Neil's Message

"The Orb!," gasped Johan as a beam of light shot past them.

His gut told him that Athelion was heading for it, and that beam of light was him.

"We must hurry!," growled Hanuman. "I need the power from that orb for my youthful reincarnation!"

BOOM!

The pathway in front of them was consumed by smoke as something from outside the path crashed into it. Fear consumed Johan as the first thought was that it was Athelion. If Athelion had decided to double back and finish them off even if weakened, Johan knew that he would be powerless.

"STOP!," boomed a mysterious voice.

Johan froze.

In front of them stood the Prophet. He had once again made an appearance.

"This is a bad time!," yelled Johan. "Athelion is going to get the orb."

"I know," said the Prophet. "and he will. Of all the possible timelines I have witnessed, this is the best option for your increase in strength. You became your strongest self when Athelion obtained the orb."

Johan looked at the Prophet in disbelief.

"ARE YOU CRAZY!?," Johan shot forward trying to pass the Prophet, but the Prophet stuck out his arm caught him and threw him back.

"Johan," said the Prophet. "Calm down and listen. There is something coming that is much worse than Athelion."

The Prophet took off his hood, and to Johan's surprise he saw an older Neil staring back at him.

"NEIL!?," said Johan. "YOU ARE THE PROPHET!?"

"This is the first time I've revealed myself," said Neil. "Of all the versions of us that traveled back, none did before. But this time, I realised that extreme action has to be taken. The ritual you performed is taxing the space time continuum. Soon, it might not be possible, and if that happens ... and we loose. That is it ... its over."

"Who is this boy, son?," asked JD. "Is this the boy you were telling me about, the one who spent time with you in the pit? Your friend?"

Hanuman stood still looking at Neil curiously.

"Something is coming," said Neil. "Much worse than Athelion. I have been in the process of getting help, a powerful enemy who if made a friend can become game changer. Athelion starts the great war, changes the course of history. But despite his ruthless methodologies, it is still a world that can be lived in. I dare say, he prepares the population for survival better against the creature than the rest."

Questions flooded Johan's head. He had seen Neil when he had gone back in time. Neil had killed a person. Could he trust this person? He felt as if he didn't know Neil anymore.

"You're saying that man isn't crazy!?," asked Johan. "He tried to kill me! He wants to conquer the Universe!"

"I can't say," said Neil. "Giving out too much information of what is to come might complicate the future in an unfavorable and unpredictable way. But he brings a sort of order over the kingdoms he rules."

"YOU EXPECT ME TO TRUST YOU WITH SO LITTLE INFORMATION!?," yelled Johan. "EVERYTHING IS IN CHAOS! THE CITY IS GOING TO GET DESTROYED, THE TURTLE IS GOING TO DESTROY THE CITY! ATHELION IS GOING TO GET THE ORB! BOTH WILL RESULT IN THE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN LOOKING GLASS CITY DYING! YET YOU EXPECT ME TO JUST LISTEN?"

"People will die," muttered Neil slowly. "But many more will die indefinitely if we cannot stop what is coming."

"HA HA HA HA!," roared Hanuman. "BUT IN ANY OF THOSE MEMORIES DID I RETURN!? WITH THE ORB I CAN RESURRECT AND I WILL DEFEAT ANYTHING IN MY WAY."

Neil stared hard at Hanuman and said, "You are the nobelist of creatures and you have my respect for what you have done and will do. However, I cannot speak no more of what I know. The timeline is fragile and the smallest of deviations and mistakes can make things non-predictable."

"THEN MOVE BOY!," boomed Hanuman raising his hand.

FOOSH!

Johan felt a gust of fog hit him and he flew off the ground.

Looking down he realized he was on Nimbus and they were flying towards the city at an incredibly fast speed with Hanuman and his father sitting next to him.

"Nimbus can do other things than just generate lightening?," gasped Johan.

"OF COURSE BOY!," laughed Hanuman. "A DIVINE ANIMAL MERGED WITH AN ARTIFACT UNDER UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES HE IS!"

Neil stared hard at them from the pathway as they flew away.

"But I thought I was the only one who could control him," said Johan in disbelief as they found themselves suddenly flying over Looking Glass City.

"NIMBUS IS MY LONG TIME FRIEND!," boomed Hanuman laughing. "JUST BECAUSE YOU GAINED HIS RESPECT DOESN'T MEAN HE WILL STOP HELPING ME!"

-- @ --

"Did you expect this to happen?," asked Dorlene who had appeared behind Neil.

"Well," said Neil. "No. I shouldn't have intervened. Whenever, I do, things proceed slightly differently. But I bought time. Athelion is going to get the orb. Furthermore, I don't think it is enough to cause major differences."

"But you accomplished what you wanted right?," said Dorlene.

"Yes," said Neil. "Athelion should have enough time to get the orb."

"Johan is going to hate you," said Dorlene. "After he sees what happens to his loved ones."

"I know," said Neil. "But it will pass. For now, lets help get this turtle closer to the city so that it can launch its attack ..."

Dorlene nodded grimly.

"I don't think what you are doing is right," said Dorlene.

"I need this to be done," said Neil. "Or I will never be satisfied."

"What if Silverblade tells Johan," said Dorlene. "That it was you that convinced the council to destroy Looking Glass City in all the realities. Even though you didn't use your real name, Johan might connect the dots."

"We will think about that when the time comes," said Neil.

Dorlene transformed into the Abode and Neil turned into a beam of light as he entered it.