After our return from Mobius, things seemed to catch up to full speed for us in Amaria after our eight-year reprieve from action. However, with each passing day, I always found myself the same question: why is it, that everywhere I go, the Living Paradox seems to follow? Those three little words seem to have a deeper meaning, and I only sense trouble is growing on the horizon…
“Nicole, tell me: is there any record of anything concerning the Living Paradox in our databanks?”, I asked out loud as I sat in the hot spring that sat outside my home, washing away what felt like centuries worth of fatigue. Nicole’s avatar appeared next to me and said, “Couldn’t it have waited until after you got out of the spring, Allen?” I chuckled softly at the AI’s shyness. “Come now, Nicole. This isn’t the first time you’ve seen me naked. Is there any info for me?”, I asked again, sitting next to a rock. “You said the Living Paradox? Should that title be important in any way?”, Nicole asked. I shook my head and said, “It may be nothing. Yet, ever since I awoke a few days ago, that title has been following me and it has me worried.”
Nicole frowned when I said that. “I’ll see what I can find. It’ll be a few minutes.”, she said. I sighed softly as I leaned back on the rock. I opened my eyes, only to see four pairs of eyes staring back at me from the other side of the hot spring. “What the?! Retsu, Tailsko, Shampoo, and Sophie too?! How long have you girls been in here?!”, I said, my face flushing bright red in embarrassment. Retsu smirked and said, “Still a kid. Well, if you must know ‘dear husband’, your lovely wives have been here long enough to overhear your conversation with Nicole.” I rolled my eyes as I tied a towel around my waist and said, “Wives. Man, it still never gets old to hear I’m married to four people instead of just one. Those were some weird times all those years ago, wasn’t it?” Shampoo giggled as she said, “Shampoo still think of it as yesterday! Still, you are being tormented by this ‘Living Paradox’ thing, Allen? What is it?” I shook my head when Shampoo asked. “No idea, but it has me worried beyond belief. Nicole, did you find anything?”, I asked, noticing Nicole’s avatar appear behind us. “Sorry, Allen, but it’s a restricted file. Access denied to search for files on the Living Paradox.”, she replied.
“Say what?! But that only happens if Retsu’s own memory doesn’t have any knowledge to it!”, I exclaimed, turning to the Celestian sitting on a nearby rock. “Sorry, Allen. The Living Paradox does ring a bell, but I can’t remember anything about it. I’m very sorry.”, she replied softly. I looked at her with a worried face, not just because I could tell she was lying, I could also see the fear in her eyes when the term was brought up. I put it aside as I heard Tails’ voice come up within Nicole’s hologram. “Something wrong, Tails? I can hear you.”, I asked. “Sorry, Allen. There’s work to be done. I need you to come down to HQ for a minute, it’s a bit urgent.”, Tails stated. “Alright then, I’m on my way.”, I replied.
After I quickly dried myself off and dressed into my clothes, I immediately went on my way to the heart of the city where the DPU Headquarters lied. As I walked inside, I smiled as I saw Leonidas showcasing a large cake to my little pixie sister Yuki. Unfortunately for him, the cake was chocolate…
“Morning, Leo! Morning, my little lady.”, I said, walking up near them. “Oh, good morning, Allen-oniichan! What brings you to HQ this morning? Got another important assignment today?”, Yuki asked, a sneaky hand reaching towards the chocolate cake. I nodded and said, “Yup, no rest for the wicked, as the saying goes. What’s with the cake, Leo?” Leonidas looked at the cake and said, “It’s for Ulala. I had figured it was high time to brush up on the ol’ cooking skills after such a long time of being in the kitchen. I do hope she likes it.” I chuckled and said, “You are indeed a great cook, Leo. Unfortunately, I don’t think Ulala is going to even get to taste the cake this time.” Leo raised an eyebrow when I said that, only to see me motion to where the cake used to stand, a chocolate covered Yuki floating right in front of him. “Like, how did you put that all away, DeBlanc?!”, he asked, shocked beyond belief. “It’s a gift.”, she said, wiping her lips with a small handkerchief. She looked at me and said, “You’ll find Tails in the Orb Room, Allen.” I raised an eyebrow in confusion when Yuki said that. “Why would he be in there? The Dimensional Orb was destroyed when….HE created the Dark Resign with it.”, I said, a chill running down my spine from remembering the first encounter with Arufunu.
