Chapter Text
It’s been 5 years since Ouro Kronii lost two of the most important people in her life, and today, it hit her harder than ever. Bae and IRyS had tried reaching out countless times over the years, but Kronii always ended up turning them down. Sometimes politely. Sometimes coldly. Eventually, they stopped trying as often.
The halls of the Hub had never felt this empty before.
Once, there had always been noise — Mumei’s wandering footsteps echoing through the corridors, Fauna’s soft laughter carrying through the gardens she secretly maintained despite the rules against unnecessary growth in certain sectors of the realm. Even the Kronies had seemed livelier back then.
Now everything felt frozen.
Fitting, perhaps, for the Warden of Time.
Kronii lay in bed staring blankly at the ceiling, one arm draped over her eyes as exhaustion weighed heavily on her body. Sleep had been difficult these past few weeks. Every time she closed her eyes, memories surfaced faster than she could bury them again.
Fauna smiling gently while braiding flowers into Mumei’s hair.
Mumei excitedly dragging Kronii somewhere she absolutely did not want to go.
The sound of all three of them laughing together.
Her chest tightened.
With a frustrated sigh, Kronii turned onto her side and pulled the blanket higher, trying once more to force herself to sleep.
SLAM.
The violent sound of her chamber doors flying open startled her awake instantly.
“My Warden! We have an intruder!” exclaimed the small clock as he rushed into the room, nearly tripping over himself.
Kronii groaned quietly and sat up, pressing a hand against her forehead. “An intruder?” she repeated with visible annoyance. “How can that be? The barriers should’ve detected anyone entering.”
“We’re not sure, my Warden, b-but she’s not just any intruder!” the Kronie stammered nervously. “She claims to be your daughter!”
Silence followed.
Kronii blinked once.
Then twice.
“My... daughter?”
The very concept sounded ridiculous.
Kronii slowly pushed herself off the bed, her expression darkening as she slipped on her coat. “Fine. Lead the way, Kronie.” Her voice was calm, but exhaustion still lingered beneath it. “We’ll figure out who this girl is.”
The Kronie nodded rapidly before hurrying out into the corridor, with Kronii following not far behind.
The halls of the Hub were quieter than usual tonight. Their footsteps echoed against the polished floors as they made their way deeper into the structure. A few other Kronies peeked nervously around corners as the Warden passed, whispering amongst themselves.
Word spread quickly.
By the time they reached the massive doors leading into the Hub’s central chamber, Kronii could already hear commotion on the other side.
The doors opened.
And there she was.
A younger girl stood near the center of the room, surrounded cautiously by several Kronies attempting to prevent her from moving any farther. Despite the tense situation, the girl herself didn’t appear hostile.
She looked... worried.
As soon as their eyes met, the girl’s expression visibly softened with relief.
Ignoring the protests of the surrounding Kronies, she carefully stepped past them and approached Kronii.
“Hello... uhm, Ouro Kronii, right?”
Kronii raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. “Yes, that is me. And you are?”
If this girl truly was dangerous, Kronii would handle it immediately. She had neither the patience nor emotional energy for games tonight.
“My name is Flora,” the girl answered quietly. “And... I’m your daughter. From another timeline, that is.”
For the first time in a long while, Kronii genuinely looked caught off guard.
Another timeline?
That alone wasn’t impossible. Kronii knew better than anyone how unstable timelines could become under the right conditions. But for someone to travel directly into the Hub without her noticing beforehand?
That should have been impossible.
“Flora,” Kronii repeated slowly, narrowing her eyes as she observed the girl more carefully.
Flora had shoulder-length dark teal hair that slightly curled at the ends. Her posture was nervous, uncertain, but there was something painfully familiar in the shape of her eyes and the way she held herself.
Then Kronii noticed it.
The branches.
Small, delicate branches protruded from Flora’s head, adorned with faint leaves glowing softly under the Hub’s light.
Kronii’s stomach dropped.
“...That on your head,” she said quietly, “is it what I think it is?”
Flora grimaced before nodding slowly.
Kronii felt her breath catch in her throat.
Fauna.
The resemblance was undeniable.
So this girl... this Flora... was the daughter of herself and Fauna from another timeline.
Memories immediately surged forward before Kronii could stop them.
Fauna resting beside her in the gardens.
Mumei asleep against both of them during late nights together.
Promises they once made about staying together no matter what happened.
Kronii quickly looked away, jaw tightening painfully.
Could that future have existed?
Would they really have had something like this together if fate had been kinder?
“...Mother,” Flora spoke again carefully, her voice softer now, “I know this is a lot, but I’m not here to make things harder for you. I already know about... the situation in this timeline.”
Kronii said nothing.
Flora rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly before continuing.
“And... I’m not the only one.”
Kronii frowned immediately. “Wait. What do you mean by—”
A sudden flash of light erupted beside Flora.
Several Kronies yelped in panic and stumbled backward as another figure abruptly materialized several feet above the floor before crashing down with a loud grunt.
“Ow—!”
The taller girl pushed herself up slowly, wincing as she rubbed the back of her head.
Flora sighed in embarrassment. “And there she is.”
Kronii stared speechlessly.
The second girl looked older than Flora, perhaps by a few years. Long brown hair spilled over her shoulders messily, though unlike Flora, there were faint feathers woven among parts of it.
Feathers.
Mumei.
“This is Alexandra,” Flora explained nervously. “She was with me before we appeared here and... she’s another one of your daughters.”
The room went completely silent.
Even the Kronies froze.
Kronii looked between the two girls in disbelief, her mind struggling to process what she was seeing.
One daughter carrying traces of Fauna.
Another carrying traces of Mumei.
Two impossible reminders of people she had spent five years trying — and failing — to stop missing.
Alexandra finally looked up toward Kronii properly.
And despite the awkwardness of the situation, her expression softened immediately.
“Oh,” Alexandra murmured quietly. “You really do look exactly like Mom described.”
Kronii’s chest tightened painfully.
For a moment, she couldn’t speak.
Couldn’t think.
The weight of grief she had carried alone for years suddenly felt heavier than ever.
“This...” Kronii whispered hoarsely, taking a small step back, “this has to be a dream.”
But deep down, she already knew it wasn’t.