TWs: Arguments/tension, out-of-body (literally) experience, implied past death/destruction of a solar system, amnesia (like always). Stay safe :)
In a distant, faraway galaxy, there once was a Star.
This Star was just like the millions upon trillions of other Stars; everything similar, and nothing different.
And just like every other average-sized Star, he expanded into a Red Giant, his hydrogen fuel inside his core exhausting what was left of it before shedding his outer layers to form what's called a "planetary nebula" and eventually leaving behind a dense core, becoming a white dwarf.
White dwarfs are initially very hot, but they eventually cool down and fade, becoming "black dwarfs," although the universe isn't old enough for any to have formed yet, so this white dwarf sits in its same position, waiting centuries upon decades for it to-
Cr-crack...
However, it seemed destiny had different plans for this Star.
An object was ejected from the fractured core; an eight-pointed "Star".
This instance has only happened five thousand times since the universe came into creation.
These Stars, or rather NovaStars, are a rare phenomenon. They act like guardians, protecting and healing those who need them most and expecting nothing in return. They can also guide lost spirits to their place of rest, giving advice along the way. They are everything good within the universe.
But this NovaStar was an exception.
He felt nothing at all.
The anger, the pain, the suffering... everything was too much for him to handle.
And it was all its fault.
The black hole he was orbiting was the reason he felt this way. The other Stars, his planets, the moons...
All of it was gone.
Without realizing it, this NovaStar drifted off into the depths of space, floating further and further away from the place he once called 'home.'
Dark matter enveloped him, suffocating him until he could barely breathe.
He stared at the faint Stars in the distance, his vision becoming blurry as black spots danced around in his hazy gaze, his eyes slowly closing as he succumbed to the darkness.
...
"Messier!"
The NovaStar jolted from his thoughts upon hearing the sudden voice. He shook his head, turning to look at the visitors.
"Wěi... Pinwheel!" Messier smiled, "You guys are okay!"
Pinwheel launched forward, wrapping his arms around Messier and squeezing tight, "It's so good to see you again! You would not believe what we've been through to get here..."
Messier coughed, "Uh-huh... and perhaps you can tell me before you end up suffocating me?"
Pinwheel let go, "Oh- hehe, sorry..."
"A lot has happened since we last spoke, Messier." Wěi said, "It seems we've attracted a few... intruders."
"AetherStars, yes, I know." Messier sighed, "And all of the planets and even some moons are trapped in an illusion concocted by them and created by the Earth's mind."
Pinwheel and Wěi shared a glance, the latter squinting his eyes, "How do you know that to be true...? Even Pinwheel and I don't know that much."
Messier hesitated for a moment, turning to look at his Novae before bringing it into his hands. He and Kepler needed all the help they could get. With their aid, they could even the odds of having a chance to take down Mage.
"I will admit," Messier took a deep breath, avoiding the others' gazes, "I was approached by one of the AetherStars."
"What...?" Wěi scowled.
"Wuh, uh- why!?" Pinwheel yelled as he stuttered over his words, "Wha-What reason would they have for talking to you?"
"Interestingly... to take down the other Aether."
"...Huh?" Pinwheel tilted his head, confused at the statement, "Rea-"
"Bullshit!" Wěi cursed.
Pinwheel gasped, "Language!"
Messier frowned, "Wěi-"
"You can't trust what any of them say. After all, all they know how to do is lie, manipulate, and gaslight any situation in their favor!"
Messier winced, subconsciously raising a hand to his chest as he felt the area where his core would be. It was all in the past, he told himself. He's not like that anymore.
Then why did hearing those words hurt so much?
He didn't understand. He should be over it by now, yet the burden still rested on his shoulders, weighing him down like an anchor.
Maybe she was right about him... his emotions did get the better of him.
"That can't be true!" Pinwheel yelled, snapping Messier from his thoughts.
"What?" Wěi perked an eyebrow, glaring at the yellow-tinted Novae.
