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Description
Time Trials: Spectator Entry

The Fool and the World: Entry 1

Time is like a stream.  Ever flowing forward, merging and splitting into new ones.  It always flows one way and never back.  One may swim upstream, but they will always be carried back by the current of the river.  One can change the course of the river to how they see fit or even stall it, but they cannot stop its flow.  Unlike a stream, time is eternal and will forever flow.

-*-

It is quite interesting watching how mortals go on despite the knowledge that they may die at any moment.  To go through so much torment and adversity, yet they continue to move on.  They take such risks to achieve their goals and dreams, which risk being shattered should they fall.  I must admit, it is quite fascinating.

More so in the case of Mr. Spectre.  Why the interest in the detective you may ask?  The reason being his struggle to move on.  Constantly he faces such misery and despair that pushes the boundaries of his sanity, forever haunted by the visions of the past and horrors of the present.  Even his earliest memories are filled with such nightmares.  Though, that is the consequence of being such a gifted seer.

'A seer?  Dedrick?  Shouldn't he be able to scry the timeline like you?' you may ask.  A good question indeed, but the answer is simple seeing that he wears inhibitors to limit his visions.  From a very early age, Mr. Spectre has had a natural affinity for the art of divination, receiving visions with incredible accuracy.  This has been more of a curse than a blessing due to the fact he would be bombarded uncontrollably with visions of death and misfortune.

In order to keep from succumbing to his insanity, he was forced to wear many inhibitors upon his person in order to severally reduce the amount of visions he would receive.  While his abilities could surpass mine in terms of divination, he is forced to live with but a fraction of the power he may have been able to possess.  A power he would gladly throw away.

"Reminiscing again, Oracle?  You'll grow old if you're always doing that.  Oh wait, you don't age, I'd forgotten about that!" A hearty laugh came from behind me.  Such a voice of childish excitement and deceptively sage knowledge belongs to two such individuals, but one of them is traveling in a blue police box in a parallel universe.  As such, there could be only one person that voice belongs to.

"I have all the time in the world, Mr. Time."  I shifted in my seat to face Father Time, whose signature grin adorned his face.  "And yes, I am aware of the irony of what I have said and I would appreciate it if you would not comment on it."

"I wasn't going to say anything," Father Time childishly tried to hide his coy tone.

"Never mind, there was a reason you came to see me, was there not?"

"Hm?  Oh, right!  I came to thank you for referring Cousin Ted to me.  He's been quite helpful and it's nice not being alone in the Realm of Time."

"I am assuming this event happens at some point of the future considering I have yet to experience it, Mr. Time.  Perhaps it would be easier if you heeded my advice from my last visit and record the dates of our encounters.  It would make things easier for both of us."

"Now where's the fun in that?"

Never one to listen to reason, are you?

"I suppose you are correct.  As minute as the simple action is, it does help in relieving the boredom that comes with living for eons, lest we lose our sanity otherwise."  It is quite amazing that someone as childish and foolhardy as Father Time is so much like the Doctor.

"And while we're on Cousin Ted, where is he?  I can't seem to remember where he is at this moment in time."

"He is currently on his way here from the kitchen.  I requested that he bring some tea and sweets for our meeting.  He makes a delightful rose petal tea, I must say."

"Speaking of Ted, he should be here in: 3...2...1...Bingo!"

The said shadow entered the room the moment Father Time began to say 'Bingo!', while carrying a tray that held a kettle of tea, three cups, and an assortment of treats.  Cousin Ted has really outdone himself this time, I must admit.

"Hi, Oracle, I brought the tea and snacks like you wanted," placing the tray on the small table I was sitting at.  It is quite rare and refreshing to see a demon of the shadow as pacifistic as Cousin Ted.  I wonder where I met him on my own journey?  It would be easy to simply scry the future to find out, but where is the fun in that?

"Thank you, Mr. Ted, you have been most helpful.  Would you be so kind as to remind Mr. Spectre and Ms. Fiona that their match is starting soon?  I would greatly appreciate it."

"Sure thing, Oracle," forming an arm out of his amorphous body and giving a playful salute.  "I wanted to see Fiona again, she's really nice to me and fun to play with.  See you both later!" Ted yelled back as he quickly left to pester the detective and ghost.

"It still surprises me that a shadow demon like Ted exists in the multiverse.  It's simply fantastic!" Father Time made no effort to hide jubilant demeanor at the thought of seeing a proverbial black sheep of such a violent species.

"Quite.  Care for a cup of tea, Mr. Time?" I gestured towards the tea set that sat on the table.

"Don't mind if I do!" Taking the seat across from me at the small table.  "Ted can make a wicked strawberry tart," quickly taking the dessert from the tray and gobbling it up in the blink of an eye.  "Now, what's the reason you called me out in private, Oracle?  As much as I wish you'd just come over for a visit to talk once in a while, you never do anything without a purpose."

Perceptive as always.  I truly wish I could afford the luxury of forming the bonds he makes with others.

"I am afraid you are correct, Mr. Time."  Conversations would be much easier if I could project emotion like other sentients.  Even imitating them doesn't seem to hold the gravity of using real emotions.  "I did not call you here for the luxury of a simple chat.  For you see, something is attempting to interfere with the timeline you have set for the contestants."

"We can't have that now can we?  I'm assuming I won't be able to simply eject it from the timestream like normal, am I right?"

"Correct.  Whatever this threat is seems to be an anomaly that spawned from time itself.  I am not able to scry whatever it is, but I believe I know its aim."

"I'm not going to like what I'm about to hear, am I?"

I paused in silence for a few moments.  The grim look that quickly adorned Father Time's face was enough for me to know he had gotten his answer.  "Tell me, Mr. Time, when was the last time you heard of the Forbidden Stone?"

