Oswald's Spark – Chapter 8: Seeing Stars
Oswald looked around. He was in a space that was glowing orange and yellow and red, but nothing more. Circles surrounded him, with pipes flowing to other circles, all connected up together. Inside of these circles were planets, most commonly Earths. There was golden writing just about visible underneath each model. I haven't the foggiest where I am, but it sure is massive, he thought.
A small blue blob wandered up to him. Oswald swatted it away, thinking it was gunk. And then it spoke.
"Hey! What was that for?" It had a deep and posh accent, which was surprising. It looked at him with green eyes, attached to a small blue blob for a body. There was no mouth on its face, but Oswald didn't really want to ponder on it too much. Not everything in the universe made sense, and it was too hard thinking about all the answers.
The blob sized up Oswald for a few seconds before exclaiming, "You! You escaped Wasteland! Youcheated!" Oswald nodded, not really caring. He hoped whatever this was would blow over soon.
"So?" he asked, "It's not like there was anything left in there for me. Where am I, by the way?" The blob let out what Oswald imagined was a sigh, and turned around. He floated over to him.
"Nobody is allowed to be here. But I suppose you are due an explanation… This is the space between all dimensions that connect each world to a counterpart it is linked to. But it's got more as well." It signalled to the specks in between them. "These are the–"
"Stars, right? I've seen those before."
The blob gave him a look. "Do you want to hear this or not? I've got better things to do with my time than tour-guide you." Oswald stayed quiet, and listened more alertly.
The blob shook its head at this late respect and faced the opposite direction. Oswald waited for a second. The blob turned back around and signalled for him to come.
"These are not normal stars. These are the spirits of the stars. They each have tales written into them, remembered forever. Some," a cluster shook, and started showing a moving image of a white mouse stopping what appeared to be a green toad, "show the greatest heroics their worlds have ever seen. Others," another cluster reshaped and took the form of yellow and blue… creatures? (humans?)coming together around some device, "show acceptance of others and putting grudges aside. But many hold the power to grant wishes, and to give gifts to those who ask."
"The stars here hold all the heroics of what was, what is, and what is yet to come for any character. They are remembered forever within them." The blob faced Oswald again. "You are going to make a heroic move so brave with another, that all worlds will remember them, and the stars will hold precious."
"Wait… remembered? That would mean… I wouldn't have to be stuck in Wasteland?" asked the curious rabbit. The blob nodded.
"Your clone will disappear eventually, and you will start dying." Oswald asked how he knew this, but got no answer, save for a small smirk, as he continued, "But all is not lost. The moment is coming soon, and if it happens… you will be granted one wish from these stars, as is with all memories written in them."
"Can I… see it?" he asked.
"No! The future is something none, except for us Guardians, are meant to see." He sighed once more, and faced Oswald. "You cannot stay here. It is too dangerous for anyone, as once you get here, the path back can disappear, becoming a dream of long ago… I must send you back. Your friends need you."
Oswald, for some reason, felt that this question was stupid. What did he have left? He could barely remember anything else except for what he'd lost. In fact, as he thought about it, he had more things in the world to care about, but all that would spring up was a picture of Ortensia.
Then his ears perked up as he recalled what the blob had just said. "A-a Guardian? But, you only live in Wasteland… r-right?"
The blob shook itself. "I may tell you on another occasion, but for now, you must go." The rabbit was about to resist, but he felt his legs being pulled by some force into a tube. He was nearly at the entry point into the tube when the blob called out from behind him, in the same position, "Your mind will clear up as you travel, and you will remember your purpose. But beware. Do not come back here, for you will have to find your own way. We have much to attend to."
The Guardian bowed down to him. Oswald had one more question, but was scared to ask. But these were the Guardians of the Multiverse, so maybe they knew. Oswald shouted quickly, as it started flying away, "Hey! Hold on!"
The blob turned around one more time. Looking right at the bunny with his emerald green eyes, he answered before he could ask. "If you try, she will return."
At this, the Guardian flew over to a black tentacle jammed on a circle. In fact, there were tentacles on almost every one, and Oswald recognized all of these. Guardians surrounded them, trying to attack it but the attacks were futile.
He looked up in terror, confident he knew what it was that was doing this, but was whisked away just as he caught sight of something. His heart started pounding harder and faster.
Wasteland's enemy had returned.
And it was coming for everyone.
A/N: Hello! Hope everyone out there's feeling great today! This, at last, is the end of Spark 3. Expect more action to ensue in the next few chapters before the finale! I'm thinking that in the future, I might remodel this into something bigger and better (aka: a Remake), but I love it as it currently is now, so it's gonna stay like that for a while. Rest assured, though, I am trying to extend the next story to make it longer if you felt this is too short!
Please review and I'll see you soon! UPDATE: Please go onto my profile for my rough roadmap of 2025.