The Ancient of Death, Cronos, hovered silently within the Nexus of the Ancients. The Nexus was where the Ancients assembled to discuss events of great significance. Their abilities were at their zenith here. Furthermore, the Nexus didn't belong to either Earth or the Ghost Zone, as it existed outside of both. You could only get in with an invitation. Moreover, any measures taken within the Nexus could only be undone if the Ancients worked together to undo what they'd chosen to do.
Currently, nothing was going on to call forth a gathering. However, Cronos need solitude to think. Usually, when he required isolation, to think he'd be at his mausoleum residence. However, his wife, Dreama, had consented to host a baby shower for a distant relative. Hence he wouldn't have had the peace and quiet to think properly. He was grateful his son, Kai, was on a date with his boyfriend, Empathy.
He knew his son didn't want to be around the baby shower either. Therefore, Kai and Empathy went to the Haunted Theater. Either way, Cronos had come here to collect his thoughts. It'd been particularly an exhausting time for him lately. Yet, as the Ancient of Death, it remained his obligation to ensure all souls in the entire multiverse ended up in their correct afterlife, whether human, ghosts, or animals.
The last three years with the COVID-19 pandemic had left him beyond depleted. Following three years of the massive death tolls had drained the Ancient of virtually all his capabilities. Then there was an incident where the Rainbow Bridge for animal souls collapsed. Consequently, he depleted more of his powers, attempting to restore the bridge. But, of course, he also had to ensure the other side where the souls resided was stabilized. So yes, after three years, the Ancient of Death was sapped.
Also, the symbiotic nature of Earth and the Ghost Zone had only correspondingly increased the ghosts' death rate. Ghosts were not the spirits of the departed humans but rather an independent race that branched off from humans and evolved into their own species. So, yes, ghosts were, in fact, alive. Therefore, they could perish as well. So yes, in the past three years, there have been more than enough meaningless deaths in each domain.
He was so tired he couldn't detect that an individual had entered the council chamber. "Cronos? What are you doing here?" a charming voice questioned.
He looked up and noticed his counterpart. Vida, the Ancient Ghost of Life. Unlike his doom-and-gloom attire, she wore brilliant colors and seemed naturally upbeat. "Vida, I wasn't aware anyone else was here," Cronos replied in his deadpan tone.
"Well, I've got a hunch we're both here because we need some alone time to think. These past three years haven't been easy on either of us. Between the pandemic, political violence, and complete disregard for life," the typically optimistic spirit seemed quite downcasted.
"You seem as exhausted as I am," he noted. He could see she had a few bags under her eyes. She was also moving at a slower pace then average. Unquestionably revealing, she was also depleted of energy.
She nodded, "I am, Cronos. I've been working hard alongside my husband, Undergrowth, and our fellow Ancient Tempest to try and rejuvenate life on Earth so life may continue here. After all, what happens to one world affects us all. We all depend on the balance," she replied wearily.
"I fear what will happen if the Earth dies. What would that mean for our world? Would our world also die with it? We're two halves of the same coin! We cannot exist without each other!" Cronos spoke slightly more passionately then normal.
Again his counterpart nodded, "I dread that thought as well, my friend. Also, as Dynama would say, the energy an individual release into their world only grows stronger with time. There is far too much antagonistic energy. I spoke with her regarding this just the other day. She informed me that if the hostile energy on Earth isn't subdued soon, more of our kind will go rogue. Which will only lead to other crises," she relayed fearfully.
Now he nodded, "All of us depend on one another. We balance each other out and help both our realms. I wish we had more opportunities to meet the Heavenly Father," Cronos lamented.
"Yes, I agree. God does his most suitable to look after his children. However, if He or his son came here occasionally for a discussion? We might contrive a more suitable strategy to benefit both worlds," Vida remarked sadly. This wasn't the first time this particular topic had been brought up. Honestly, it had been brought up more frequently as the months passed.
Cronos gave his friend a stern look, "Before you ask if I know how to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, then the answer is no. Like with our Nexus, you need the big guy's permission to enter his territory."
Vida clenched her fist tightly, hearing those words, "There must be some way to have the Almighty send someone to help us! I can't imagine that, as the Father of Humanity, he'd approve of what his children do nowadays. Nor do I believe he honestly desires Armageddon to pass," Vida pointed out reasonably.
Cronos just looked even more cynical then usual. "He may say he'd coming back to judge the living and the dead. Yet, I also agree He presumably did not desire his children to bring it upon themselves. Regardless, Vida, Earth has become so tainted. Unfortunately, this has yielded a great spread of that toxicity within our domain. We're both falling apart at the seams. Consequently, the sole solution is to work together at this point."
"Do you think He might respond better if we asked Lilith to visit him? Or at least attempt to?" Vida questioned abruptly.
Cronos raised an eyebrow. "Why do you think Clockwork's wife may have more success then the rest of us?"
"Well, she's only an honorary Ancient. Her two primary responsibilities are keeping track of everyone and instructing those with Ghost Genes on utilizing their abilities. She's also one of the few human souls to truthfully become a ghost in the way humans think we are."
"We may give several souls a choice to be converted into one of us. However, that isn't a given. Moreover, it's a personal choice that most would rather not make."
"I understand, Cronos. Unfortunately, however, she might be the only one to persuade the Heavenly Father to dispatch a delegate to address the growing crisis threatening both our worlds," Vida stated plainly to her friend.
"We should hold a formal meeting to discuss it further. Nevertheless, you've got the best idea of how to proceed. There unquestionably needs to be some divine intervention and otherworldly assistance if we don't want either of our people to face annihilation," Cronos replied with a large yawn.
Naturally, Vida also yawned, "I recommend meeting with our comrades tomorrow to discuss the matter further. For now? We both need a goodnight's sleep. So I bid you goodbye for now."
"Same to you," as the two ghosts left the Nexus full of uncertainty for everyone in the multiverse future.
Vida- Nicole Oliver. The most famous role to date is Princess Celestia of MLP.
Cronos- Mark Acheson- Lord Tirek- the final villain of season 4 MLP.