The Hour of EternityStories for on the go!
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THE HOUR OF ETERNITY
The Fates met at the start of the day and took up their five seats of Decision. Future, Past, Present, Change and Chaos adjusted their robes and settled in for the long hour ahead of them.
"Everyone ready?" Present asked. Change shifted in her seat once, then again, before lifting a single eyebrow at her sister. Chaos slouched, scowling, and kicked at the cornerless table in front of him. Past shot a tight-lipped glance in the young Fate's direction before nodding to Present that at least he was prepared. Future simply shrugged as if already bored and stared off into the shadows. Present shook her head, sighed, and turned the heavy glass.
The sand remained suspended in the upper half.
"The hour of eternity begins."
"Oh, happy time," Chaos muttered, glaring at the center of the table. Present gave him the stiff-lipped look this time. Past stood and faced the shadow around them.
"The world as it was," he stated simply.
The shadow exploded into light, crystal sharp images of millions of lives a million times over erupted around the Fates. Everything that had occurred since their last meeting was displayed in textbook clarity all in one moment, advancing to the exact point that the glass had been turned.
"The world as it is," Present stated. Every life lay open to them, frozen in time, in all its truth as of that moment. In the midst of the absolute stillness, one child was heard to sigh in her sleep. A grain of sand fell to the bottom of the glass.
Present scowled at her sister.
"She was uncomfortable," Change muttered, shifting again. Chaos snickered, drawing a frown from Past.
"You two never learn," he reprimanded. "The seats you take so lightly are a great responsibility, and one that –"
"There was no harm in it," Future interrupted. "All still passes as it should."
Past gave the dreamy-eyed Fate beside him a sideways glance from under his thick brows. Chaos smirked across the table at them both.
"The way the world shall be," Future said, cutting off any further arguments on the topic of Change and Chaos for the moment.
Faster than times gone had been presented, the coming times blinked by. Drawing more and more hazy and blurry as time progressed, the shadows that had blanketed the room when the Fates had arrived began to block out the transparent and fuzzy images. When Future blinked, the images as seen by her eyes froze in place.
About a dozen lives, stopped at various points throughout the history of the future, were shown in clear, solid detail.
Chaos finally sat up and looked about at the lives before him. "Give me that one," he nodded to one of the lives off to his left.
"No, give him the choice of his own Fate," Change argued.
The other three Fates sat back and settled in for the long haul. The two younger ones starting their arguing this early in the hour over only a single life that had not even been set to be conceived yet was a bad foot to start on. But, as the three periodical Fates knew, Change and Chaos had to be decided between each other before paths could be decided. Otherwise they would have barely the gap of a generation between these meetings, and none of them could stand the others enough to see each other that often.
The Fates met at the start of the day and took up their five seats of Decision. Future, Past, Present, Change and Chaos adjusted their robes and settled in for the long hour ahead of them.
"Everyone ready?" Present asked. Change shifted in her seat once, then again, before lifting a single eyebrow at her sister. Chaos slouched, scowling, and kicked at the cornerless table in front of him. Past shot a tight-lipped glance in the young Fate's direction before nodding to Present that at least he was prepared. Future simply shrugged as if already bored and stared off into the shadows. Present shook her head, sighed, and turned the heavy glass.
The sand remained suspended in the upper half.
"The hour of eternity begins."
"Oh, happy time," Chaos muttered, glaring at the center of the table. Present gave him the stiff-lipped look this time. Past stood and faced the shadow around them.
"The world as it was," he stated simply.
The shadow exploded into light, crystal sharp images of millions of lives a million times over erupted around the Fates. Everything that had occurred since their last meeting was displayed in textbook clarity all in one moment, advancing to the exact point that the glass had been turned.
"The world as it is," Present stated. Every life lay open to them, frozen in time, in all its truth as of that moment. In the midst of the absolute stillness, one child was heard to sigh in her sleep. A grain of sand fell to the bottom of the glass.
Present scowled at her sister.
"She was uncomfortable," Change muttered, shifting again. Chaos snickered, drawing a frown from Past.
"You two never learn," he reprimanded. "The seats you take so lightly are a great responsibility, and one that –"
"There was no harm in it," Future interrupted. "All still passes as it should."
Past gave the dreamy-eyed Fate beside him a sideways glance from under his thick brows. Chaos smirked across the table at them both.
"The way the world shall be," Future said, cutting off any further arguments on the topic of Change and Chaos for the moment.
Faster than times gone had been presented, the coming times blinked by. Drawing more and more hazy and blurry as time progressed, the shadows that had blanketed the room when the Fates had arrived began to block out the transparent and fuzzy images. When Future blinked, the images as seen by her eyes froze in place.
About a dozen lives, stopped at various points throughout the history of the future, were shown in clear, solid detail.
Chaos finally sat up and looked about at the lives before him. "Give me that one," he nodded to one of the lives off to his left.
"No, give him the choice of his own Fate," Change argued.
