A/N: I don't know how did you find this but here I go.

I'm just kinda intrigued when I read a fanfiction from AO3 (it was called 'aucellus, my little fallen viator' by CicadaVortex if you're wondering) where Aether lost his wings (the ability that the Goddess who called herself "The Sustainer of Heavenly Principles" took from one of the twins from traveling between worlds) but in their version instead of just losing that ability they really... lost it. Well anyways this will set somewhere before meeting Paimon.

I choose Aether here because he's the character I chose in the game not that I have any hate towards the other twin they're both great. It's just I'm way used to male characters rather than female ones (I always choose a male character in every game unless there's no other choice).

If you haven't played, watched, or read about it please do it first if you don't want to be spoiled about it. Well hopefully you'll enjoy it.

This fic is heavily inspired by CicadaVortex's fanfic 'aucellus, my little fallen viator.' Go read it, it's nice

Edit: I recommend to those who read this story before to reread it. I made some changes but still same ending. And I also published this first on wattpad (accidentally publishing it by not knowing that once you saved it it becomes published... someone give me a manual for it-).

DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN ANYTHING

How many years has it been? 300? 500? He lost count of it, not that it would matter anyway. He felt old yet not where in truth, he is old for human standards.

Nonetheless, many depicted him as a youngster. Some would even have the gall to say that he's a teenager, not even legal to drink wine. He wanted to laugh at it so badly, but he decided to hold it back. Because even if he tells them that he is WAY OLDER than them, they'll laugh at it, thinking he's just making a joke. But that's not the point here.

His reason for feeling old is not the longevity of his life span but because of being separated from his only kin, his twin Lumine. The goddess with a very-mouthful-self-proclaimed-title took her away from him, not even batting an eye as if this was just an everyday occurrence (maybe it was). After that, he lost consciousness and fell into a deep slumber for a long time.

Soon, he slowly wakes up in a world he is not familiar with, and before he could even digest that information, a searing white-hot pain suddenly spread out on almost his entire back. Mostly near his shoulder blades. He screamed, but no sound came from him. His breathing was harsh from the pain. He instinctively grasped to the source of the pain to soothe it (to which it did little to none). He failed to do this with his hands feeling like bricks. Since he was incapable of doing anything but moving his hands, for the time being, he just stayed down and did nothing until the pain lessened. He almost fell asleep but forced himself to stay awake. He did not notice that something was amiss, but we'll get to that later.

Having nothing to do, he can't help but think about what happened to him. He remembers fighting something or someone. He remembers him separated from his sibling by them. But... who? Looking back to the event from his memories, he recalls a white blur and floating red boxes. They said something about their 'name.'

Sussy? No, that's not it. Suspense? Nope. Hmmm

Strain? Uh... Sus... Sustain?

Then it clicked.

His eyes widened a bit in recognition. 'That goddess, the "Sustainer of Heavenly Principles"'

Whew, that gave him a headache. Usually, he has a good memory, but damn, that dull pain on his back is starting to give him some minor headache. When the throbbing of his headache faded a bit, he wondered about the goddess' true identity.

Why fought them? Why separate him from his sister? What is she planning? Is his sister in the same world as him or a different one? Many questions come to his mind but have no answers to them. He wanted to lay down like this forever from the despair he's feeling right now from being separated. But somewhere in his mind keeps reminding him that his sister is also worried and alone. Out there with no friends nor allies helping her. Out there in whatever dangerous environment, she's on.

Needing her brother, needing Aether.

Needing him.

He remembers the scared look on her face, her eyes shining as if tearing up. Her mouth trembled slightly as the ominous objects swallowed her up. It broke him from the inside. What kind of a brother is he for letting her get captured so easily?

'How pathetic can you be? You, the elder sibling, not being strong enough to avoid it from happening? And you want to lie there forever while she's out there?' He gritted his teeth as he felt shame and failure.

"You're such an idiot, Aether." He whispered to himself, clenching his eyes. After saying that statement, he suddenly remembered Lumine saying that line to him before.

"You're such an idiot, brother." Lumine's voice echoed him from one of his memories.

He opened his eyes and tried to recall when it happened. They've visited too many worlds that he almost lost count of it. Looking at his surroundings, he saw a flower among the fauna.

'That's right. It is that world with lots of flowers. And Lumine loves it there.'

"Brother, look! A pretty firefly!" Lumine exclaimed as it landed on her nose.

Aether smiled warmly at her, "Yes, it is pretty."

It was nighttime in that world. Aether and Lumine were in a field of flowers. The locals there called that field "Spring Meadow of Dreams." Dreams because people go there to wish every spring, the time when the flowers there bloom. Many said that wishing there will come true, according to the legend. Yet some are skeptical about it. At least, that's what the locals said. Still, they held that tradition for bountiful harvests.

His sister wanted to go there as there are many flowers there. One of the locals there recognized them as visitors and advised them to go there at night if they were to see the fireflies. Lumine's eyes sparkled with excitement as Aether struggled to say no to those eyes.

