Timeline-chan: What If: The End and Conflict.

Timeline-chan: What If: The End and Conflict.

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Commissioned by Blue Flaming Wings

Word Count: 2551

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Oh, hello there! It’s been such a long time since we last met! Sej has been really busy, so he doesn’t have time to spare writing me anymore, but I must say the sweet release of oblivion is quite nice after a while! I get to stay with all the projects he’s left behind and can’t continue, due to various reasons! Hahaha, there’s no lack of company where I am, so it’s pretty great!

So, with all my experience with nonexistence, I’m sure that I can really tell you about how terrible things would’ve gone if Li-kun and Coda-chan didn’t leave on friendly terms the first time they met.

If you don’t remember, when the Chimera were assaulting the world with Monarchs for the first time, alongside an enormous amount of regular mooks, Li went ahead and searched for Coda! Naturally, he found her where there weren’t any Monarchs wreaking havoc, because she killed them all while he was busy saving as many lives as possible. It was a really, really sweet moment, where he caught her resting and looking after an old man who wanted to see his wife again, and then they spoke to one another atop a rooftop as snow fell.

And that moment couldn’t have gotten any better, because before that Sej made a pact with someone for all their work and effort, and they let Li-kun pass the big speech check!

However, now, Blue Flaming Wings-kun wants to know what would’ve happened if he wasn’t so kind, caring, and considerate? What if he hadn’t saved the rest of the thread, made sure everything was okay, and had it so that Coda and Song could negotiate, despite what their Mantles forced them to feel?

Ah, how sadistic this is. I can’t believe this is happened. Really, it hurts to think about, yet I’m going to have to go to a timeline where that happened, to see what’s become of the rest of the world, where Coda and Li Song’s first meeting ended poorly!

I’ve been released from the sweet release of eternal rest, so that I could go witness an age where Conflict and the End will forever stay apart, where an eternal happy ending is possible, and where I could never have existed?

Why?

I don’t know!

Only Sej knows and I’m just a guide!

A geek’s guide, you might say, teehee!

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Mhmm. Yep. This is what would’ve happened. Without a doubt!

The Cradle still high in the air, but there’s definitely more fighting on the ground! Wow, there’s bases everywhere, along with fleets performing bombardment from the atmosphere! This humanity’s not going on the offensive any time soon, since they’ve been hurt too much by the Chimera. Letting go of Earth would be the same as giving up, admitting they’re scared of the Chimera, and would definitely lead to a civil war. The polities of humanity won’t be able to sell the notion of leaving now, because they’ll certainly be spitting on the lives of all the dead, if they do!

Them of course, there would be the relations between the Aspects and the Factions!

After everything with Destruction happened, there was a meeting with all the Aspects and Factions. Sure, it was silly that Hyoudou was the representative of all humanity, but that doesn’t matter does it? Well, naturally, if Coda didn’t get swayed by Li’s words, then she wouldn’t have been invited! Destruction and the End would have been missing form the table, even if Creation wasn’t either, that would’ve sent some pretty bad signals about Coda-chan and Desu-chan! Oooh, she would’ve looked bad just be association… and she wouldn’t be reporting to CORE, getting all sorts of goodies, and making her life just a little easier one all those Chimera planets she would’ve been taking over.

Coda-chan would definitely be sadder of a person! She wouldn’t have been interacting with many people, the person she wanted to understand the most hated her, and there was no ice cream for her, either. All she would’ve had were her familiars, and she would’ve made lots of them to keep her company, as she focused entirely on just taking planet after planet, without anyone praising her.

Oh, she definitely doesn’t have Alyss or Camille by her now. Look at her. Even though she’s prim and properly clothed, she’s surrounded by monsters little better than the Endkin, while she walks across planets and scours them barren of life again and again. No friends, no gossip, and no campfire talk… wow, that sure must be lonely. But, at least, she gets to exist and be lonely, right? Especially after making it so that she’s viewed by humanity as someone like Destruction!

But that’s enough of Coda-chan for now.

Let’s look at the Concepts, or more importantly, Stiles!

