First appearance: S1E7 — Wild Magic — Strako v Zayliss · watch it on YouTube
Timothy was a small, glowing, caterpillar-like alien and the mayor of the Worm’s Town, a little civilization living on an asteroid. He had brought his people peace and prosperity. Then he had the bad luck to be on that asteroid when Strako and Zayliss arrived to fight to the death. His brief appearance and spectacular end made him one of the Void’s most fondly remembered casualties, and the Grandmaster still says “never forget.”
Story
S1E7: Wild Magic
Timothy met the champions during the asteroid round of S1E7 — Wild Magic — Strako v Zayliss, at the height of his career. The mayor of the Worm’s Town had just defeated “the Republic,” and his people were enjoying peace and prosperity. Strako, who was locked in an arena game of tag with Zayliss, tagged the little worm and threw him.
Strako threw much too hard. Timothy hurtled away under enormous G-forces with his face peeled back. He screamed “I don’t want to die!” and exploded in a hail of fire. Another little glowing worm crawled out of the wreckage. Strako was sorry for about a breath: “Rest in peace, Timothy. Anyways, back to the killing.” Then he pointed and told Zayliss, “You better go get it.”
Without its mayor, the Worm’s Town collapsed into self-destruction. Afterward, those watching added to the legend of Timothy. He was said to have been the town’s pastor, “the single founder of every charitable organization in the region,” “The CEO of Doctors Without Borders,” and to have “Single-handedly adopted 18 orphans.”
S1E13: Snow-clad
The Void did not forget him. In S1E13 — Snow-clad — Highfrost v Bryltyn, the arena game turned to tag again, and the Arbiter reminded everyone how the last game had gone: “the mayor of a town was killed. A hero to his people.” The Grandmaster took up the memory at once. She called him a sweet boy and admitted she still kept a picture of him.
Season of the Trials: Ether Drifts
Timothy’s shape came back in S6 Ep3 — Ether Drifts Part 2, which was set in The Ether Drifts. The worm did not return, but the champion Copycat got stuck as a worm in the form of “Timothy, the mayor,” and it was not comfortable. Copycat complained about a leg stuck behind her neck and a pinky toe poking her liver. She begged for a chiropractor or Dr. Octor. The Grandmaster decided Dr. Octor would take too long and asked the Arbiter to do some “little magically thingies with your fingers” instead.
Thea’s Revenge
Timothy’s death was finally answered in S7E10 — Thea’s Adventure. Thea, it turned out, was a worm of the Hollow, sent to kill the Arbiter and “avenge Mayor Timothy.” She remembered him as a hero: “We all voted for him! He was making changes! He built a playground! We loved him!” The worms had put up a little graveyard for him, and after his death the Arbiter’s side had sent them a gift basket of cheeses. The Arbiter had to rewind time in his own head to remember him at all (“Oh, that guy?”). He insisted he had only suggested the game of tag, then handed over Strako, who died in Theo’s second self-destruct. Timothy had been leading his people toward a golden age of worm society, and he left a plan of at least twenty steps. In the Dried Blood epilogue the council’s Old Todd opened it to step 20. It read: “Call Fil.”
Personality and Abilities
Timothy was a tiny worm who glowed in bright colors. By every account he was a good leader: he brought peace and prosperity to the Worm’s Town and led it to victory over the Republic. He had no defense against being picked up and thrown by an arena champion. His last words show that he very much wanted to live, which is a large part of why his death hit so hard.
Relationships
- Strako: Tagged and threw Timothy during a game of tag, killing him. He apologized briefly, then went back to the fight. Years later the Arbiter handed him over to the worms’ revenge.
- Thea: one of his people, sent to avenge him.
- Grandmaster Elusia Skypiercer: Mourns him as a “sweet boy” and keeps his picture.
- The Arbiter: Remembered him as “a hero to his people.”
- Copycat: Later got stuck in Timothy’s worm form, painfully.
Memorable Quotes
- “I don’t want to die!” (S1E7 — Wild Magic)
- Strako: “Timothy! Oh, I’m sorry.” (S1E7 — Wild Magic)
- Strako: “Look, sometimes I don’t know my own strength. I’m sorry. Rest in peace, Timothy. Anyways, back to the killing.” (S1E7 — Wild Magic)
- The Grandmaster: “Yeah, Timothy, never forget. Sweet boy… I still have a picture of him.” (S1E13 — Snow-clad)
- Copycat, stuck in his form: “It’s like I’m stuck in a Chinese finger trap, except it’s my whole body.” (S6 Ep3 — Ether Drifts Part 2)