Simply to say, she won.

Aether saw another firefly flying near them, and it also went to Lumine's nose. He held a bit of his laughter and said to his sister. "Lumine the green nose reindeer~"

"No, I'm not!" She wanted to tackle him and give him a noogie, but seeing the fireflies on her nose, she blushed instead. She looked at her brother's hair. "And what about you, huh? You human Christmas tree?"

Indeed, a handful of fireflies attached themselves to his hair. Aether inspected his hair and chuckled at it. "Hehe, at least I get to look fabulous.~"

Lumine huffed at him. "You're such an idiot, brother."

Aether just grinned at her and looked at the fireflies that, surprisingly, were still there on her nose. As if sensing him staring at them, the fireflies flew away and gradually went up in the sky. He stared at it a bit longer as the two fireflies slowly disappeared into the horizon.

"Hey, what's with that look on your face?" Lumine said to her brother. Aether blinked out of his trance and shook his head a bit. "Ah, it's nothing to be concerned about."

She stared at him for a bit before sighing. "Alright, if you say so." She sat down in the area with fewer flowers, fixing her dress as she positioned herself. Aether also sat down with her, carefully not to disturb the fireflies on his hair. They watched the fireflies dancing along with the flowers as the moon rise above the horizon.

"Promise me," she uttered.

"Huh?" Aether replied with confusion.

A firefly landed on her palm. Lumine repeated it with seriousness. "Promise me that we'll always stick together."

Aether was surprised by it. "What makes you say that?"

"I'm not quite sure about it myself," She played with her long bangs, twirling them with her fingers. "But... your expression earlier makes me think about our journey."

Aether was silent as he listened attentively to her.

She let the firefly on her palm fly away. "I'm going to be blunt. We might die someday. Well, it might not be death. But I know that one day... we'll get separated from one another no matter what. Both of us are going to suffer from it."

"And... I can't bear the thought of being separated from you." She looked at him with tears flowing down her round cheeks.

Aether said nothing to her as she spoke. "Sorry, got a bit sentimental there," She wiped her tears. She closed her eyes while facing in his direction, and by imitating a knocking motion, she placed her clenched hand on her head. "How stupid of me." She smiled weakly.

No one uttered a word after she said that.

Then suddenly...

Aether gave her a noogie.

"You're truly my stupid sister."

"Hey! I'm being serious over here! I-" She stopped as he hugged her.

"What kind of a brother am that leaves their sister all by herself?"

Lumine teared up a bit "Brother..."

He added. "I mean, look at you, already a mess."

"Hey!"

Aether laughed softly as he grabbed a flower next to him. He used his powers to prolong its life. He then gently held her hand and placed the flower in it.

"I promise I will always be by your side." He looked straight into her eyes.

Lumine wiped her tears. She also picked a flower that is the same as his but smaller. "To the end of time." She put some powers on it too.

She put the flowers in her hand to her hair. Aether pressed his forehead against her and closed his eyes. Lumine also did this.

"To the stars above," The twins said as the wind blew by as if hearing their untold wish.

"To the stars above..." He muttered as he finally remembered their promise.

"You're an idiot, Aether. Lumine could have been waiting for you out there," Aether said to himself. "And you're just lying there, thinking of those dumb thoughts." He said it louder this time. But due to his throat being dry, it came out gasping instead.

With a new profound determination, he slowly rises, pushing himself up while ignoring the pain in his back until he was kneeling with one leg in the front.

He didn't remember that just standing up was this hard before. Mustering with all his strength, he was able to stand up completely. His legs feel like they were made of jelly, making him wobble in his position. He's already tired just by doing it. Sweat started to accumulate around his forehead.

You know when you are about fall to the ground, you try to grab onto something or use all your muscle power to prevent it. Well, in his case, he does it with his wings. Sometimes if Aether has to balance himself, he would summon his wings to aid him.

Well, that's the problem.

When he was about to fall to the ground, he tried to summon his wings. But they did not pop out like usual. At first, He believes that he is tired. But Aether remembered that even though he was very tired to the point of dropping to the ground, he would still be able to pull it off. He tried it again this time, but it failed again. Then it dawned on him.

His wings are gone.

His wings were taken by the goddess.

Something that is a part of him like a limb.

Was pulled out by her.

Gone, gone, gone, GONE-

Just gone. Just like that.

Reality seems to like playing with his poor heart and soul.

His eyes started to tear up as his legs gave up and fell on his rear. He began hyperventilating as he pulled out his hair a bit. No matter who was there on the scene, no one heard anything on that day.

For the golden child screamed silently on that clear sunny day.

And that's for the first part... Woosh.

Hopefully I didn't bored you out of it.

If you still like it leave a comment, vote, or whatever I'll appreciate it (even if it's a negative one I'll take it as a criticism)

1,838 words without A/N

Edit (03/29/2022): Added more content to the flow of story but still same ending. Edited some minor grammar error.

Edit (04/04/2022): Fixed the format. Italicized the thoughts.