A/N: Finally, a KttK fic xD I've been meaning to write one for the past two weeks. Well, this came out of my desire to write Sunday and the dissatisfaction I had with the ending of the final book. So obviously there would be spoilers. And yes, this will be a multichapter, because I am currently way obsessed with the series at the moment. The title is subject to change and...I've rambled enough, no?

Disclaimer (for probably the entire story so I don't have to keep repeating it): I have no need for this. How obvious is it that I'm not Garth Nix?

He was standing on a hill.

Lord Sunday blinked, adjusting his eyes to the sudden light of the artificial sun.

Or at least, he assumed it was an artificial sun. There was no 'real' sun in the House, after all. Unless he wasn't really in the House, which would mean that he was in the Secondary Realms. But that didn't make much sense, because both the House and the Secondary Realms were gone. Gone because he had been defeated that stupid mortal brat.

He shook his head bitterly. He should have tried harder. He should have...he should have...

He should have told him the truth.

But it was too late now, which brought him back to his original problem. Where was now? If there was no House and no Secondary Realms and no Universe and no Creation, then this must be what happens after being consumed by Nothing.

But that wasn't possible either, because being consumed by Nothing meant you were dead. And you would not be able to be hallucinating or dreaming or imagining this place because dead Denizens do not come back to life and there is no afterlife that he knew of and Sunday was not going to assume there is.

So he wasn't dead.

But how could he not be?

Lord Sunday decided to abandon the problem at hand and to take a look around first. His instinct, honed by millennia of being a Denizen, protested and nudged him in the direction of following his previous thoughts, but the former Lord of the Incomparable Gardens knew better than to pursue a problem when no answer could be found.

Instead, he followed an incredibly mortal-like logic – though it could hardly be considered logic and he would rarely stoop so low as to use their so-called 'common sense' anyway – and looked around.

And recognised his surroundings immediately.

He was standing on the Elysium. Or at least, it used to be Elysium. Now he was unsure what it was called, which brings him back to his problem—ah, but he was going to ignore that problem. Turning his mind away from such matters, he glanced at his surroundings from the vantage point, and was surprised to find grass. No trees, no flowers, no shrubs, none of his beautiful hedges, just grass, which spread for miles until it reached the horizon and evaded his sight.

Lips tightening disapprovingly, he switched his gaze to behind him. But it didn't matter—everywhere he looked, it was bland and green.

Even if this was the Elysium, this certainly weren't his Incomparable Gardens.

But then he saw a figure, a black dot against the endless slivers of grass. The figure was approaching, and quickly – faster than he had ever seen anything move. When Lord Sunday was able to make out the Denizen, he frowned disapprovingly. It was not a Denizen, as he had first assumed. In fact, it was not even a mortal.

It was the Rightful Heir.

And yet at the same time it was not. He was much shorter, for one, almost...mortal-sized. His frown deepened. And he was much older too, and was certainly not wearing anything a Denizen in the House would be caught dead in.

The Heir landed and cautiously approached until he was 15 feet away, and then inclined his head slightly as a greeting of sorts.

"You," Sunday spat, eyes narrowing and trained on his movements. "What are you doing here? Where is this place?"

Ah, it was inevitable that he would return to his original question. He did not expect the Heir to answer, and was a little taken aback when he did.

"I am the New Architect," the Heir said calmly, "and this is the New Universe."

Sunday allowed himself another quick glance around him, and all thoughts about formerly telling the Heir the truth vanished from his mind. Surely the New Architect liked this power—he would most certainly have tried harder if he knew this was how it would end. Sunday was not going to give him the satisfaction of knowing beforehand. His decisions were right, after all.

"So?" he asked, when the New Architect did not elaborate. "What happened to the Old Architect? The original?"

"She..." The New Architect hesitated for a fraction, but seemed to gather up his courage. "Her Will is done."

That was the only explanation Lord Sunday received, but it was enough. "What are you going to do now?" he hissed. "Why bring me back at all? You're the New Architect, aren't you? You can create the Universe from scratch—create your own utopia. Why bother about me...or anyone else?" That was certainly what he would do if he had the chance.

The New Architect smiled. "I didn't want to," he said simply, and pulled out the Compleat Atlas of the House and Immediate Environs, almost as an explanation.

"So why bring me back?" Sunday asked, eyeing the Atlas almost hungrily as the New Architect placed it back into his pocket. "I'm your arch enemy, aren't I?"

"I thought you deserved another chance," the other replied. At Lord Sunday's cynical gaze, he sighed. "The Incomparable Gardens," the New Architect continued, "is the first place the Old Architect created. I would like it to remain as it was. And as the Atlas only details the Elysium a few seconds before its collapse, I would need someone who remembers the Gardens so I am able to create it as close as possible as the original."

Lord Sunday was silent, considering what the New Architect had said. "So you want me to describe what the Incomparable Gardens used to look like?"

The New Architect nodded. "I have Created the Incomparable Gardens, as you can see—" he gestured around him, "—and by doing that I have allowed myself to Create the Secondary Realms. However, I wish to return the Gardens to their previous state. And also," added the New Architect, surprising Sunday, "because you are an offspring from the Old Architect, and I wish to keep a little piece of her memory."

"Why should I?" Sunday asked. "Why should I help you?"