"I trust Messier's judgment! You can't lump one Aether with every AetherStar. There has to be more to it than what we know!" Pinwheel explained.
"Why are you both too blind to know that that's how they get you...!?" Wěi shook his head, gesturing wildly, "They pretend to be your friend, acting all innocent and coy as they gather every last piece of information they can get on you, your friends, your family- before making you watch helplessly as they destroy everything you've ever loved-!"
By the end of his rambling, Wěi had his hands over his face, rubbing his eyes furiously. He grunted, turning away from the other two.
"That sounds... specific," Pinwheel uttered.
Wěi chuckled bitterly, "Tch, it should."
At that moment, Messier understood. He pursed his lips, eyes crinkling in pain as he stood rigidly. With slow movements, he floated up to Wěi, "I'm sorry for your loss..."
Wěi huffed, "Don't be. It's not your fault."
Those words may have been true, but Messier still couldn't help but feel guilty. After all, he had done something similar to another solar system.
He shook his head from the thought. It had been decades since then.
"Oh..." Pinwheel mumbled, seeming to acknowledge what was happening, "I-I had no idea, Wěi..."
"No one knows. It happened thousands of years ago. Any trace of what was left has most likely been erased..."
Messier's chest ached as he slightly shook his head, "I'm deeply sorry..."
Wěi sighed, "Stop apologizing. What's done is done and nothing can change that."
Pinwheel looked at Messier, "After hearing all of that, then... maybe we shouldn't trust this AetherStar... it's too risky and could put this solar system in danger."
Messier bit his lip, staring at them with apprehension, "I understand how you're feeling, but sometimes... we have to take the risk."
Wěi scoffed, rolling his eyes, "You can't be serious, Messier."
"Just listen, Wěi-"
A navy blue light appeared behind them, causing the Novae space to split colors; half-white and half-black.
"Oh," Kepler stopped as they stared at the trio, "Am I interrupting something...?"
« × »
Earth groaned, sitting up on his knees as he held his head in pain. Once he opened his eyes, he yelped upon seeing himself, jolting off the ground and scurrying away, "Wh-What the-!?"
Looking around frantically, he noticed he was outside of his unconscious body. He could see the others hovering around him in concern as his body's head was placed in Uranus' lap.
"What...?" He uttered, staring in bewilderment and slight disbelief as he watched the scene, almost like an outsider looking in.
"Earth...!" A whimsical voice called out to him, making him turn around as a figure with sepia-and-chestnut-colored skin and soft wavy russet hair strode towards him. She stopped in front of him, her arms stretched out before remembering that, oh, he most likely didn't remember her.
Earth looked her up and down, noting how unbelievably attractive the stranger was despite just meeting her.
Yet, he couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity...
Wait...
"I know you!" He snapped his fingers as he blurted it out.
Theia's eyes widened in surprise, a small grin rising on her face as her eyes held hope within them, "Really...!?"
"Yeah!" Earth then squinted his eyes in scrutiny, prompting Theia to falter, "Weren't you the one who almost got me run over by a car?"
Theia's smile was gone in an instant. She blinked.
'Huh...?'
« NOTE »
Guys... I failed you...
I am incompetent, a failure, a disappointment, a let-down, a loser, a nobody, *insert more synonyms here*...
I have made a mistake.
A terrible one.
What was it, you ask?
The Galaxy that Messier is from. 😔
Yeah, I know, it's terrible...
I can't believe I've been using the wrong Galaxy this whole time...
I based Messier on a supernova in M82, NOT M87.
They aren't even similar whatsoever 😭
M82 is called the 'Cigar Galaxy' while M87 is just 'Virgo A'.
How the fuck did I get them mixed up 😭
...Anyway, probably gonna quit life after this frfr
(Disclaimer: don't take that seriously, I'm trying to make it overly dramatic than it needs to be lmao)
Comments are appreciated 3
(Fr though, I most likely won't go back and edit, so the mistakes are staying 😞)