“That’s the thing, Allen: when you defeated him, the Dimensional Orb reappeared in the compound a couple of years later, as well as Retsu’s memory of what it was really supposed to be. It’s not just a power source as we thought it was. It’s a computer that details a really intensive map of every universe and dimension that we have discovered thus far in the multiverse!”, Yuki stated. My eyes widened when she said that, and I immediately bolted for the Orb Room to find Tails looking at a photo of himself and Cosmo back when he was still 8. “Even after all this time, you still miss her, huh little bro?”, I asked softly. He nodded and said, “During the war, a lot of things was irretrievable. One of those things ended up being her seed. We searched all over, but we couldn’t find it. I guess she really is gone forever, huh?” I patted his back gently and smiled at him softly. He placed the photo into his jacket then placed a hand on the Dimensional Orb, a large map of the Dimensional Rift appearing around us within a split second.
“Wowww, this is amazing! I never knew that the Orb could do such a thing. So, Retsu remembered how it could do this, huh?”, I asked Tails while looking at the many twists and turns of the Dimensional Rift we have traveled on, each one of them bleeding out of the center where Amaria lied. “Yeah, she did. But, that’s not what I wanted to show you. If you’d take a look over in the northern quadrant, you may notice something a bit peculiar.”, Tails said, pointing over in the topmost section of the map. I eyed that section carefully as a flash of gold appeared in the black cloud, moving frantically all over it. “What the heck was that?”, I asked. Tails shook his head and said, “We haven’t the slightest idea, but it has happened frequently during the eight years you were asleep. Also, there was an odd sound linked to that light, listen.” Tails tapped on his arm as a sound played from it, which resembled the grinding of really rusty brakes. I closed my eyes and groaned slightly, Tails looked at me in worry. “Something wrong, Allen?”, he asked, noticing the Sacred Seal flickering on my forehead.
“That sound….it sounds familiar….but that can’t be, I’ve only heard it just now.”, I said with a confused face. “Maybe you’re just imagining it, Allen.”, Tails said, taking hold of my left wrist and turning the dial on the Aelitatrix a few times. “Maybe….but I still have the feeling that I know that sound.”, I stated with certainty. “Well, you’ll be able to figure out what it is now. I inputted the coordinates of the location of this weird signal into Trixie, she’ll lead you right there.”, Tails stated, Trixie beeping slightly. “Alright then, I’m off! Gangway!”, I exclaimed, shattering into the Dimensional Rift. As it closed behind me, Tails sighed as he said, “He does have memories from somewhere else. Looks like your theory was right, Nana.” He looked behind him as Dr. Hines walked up behind him and said, “It is rumored that the Final Resolution Mode can send a conscious mind to another universe while the body is dormant. With the reaction of the Millennium Puzzle and the Sacred Seal during Allen’s slumber, I am entirely convinced he was still awake somewhere else, living within the body and soul of another being. That sound may just help us figure out more.”
As Tails and my grandmother theorized on this, I sped along the passages of the Dimensional Rift towards the location of the disturbance. Even now, I still cannot shake off the feeling that I know of the noise from somewhere. The question is: WHERE? After a few minutes passed, I finally arrived at the destination Trixie had lead me…
I panted heavily as I crouched down inside the Rift. I looked around at the many winding tunnels and frowned as I said, “Well, this is the place. And yet, there’s nothing here! Just a bunch of winding paths! What am I supposed to be looking, Tails!?” Trixie beeped as Tails’ voice rang out from within her saying, “Sorry, Allen. If I had more information to go on, I would tell you. All that we have is that weird noise and nothing more than that! Just keep your eyes peeled for anything out of the ordinary!” I snorted as I kept looking around, not seeing anything strange at all. Yami floated next to me as he said, “Something’s troubling you, Allen. I can sense it.” I chuckled as I said, “You’d be right. It was that sound Tails played back in Amaria. I know I wasn’t imagining it: I definitely heard that sound before. I just wish where I have heard of it before.”
Meanwhile, further down the Rift, the sound of grinding gears filled the area as a flying contraption flew around the Rift, crossing through time and space as it continued on its journey. Branded upon it were the words ‘Police Public Call Box’, words that have been seen throughout the many centuries of the universe. We journey within this strange vessel to find an entirely new world that is bigger on the inside than the box outside and find two time travelers…
“Sleepy Hollow? Why do you want to go to Sleepy Hollow so badly, Clara?”, said an elderly man, walking around what appeared to be the many controls of the strange vessel. “Oh come on, Doctor! We actually found Robin Hood, of all people! Who’s to say that the Legend of Sleepy Hollow isn’t true either? Besides, it is Halloween. Think about it: an adventure of ghouls, goblins, and one of the most infamous monsters of all time. Now, doesn’t it just excite you to think that you could be the very first person to match wits with the Headless Horseman?”, Clara replied. The Doctor sighed and said, “As tempting as that sounds, Clara, I can’t. The TARDIS refuses to land in that time. I have tried for centuries to land in 1790, but she just won’t do it.” Clara raised an eyebrow as she looked over at the TARDIS console as it whined slightly. “That may mean something, Doctor.”, she said softly as she walked down a flight of stairs down into the further depths of the spaceship.