The other three Fates sat back and settled in for the long haul. The two younger ones starting their arguing this early in the hour over only a single life that had not even been set to be conceived yet was a bad foot to start on. But, as the three periodical Fates knew, Change and Chaos had to be decided between each other before paths could be decided. Otherwise they would have barely the gap of a generation between these meetings, and none of them could stand the others enough to see each other that often.
LIVES OF IMPORTANCE
The single grain of sand remained the sole occupant of the lower half of the glass.
By the time Change and Chaos stopped bickering, Present had a migraine, Past was snoring with his head on the table, and Future had gone to wander among the shadows of the room. Chaos emerged with four of the dozen, Change with eight. It was an unusual balance for the three periodical Fates. They were used to Chaos only getting one or two.
"Are you done now?" Present drawled as she rubbed her temples, her annoyance blatant. Chaos made a face, nodded once, and slouched back in his chair. He made no attempt to hide his smugness.
"I guess," Change shifted four times before finally answering with a defeated tone.
Future drifted back to the table. She woke up Past with a gentle nudge once she was seated, then rested her elbows on the table so she could resume staring off into nothing through her blind eyes. The sand began to fall one grain at a time to the lower half of the glass, still at an achingly slow pace for Present.
"Now," Present continued the meeting. "Show the Why of these chosen lives."
Future smiled. She truly loved this part.
Eleven of the twelve lives were set in motion, their individual Why reveled to the other four Fates through their actions. The twelfth life remained motionless.
Upon the eleven conclusions that must be set for the world to continue, the Fates turned to Future to play the last. She appeared to be back in la-la land already. Chaos snapped his fingers at her.
"Hello-oo?" he taunted. "Anybody there?"
Future's blind eyes locked sharply onto Chaos for a split second then slid away, back to stare at the shadows. It was enough of a look to silence Chaos for once.
Present resumed rubbing her temples – which she had stopped doing so she could observe the courses of the chosen lives. Past merely watched Future for a long moment.
"It has been many ages since you have not revealed the course of a life of importance," he finally said.
Future nodded. "This life has too many courses to show. The actions that may or may not occur will determine the course of all lives."
Change kicked at the table this time, shifting and wiggling haughtily. Chaos whistled appreciatively. He'd never had a life of that level under his control – or lack of – before.
"Will the knowledge of the ages help this life to aid all others?" Past asked.
"Education will come only during the single span of this life, and be only of this single span. Instinct will be the main teacher of this life, and Chaos holds all of us at bay from interference. That will be held from what was already decided."
Present closed her eyes and continued to rub at her temples. It seemed to be starting to help. She contemplated Future's response for what could have been another age. When she opened her eyes again, her migraine was gone and almost all the sand rested in the bottom of the hourglass.
"Will a knowledge of current times aid this life in its course?"
Future roused herself from the dream she had gone into. "Current times will be all that is known to this life. It is up to Chaos to provide the extent of that knowledge."
The single grain of sand remained the sole occupant of the lower half of the glass.
By the time Change and Chaos stopped bickering, Present had a migraine, Past was snoring with his head on the table, and Future had gone to wander among the shadows of the room. Chaos emerged with four of the dozen, Change with eight. It was an unusual balance for the three periodical Fates. They were used to Chaos only getting one or two.
"Are you done now?" Present drawled as she rubbed her temples, her annoyance blatant. Chaos made a face, nodded once, and slouched back in his chair. He made no attempt to hide his smugness.
"I guess," Change shifted four times before finally answering with a defeated tone.
Future drifted back to the table. She woke up Past with a gentle nudge once she was seated, then rested her elbows on the table so she could resume staring off into nothing through her blind eyes. The sand began to fall one grain at a time to the lower half of the glass, still at an achingly slow pace for Present.
"Now," Present continued the meeting. "Show the Why of these chosen lives."
Future smiled. She truly loved this part.
Eleven of the twelve lives were set in motion, their individual Why reveled to the other four Fates through their actions. The twelfth life remained motionless.
Upon the eleven conclusions that must be set for the world to continue, the Fates turned to Future to play the last. She appeared to be back in la-la land already. Chaos snapped his fingers at her.
"Hello-oo?" he taunted. "Anybody there?"
Future's blind eyes locked sharply onto Chaos for a split second then slid away, back to stare at the shadows. It was enough of a look to silence Chaos for once.
Present resumed rubbing her temples – which she had stopped doing so she could observe the courses of the chosen lives. Past merely watched Future for a long moment.
"It has been many ages since you have not revealed the course of a life of importance," he finally said.
Future nodded. "This life has too many courses to show. The actions that may or may not occur will determine the course of all lives."
Change kicked at the table this time, shifting and wiggling haughtily. Chaos whistled appreciatively. He'd never had a life of that level under his control – or lack of – before.
"Will the knowledge of the ages help this life to aid all others?" Past asked.
"Education will come only during the single span of this life, and be only of this single span. Instinct will be the main teacher of this life, and Chaos holds all of us at bay from interference. That will be held from what was already decided."