"Good question," the New Architect said. "I suppose you wouldn't count me recreating you as an answer." He sat down on the rock near the Elysium and began to think. A few minutes passed in silence before the New Architect made up his mind. "I have it," he said suddenly, standing back up. "If I allow you to remain in charge of the Incomparable Gardens, will you help me recreate them?"

"How can I tend to my garden without my Key?" Lord Sunday snapped.

The New Architect shrugged. "You have heard my offer," he said coldly. "As for your Times, I will create new ones for you. I was never fond of the green things in the first place."

Sunday scowled.

Seeing his reluctance, the New Architect continued. "I can use other methods," he added, "like what you did to me in the Old Universe. I can easily remake the Old One's clock prison, and force you to tell me, but I do not wish to do that. But if you do not comply, I may resort to it."

He could see now that there was no way out. Lord Sunday's shoulders slumped as he understood this fact, and his eyes lost their light. Submitting to this...being...was the last thing he wanted to do. "Fine," he spat reluctantly.

"I will also cure you of your sin of Pride," the New Architect added, almost as an afterthought.

"Pride is not a sin," Lord Sunday said immediately. "Greed and Gluttony and Sloth, yes, but not Pride. Is it wrong to be satisfied with what you have accomplished? Is it wrong to feel confident when you are certain to succeed? It is no sin."

"Perhaps you will think differently when you are no longer under its influence," the other said. "But come, we must meet the others. You will not have to begin work immediately – I will give you a few days rest."

"The others," Sunday repeated suspiciously. "Who else have you brought back?"

"Only Leaf, Suzy, Fred, Doctor Scamandros and Giac as of now. Leaf has returned to the Secondary Realms, and the rest will help me design the new Denizens. I have told them to retreat some distance away in case you had decided to do anything rash." He snapped his fingers, and a spark of light appeared high above in the air, flashing three times before disappearing. "That was the signal. They should be coming soon."

As he spoke, several figures appeared on the horizon, approaching far too fast to be on foot. As they came closer, Sunday could tell that they indeed were winged figures – two Denizens and two of the Piper's children. In a surprisingly short amount of time, they reached Elysium.

"Yo, Art!" Suzy said, touching down less than smoothly. "So you got Sunday, eh? Did 'e resist or nothing?"

"Not physically," the New Architect replied, nodding a greeting to the others. "How goes the designing, Doc?"

"Oh, quite well, to be frank," Doctor Scamandros said. "We have decided to keep them fairly similar in appearance to the original Denizens, as there was not much harm and they seemed in order anyway."

"I still think," Giac interrupted, "we should've given them those long noses and thick eyebrows and maybe only one eye..."

"Way too tall," Suzy muttered.

Dr Scamandros tried his best to persevere despite the distractions. "We have, however, decided to increase their intelligence by a small percentage, which would, if I may say so myself, allow enough brain capacity to...multitask. Of course, the higher the precedence, the more intelligent they will be."

"I see. And have you divided the positions amongst yourselves?"

"I told you," Suzy complained, "that I wanted to be Lady Sunday!"

"It was an unfortunate turn of events that made me reconsider," the New Architect sighed. "I apologize."

Suzy huffed. "Well, anyway, I'm Lady Saturday now, kay? None of that 'superior' stuff, that ain't my type."

"I know you said you were going to recreate the Front Door, Art," Fred put in, "but I've been thinking about it, and...Well, I do suppose it would be rather nice being Lieutenant Keeper, but honestly it's rather boring being stuck in the Front Door. And I suppose nobody will come and visit me anyway, being so busy as you will. And I'd like to visit the Secondary Realms once in a while too..."

"Will Saturday's Noon suit you?" the New Architect asked, picking up on the hint.

Fred's eyes lit up. "Oh, that'd be nice!"

"What say you, Suzy?"

"It's Lady Saturday now," Suzy grinned, "but yeah, orright! Why not? And I suppose Doc and Giac'll be my Dawn and Dusk?"

"If they wish," the New Architect answered.

"Oh! Dawn, please!" Giac said excitedly. "You know, in all my life as a Sorcerous Supernumerary, I never thought I'd actually ever be promoted to one of the Superior Denizens! Oh this best day of my life!"

Dr. Scamandros, likewise, seemed to be rather pleased with this arrangement. "A very fine choice indeed, Lord Art, Lady Suzy. I shall be happy to serve to the best of my ability as Saturday's Dusk."

The New Architect smiled.

"And the rest of the Morrow Days?" asked Lord Sunday, who had so far not been participating in said discussion. Although he deemed the affairs of those around him inferior and trifling, and certainly would not have considered them important enough to grace them with his presence, he could not quell his own growing sense of curiosity.

"We shall have to see as time passes," the New Architect replied. "Speaking of which, I do believe it is time to move the sun and allow it to set. Doctor Scamandros..."

"Immediately, Lord Art!" Scamandros replied enthusiastically, and allowed his wings to lift him away.

"Meet us for dinner!" Suzy yelled, and the New Architect's eyes alone could detect a faint nod from the newly appointed Saturday's Dusk.

A/N: Uh. I was probably OOC for Scamandros and Suzy, but I tried, right? I love writing Denizens. (You should all try it)

Next chapter will be coming...soon-ish? xD

(I honestly don't expect too many people to read this, so if you do, please leave a review telling me? As in: REVIEW ALREADY! xDD)

~CC