Meanwhile…
“Allen, duck!”, Yami stated. I raised an eyebrow in confusion as I heard that peculiar noise again. I looked to my right as I got slammed into something. I shook my head as I looked and said, “A box! Tails, it’s some sort of weird box!” Trixie beeped again as Tails said, “A box? What kind of box?” I looked at the flying contraption and said, “A telephone booth of some sort. The make is definitely London, perhaps something from the 1960’s from how it looks! It’s got the words ‘Police Public Call Box’ on the top of it. I think this thing is some sort of spaceship or something!” Retsu looked at Tails back in the lab and said, “Allen, is this box blue, by any chance?” I looked at Trixie in confusion and said, “Why yes, yes it is. Does that mean anything to you, Retsu?” Retsu’s eyes widened when I said that. “Have Trixie scan that box! Immediately! What she shows you may surprise you.”, she said. “Alright then. Trixie, scan it.”, I replied. Trixie glowed brightly as a pale white light ran over the entire box, the entire make of the box being downloaded into her dataframe. “This is crazy! Allen, this thing has an entire world inside of it!”, Trixie stated.
“Say what, Trixie!?”, I exclaimed, clinging onto the box. “I see a bunch of corridors and many rooms, and the count is endless! It’s a world inside this thing! It’s bigger on the inside!”, Trixie replied. She beeped again and said, “Allen, I detect three life signals inside this thing as well. Two humanoid figures, the other is the vessel itself. This thing is like me: it’s sentient!” I nodded my head as my mind was finally made up. “Alright then, that settles it: we’re going in right now.”, I said, tugging on the door handle. I frowned as the door didn’t budge. ‘What the heck? It won’t open!’, I thought, tugging more and more on the handle. ‘Did you try knocking, Allen?’, Yami stated. I raised an eyebrow when he said that, but I reluctantly knocked on the door immediately.
Within the TARDIS…
Clara and the Doctor looked at the doors as they both heard a knock at it. Clara looked at the Doctor and said, “Was that a knock at the door?” He moved away from the console and said, “That’s not possible. We’re still inside the time vortex, nothing can be out there!” The Doctor’s eyes widened as he heard the door being knocked on again. “If we are in the time vortex still, then what is that?”, Clara asked, looking at the doors with worry. The Doctor walked over to the doors slowly and said, “Let’s find out then, shall we?”
Back outside the TARDIS doors….
“Ah, screw it! Trixie, we’re going in the old-fashioned way! If this does have a dimension within it, then I can easily break inside!”, I said. “Alright then, but be careful. Dimensional Key activated, dimension has been scanned and accessed. You are cleared for entry!”, Trixie stated. “Gangway!!”, I exclaimed, shattering the dimension around the box, breaking into the inner confines of it. As I did that, the Doctor opened the front doors wide, looking around as he said, “Hello? Anyone out here?” His eyes turned into a look of horror as a loud bell was heard from within. “The Cloister bell! But why? Why would it be ringing, of all times, WHY?”, he exclaimed as he closed the doors behind him. Clara looked at the Doctor as he went over to the console and said, “What’s wrong, Doctor?” The Doctor flipped a few switches on the console and said, “I don’t know. After we heard that strange knocking, the TARDIS sounded the Cloister bell. That is like an alarm and it is only heard during times of danger.”
Clara looked at him with worry and said, “So, we’re in danger by an unknown entity that we can’t find? How is that even possible?” The Doctor shook his head as he continue flipping switches and said, “I don’t know, Clara. I don’t know.”
Meanwhile, further within the TARDIS….
I groaned softly as I opened my eyes, letting them adjust to my surroundings. “Ow, that was not as gentle an entrance as I would’ve figured. Where the heck am I, Trixie? …Trixie?”, I said as I looked at my left wrist, noticing that Trixie was no longer strapped to it. “Trixie?!”, I exclaimed as I stood to my feet, looking around to see nothing but bookshelves as far as the eye could see. “Wow, this place is huge. So many different books! If Retsu or Nana were here, they’d have a field day with this place.”, I stated as Yami appeared next to me and said, “It is rather impressive. However, how is this even possible? This place is even bigger than the Blue Typhoon, and that is one gigantic spaceship.” I nodded in agreement when he said that, but then my attention was redirected to see Trixie floating nearby a wall with weird symbols on it and she was ecstatic over it. I frowned as I walked closer and looked at the symbols, being incapable of reading them. “Trixie, what does this say?”, I asked. “I don’t know, Allen! I don’t know! Isn’t that wonderful?”, Trixie said, floating right next to my head. I raised an eyebrow in utter confusion when she said that. “But you’re the Aelitatrix! You have every single bit of language translation tech within you, so you should be able to read this!”, I stated.
