.....................

THE NEXT MORNING

Arcane: *slowly opens his eyes and yawns*......*slowly sits up and remembers that he went back in time* Right...I forgot...

*Arcane gets dressed for the day and heads downstairs, where he sees Ryan about to head off*

Arcane: Time for work?

Ryan: Yeah...hey Jackson.

Arcane: Hm?

Ryan: Were you okay, last night?

Arcane: Huh? Oh! Yeah, yeah...I'm fine.

Ryan: Positive?

Arcane: Of course. Take it easy out there.

Ryan: Thanks, Jackson...have a good time heading back home.

Arcane: I will...*sees Ryan head through the door*...*ears droop* I will...

I had completely forgotten the fact that I promised my father, who doesn't know it's me, that I'd only stay for one night.

Arcane:...*sigh*...*takes what he brought with him: one bandana, his locket and a pair of glasses, along with the clothes he was wearing*

*Soon, Arcane steps out of the home and looks back*

Arcane:...I'll really miss this place...*ears droop again*

Wait!! Big Brother!!

Arcane: Huh? *looks back and sees his younger self come out of the house and hold him tightly*

Chris: I don't want you to go! Please...stay!!

Arcane: *sees his younger self have tears begin to form*......I'm so sorry...*kneels*...but I promised your father that I could stay for one night...if I could stay here for the rest of my life, I would...but I have a family to look after.

Chris: But...But...But...

Arcane: Oh, I'm really sorry...*tears begin to form*...I really am...*!*...I have something that you keep...*magically creates a small figurine*

Chris: *slowly takes the figurine, but still has tears beginning to roll down his cheeks*

Arcane:...I'm really gonna miss you, buddy...*smiles softly*...And now, I'm-......*stands still and his ears twitch* *!!* *looks up and sees several objects in the sky beginning to fall right where they were* Look out!! *grabs Chris and dodges the objects*

*Right where Arcane stood, several arrows began burning the snow with a black corrosive liquid*

Damn...I missed...

Arcane: *looks up and sees Jhericho floating to the ground* Chris, head back inside...this won't end well.

Chris: *nods his head and closes the door*

Arcane: *looks back to Jhericho and becomes angry* What do you want, Jhericho...?! Leave this place!

Jhericho: Arcane...such bad manners, as always, when you see me...*notches an arrow at him* No matter...

Arcane: Why have you come?

Jhericho: To kill you...and your younger self...

Arcane: Don't even go near them!!

Jhericho: Heh...and why not?

Arcane: DON'T TEST ME!!!

*A few of the townsfolk look toward the direction of Arcane and Jhericho*

Arcane: That family deserves peace...never war!

Jhericho: Well that's too bad...*a wicked grin comes across and he releases the arrow, letting it split into thousands* It's time to die!!

Arcane: Ah! *brings up an ice shield, from the snow, and blocks the attack*......What?! *sees the arrows corroding through the ice*

Jhericho: NYAHAHAHAHAHA! Clever trick, is it not? I've learned a few tricks from a nice friend...I believe his name was Kyu...

Arcane: Kyu?!

Jhericho: Yes...but why am I explaining all of this to you? *notches another arrow* You're about to become my latest prize...*releases the arrow and strikes Arcane, before he could create another shield*

Arcane: AGH!!

---

Orusan: *reading a book next to Pamela*.........*!!!* *quickly gets up and heads outside*

Pamela: Honey, what's wrong?

Orusan: It's Arcane...

Pamela: What about him?

Orusan:......I need to find him...quick!!

---

Arcane: *slowly takes the arrow out, as it spits poison on his hand and corrodes* NGH!!

Jhericho: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!! How long are you gonna keep this up?

Arcane: As long as possible...*his breathing begins to become heavy*...

Jhericho: Oh...and did I forget to mention that poison is lethal? It's enough to take you down...

Arcane: No...*begins to walk towards him, but begins to lose his vision*...Coward...using poison as your greatest move...

Jhericho: Huh...*notches another arrow and walks to him*...oh well...goodbye...Arcane.

Leave him alone, you big bully!!

Jhericho: Huh?! *looks to the nearest house and his head is lit on fire*

Arcane: *looks to the house and sees Chris walking in front of him* Chris...no...get out of here...

Jhericho: Well, well, well...who do we have here? *stands up* The brat I've been looking for...but you're next on my list...buzz off!! *whacks Chris to the house and he goes unconscious*

Arcane: Chris!!

Jhericho: Ah, ah, ah...*stomps his foot*...no moving. *notches the arrow again*...Farewell, fool.

Get away from my son!!

Jhericho: Oh now wh-?! *gets whacked by a frying pan*

Arcane: *looks up and sees his mother* F-Felicia?!

Felicia: Stay away from my son, you ugly bastard!!

Jhericho: *pops his jaw back into place* Son?...*looks at Arcane and his younger self* Pheh...they don't even look like you...*brings an arm up*...You're in my way!

Felicia: Ah!! *shuts her eyes*

WHACK!!

Jhericho:......heh...always the hero, aren't you?

Felicia: *opens her eyes and sees Arcane in front of her* Arcane!!

Arcane: *His chest begins to bleed even worse* I don't care how much poison you put in me......you stay away from my mother...and my younger self...

END OF CHAPTER 17