Ficlet #7:

The First Time Traveller

1895

Hill Valley, California

They had heard the news... all of them. Every single dog in Hill Valley was aware that tonight was the night that HE was coming to visit. Einstein the Dog. The greatest of them all; for he was the world's first time traveller.

Every dog down to the smallest puppy knew his name, and his tale. Of how he arrived one night from the sky all in a blaze of light. They had all stared up in awe as the door of the flying train opened, and HE stepped out, his master following behind.

The dog from the future. 'Einie', as his friends called him.

A hundred years he had travelled, into the past to live with them.

And there, he had told them all the great stories of his life.

They knew, for instance, of that famous day that had yet to happen. Time and again he had told them about it. Of how his master had invented a time machine, and he, Einstein the Dog, then still barely out of puppyhood, had been the first to go in it.

There was no dog in the world who had been as scared as he was then, stepping into the strange machine. It had started moving faster and faster, with no one to save him, and yet he had braved it through, as any self- respecting dog would. Yes, even when bright flashes of electricity appeared all over the vehicle, he had stayed courageous, right to the end.

Arriving one minute in the future, Einie had become the world's first time traveller.

Sure, it was a man who had invented the machine, but due to the cowardice of the human race, the first time traveller was not one of man, but canine kind.

The dogs of Hill Valley all knew; and gazed up in admiration at their hero. Every puppy longed to be like him; a dog who had made such a great contribution to science.

And so, when the night came, they were all ready. Each and every kennel had been cleaned out, ready for inspection by the great Einie. For the first time in a long while, the residents of Hill Valley found their dogs strangely eager for a bath.

For each wanted to look his best when The First Time Traveller came.

He was escaping, the rumours went. He was going to run away from his home, steal the time machine and go back to the future from whence he came. But before that, he was coming to visit them. Them, the lowly, unimportant dogs.

And they were ready.
1895

Hill Valley, California

Jules banged on the bedroom door of his younger brother.

"Verne, get outta there! We have to go walk the dog."

There was a muffled response. Jules swung open the door to see his brother still lying on his bed and playing his Gameboy. Without looking up, Verne spoke.

"What?"

"Didn't you hear me? Einie needs a walk. It's our turn tonight. Come on."

"'K." Still holding onto his Nintendo game, Verne got slowly out of bed, eyes still fixated on the small screen.

"And put that away unless you want the whole town staring at you. Gameboys haven't been invented yet."

Verne glanced quickly at his brother's footwear before retorting, "And neither have Nike shoes."

Sighing, Jules changed his shoes and walked out of the house.

"Come on, Einie."

There was a welcome bark as the dog bounced out after him, tongue hanging out as usual.

"Verne! You coming?"

"Yeah, uh... wait, let me save the game..."

About five minutes later, the two boys and Einie were walking around the park. The place seemed strangely full of dogs; and stranger still, none were barking. Instead, they were all standing in two straight lines to the side of them.

The only one barking was Einstein the Dog.

Verne shot a puzzled look at his older brother. The latter seemed just as bewildered.

"What's with all the dogs?"

"Dunno." Jules paused. "I don't like this. Let's go somewhere else. Come on, Einie."

The dog refused to move. He just stood there, barking away to his doggy audience.

"EINIE!"

No response.

There was a break in the barking; and suddenly, The First Time Traveller took off running.

"What the..."

"Come back, Einie!" Jules yelled, dashing after the animal, his brother running behind.

"What d'you think you're doing? Bad dog! Come back, Einie!"

He wouldn't come back. Oh no. He was going, he was.

As he ran, Einie went over his escape plan one more time.

He would take the time train; and he would leave. Probably for the future. He knew some really cool dogs there.

And he could become a secret agent in the worldwide battle between cats and dogs.

'Total Annihilation', that's what his code name shall be.

He, Einstein the Dog, would be famous.

"Jules! He's heading for the train!"

"What on earth... EINIE!"

The dog turned. Did he hear something? Confused, he stopped running and perked up his ears.

Someone jumped him and yelled.

"GOT YOU! Bad dog, Einie! Never run away again, you hear? Bad dog!"

Einie whined as Jules fixed a leash on him.

No... how could they do this to him? They had spoilt all his plans, all his wonderful plans...

"There's always a next time," Einie thought, trying to reassure himself as Jules and Verne chained him to his kennel.

"Bad dog," Verne scolded before following his brother back into the house.

"Yup, there's always a next time," Einie thought, resigning himself to his current fate.

And when that time came, he would be ready. No longer would he let those pitiful humans who called themselves his masters defeat him.

For he would never be defeated.

Not he, The First Time Traveller.

Oh no.

Not he.

The End

Please review! ^_^ It will be greatly appreciated.

Space Toaster: That's gross? *grins* Have you read 'The Cinnamon Bun'? It's another of those written-from-the-POV-of-a-food-item fic.

Stoko: Yup, you inspired that. ^_^ And why is everyone asking me to do a fic where they find out Calvin=Marty??? :S Ok, maybe I will. But I need ideas.

Back to the Chaos: Thanks for reviewing! Update your stuff! And get part 2 of the twisted editions up soon. Please?

CmrAwks: What d'you mean, it made more sense than the pizza one? I can't tell the difference.

Flaming Trails: Thanks for reviewing! And post your version of the Pip story soon. I want to read. =D

Docnov121955: Don't tell me I'm getting famous for writing fics from the POV of inanimate objects... you and Flaming Trails were talking? On chat or telephone or what?

CrystalFlower: 4 and 6 were MEANT to be weird. Thanks for your review!

Ectodude: There's no point. ^_^

Lady Shadowcat: I SO agree with you about the pizza! =D How could they do such a thing??? *drools* They should cut the pizza close up from Part 2. And the cake close up from Part 1. And the food close up in Part 3. *gets hungry* Oh, and I use British spelling so fertiliser has an 's' in it instead of 'z'. At least, that's what my teachers say.