Darin stepped onto the glowing path in the middle—the one that would change time for a better future. He didn't want to just fix what was broken. He wanted to make the world kinder, safer… more full of hope.
As he walked forward, the world around him lit up with golden light. The Time Key floated in the air, spinning faster and faster. The Clockmaker raised his hand.
"You've made a brave choice," he said. "Now time will listen to your heart."
The seven shards burst into sparkles and spun around Darin like stars. They flew across the skies, through the oceans, into the broken cities, and even back to the forgotten places.
Clocks rewound. Mountains grew tall again. Rivers that had dried came back to life. Cities were repaired. People who had forgotten how to smile… smiled again.
Even Kael, the boy who had tried to stop them, opened his eyes in a peaceful place. He looked around and whispered, "Thank you."
When it was over, Darin and Mira stood on the same hill—but everything felt different. The air was brighter. Birds sang. The land was alive again.
"It worked," Mira said.
Darin looked down at his hands. The Time Key was gone—but he felt something inside him. A quiet warmth, like the clock in his heart was still ticking, stronger than ever.
"We didn't just fix time," he said. "We gave it a second chance."
The Clockmaker's Door faded into the sky, leaving only clouds and sunshine behind.
"Now what?" Darin asked.
Mira smiled. "Now we live."
They walked down the hill, side by side, into a world full of new stories waiting to be told.
The End.