The Time

Umbra watched as Matthew and Victor stepped out of nearby portal, looking frazzled and somewhat tired.

"Matt!" Umbra exclaimed, waving his hand to beckon them. "Where have you two been?"

Matthew touched the back of his neck, laughing nervously. "Oh, nowhere, just, y'know, teleporting." Behind him, Victor clutched his coat and frantically nodded.

Umbra glared, hands on his hips. "Matthew, you two look like you've run around the block several times. What happened?"

"Well, we kinda had some detours."

"Dad, Vietnam is really scary!" Victor piped in, making the remaining color drain from Matthew's face.

"Vietnam?! Matthew, explain." Umbra snarled, tapping his foot. Matthew lowered his head like a scolded child while Aunora struggled to contain her amusement at the scene.

Matthew laid a hand on Victor's shoulders. "I let Victor cut the portal this time. I told him the runes, and uh, some mistakes in translation were made..."

"...and you ended up in Vietnam." Umbra finished. "Anything else?"

"Vietnamese people are mean." Victor mumbled, blinking drearily. The boy looked exhausted, almost dead on his feet.

"We also went to Quebec," Matthew squeaked, hoping not to entice Umbra's rage any further.

"C'mon, Victor," Umbra sighed, lifting Victor up and setting him on his shoulders. "I think he's a little jetlagged. Too much teleportation, huh, dear?" Umbra remarked, Victor moaning in response.

"So are we ready to search for a mission? I wanna fight somethin'." Aunora muttered, inspecting her nails.

"We can't be sure we are going to receive a combant-themed job," Umbra said in an official tone. "Those are usually chosen first by more certified teams. Silver Moon is on the bottom of Alcorith Horizon's metaphorical food chain."

"Don't be so down on yourself, dude!" A disturbingly familiar voice called out. "You're my fav mortal, remember?"

Matthew, Esper, Aunora, and Victor looked around in confusion, searching for the source. Umbra, however, simply sighed and pressed his palm to his forehead.

Time was back.

The world around them suddenly paused, color draining and people halting in mid-motion.

"What's going on?!" Matthew said, his voice rising in pitch.

A person in full color casually walked down the street several yards away, a cheerful grin on his face. He lifted his leg to take another step, and he suddenly vanished, only to pop up in inches away from Umbra's face.

"Heya!" Time said, waving. "Toldya I'd be back."

Esper started to shake, staggering back. "Y-Your magic signatures, you're a-"

"Überdragon? Yeah totally man. Numero uno of time-o." Time rocked back and forth on his heels, playing with the suspenders attached to his pants. "Anywho, I totally gotta talk to you guys about something-"

"You're the god of time!" Aunora said, her body languid. "The literal god of time!"

"Yeah, I know. Anyway I-"

Time paused as he noticed everyone in Silver Moon, with the except of Umbra (and by that extension, Victor), taking careful steps away from him. Both Matthew and Aunora clutched Esper tightly as they distanced themselves from Time.

"I'm getting nowhere with this," Time muttered to himself, snapping his fingers. He held out his arms horizontally, seemingly awaiting holding something.

With a slight popping sound, Victor suddenly dropped into Time's arms, the boy gasping in shock as he was stirred from the sleep he had drifted into on Umbra's back.

"Hey, Umbry!" Time said, patting Victor on the head. "I'm gonna take 'lil Vic here and have a bit of a chat, okay?"

"Wait, no-" Umbra shouted, throwing his hand out.

Not letting Umbra finish his response, Time ripped his fingers through the air before him, a portal slicing through the muted atmosphere. "Okay byeeeee!" With a small wave, Time left.

After several dumbstruck seconds, Matthew spoke.

"Did the god of time just kidnap our child?"

Author's Note- I'd just like to thank all of your for voting and commenting :) it means so much to me!!!