Oh, how could Li-kun ever defeat Stiles without Coda-chan? The answer, of course, is that he can’t. Valerie Creighton and Miyakuro Kita do. They’re smart, capable, and Stiles-chan can definitely escape them, so they’ll definitely catch her, as long as you’re not involved. However, what does the mean about the relationship between Stiles and Li? She won’t see him any differently than anyone else, of course! She’ll just see everyone and everything like toys with buttons that can be pressed, with Li Song being the biggest toy, guarded by more complicated machines.

Why, she’ll live with the Preservers, since there’s nowhere else she could ever be! She’ll be salacious, sly, and always watched, but isn’t that a bad thing? What about the Temple of Time? Odin? Could she have been brought to bear into the fight, would Odin have broken, or would the Silver Maiden have come to his call? Such a little change, not having Coda take care of Stiles properly, but it’s surely one that could see Li-kun’s journey ended.

Oh? How? Well, if something happens to Valerie-chan and Kita-kun, Stiles will surely take advantage of Li-kun! Mmhmm! Yep. She’ll twist him around his fingers, beyond the reach of anyone else, and he won’t be able to stop her, since he can’t call on Coda and ask her for a favor. A different sort of journey will begin, with the Trickster guiding Conflict, and no one will be the wiser, only seeing a girl smitten with a boy, not knowing everyone’s lives are now at Stiles’ mercy.

Ah, I wonder if people will understand me better, if their lives are also under the control of a ruthless tyrant who creates and uses people for the sake of their own whims?

Oh, huh, that sounds really menacing? What kind of character development did I have while I was gone? Have I become Timeline-chan Alter? A Timeline-chan whose hatred for Sej will never fade away no matter how much time passes, or how much I change?

Hmmm… no!

I can’t ever hate, Sej!

I’m too terrified about his absolute control of my existence, yep!

But it would be nice if people understood my situation a little better.

However, the show must go on, and Sej must meet the stipulations of whoever’s bribed him!

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Now, it must be acknowledged that this sort of change is more than just a ripple through the pond. It could have also easily changed the game utterly. Sej has multiple charts for multiple possibilities, since he lies to be as prepared as possible, so it’s possible he’d have not allowed the Concept to be in play, if the End and Conflict were truly going to be at each other’s necks. Fairness is born of compromise and compromise always leaves both sides of the issue dissatisfied.

It’s completely possible for Sej to have omitted the Concepts from the next World Random Event, easily landing you into different situations.

However, that would be quite the different timeline indeed, and I have no interest in exploring the multitude of possibilities. My job is to do as Sej says, and I shall do it to the utmost of my ability, so that he never gets frustrated with me and forces me to exist out of spite. I hope that every time I’m written by my cruel creator, it’ll only be with the intent to use me for his own gain, so he’ll be satisfied with my work and leave me be unless I’m needed!

There’s nothing quite like good work ethic enforced by the possibility of reality turning torturous and terrible all around you.

It’s pretty great as long as you continue to never fail!

However, I’m digressing!

Li Song and the Preservers would definitely have the upper hand in finding Concepts. While Coda is super, extremely lucky, her rolls and focus would be on the Chimera, especially if people on Earth hate her. While conducting invasion after invasion, she’ll grow stronger and stronger, whilst also not being nearly as capable in overcoming her Mantle without Li Song’s perks, Alyss’s kindess, and Camille’s care.

This Coda will be more similar to the Ebony Emperor, if a bit kinder and still not using Souls to empower herself, but that will surely make it difficult for her to interact with Li-kun! Yes, she’ll be much stronger, cooler, and colder than the Coda-chan you know… but does that detract from her value as a love interest!?

According to my calculations, a Coda that is less “cute” will actually appeal to more individuals. Uwah, what’s this? Sej also agrees. An Ebony Emperor/Coda average will have much more appeal. It makes more sense for a rival-type love interest to be a little cold, have their own goals, and be somewhat the opposite of their pursuer. Coda-chan is cute and amazing, but it’s without a doubt that she’ll have more character if she actually opposed Li-kun. Hmmm, wait, Sej is telling me to shush!

This might be a hint for the future that Sej has freely given for some reason, but I’m going to stay quiet since I want to continue existing, yep!