“Not precisely the case with this language. This is Circular Gallifreyan, a language only Time Lords can read since the language has long since died with its creators. Nothing can translate it, not even I. No wonder this thing is bigger on the inside than the outside, this must be a TARDIS.”, Trixie stated, reattaching herself to my wrist. “Time Lord….TARDIS….”, I said softly, hearing a loud yell in my head. I groaned softly as I placed a hand to my forehead and said, “Yami, you heard that too, right?” Yami appeared beside me as he said, “That was definitely a yell. Question is, why?” Trixie beeped as she said, “Are you alright, Allen? You look pale.” I shook my head and said, “It’s nothing. My head is just playing tricks with me. Those words sound….so familiar for some reason. Trixie, is there anything you can tell me about the Time Lords? Anything at all?” Before Trixie could answer my question, a loud bell started to ring around us. The entire room lurched and pitched in different directions, tossing me all over the place. “What the heck is going on here, Trixie!?”, I asked, clinging onto a bookshelf. “A TARDIS is sentient, Allen, just like me! It’s really old technology derived from my design! Time Lords are direct descendants of the Celestian race!”, Trixie stated. “They’re WHAT?!”, I exclaimed as I lost my grip on the bookshelf, falling out of the door to who knows where within the TARDIS.
Meanwhile…
“Ok, ok, behave! What’s wrong, old girl? Give me some answers!”, The Doctor stated as he flipped a few switches, a map appearing on the console screen showing one moving blip within the TARDIS: one that did not correspond with him and Clara. His eyes widened when he saw that. “An intruder!? In MY TARDIS?! How?!”, the Time Lord stated, Clara clinging to one of the nearby side railings. “Doctor, what’s happening here? Explain!”, Clara exclaimed. “We have an intruder on the TARDIS! And this particular intruder must be insanely powerful enough to warp time and space! The Cloister bell only goes off if there is severe danger, Clara! That’s what we’re dealing with right now! The TARDIS isn’t following my controls anymore! We’re being tossed all through time, incapable of landing!”, the Doctor replied. “Then do something about the intruder then!”, Clara stated. “You’re about to get your wish! It’s coming straight to us!”, the Doctor said, taking his attention off of the console screen to hear a loud yell coming from the nearby corridor. His eyes widened as I fell into the console room, grabbing onto one of the gearshifts on the console. “Ok, enough! I want off the ride!”, I exclaimed as I clinged to the gearshift, it moving to an upright position as the entire vessel stopped suddenly.
I grunted as I fell to the floor on my stomach, coughing roughly as I weakly said, “That wasn’t a pleasant landing at all.” The Doctor stood to his feet as he grabbed Clara and I and said, “Out! Out out out!” My eyes widened as the three of us exited the TARDIS. I looked back as I saw it glow slightly, then vanish without a trace. “No, no! Come back! Why do I keep forgetting to turn the HADS off?”, the Doctor exclaimed. He sighed softly as Clara looked at him with a cross face and said, “Doctor, are we stranded here?” The Doctor frowned deeply and said, “It appears so. Now…WHO ARE YOU?” My eyes widened as he turned to me with a look that spelled death. “And try not to lie. You could’ve destroyed the TARDIS and killed my friend for your intrusion!”, he continued. “Could I at least let my eyes adjust first before you scold me? I hit a lot of things in there and my head is splitting wide open.”, I said as I slowly stood to my feet and said, “Ok, where to begin? I am certain you two have a lot of questions.”
The Doctor frowned even harder as he said once again, “WHO ARE YOU?” I was just about to answer his question when Clara said, “Allen? Allen Henegan?” I raised an eyebrow and said, “Yeah, that’s me. At least one of you know me already.” The Doctor’s eyes as he looked at Clara with a shocked face. “What did you say, Clara?”, he asked. “He’s Allen Henegan. He’s been in the news loads of times, so I recognize his face. The famous Aelitatrix bearer, President of the Dimensional Protection Unit, and Mayor of the City of Amaria Allen Henegan himself. That’s who this guy is, Doctor.” He then returned his attention to me and said, “You….you’re really him? Honestly?” I nodded in agreement and got a shock as he hugged me tightly and said, “I never thought you’d make it back. It’s good to see you again, old friend.” I looked at the Doctor and said, “Old friend? Have we met before?” The Doctor was just about to reply when Trixie said, “DNA connection confirmed! Celestian DNA link detected with the Time Lord known as the Doctor and Retsu Taimukipa! Uploading to Aelitatrix bearer NOW!”
