Chapter Text
Galaxy lay in the grass his eyes glassy with tears as he lay in the flowers. His eyes shining with the stars. He was alone. He didn’t really mind it.
He didn’t like being alone..
Zolister snapped his fingers, appearing in a sea of flowers, he looked around him, small eyes blinking under locks in his hair.
He found Galaxy rather easily, a dark red demon hybrid in the field of blues and purples.
Galaxy looked over blinking slowly.
“Oh. Hi..” Galaxy's voice was soft.
"Hey." Zolister moved his gaze to the flowers around them. He picked one flower out of the ground, rubbing the stem in his fingers.
Galaxy hummed.
“How are you doing..?” Galaxy's voice was unsure and he stretched turning over quietly.
"Good. Didn't expect to find you here." Zolister looked over at Galaxy, dropping the flower on his head.
Galaxy hummed lifting a hand up at the flower on his head.
His hand touched his head the dried blood caked in his hair. He wasn’t in pain or anything but it was confusing to have it.
“How did I get here? Thought I was winning."
Zolister picked up another flower; a white lily found hidden in the cool colours.
"Battles over. You came here to relax."
“It’s nice here. Reminds me when I dragged Boomie and Mugm out here with me.” Galaxy smiled staring at the sky.
"This is one of my favourite places." Zolister stood next to him, his cuffs on his wrists gleaming. His eyes moved to the sky, fireflies blinking in and out.
Galaxy shifted where he was laying hand reaching up to the stars in interest.
“Why are you here?”
"I come to places like this often." Zolister kept his eyes on the sky, moving to sit down next to Galaxy. Not too close, his skin emitting a cold wind.
Galaxy hugged his legs bringing a hand to his red head staring at the sky.
“It’s pretty.”
Zolister sighed as he stared at the gorgeous sky. Stars and unique constellations littered the void, galaxies seemingly merging with the clouds. Zolister closed his eyes, taking a mental picture in his head.
"I'm glad you like it."
“What are we doing here..?” Galaxy asked softly.
"Enjoying the view. Before the sun rises." Zolister answered vaguely.
“Is there another game after…?” Galaxy asked softly.
"No need to think about that right now." Zolister picked out a blue flower.
Galaxy hummed looking back at the sky.
“Eh alright then.”
Zolister slowly picked flowers out of the ground, taking the white lily back and weaved a small crown out of them. He then placed it on Galaxy's head, almost to hide the dark red areas with pure colours.
Galaxy smiled relaxing and continuing to stare at the stars.
“Hey Zoli?”
"Yes?" Zolister moved his eyes from the sky down to the demon hybrid.
“How did we get here..?” Galaxy asked softly.
"Why does it matter to you?" Zolister asked not out of malice, but kindly. He was more curious than anything.
“Curiosity. I can’t remember and I wanna go back to Mugm.*
Death’s eyes showed sorrow briefly. “I’m sorry Galaxy.. you can’t go back.”
Galaxy blinked, tilting his head confused.
“I thought I won the game? Doesn’t that mean I can go home?”
“I never said you won Galaxy.”
Galaxy looked back at the sky.
“Can I go back home now?”
“I can show you a new home. You can’t go back to the older one, I truly am sorry."
Galaxy paused.
“But… but I wanna go back to Mugm..” Galaxy mumbled.
Zolister grazed Galaxy’s head, fixing a few of the petals. “I’m sorry Galaxy.”
“Why.. why are you sorry?”
“You can’t go back anymore. You can’t say goodbye.” Zolister answered softly.
“What.. what but-but I finally got a family..” Galaxy mumbled eyes scrunching in confusion as his gaze kept trained on the stars.
“I know..”
“Why can’t I go back Zoli..? I wanna go back.” Galaxy whispered.
“Galaxy…” Zolister sighed with sadness.
“It’s.. it’s just not possible.”
“But I want to go back Zoli!” Galaxy teared up.
"Galaxy you can't." Zolister said calmly.
“Why not!” Galaxy cried.
"You're dead, Galaxy."
Galaxy blinked looking at Zoli.
“But- but the last time I died I was in the void not here.”
"You can't be revived anymore." Zolister's swirling purple gaze found Galaxy's.
“But- but MugM- and and Boomie and Pika and W-“ Galaxy whimpered.
Zolister moved to rub Galaxy's back as his eyes went back on the stars.
"What happened..?” Galaxy's voice broke.
"A mace hit your skull."
“Again..?” Galaxy laughed softly hands shaking.
"Yes Galaxy. Again."
Galaxy let out a panicked sound shaking his head.
“I don’t want to be dead.”
"No one ever wants to be dead." Zolister fixed Galaxy's flower crown.
“Can you bring me back? You can do that right?” Galaxy asks hopefully.
"I can't Galaxy. That's not how it works." Zolister removed his hands from the crown. He plucked a new flower, the purple iris turning into a black rose.
“Please- please just let me go back to them-“ Galaxy begged.
"I'm sorry Galaxy."
“Zoli- Zoli please-“ Galaxy felt tears start to slip down his face.