Description
Time Trials: Spectator Entry

The Fool and the World: Entry 1

Time is like a stream.  Ever flowing forward, merging and splitting into new ones.  It always flows one way and never back.  One may swim upstream, but they will always be carried back by the current of the river.  One can change the course of the river to how they see fit or even stall it, but they cannot stop its flow.  Unlike a stream, time is eternal and will forever flow.

-*-

It is quite interesting watching how mortals go on despite the knowledge that they may die at any moment.  To go through so much torment and adversity, yet they continue to move on.  They take such risks to achieve their goals and dreams, which risk being shattered should they fall.  I must admit, it is quite fascinating.

More so in the case of Mr. Spectre.  Why the interest in the detective you may ask?  The reason being his struggle to move on.  Constantly he faces such misery and despair that pushes the boundaries of his sanity, forever haunted by the visions of the past and horrors of the present.  Even his earliest memories are filled with such nightmares.  Though, that is the consequence of being such a gifted seer.

'A seer?  Dedrick?  Shouldn't he be able to scry the timeline like you?' you may ask.  A good question indeed, but the answer is simple seeing that he wears inhibitors to limit his visions.  From a very early age, Mr. Spectre has had a natural affinity for the art of divination, receiving visions with incredible accuracy.  This has been more of a curse than a blessing due to the fact he would be bombarded uncontrollably with visions of death and misfortune.

In order to keep from succumbing to his insanity, he was forced to wear many inhibitors upon his person in order to severally reduce the amount of visions he would receive.  While his abilities could surpass mine in terms of divination, he is forced to live with but a fraction of the power he may have been able to possess.  A power he would gladly throw away.

"Reminiscing again, Oracle?  You'll grow old if you're always doing that.  Oh wait, you don't age, I'd forgotten about that!" A hearty laugh came from behind me.  Such a voice of childish excitement and deceptively sage knowledge belongs to two such individuals, but one of them is traveling in a blue police box in a parallel universe.  As such, there could be only one person that voice belongs to.

"I have all the time in the world, Mr. Time."  I shifted in my seat to face Father Time, whose signature grin adorned his face.  "And yes, I am aware of the irony of what I have said and I would appreciate it if you would not comment on it."

"I wasn't going to say anything," Father Time childishly tried to hide his coy tone.

"Never mind, there was a reason you came to see me, was there not?"

"Hm?  Oh, right!  I came to thank you for referring Cousin Ted to me.  He's been quite helpful and it's nice not being alone in the Realm of Time."

"I am assuming this event happens at some point of the future considering I have yet to experience it, Mr. Time.  Perhaps it would be easier if you heeded my advice from my last visit and record the dates of our encounters.  It would make things easier for both of us."

"Now where's the fun in that?"

Never one to listen to reason, are you?

"I suppose you are correct.  As minute as the simple action is, it does help in relieving the boredom that comes with living for eons, lest we lose our sanity otherwise."  It is quite amazing that someone as childish and foolhardy as Father Time is so much like the Doctor.

"And while we're on Cousin Ted, where is he?  I can't seem to remember where he is at this moment in time."

"He is currently on his way here from the kitchen.  I requested that he bring some tea and sweets for our meeting.  He makes a delightful rose petal tea, I must say."

"Speaking of Ted, he should be here in: 3...2...1...Bingo!"

The said shadow entered the room the moment Father Time began to say 'Bingo!', while carrying a tray that held a kettle of tea, three cups, and an assortment of treats.  Cousin Ted has really outdone himself this time, I must admit.

"Hi, Oracle, I brought the tea and snacks like you wanted," placing the tray on the small table I was sitting at.  It is quite rare and refreshing to see a demon of the shadow as pacifistic as Cousin Ted.  I wonder where I met him on my own journey?  It would be easy to simply scry the future to find out, but where is the fun in that?

"Thank you, Mr. Ted, you have been most helpful.  Would you be so kind as to remind Mr. Spectre and Ms. Fiona that their match is starting soon?  I would greatly appreciate it."

"Sure thing, Oracle," forming an arm out of his amorphous body and giving a playful salute.  "I wanted to see Fiona again, she's really nice to me and fun to play with.  See you both later!" Ted yelled back as he quickly left to pester the detective and ghost.

"It still surprises me that a shadow demon like Ted exists in the multiverse.  It's simply fantastic!" Father Time made no effort to hide jubilant demeanor at the thought of seeing a proverbial black sheep of such a violent species.

"Quite.  Care for a cup of tea, Mr. Time?" I gestured towards the tea set that sat on the table.

"Don't mind if I do!" Taking the seat across from me at the small table.  "Ted can make a wicked strawberry tart," quickly taking the dessert from the tray and gobbling it up in the blink of an eye.  "Now, what's the reason you called me out in private, Oracle?  As much as I wish you'd just come over for a visit to talk once in a while, you never do anything without a purpose."

Perceptive as always.  I truly wish I could afford the luxury of forming the bonds he makes with others.

"I am afraid you are correct, Mr. Time."  Conversations would be much easier if I could project emotion like other sentients.  Even imitating them doesn't seem to hold the gravity of using real emotions.  "I did not call you here for the luxury of a simple chat.  For you see, something is attempting to interfere with the timeline you have set for the contestants."

"We can't have that now can we?  I'm assuming I won't be able to simply eject it from the timestream like normal, am I right?"

"Correct.  Whatever this threat is seems to be an anomaly that spawned from time itself.  I am not able to scry whatever it is, but I believe I know its aim."

"I'm not going to like what I'm about to hear, am I?"

I paused in silence for a few moments.  The grim look that quickly adorned Father Time's face was enough for me to know he had gotten his answer.  "Tell me, Mr. Time, when was the last time you heard of the Forbidden Stone?"