“Uh-oh. Not again!”, I said, my entire body shaking violently as a bunch of memories flashed by my eyes: memories that belonged to the Doctor. ‘Wow, he’s lived for so long. The longevity of the Time Lords are something else, huh Yami?’, I thought, watching as Yami watched the memories flash past us in my head. “Indeed, this man has seen some rather unbelievable things. …Wait, what was that?”, he said, noticing one memory fly past us. I frowned as my attention grabbed the memory as I saw one of the Doctor’s forms standing alongside what seemed to be another form of him and a few other beings, equine in form. However, my attention was immediately drawn to the one equine that sported the Sacred Seal on his clothing. I groaned loudly in pain as a yell screamed out around us. I looked around us quickly as I saw that same being a good distance away from us, the odd part was that he was chained to what seemed to be the Sacred Seal as well. ‘Who….who are you?’, I thought slightly as the being looked at me with red eyes and said, “I…am….you.”
I gasped loudly as my attention was returned to the world outside my head as Trixie said, “Link activated.” I panted heavily as I looked at the Doctor and said, “The blue equine, you know him. Why is he in my head, Doctor? WHY?” The Doctor’s eyes went heavy for a split second, only for them to ignite with a fire as a loud yell was heard in the distance. “Well, don’t just stand there! There’s trouble afoot!”, the Doctor stated as he and Clara ran towards the source of the yell. I reluctantly followed, still confused on everything that was happening right now. The yell grew louder as we came closer and closer to its origin. Finally, a girl came out from the bushes, knocking me over onto my feet. I groaned slightly and said, “That hurt! What hit me?” The girl looked at me with blue eyes and said, “Allen? Is that you? Is it really you?”
I raised an eyebrow when I heard my name being called out from the girl. The moon came from behind the clouds and my eyes widened as I saw a face I wasn’t anticipating to see here: a face that belonged to one person, Cosmo the Seedrian. “Cosmo? You’re alive?”, I said, only to hear a loud roar. I looked behind me as an axe immediately came down towards me. “Excuse me, I’m talking here!”, I exclaimed, kicking the axe into a nearby tree. Cosmo gasped as she saw the axe burn into the tree, melting it into a pile of goo. “I am so sorry, Cosmo. I didn’t mean to destroy that tr-WAIT. That was an axe!”, I said, just realizing what I did. “Allen, get out of there! Now!”, the Doctor said as the axe flew towards Cosmo and I. I ducked, covering Cosmo up as I saw a hand covered in a black glove catch it. A loud snort was heard as I turned around and was shocked to see a horseback riding male….WITH NO HEAD.
I chuckled nervously and said, “The Headless Horseman? Cosmo, where are we? And when are we?” Cosmo blinked and said, “Sleepy Hollow and the year is 2013, according to the trees.” I smiled and said, “Doctor, Clara, a bit of advice?” The Doctor looked at me and said, “What? Got a plan?” I chuckled again as I lifted Cosmo onto my back. “Make like a Time Lord and RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!”, I yelled as I bolted past the Doctor and Clara, the Horseman growling loudly as the Doctor and Clara followed after me quickly, being chased. “There is no way we’re going to outrun him while he is on horseback, Doctor! What do we do?!”, Clara asked. “Keep running!”, the Doctor said, not looking back at the Horseman. “I could’ve said that! You’re saying you don’t have a plan?”, Clara asked. “Clara, you’ve been traveling with me for a while! Catch up with the obvious already!”, the Doctor exclaimed. “Duck in there!”, Cosmo said, pointing at a nearby coveted bridge. My eyes widened when I said, “Good thinking, Cosmo! Hurry!” The three of us ran under the bridge, quickly exiting out of the other side, only to get a loud moan from the Horseman as it stayed on the other side of the bridge. I panted heavily as I said, “Legend always states the same thing: the Headless Horseman can’t cross coveted bridges.” The Doctor watched as the Horseman rode off in the other direction, Clara sighing heavily as he vanished from our sight. I placed Cosmo on her feet and asked, “How did you know that would work, Cosmo?”
Cosmo frowned and said, “I learned it from the trees. Each one here has witnessed the passing of time and how the Headless Horseman came to be one of the most threatening forces here on this planet. It is said that he is the embodiment of Death itself, and if anyone is unfortunate to come across its path is a dead man walking.” The Doctor scoffed as Cosmo said that. “It’s just a fairy tale, you two. There is no such thing as the Headless Horseman!”, he replied. “I saw what was in your mind, Doctor. You met Robin Hood, yet you are saying you cannot believe what you saw in front of your very eyes? Shame on you!”, I replied. Clara chuckled and said, “Well, as much as I can’t believe it exists, my question is WHY it exists now? I mean, your friend said this was the year 2013, but the legend dates back to the 1790s so that means that he is out of his time zone.” I frowned when Clara said that. “You’re right, it’s strange. However, we’re not going to get any answers just by standing here and waiting for him to find its way back around. I say we head into town and meet the locals to learn more.”
