"They have almost finished the discussion.", the P.T. Winds informed him after what felt like ages, sounding quite thoughtful, before there was a short pause, "...Outrider Amber is coming to get you...Together with Dandelion Knight Jean."
That...Was actually really shocking to hear,
For this Timeline's Jean to want to get him...
*After what happened to this Timeline's Venti,
Which led to...The situation they were in now...
...
...
The Timer showed 11:19...
*In less than half a day, this Timeline was going to...
...
...
A weird timer appeared in the sky, right above Mondstadt, showing 24:00,
Seconds later, the time started ticking down and when it got to 00:00...
...
It rapidly started becoming darker and darker,
Soon enveloping everyone and everything in it...
...
Until it was pitch black, with no one and nothing around,
Vast and hollow darkness, that reache...
-V-Venti, are you alright...? -A familiar voice interrupted his thoughts, one coming from a worried looking Jean. -...Oh, I apologize...Even though you are also Venti, you are from a different Timeline and...
-I am fine with you calling me Venti, Jean. -He reassured her, upon showing her a small appreciative smile, before it fell moments later. Her question from before...He couldn't help but feel guilty. -...I can't lie by telling you I am alright. After hearing about what happened here...Amber already explained it, right...? -It wasn't really him, but it was still "him", so...-...The me from this Timeline's sacrifice and what it's going to lead to...This world, this Timeline is going to...I-in around 11 hours...
"...It's all going to end...A-and it's all "my" fault!", was what he couldn't say,
As he felt so guilty for what happened that...!
...
And now that he thought more deeply about this,
This same situation might have happened many times before...!
...
...
B-because he died...A-and "Kairos"...!
A-all those Timelines were...!
-No one blames you for the world ending, Venti. Neither you or the Venti we all thought we knew. -Jean reassuringly told him, as she looked a little surprised at the Crystaltears falling from his eyes, before moments later enveloping him into a warm hug. -...Venti sacrificed his life for us, believing that we will be able to continue living.
The ones at fault for all of this happening are the Abyss Order and they alone.
-...As well as my Twin. -Another familiar voice was heard from nearby, one that sounded both weak and guilt stricken. -If not for them leading the Abyss Order...
-It's not your fault either, Traveler. You two might be Twins, but you are still separate people. -Amber reassured them, before there was a short pause. -...Besides, if your Twin is even a little bit like you, the Abyss Order must have corrupted and used them. The same way they did to Dvalin a few years back...
She couldn't help but soon add, sounding quite sad,
And at this point, Jean finally let go of the hug...
-We should go in now. We shouldn't have them wait for long. Especially the children...-She soon said, looking and sounding quite serious, as well as a little sorrowful. -Once they heard that Venti is here, even if it's another Venti…
Jean soon showed him a small smile,
One that should have probably been reassuring, but...
...
He wasn't in the least bit surprised why it was more sad than anything...
*Considering that this world...This Timeline is soon going to...
-Welcome to our "Secret base", Venti!
-...You are Venti, right...?
-A Future Venti is still Venti!
-...That's right! Venti is Venti!
-Venti, can you tell me a story about this "Future Timeline" you are from?
-Just playing with Venti should be enough! The grown-ups said that something bad is coming...
-...Lily wants to play with Mommy and Daddy and Venti before the bad thing happens!
The familiar-looking-yet-different children suddenly ran in and started a small "discussion",
One which was enthusiastic, though he could still feel slight worry coming from each one of them...
*So they too, although still very young, could still feel that something was wrong...
...
"The grown-ups said that something bad is coming..."
He wasn't surprised that this is all they were told,
Since if they knew all the details, it would have surely broken them in pieces...
...
And it was all "His" fault that the Timeline was now...!
"No one blames you for the world ending, Venti. Neither you or the Venti we all thought we knew.
...Venti sacrificed his life for us, believing that we will be able to continue living.
The ones at fault for all of this happening are the Abyss Order and they alone."
...
And yet, because he died, "Kairos"...
*It was an undeniable truth...
...
...
...
Staying with the children until the very end was the least he could do...
-Sure, I would be glad to spend time with you all! -He made sure to soon tell them, trying to look and sound as cheery as possible. Their last "moments"(hours) should be spent in happiness, not sadness. -...So, what do you want to do first? Play a game together...? Sing a song or a few...? Or perhaps you want me to "reveal" my wings and let you groom them...?
Just as he promised them, Venti spent time with the children,
Playing with them, singing them songs and letting them groom his wings,
And he also made sure to tell them different stories of the "future"/his own Timeline...
*Everyone was listening to those stories, both the children and the adults,
And he understood quite well why the latter decided to join in...
...
They needed to have some solace, however small it was,
And knowing that things went a lot better in a future Timeline was just that...
