A peaceful town, somewhere in a timeline no different from countless others.
Streets filled with quiet excitement as people prepared to end one year and welcome the next.
Two figures did not belong to this place.
A human male—looking to be in his mid-twenties—and a rooster perched atop his snow-white hair, far too smug for something meant to crow at dawn.
The man walked up to a tall tree and tilted his head back, eyes tracing its branches.
"I think this is a great spot to watch the fireworks," he said, his voice calm—carefully hiding the weight of eons. "What do you think, partner?"
The rooster glanced over the branches, judging the height, the view.
"Best seat in the area," he replied. "Just hope no one notices us up there. Wouldn't want to ruin the experience."
The man glanced around.
"No one's looking this way."
And then—gone.
No sound. No flash. No movement. One moment they were on the ground. The next, they were already at the very top of the tree, seated on a thin branch that looked ready to snap under a light breeze.
The branch didn't break.
Didn't even bend.
As the sun dipped toward the horizon, the man lifted his right hand, fingers curling as if grasping something unseen. A bag of chips appeared in his grip, pulled from nothing. He tore it open, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Can't enjoy a firework show without snacks, now can we?"
The rooster mirrored him, producing a bucket of popcorn just as casually. He shoved a beakful into his mouth and spoke mid-chew.
"Couldn't have said it better."
They watched the horizon darken, the town below slowly lighting up. The man crunched thoughtfully on his chips—
—and then a voice called his name from behind.
"Nero Angelo. What are you doing in this timeline?"
It trembled between anger and fear.
Nero turned his head slowly, still chewing.
"Just because humans can't see or hear you," he said, "doesn't mean you get to shout whenever you want, goddess."
She hovered in the air behind them, tension written across her form.
"This timeline is under my authority," she snapped. "You came here unannounced."
Nero glanced up.
The rooster looked down.
Nero swallowed.
"Can you handle this for me, Clucknor?"
A grin spread across Clucknor's beak as he turned toward the goddess.
"Simmer down," he said, voice low and sharp. "We're just here to enjoy the end of the year. Don't ruin our experience—or we'll ruin your entire existence."
The goddess took a step back in midair.
A talking rooster.
Threatening her.
She didn't wait to argue. She began to retreat.
"Stop."
The single word froze her in place.
Her thoughts spiraled.
What now?
Did I anger him?
Is he going to erase me? This world?
But Nero wasn't angry.
He simply pulled out another bag of chips and tossed it toward her.
"Catch," he said. "Enjoy the fireworks with us."
She stared, stunned.
Before she could respond, Nero added calmly—
"That's an order."
She flinched.
Slowly, cautiously, the goddess drifted closer.
The people of the town prepared the fireworks, more and more gathering as the hour drew closer.
The goddess didn't open the bag. She simply floated beside Nero.
"Take a seat on a branch," Nero said calmly, chewing on his chips.
She glanced at the branches. "I'm fine here."
From Nero's head, Clucknor snorted. "Yeah. You're too heavy for that weak little branch."
Nero turned his head, biting down hard to keep from laughing.
The goddess bristled, but she couldn't do anything about it. "This is why most gods don't like you two," she said, frustration slipping into her voice. "You never miss a chance to mock us."
Clucknor opened his beak to continue—
"Not now," Nero muttered, grabbing it while shaking with suppressed laughter. He let go. "The show's about to begin."
Time passed.
Nero and Clucknor enjoyed their snacks. The goddess floated beside them, the bag still unopened in her hands.
She watched the people below—their excitement, their smiles. Without turning to him, she asked, "How can you still be excited about fireworks? You must've seen them countless times. Don't you get bored?"
Nero watched the workers finish their setup.
"Not countless times," he said. "I know exactly how many."
He paused.
"It's more than your age. More than your father's and yours combined."
She went silent.
Nero's chips ran out. He crushed the bag in his hand, and it vanished.
"I don't get bored," he continued, "because it's not the fireworks I'm watching."
The goddess frowned. "Then what?"
Nero's gaze drifted toward the horizon.
"Time."
He spoke slowly now.
"The way the world keeps moving. How humans look toward the next year. How some reflect… how some don't. How a year adds a new life to a family—and takes someone away."
He gestured faintly to the town.
"How houses, streets, entire cities dress themselves up for a single night. How new lives begin. How old ones end."
He looked at her.
"It's not just a day of celebration."
A pause.
"It's also a day of mourning."
As he finished speaking, the fireworks were set off.
Nero turned his head just in time to see them rise—trails of sparkling light cutting through the dark sky. When they exploded, the glow washed over Nero and Clucknor, painting their faces in shifting colors.
The goddess watched Nero's expression.
He looked happy.
And yet, beneath it, a faint sadness lingered in his silver eyes.
No one spoke while the fireworks continued.
Below, the town celebrated. People laughed, cheered, and embraced. Some smiled through tears—memories of loved ones not standing beside them this year weighing heavy on their hearts.
Amid the noise, a little girl became separated from her parents. She cried out, but her voice vanished into the ocean of sound.
From the top of the tree, Nero noticed her.
One moment he was there.
The next, he was behind her.
He crouched down to her level. "Did you get separated from your parents?"
The girl nodded, sobbing.
Nero gently wiped the tears from her cheeks. Clucknor hopped down, landing squarely on her head.
"Don't be scared," Nero said softly. "Clucknor and I will take you back to your parents."
He took her hand and began walking through the crowd. She kept glancing upward, trying to see the fireworks but blocked by the people around her.
Noticing this, Nero lifted her and settled her onto his shoulders.
Her face lit up as the fireworks burst overhead. She stopped crying, completely absorbed in the show.
As the final firework exploded, Nero reached her parents. He set her down, and Clucknor returned to his usual perch.
The girl ran into her mother's arms, crying as they held her tightly. Relief washed over both parents.
The father turned to Nero. "Thank you. Thank you so much for finding our daughter. How can we ever repay you?"
Nero rested a hand on the girl's head.
"Just make sure all of you stay happy."
The answer caught them off guard.
Before they could say anything else, Nero turned away—and vanished into the crowd.
From the top of the tree, the goddess watched everything. She saw Nero leave the timeline without another word.
"He really was here just to enjoy the end of the year," she whispered.
Her gaze dropped to the bag of chips he had left behind.
After a moment, she opened it.
A burst of silly string exploded outward, covering her from head to toe.
She froze—then flushed red with embarrassment.
Without another second, she fled the mortal realm.
Back in the Void, Clucknor glanced at Nero. "You pranked her, didn't you?"
Nero smirked. "Yep."
"So," Clucknor asked, "what's next?"
Nero sat back on his floating throne.
"What else?" he replied.
"The same as always. Save some timelines. Destroy some. Knock the gods down a peg."
A pause.
"And prank the hell out of gods and demons alike."