With a nod of agreement, the four of us made our way to town. When we arrived, I could feel it in the air that the Horseman has made multiple incursions within the town. As a suggestion, the Doctor said we should head to the police station to ask some questions. However, I wasn’t expecting the reaction I would get when we walked inside…
My eyes were wide with annoyance as I stared down the chamber of a pistol being pointed at my face, a young female being the owner of the gun. “Why are you here? Don’t you think we have enough trouble with the Horseman here!? We don’t need any terrorist acts from the Dimensional Protection Unit right now!”, the female said. I growled as I disarmed the officer and tossed the gun out the window. “There is a living legend literally in your backyard, and the first reaction you give help is a GUN TO THE FACE? I know Obama’s orders haven’t reached you due to the timeline, but NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO GET ON MY UGLY SIDE, Officer!”, I said. “That’s FBI Agent Abbie Mills to you….SIR. And wait, you SAW the Horseman?”, Abbie asked. “Almost got both me and my friends here with that axe of his. We were hoping we could find some answers, and what better place to go to find answers than at the police station?”, I replied. She looked at me strictly, then said, “You four should follow me. And keep your voices down. There are still a few skeptics among us when it comes to talks about the Horseman.” I raised an eyebrow and looked at the Doctor and the others. I shrugged as I followed Abbie with the others into a back room, only to come face to face with a male in Colonial clothing. “He’s definitely in the wrong time zone, Allen.”, the Doctor stated. I nodded in agreement and said, “I can feel it too. He’s a long way from home, Doctor. So, Abbie, who is this guy?”
“That there is Ichabod. Ichabod Crane.”, Abbie said. “ICHABOD CRANE? He exists too?!”, the Doctor said in shock. “I see my reputation precedes me. And you two are?”, Ichabod asked. “Oh! Uh, I’m the Aelitatrix bearer Allen Henegan. This is my friend Cosmo, and my associates Clara and the Doctor. We came here to get some answers about the Horseman…and I guess you too, Mr. Crane. I mean, you should not exist. You’re just a story!”, I said. Ichabod chuckled softly, and immediately told the tale of how he came to be, why the Horseman was stalking the town of Sleepy Hollow, and many more. When he finished, I exhaled deeply from everything he said. “The Four Horsemen of Revelations….sweet Amaria, this one is a bit over my head, guys. I just need a second recollect my thoughts.”, I said, sitting down in a nearby chair. “Allen, are you alright?”, Cosmo asked with a worried tone. “Sorry, Cosmo. This is a biblical thing. To think the end of days is breathing down the backs of this world, and so soon too. This has got to stop, RIGHT NOW.”, I replied. “Fortunately, we have a plan. Perhaps you can help us, if you truly is this multidimensional warrior that I hear so much about.”, Ichabod stated. “A plan? What do have in mind?”, the Doctor stated. “We are going to capture the Horseman, and we have the means to do so thanks to General Washington. In the sewers below, there is a specific area where we have rigged ultraviolet lights that’ll weaken the Horseman. However, we still need a means to lure him down there.”, Abbie stated. “Not that I am a bit skeptical about this plan, but what could you possibly use to lure him down into the catacombs of Sleepy Hollow?”, I asked.