The biggest difference here is that the Coda-chan who never has supporters or friends will be stronger. While Li-kun is still going off to save the world, gather the Concepts, and seduce them until they stop thinking with their brains, Coda-chan will be training, and that training won’t be split between three people. It’ll be hardcore, dangerous training, where she has a risk of dying alone and afraid with improper utilization of the tools she has at her disposal, thus she’ll most certainly become stronger and stronger at a rate that would surpass Li, especially when she starts garnering whole worlds willing to support her, as she ramps up!

With an army of darkness at her back, and her message solely to allow those who suffers to come to her for eternal rest, and with Earth focusing inward, she’ll certainly go out of her way to save who she can. That will certainly result in individuals who think like her to amass around her, support her, and eventually grant her everything that she lacks. Instead of opposing ideologies broadening her horizons, she’ll receive faithful individuals who praise her. She’ll certainly be capable of controlling herself, but control will only go so far, and Coda-chan will believe in herself more than she typically would.

Why?

Because, through her actions, she is making people happy. Even if she could push aside the praise, put down the worship, and correct the faithful, seeing others happier through her actions will be beyond her ability and willingness to ignore. A slave who is free, seeing others happier due to their circumstance, will believe in their current actions. Coda-chan will do her best to be ambivalent, to be fair, and to remember her circumstances, but she will surely and slowly attribute what she sees to her own actions, because it is true.

Li Song will look upon that truth, his heart will harden, and it will almost be impossible for them to reconcile.

The greatest difference of that slightest change will Li-kun’s and Coda-chan’s relations.

And that difference shall utterly change the whole of Reality.

…Huh?

Woah!?

What was up with that super serious speech?

Did I really go Timeline-chan Alter? No wait, since I sounded so mature, was that actually Timeline-chan Bride? Wouldn’t that be illegal, though? Wait, Sej isn’t the sort of person that condones lolis, so that can’t be it at all! Yes, without a doubt, he only condones cute boys and not in the lewd way! Grrr. How did that happen, then?

Perhaps… perhaps, in this timeline, I’ll be a more serious helper, thus I’m becoming more like my “self” from another reality!?

It’s so meta, though. Can that sort of thing be called a direct change? Would Sej grant even that speck of mercy towards the players?

Oh, the answers to these questions can’t come, yet the wordcount is nearing its limit! I need to start talking about important things, now!

There’d be little change regarding the Preservers. They’re still going to be strong, capable, and maybe even get more support, as they collect all of the Concepts. However, what would be interesting would be the focus on relations with those of the Church and Song, as those of the Church wield powers that are very effective against the End. Perhaps, Xenovia-chan and Asia-kun will be more prominent characters? It could be possible that Song’s next step would be intercede on European soil, since that brings him closer relations with two individuals who’d be able to help him the most against his nemesis?

CORE, of course, will do their best to collect information on Coda. However, as Vorpal will fall apart, that will be difficult, especially when their ability to venture through time and space is limited, unlike Coda. Ophis-chan would be able to look for her, but more than a few minds would realize that the End is the antithesis of Infinity, and that would a bad idea! There’s definitely a few worse things to do than send Infinity after the End, and Miyakuro-kun will tell off anyone who says otherwise!

Ah, talking about Miyakuro-kun always works, since everyone likes to think they’re clever! Yeah, ummm, so he’ll definitely have to face Odin, since Stiles couldn’t be trusted without insurance. Thus, he’ll surely be wounded in the fight, even with Song’s help. He might die during the battle, but win the war by subsuming Odin’s body, which would result in him gaining not only a Pseudo-Longinus, but an increase in abilities, at the cost of having more curses layered upon himself. He’d have kept his mind, and even fooled the Silver Maiden, but without a doubt he’d have personally suffered, just as Sej likes his heroes!

Oh, there’s only a few words left, before I return to oblivion.

Well, first thing’s first: thank you very much, Blue Flaming Wings, for preventing this disaster of a future. Sej is really glad things didn’t go this way, despite the fact he really wants to kill you all! Something this unfortunate was due to a poor draw in the background, that cascaded, and resulted in a Skill check that was obscene!

Without you, I most certainly be who I am… and the same is true for the quest!

Thank you very much!

Please, continue paying Sej money, so that I continue to exist—

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