...
...
The Archon wished he could do more to help them out,
But trying to use his Time Power for this...
*Not only did he not know if it would actually work,
If those GUYS wouldn't notice and punish him, that is...
...
But by trying to change this Timeline now,
What if his own Timeline never comes...?
...
...
...
He might have been selfish, perhaps even cruel,
But just imagining the Mondstadt he knows and his children,
As well as friends from the other nations, including Morax and the Traveler...
*Imagining all of them never existing and his time together with them never happening...
...
As sorrowful and guilt stricken as he felt for what was going to happen in this Timeline,
He couldn't bring himself to do anything that would actually stop it from "Resetting"...
...
...
Even though he could have at least tried...
...
"There is also a chance that you might have died during the process.", the Winds suddenly said, their voice unreadable, "...So you trying to change this Timeline's Fate wouldn't have worked and could have doomed even your own."
They added in some sadness and regret,
Before becoming completely silent...
...
...
He knew that the Winds were right,
Things could have gone extremely wrong if he tried...
*But he still couldn't help but feel guilty for his inaction,
Though he did everything he could to not show it in any way or form...
...
...
He simply continued spending time with the children,
He simply continued doing what they wanted to do together,
He simply continued telling stories of the "Future Timeline" he was from...
*He simply continued to ignore the imminent danger, as time was quickly running out...
...
...
And before long, the countdown struck 00:00,
Telling him and everyone else that it was finally time...
...
A weird timer appeared in the sky, right above Mondstadt, showing 24:00,
Seconds later, the time started ticking down and when it got to 00:00...
...
It rapidly started becoming darker and darker,
Soon enveloping everyone and everything in it...
...
Until it was pitch black, with no one and nothing around,
Vast and hollow darkness, that reached far and wide...
...
And then, after an unknown amount of time,
There was suddenly light...
...
...
It was time for a reset...
...
…
As people soon started saying goodbyes to each other,,
With friends and family hugging one another for one last time…
*A situation that he tried hard to ignore, feeling extremely guilty for what was now happening…
…
-...Goodbye, Ba…Venti. Take care of yourself, alright…?
-Bye, Venti! Let's play again sometime, okay?
-Thank you for staying with us, Venti! Gnooming your wings was really fun!
-No! Hearing all those stories was better! I also want to try this "Fun Place"!
-Thank you for helping the children in this difficult time, "my"…No, my Archon.
-...I will "Meet you later", Venti. Help me remember then, okay…?
This and more, all directed towards him, of all people…
*T-they even…Even the children, their parents and the Traveler…
…
…
The more he listened to their words and saw their expressions,
He couldn't help but feel his guilt rise even more…
*I-if not for "him", then…T-they wouldn't need to…!
…
…
…
Oh, this "familiar" darkness,
He was "here" now…
*All alone…
…
In the dark void…
…
...
...
"...BaRbAtOs...? HoW aRe YoU...?", he suddenly heard a familiar voice say in his head, one which sounded wishful, before there was short pause, "...No, the Barbatos of this Timeline is already...", the voice continued in hopelessness, "...I am going to send you back to your own Timeline now.", she continued in a more serious tone, as moments later he felt the energy around him shift, "...Take care of yourself, alright...? My recklessly foolish child..."
He heard her added in both sadness and fondness,
Right before everything around him turned pitch black...
SOB
SOB
SOB
Venti "woke up" to the sound of crying,
And upon opening his eyes, was greeted with a familiar sight...
*So he was in his and Barbara's room now...
SOB
SOB
SOB
But this constant crying,
It sounded so...Near...
...
...
There was a head of blond hair, laying on top of his chest,
And those familiar pigtails...
-...Barbara...? Why are you...? -He started in confusion, his words soon trailing off, as she held her head up and he saw her crying face. Her reddened face full of tears...-...You are...! H-how long were you...?!
He couldn't help but soon say, using his "Archon Voice" in his confusion and shock,
Both of which rose even more when the Deaconess' crying seemed to have become even heavier...
-...V-Venti...Y-you...A-are you...R-really...? -Was what she managed to shakily say between sobs, looking and sounding both anguished and disbelieving. -...Y-you weren't...! Y-you weren't...W-waking up...! N-no matter...W-what everyone...! N-no matter...W-what I...T-tried...! -She tearfully exclaimed, upon motioning to the worried looking people around the bed. Jean, Seamus, Albedo, Rosaria...Wait...Empty vials...? A lot of them...A-are those...?! -...I-I even...T-tried the...A-Anemo..."potions"...W-with a kiss...! A-and still...Y-you wouldn't...Y-you wouldn't...J-just like...I-if you...W-were dead...! -She almost broke down, her expression even more miserable now. -...I-I though...I-I though...Y-you were...D-dead...!