Ichabod and Abbie grinned confidently as Ichabod stepped to the side, revealed a container that held a perfectly reserved skull within it. My eyes widened as the Doctor, Clara, Cosmo and I walked over towards the container, looking at the skull in awe. I placed a hand on the container, only to snatch it back quickly when a memory spike appeared in my head of its owner. “Abraham Van Brunt’s head. Or I should say the head of the Horseman of Death.”, I said softly. “You know his name?!”, Ichabod said in shock. “It’s a little trick us citizens of Amaria have gained. By touching something of severe age, we can see the memory that is withheld within the object. In this case, I know the name of this person and what he was. Such a dark memory is held in within, and the aura it is giving off…it all feels vaguely familiar.”, I stated, placing a hand on my head. Ichabod looked at me with concern, then looked at the clock. “We best get to work then. The Horseman will definitely come for his head, so we best make this quick.”, he stated, picking the container up and walking out of the room
I was still a bit concerned on the possibility that this plan was a bit far-fetched, but I couldn’t think of anything better to stop this maniacal monster. So, as a result, the four of us followed Crane and Mills into the catacombs of Sleepy Hollow. Along the way, Ichabod told us how the plan would work: each of us would have a fake head, and each of us would lure the Horseman closer and closer to the cage, at least, that is what Crane calls it…
I stood in one hallway and whistled softly, looking in each direction as I held one of the containers that Crane fashioned with a fake head. ‘Ok, Allen. This isn’t going to be too difficult. All I gotta do is lead a headless axe-wielding maniac to some peculiar room filled with ultraviolet lights and get out of there as quickly as possible. Easy, right Yami?’, I thought to myself, seeing the Spirit float next to me. He shrugged his shoulders, only to get a look from me that said “REALLY? You’re not helping!” My attention returned to me as a low moan was heard throughout the entire area. I turned slightly, only to barely dodge the Horseman’s axe yet again. “Like, ZOINKS MAN! How did you find me so quickly?!”, I exclaimed, running down the other direction, hearing the Horseman moan again as he ran after me. I ran faster and faster, passing Cosmo in another hallway. “Your turn! He’s coming and coming fast!”, I exclaimed, making a quick left to another hallway. Cosmo stood out in front of the hallway the Horseman was coming from, holding another container and said, “Oi, big guy! You want this? Come and get it!”
Cosmo ran in the other direction, only to be surprised that the Horseman didn’t follow her. Instead, it kept chasing after me. “Oh no, this is bad. Guys, we got a problem!”, Cosmo said, tapping an earpiece that kept everyone connected. “Cosmo, what’s wrong?”, the Doctor replied. “The Horseman didn’t take the bait! He’s still chasing Allen!” I looked behind me as the Horseman continued chasing after me and said, “Why is this happening?!” Trixie beeped slightly as the Doctor’s voice said, “Mr. Henegan, you’re coming up to my location! When you do, turn directly to me and keep running!” I looked at my wrist and said, “And how will that help me?! He’ll just attack you if I do that, Doctor! I can’t let that happen! Besides, you’ve got a lot of questions to answer when this is over, Time Lord!”
“Just trust me on this, Allen!”, the Doctor said as he cut off his call. As I kept running, I could see exactly where the Doctor was talking. I immediately turned to the right, only for a hand to grab me and pin me to the nearby wall. My eyes widened as the Doctor put a hand to my mouth and shush me immediately, the Horseman coming to a stop in the corridor. ‘Whatever you do, don’t make a sound.’, the Doctor said telepathically. I nodded slightly as I heard the Horseman walk closer and closer, staying incredibly quiet. My attention was immediately diverted as I saw Ichabod come around the corner with the Horseman’s real head and say, “Horseman! This is between you and me! You want your head? Chase me!” The Horseman growled loudly as he ran towards Crane, Crane luring him closer and closer to the cage. “You two get to Officer Mills! Now!”, he stated, not looking back at us. The Doctor nodded as he removed his hand from me and said, “This way. Hurry!”
A few minutes passed as we ran towards the room where Officer Mills was. In time, Clara and Cosmo rejoined us. We waited anxiously as we continued to hear the roars of the Horseman drawing closer and closer….
“This is too intense.”, Cosmo said softly. I patted her head gently and said, “It’ll be alright, Cosmo. Right, Abbie?” Abbie shook her head and said, “We only have one shot at this. The smallest mistake can be disastrous.” We all stayed quiet for a few minutes, then we saw Ichabod enter the room quickly, heading for the opposite door. “He’s right behind me! On my word!”, Ichabod stated, standing in the other door. Abbie nodded as she held onto a nearby switch, the same for each of us as we placed hands on the other three switches. The Horseman growled as he came closer to the door Ichabod entered through. Ichabod chuckled confidently and said, “What’s the matter? I’ve got nowhere left to run! Come and claim your prize, if you think you can!” The Horseman moaned as he entered the room, walking towards the middle of the room. “NOW!”, Ichabod stated, Abbie pulling down her switch as the doors to the room shut in front of the Horseman. “Do it now, guys!”, Abbie stated. “As a wise person once said, Let there be LIGHT!”, I stated as the three of us pulled on our switches, the entire room immediately being flooded with light. The Horseman growled loudly as smoke escaped from his body, his actions quickly turning sluggish. My eyes widened as, despite all of this, he was still capable of standing up on his feet. “He is truly a monster.”, I said softly.