"I can't do that Galaxy. I don't revive people, I'm Death for a reason."
“It’s- it’s me though.” Galaxy whimpered hugging his arms the flower crown sagging in front of his eyes slightly.
"That doesn't change anything." Zolister lifted the crown up a bit, the moonlight bathing them in a pale white light.
“I don’t want to go back to the void.. I don’t want to be alone-“ Galaxy whimpered.
"You won't go to the void. That's only when you wait to be revived." Zolister promised.
"You'll go some place like this."
“Am I gonna be alone here too?” Galaxy whispered hugging his elbows.
"No. You won't be alone."
Galaxy looked back up at the stars.
“I.. I don’t want to be here.”
"Death is permanent Galaxy." Zolister weaved a few more stems together.
“I don’t want to be dead.” Galaxy's voice shook.
Zolister remained silent, finishing a small bouquet in his hands.
“Can.. can they still revive me? Is there a small chance…?”
"You only get one second chance Galaxy."
“But- but the mass revival happened you know- I wasn’t a part of that." Galaxy's voice broke again.
"You've already been revived Galaxy. I'm sorry, there is no extra chances for you."
“But-but I want to- I wanna go back Zoli!” Galaxy sobbed, shaky hands moving to his face.
Death rubbed Galaxy's back, his eyes on the stars.
"I'm sorry Galaxy."
Galaxy cried harder.
Zolister wasn't one for hugs, but he brought Galaxy in. Just this once.
Galaxy buried himself in Zolister's shoulder crying.
Zolister moved his hand to Galaxy's hair, his chin resting on Galaxy's head.
Galaxy trembled.
“I’m-im not in pain.. I was in pain last time I died.” Galaxy whispered.
"It's different now."
“How..?” Galaxy asked looking up at the other.
"Well one, you are permanently dead. Two, I'm here." Zolister patted his head gently, fixing his flower crown.
“So you are just here whenever I need you..?” Galaxy asked head tilting in more at the touch.
"Occasionally. I'm a busy person. You aren't the only person waiting to leave their Limbo and enter the Afterlife."
“So.. so this is my Limbo?” Galaxy asked tilting his head staring up at the sky again.
"I have to say it's a pretty one. One of my favourites." Zolister nodded, peering back up at the sky.
Galaxy smiled at that stretching and staring at his hands in thought.
"I'm guessing stargazing was one of your most fond memories."
“Yeah. I went stargazing a lot. With Slushly, Loonac, Finlo, Mugm and Boomie…”
"And now me."
“And now you.” Galaxy agreed a soft smile on his face.
His mind traveled to the trainings with Mugm and the bond with Boomie. He.. he wished he could talk with them one more time. He missed them.
"You'll see them again at some point." Zolister promised.
“When…?” Galaxy asked softly.
"When they join you here. In the meantime, you can still see what they are doing." Zolister brought up a log, a thin almost translucent screen hovering in front of them. It had familiar names Galaxy knew on the side.
"You can look after them. Sometimes intervene but that takes more energy."
“I can? Can I save them?” Galaxy voice shook slightly.
"I don't know.. I haven't seen anyone try."
“Could I try?” Galaxy asked tilting his head.
"Give it a shot. It doesn't hurt to try." Zolister agreed.
Galaxy hummed looking at the player list quietly.
“Can I go see Mugm?”
Zolister shrugged. "We don't know if it will even work."
Galaxy rubbed his hand.
“How.. how do I test it?”
"It's never been done. So.. I guess try whatever." Zolister moved his gaze back to the stars briefly.
Galaxy rested his hand over Mugm’s name hovering over it quietly.
Zolister kept his eyes on the sky. As much as he wanted to believe this was possible it was slim. But if it made Galaxy happy to try he'd play along.
Galaxy wilted slightly staring at the letters.
“I wanna see him one more time. Out of everyone.”
"Try your best. But it might not work Galaxy. Don't get your hopes up." Zolister said truthfully.
"I just wanna see him." Galaxy knew his voice wobbled.
Zolister gestured to the name then Galaxy. "Try it then."
Galaxy pressed his hand to the name waiting to see if anything happened.
Zolister peeked over, watching Galaxy to see if anything happened.
-+-
Galaxy's eyes widened as he stood beside Zoli in a vanguard tower, his body moved closer to Zoli nervously.
“I didn’t- didn’t think it would do anything..”
"Huh. This is new." Zolister looked down at his hands, then back at Galaxy's almost translucent figure.
Galaxy's eyes lit up.
“Wait! That means I can go see Mugm!” Galaxy pulled away from Zoli moving for the stairs to Vanguard #2's room.
"Careful." Zolister followed him down the hall, completely lost.
"He might not be able to see you."
“But I can see him!” Galaxy said, his eyes sparkling as he moved through the halls passing by Stormz and entered the room looking around with excitement.
Mugm was at his potion station, focused on his recipes as the potions brewed in front of him.
Zolister eyed the voidling with interest. He walked over to the potions.
He hasn't seen many voidlings.
Galaxy moved sitting on the counter smiling at MugM with a longing gaze.
