair. "Will you be staying along? You know you are always welcome in my home." Arik shook his head. "We won't be staying long, I'm afraid. We have important business to attend here, then we must go." "Oh? What is this business?" Darius asked. "Have you ever heard of anything called a Chronos Ruby?" asked Scales. Darius looked thoughtful. "No, I don't believe so. What are these rubies like?" Arik pulled out the Master Ruby. "There are seven jewels similar to this one scattered about the world. A villain already has his hands on one of them, and we're trying to get the other six before he does." "And you believe one of these rubies is in Atlantis?" Darius asked. Scales nodded. "We're sure of it, Your Maj-I mean, Darius." Darius scratched his chin. "Tell you what. I'll have my researchers see if they can look up anything about peculiar rubies. It'll take a few hours for them to find anything in that mess of a record room. How about you two go out on the town while they're working, kill some time? There are plenty of places in Atlantis for you to have a good time." Arik looked at Scales. "That sounds like a fine idea. I know a good bazaar we could go to." Scales grinned. "Sounds good. When should we come back, Darius?" The dog looked up at the dome for a minute. "Return in three hours. We should have found anything pertaining to this Ruby of yours by then." Darius looked at Scales. "Could you please step outside for a second? I would like to talk with Arik for a moment before you head out." "Well, all right." Said Scales reluctantly. She exited, and Darius leaned over his desk. "You know, I think she's the one." Arik blinked, confused. "What do you mean? You're already married." The king of Atlantis shook his head, chuckling. "No old friend, I mean she's the one for YOU." Arik sputtered. "Me? Impossible!" Darius frowned. "Why not? I see some potential between you too." Arik scowled. "Don't be ridiculous. We practically come from different worlds, we could never be together. Once our quest is over, she'll go home and we'll both resume our normal lives." Darius shrugged. "Why couldn't you just visit her, or even better, move? I'm sure you get very lonely in your hut." Arik looked down. "Look, there's another reason she can't possibly be the one." "Oh? Why is that?" asked Darius. "Well, she's immortal." Arik answered. The dog's eyes widened. "Really? Guess I should have known. Her beauty was too great to be of this world." Arik tried to refrain from slapping his friend. "Get serious! If we actually form a relationship, I'll age and wither away, leaving her alone forever. I don't want to hurt her by doing something like that!" Darius stroked his chin. "I admit you have a point. However, I still say she's the one. Don't worry Arik, these things usually work out." Arik frowned. "Darius, I don't even love her!" The Doberman laughed. "Not yet, you don't! Hahahaha!" Arik rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Darius, if I am going to be settling down, it's with a mortal, female raptor. While I do admit Scales has certain alluring features, she's not the one for me. It wouldn't work." "If you say so." Said Darius. "But I am somewhat of an expert in these matters. Old friend, and I truly think she is the one for you." He nodded at Arik. "You can go now." Frowning a little at the king, Arik walked towards the door and went through. Darius chuckled and leaned back in his chair. "Yes, those two will be at each other's lips soon enough. I promise it."
Scales was a little surprised. Arik looked a little grumpy when he walked out of the large chamber. "Arik? Are you okay?" The raptor's expression softened a little. "Yeah, I'm okay." "What did Darius want to talk to you about?" Scales asked. "He was just recommending some shops we could go to." Arik lied. "Okay, let's go then." Scales followed Arik out of the palace. She hadn't believed a word he said.
Once they were out of the Palace Square, Arik took Scales to what could only be described as the bazaar. There were tents and booths everywhere. People walked all about, buying and selling stuff. Every now and then, somebody tried to steal something, only to immediately get caught and beaten to a pulp by the disguised police force. Scales felt her more female instincts kicking in, recognizing a mall when she saw it. "Arik, can we buy something PLEASE?" Arik took a step back, having never dealt with a girl in shopping mode. "Well, I don't see why not. I believe I have some money with me. Shall we start looking around?" "Let's!" said Scales, starting to become more like Amy on a shopping spree than her normal self. The duo started to go through the bazaar. Arik found himself regretting to suggest this place, as Scales literally dragged him from tent to tent, peering at the objects for sale and finding nothing but disgust for some of the items. In a jewelry tent, Scales threw a ring back in a pile she had pulled it from. "You call this quality merchandise?" she demanded of the cloaked merchant. The man shrugged. "Why is it not quality?" "Because I say it isn't quality! The imperfections on the paint job you used to make the ring look like it was made of bronze is quite shoddy, and any person with good eyesight can see the flaws in the piece of glass you call a diamond that's set in the ring! I ought to report you to whatever business assembly Atlantis has for selling shoddy goods." Scales growled. The merchant blinked. "Eh heh, those are just my display pieces miss. For your silence, how would you like something more real?" Scales considered. "Exactly what kind of piece are you offering me?" The merchant reached into