As time passed, Crane returned inside the cage and placed heavy shackles to the Horseman’s hands and legs, making sure that he wasn’t capable of moving. In time, we were joined with Sheriff Frank Irving, who was still shocked that this plan of Crane’s actually worked. I looked at the Horseman from the room I stood in and sighed softly, then returned back to my original intentions…
“Alright, now that he’s detained, time for you to start talking, Doctor.”, I said, turning my attention to the Time Lord. The Doctor sighed and said, “I haven’t the slightest idea what I should tell you, Allen.” I frowned as I said, “Don’t try to lie to me. You and I share the same DNA code, and as a result, I share your mind. Rule one: the Doctor lies, yes? Well, right now, try lying to me and I will be the cause of you losing that new regeneration cycle of yours.” The Doctor’s eyes widened as he said, “Are you threatening me?” I frowned even harder and said, “Try me and we’ll find out. I don’t have the mind or the personality of a killer, but I have memories I shouldn’t have. Who is he, Doctor? Who is that blue equine I see in my head?! And how is it that you two are acquainted?!” Clara looked at the Doctor as he went silent. He reached into his jacket and pulled out a grimoire that sported the Sacred Seal on the front alongside a Sonic Screwdriver. He sighed and said, “I hardly know him. I only met him once, however, in his world, there is another me that keeps the memory of him fresh in his mind. All of us Doctors are linked mentally, so I share memories of that being. The other me said that I should return these to him, or at least, a person who could get back in contact with him when I could.” The Doctor handed me the grimoire and Sonic Screwdriver, I immediately running a gentle hand over the objects in confusion. ‘Those belong to me. My old journal, and the Sonic Screwdriver I modified with my daughter all that time ago. It was pretty beat up and I didn’t think I could fix it, but with time and stubbornness, I was able to repair it and reproduce one for my daughter as well. Hmm…I wonder if she would still be 18 now? Perhaps not.’, a voice said in my head, my attention returning to the blue equine once again. ‘I don’t understand.’, I replied to him.
He chuckled softly and said, ‘Perhaps some time is what you need. Go someplace you know you will not be disturbed, read the book from beginning to end and all your answers will be found within. No speedreading though! I know we are bad for doing that!’ I gasped loudly as my attention was returned to the world outside of my mind. I looked at the Doctor and said, “How?” He shook his head and said, “The Will of Amaria works in strange ways. That’s what is always said about that city of yours, yes? Better get to work, Mr. Henegan.” I blinked slightly as he pulled out a pair of shades and placed them over his eyes, tapping them slightly. Clara stood next to him and waved good-bye to me as the TARDIS reformed around them, it making that all too familiar sound as it vanished into the time vortex once more. I pocketed the book and Sonic Screwdriver inside of my jacket and said, “Very well then, Cosmo. I think we should take our leave now.”
“You mean….I can come with you?”, Cosmo stated. “Of course! Tails is going to be so happy when we get back!”, I said as I took Cosmo’s hand, shattered into the Rift and returning home.
And happy was an understatement. Tails couldn’t contain his joy on seeing Cosmo again. I was happy that Tails finally got the one thing he wanted most: the love of his life. However, with my latest journey, I knew now that there was something else happening in the multiverse I knew nothing about. I better keep my eyes open on this. Meanwhile…
I tapped a button on Trixie gently, hearing her say “Tracking disabled.” As I looked out the window of my room, I heard someone walk up behind me quietly. “Hello, Nana. I take it you came to stop me?”, I said gently. My grandmother walked up behind me and hugged me gently and said, “I can tell something is bothering you. When you turn off the tracking system on Trixie, it means you are in need of a reprieve from Amaria to gather your thoughts on something big. I cannot stop you from doing what your heart tells you to, my grandson. Just promise me you’ll come back with the answers you desire.” I smiled softly as I hugged Nana back and said, “I’ll be back soon.” She nodded as I hopped out of the window, shattering into the Rift once again, leaving her behind. She sighed and said, “He’s gotten in contact with the Professor, Retsu.”
As if by magic, she appeared out of the darkness of the room and said, “Then the legend is drawing closer and closer to us. We best be prepared for anything, Mrs. Hines.” Nana nodded as she walked out of the room, leaving Retsu by herself.
As this progressed, I moved quickly to my new destination. Time passed by as I finally came to a stop at an all-too familiar entrance, one sporting the insignia of XANA…
“Alright then. Time for me to get some answers.”, I said softly as I shattered the entrance to Aelita’s world, my body immediately shrinking down to that of a 11-yr old. I looked behind me and saw a brown tail looking back at me. “Huh, that’s a new one. It’s been a while, huh tail?”, I said as I stood in my old Kadic Academy room, everything the same as I had left it. I immediately fell over in my bed, and in a few seconds, I fell fast asleep.
Another day gone, another mystery to solve. What is truly happening here and why is it happening? Perhaps tomorrow will shine some light on all of this….
To be continued….