“Do you think he knows..?”
Mugm sighed, rubbing his face. He took the finished potions and stuffed them in his pack.
"I don't know. He might." Zolister shrugged.
Galaxy tilted his head and hummed nudging one of the finished potion bottles he had forgotten closer to the edge.
“I assume he can’t see me then.”
Mugm instinctively moved his hand to the edge of the table, the potion tipping over slightly. He moved it in front of him.
"Maybe not." Zolister watched Mugm catch the potion but the voidling didn't question it.
Galaxy shifted nudging the brewing stand forward.
“So he can’t see me but he can see what I move?”
Mugm stared at the brewing stand, puzzled. He grabbed it, steadying the stand.
"Does it drain you?" Zolister asked, sitting down in an empty chair not too far from the brewing area.
“Not really im just slightly moving things.” Galaxy stared at Mugm smiling.
“I think if I wanted him to see me it would drain me more to make him see me.”
Galaxy adjusted on the counter top his tail flicking and hitting Mugm's hand.
Mugm let go of the stand, his hand moving to scratch his wrist.
Zolister smiled.
"Well, you learn something new everyday I suppose."
“Should I try and make him see me? I wanna at least say goodbye..” Galaxy mumbled.
His hands moved to his hair, ignoring the way tears swelled in his eyes again.
Mugm knocked his head on the table, a small noise leaving him.
"You can give it a shot. But if it hurts stop. There are still other people on that list."
Galaxy shut his eyes and took a breath, willing his mind to let Mugm see him, just for a minute.
His body ached but not in a bad way, almost like a day of good training.
Mugm felt weight on the counter but didn't look up. His head still rested on the table.
Zolister stayed quiet, waiting to see what would happen.
“Mugm?” Galaxy asked softly.
The voidling tensed. He raised his head slowly, his gaze finding a somewhat translucent Galaxy.
"Am I going insane?"
“No.” Galaxy said moving to Mugm and hugging him. Actually able to touch his mentor. His shoulders trembled as tears formed.
“No no you aren’t-“
Mugm froze, confused but grateful. He hugged back gently.
Galaxy trembled as he cried.
“I’m sorry- I'm sorry-“ Galaxy's heart ached.
“I let him kill me again- there- there was nothing I could do Mugm-“
"It's okay." Mugm tightened his grip on Galaxy.
“I’m sorry- I'm so sorry..” Galaxy continued hugging Mugm tighter.
The voidling stayed silent, holding Galaxy.
“I don’t want to go..” Galaxy whimpered.
"Don't then." Mugm chuckled, pulling Galaxy off the counter and messed up his hair.
“I have no choice. I- I'm dead Mugm.” Galaxy said, voice lowering as he felt the touch to his hair. He was going to miss that.
Mugm's eyes widened as he looked down at Galaxy's eyes.
"What? You died..? You just disappeared one day.. and now you're dead?"
“Poot put us into- into some sick game.” Galaxy sobbed.
"What?! I thought he was dead."
Zolister calmly watched the two, a small smile on his face.
“He’s not- he put us into this sick game and and Recall killed me again- I don’t want to die again..” Galaxy whimpered.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there-"
“I’m- I'M not angry- I just don’t want to leave again.” Galaxy whimpered.
“I still have to go say bye to the others..” Galaxy trembled at that.
"How are you even doing this? You are dead, you shouldn't even be here."
“I.. I can’t be sure how but- but I wanted to say goodbye to everyone.” Galaxy smiled weakly.
"...Does that mean you have to leave?" Mugm ruffled his hair again, a sad smile on his face.
“I.. I’m not sure. I think I can come back whenever and kinda just lurk and be a presence. I was messing with your potion stuff earlier.”
"That was you?" Mugm looked back over at his brewing stands and laughed.
Galaxy giggled.
“Yeah. Yeah I wanted to see if it would work!” His tail flicked happily behind him as he smiled.
"Well, I'll be on the lookout for you again then." Mugm smiled, hugging Galaxy again.
Zolister watched Galaxy's body flicker slightly. "I think we are coming to a close Galaxy."
Galaxy looked over at Zolister.
“Are we..?”
Galaxy looked back at Mugm.
“I think I have to go..”
"Who is that?" Mugm followed Galaxy's gaze, staring at nothing.
"Really..? Well, I'm glad you came to see me kid." He ruffled his hair more.
"I'll miss you."
“Zoli. He’s death.. I’ll miss you too.” Galaxy mumbled.
“I’ll be back soon.”
"Death..? You know what, I don't want to know." Mugm chuckled.
"See you soon kid."
“See you soon MugM..” Galaxy said vanishing.
"Well, that was heartwarming." Zoli said as he watched Mugm stare where Galaxy was for a few seconds.
"What did it feel like?"
Galaxy stared looking at MugM with a smile as tears feel.
“It just made me more tired..”
"Well, that's good." Zolister opened up the list of people again.
"Want to take a break? Or is there anyone else you want to see here?"
Galaxy stared at the floor.
“Can I say bye to Q..?"