his robes and pulled out a beautiful necklace, with a silver chain and a ruby, emerald, topaz, sapphire, garnet, opal, and diamond in settings at the front. She gasped. The merchant placed it on his table. "For your silence and a lowered price of one hundred Poseidons, this can be yours." Scales turned to Arik. "Arik, can we please get this necklace? Pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease?" she begged. Arik opened his mouth, about to say no, until he looked into her pleading eyes and saw something strange. For some reason, he couldn't bear seeing her look sad if she didn't get this necklace. Fishing into his dimension pocket, he took out a few coins and placed them on the table. The merchant accepted the money and handed the necklace to him. "A fine choice, sir. Please do come again, and recommend my shop to all your friends!" he said loudly, in case any other customers had been around during the business transaction. He then whispered, "If you tell anyone what kind of fake stuff I'm pushing, a few friends of mine in the assassin guild will kill your girlfriend." "I'm not his girlfriend!" Scales hissed. "Then they will kill your sister." The merchant reiterated. "I'm not his sister either." Scales said. The merchant blinked. "Then...gah, just don't tell anyone, okay?" He bowed to them. "Thank you for your patronage. Please come again." As they left the tent, Arik handed Scales the necklace. She put it on and surprised Arik by giving him a big hug. Before he could think, she was off of him and admiring the necklace. "So, how do I look?" she asked. Arik looked up and down Scales' body. "You look great!" he said truthfully. "Thanks! Now, where should we go next?" she asked. "Well-" Suddenly, a weasel ran past them, shoving Scales to the ground and ripping off her necklace at the same time. Cackling, the rodent ran off. Arik growled. "Scales, you stay here! I'll-" He was interrupted by a feral roar from Scales as she shot up and started running after the weasel, leaving the raptor behind. "Go after that rascal and get your necklace back." He finished lamely. "Gee thanks Scales, ruin a chance for me to be heroic and get back that expensive necklace for you." He frowned. "Wait, why do I even care whether or not she would find me heroic if I got her necklace back? Oh god, Darius must have messed around with my head more than I thought. As if I was actually falling in love with her!" Scales walked back towards Arik, wearing the necklace. "Hey, sorry if I startled you by doing that." She said. Arik sighed. "No problem, I was just hoping to be dramatic and get the necklace myself." Scales smirked. "Well, too late now. I'd say that thief will never steal again." Arik groaned. "What did you do with him?" Scales chuckled. "Not much, just rendered him unable to father children. I also left him hanging naked from the top of a flagpole nearby." Arik shook his head. "Sometimes you scare me." "Only sometimes?" Scales joked. "Come on, where are we going next?" Arik looked around and saw a food stand. "Would you fancy some fish?" he asked. "Would I!" she said eagerly. They went over to the stand to get some fish.
Elsewhere, on a beach north of Atlantis...A white portal suddenly flickered to life, startling a fiddler crab who was about to put the moves on his prospective mate. As the crustaceans scurried away, a creature stepped out of the portal. He paused, sniffing the air. He was a large raptor, almost twice Arik's size. He had gray skin and a black tail. He had red stripes on his back and arms, and a pair of long white scars running over both his eyes. The raptor in question had gotten those scars when he was fighting a Tyrannosaurus Rex, and the giant lizard managed to scratch him with its claws. The Rex didn't live to regret this, for the raptor immediately killed him right after. The raptor had no ornaments save for a few feathers attached to a simple necklace. In his right hand he held a large red jewel. He checked the jewel, seeing the image of a beach exactly like the one he was on now, or should I say, it WAS the beach he was on now. He grinned, showing very sharp teeth. He turned around and yelled back into the portal. "Okay boys, come on out! We're in the right place!" With some whoops from the other side, other raptors started to come through the Chronos-powered gate. The raptor chuckled. Soon he, future Emperor Sauron, would have the second Chronos Ruby.
Well, how was this for a chapter? I apologize for taking so long, and fear it'll take a short while before I have the next chapter up. I believe it would be safer for me to work at a slightly slower pace than you're used to, to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome. Anyway, it's finally time for a Scales interview! Scales: Finally, I thought we'd never do another one of these. Me: Scales, how are you enjoying your new adventure so far? Scales: Not as much action as I had expected, but I think I love it anyway! Atlantis is a beautiful city. Me: Thank you. Now, since I can't think of much else to ask you that wouldn't be a little prying, let's see if we have any fan questions. Scales: Okay. Me: Maverick wanted to know whether weasels were predators. Scales: Yeah, weasels are predators, why? Me: Well, I think he's wondering about whether or not you eating the weasels in the last story counted as violating the predator's code. Scales: Weasels are mammals, so aren't members of the code. Besides, they're also sort of scavengers, so it wouldn't apply to them. Me: Sorry to cut it short, but that's all the time we have for today. See you soon! Scales: Don't forget to review. Please!