Present closed her eyes and continued to rub at her temples. It seemed to be starting to help. She contemplated Future's response for what could have been another age. When she opened her eyes again, her migraine was gone and almost all the sand rested in the bottom of the hourglass.
"Will a knowledge of current times aid this life in its course?"
Future roused herself from the dream she had gone into. "Current times will be all that is known to this life. It is up to Chaos to provide the extent of that knowledge."
ONE SMALL FOX
Change kicked the table again. Present sighed and frowned at her sister, who remained in a constant state of agitated motion as she pouted.
"Well," Present said with finality. "Does that mean we are finished here?"
The second to last grain of sand slid to the bottom half of the glass. The last grain remained suspended at the top of the funnel.
"All that needs to be revealed is done. The world will pass this age," Future stood as she said this and then waited at the edge of the table.
"The history is recorded. The age gone is secured with history and the slates are clean for the age to come," Past also stood and waited.
Next was Change. "All options are open. My hand is drawn and the choices to be made are set. Those under my hand will find the path of their choosing."
Chaos stood, his chest full of self-importance. "All things under my hand will come as they fall. No set paths await the lives I carry."
"All lives rest in my hand,” Present intoned her own, familiar statement. “I will tend to them to ensure that all points required to be met shall be so. My hand shall be guided by this hour's revelations of the age to come, and educated from the ages gone," she grasped the hourglass in both hands. "This eternal hour is ended."
The last grain of sand fell with an audible thud, and time again moved at its regular pace. The images that had been left about the room vanished, as did the room itself, leaving nothing with the Fates aside from the chairs, table, and hourglass; all surrounded by shadow.
Future was the first to leave. She drifted away, following whatever scenes and lights that only her blinded eyes were capable of beholding. Past pointed a reproachful look – and finger – at Chaos before he, too, left the table and walked away into the shadows. Change whirled from the table and stalked away, her form swallowed quickly by the darkness. Chaos smirked at where she had disappeared, and then sauntered off in his own direction, whistling.
Present shook her head and sighed. She had the conciliation that it would be another age before they would have to meet again to find out how the world would go from what they had decided in the past eternal hour. She also had the conciliation of living completely in the Now once she entered the shadows, so would be able to forget the distaste she already had for the next meeting as soon as she decided to step away from the table.
She let go of the glass and finally stood. The way of the world remained a mystery to her. She knew what had happened and what should happen, but Future's sight and Past's recounting were as beyond her grasp as it was for them to consider living every life that existed as it existed in every moment. In a few steps, she would forget all about this meeting because the Now would demand her full attention. Still, she thought as she entered the familiar blanket of the shadows, it is odd that the lives of all will rest on one, small fox.
Change kicked the table again. Present sighed and frowned at her sister, who remained in a constant state of agitated motion as she pouted.
"Well," Present said with finality. "Does that mean we are finished here?"
The second to last grain of sand slid to the bottom half of the glass. The last grain remained suspended at the top of the funnel.
"All that needs to be revealed is done. The world will pass this age," Future stood as she said this and then waited at the edge of the table.
"The history is recorded. The age gone is secured with history and the slates are clean for the age to come," Past also stood and waited.
Next was Change. "All options are open. My hand is drawn and the choices to be made are set. Those under my hand will find the path of their choosing."
Chaos stood, his chest full of self-importance. "All things under my hand will come as they fall. No set paths await the lives I carry."
"All lives rest in my hand,” Present intoned her own, familiar statement. “I will tend to them to ensure that all points required to be met shall be so. My hand shall be guided by this hour's revelations of the age to come, and educated from the ages gone," she grasped the hourglass in both hands. "This eternal hour is ended."
The last grain of sand fell with an audible thud, and time again moved at its regular pace. The images that had been left about the room vanished, as did the room itself, leaving nothing with the Fates aside from the chairs, table, and hourglass; all surrounded by shadow.
Future was the first to leave. She drifted away, following whatever scenes and lights that only her blinded eyes were capable of beholding. Past pointed a reproachful look – and finger – at Chaos before he, too, left the table and walked away into the shadows. Change whirled from the table and stalked away, her form swallowed quickly by the darkness. Chaos smirked at where she had disappeared, and then sauntered off in his own direction, whistling.
Present shook her head and sighed. She had the conciliation that it would be another age before they would have to meet again to find out how the world would go from what they had decided in the past eternal hour. She also had the conciliation of living completely in the Now once she entered the shadows, so would be able to forget the distaste she already had for the next meeting as soon as she decided to step away from the table.
She let go of the glass and finally stood. The way of the world remained a mystery to her. She knew what had happened and what should happen, but Future's sight and Past's recounting were as beyond her grasp as it was for them to consider living every life that existed as it existed in every moment. In a few steps, she would forget all about this meeting because the Now would demand her full attention. Still, she thought as she entered the familiar blanket of the shadows, it is odd that the lives of all will rest on one, small fox.
