Archive of Our Own ^beta

It all started when they were resting on a new planet. Lord Hater had chased them to exhaustion, and Wander was more anxious than usual. Sylvia knew something was wrong with her best friend, so she suggested taking a short break.

But the poor thing kept looking around, always on high alert, as if something were about to happen at any moment. And every time she asked, Wander denied it and changed the subject. Very unlike him.

Things got worse when they arrived on the planet. It was undoubtedly a curious and intriguing place. It was desolate, but there were architectural structures with strange symbols and a language Sylvia had never seen before. The more they explored, the more Wander trembled on her back. She looked at him, worried.

—Friend…

—We need to leave this planet. Now! —That was… unusual. She had never seen Wander so scared and anxious.

—Are you sure? Usually, you want to explore the entire planet, looking for people who need help, stopping to admire the wildlife… —She was about to continue, but Wander interrupted her immediately.

—Does it look like there’s any wildlife on this planet, Sylvia?! —The Zbornak was startled by her friend's outburst. She looked around only to realize that, in fact, it was a completely desolate wasteland, without a single plant or any organic life. It seemed to be all rock and metal, with those futuristic structures.

—I'm sorry… this place makes me nervous. —She sighed. This was definitely a side of her friend she had never seen before, but one she was determined to understand.

—What about this place makes you so anxious? It’s just another planet, like the others. Yes, it has a strange vibe, but…

—Do you see the inscriptions on the walls, Syl? —The Zbornak nodded. Wander let out a heavy sigh.

—They speak of a prophecy.

—A prophecy? You can read this? It looks like a very ancient language.

Wander nodded. He was unusually serious. Once again, Sylvia had never seen him act like this. They stopped in front of an inscribed wall. Wander stared at it, causing a moment of silence as both observed the writing.

—In just three moons… they will come. They will come and destroy the entire universe.

Sylvia blinked. She looked at the wall, then back at her friend. Deep down, she wasn’t that scared (they had always fought enemies who threatened the cosmos in one way or another), but what truly unsettled her was how Wander was reacting to it.

—Well, we’ve fought bad guys before. You’ve even managed to change their minds. I don’t get what scares you so much.

Wander looked at her, took off his hat, and squeezed it tightly in his hands, nervous.

—You don’t understand, Syl. I always say there’s goodness inside everyone, but them… they’re different… —He took a deep breath before continuing. Sylvia saw him tense up. Wander walked toward another wall, and she followed. This time, there was a mural.

On one side, there were depictions of tall beings with many eyes, their gazes filled with fury. They seemed to be attacking. On the other side, to Sylvia’s surprise, there were beings that looked like Wander. They were raising their hands toward a star. The star was blocking the attack from the tall beings.

—Eons ago, because of them… my planet was destroyed. Well, our star, rather.

Sylvia was shocked, but at the same time, she felt sadness and confusion. Wander never talked about his past. Never about himself in general. And all of this was strange, new… but Sylvia would always support him, no matter what story he had to tell.

—I'm sorry, friend.

Wander looked at her with a sad smile.

—It’s okay. It happened a long time ago… Listen, Syl, they’re not like the other villains we’ve faced. They’re different. They’re incomprehensible to any mind. Beings without emotions, with only one purpose: destruction. And that’s why… we existed.

Sylvia listened carefully, still struggling to process everything: the prophecy, Wander talking about his past, the fact that he was about to tell her about his species.

—We were Star Guardians.

Wander touched the part of the mural where the beings that looked like him were. Sylvia watched him with sadness.

—We contained them. We were the other side of the coin. If they destroyed… —He pointed to the part of the mural where the tall beings were—, we repaired. But… one day, it was too much. The leaders of my star decided we had to seal them away, but to do that, we needed all our energy. We sealed them in a remote part of the cosmos, in a rift within the stellar mantle… All of us gave our energy to achieve it, and that destroyed us, too.

Sylvia barely understood now. The only thing she knew was that these beings were far too dangerous and powerful. However, she had heard of the Star Guardians before, but only as rumors. An ancient legend, impossible to prove. That Wander was one of them… was hard to believe.

She had always imagined the Star Guardians as gods. Beings capable of altering everything at will, always watching over the galaxy. But if she put it into perspective, Wander undoubtedly fit that description.

All those times her orange friend could have died, yet he never did. He always came out unscathed. Always a step ahead. Always pulling things out of his hat, as if it contained the infinite void of the universe, as if he could alter reality itself. Always making the galaxy a better place. Fixing everything.

But Sylvia still had one question.

—I don’t get it. If everyone on your star… —(Sylvia was still coming to terms with the fact that her friend wasn’t from a planet)— perished… how are you…?

—I was chosen… They knew that one day, in the future, the seal would weaken. They told me I had to survive so that, when the time came, I could seal them away again.

Sylvia couldn’t believe what she was hearing. It was too much information to process. It overwhelmed her, but more than anything, it made her worry for Wander.

—But you said it took all of your species’ energy to seal them… and if it’s just you…

Wander sighed.

—They said I had the most power. My energy would be enough. I could seal them away permanently. Back then, I was too small, I couldn’t do it myself… The Star Guardians sacrificed themselves to save the universe. Now… it’s my turn.

Sylvia swallowed hard. Her eyes were starting to well up. What she was hearing had to be a lie. It had to be.

—When I was left alone, I wished someone would help me. I’d never wish that feeling upon anyone. That’s why I help people. So they won’t feel as alone as I did. That’s why I don’t mind sacrificing myself for the galaxy… The only thing I’m afraid of is that when the time comes… I’ll fail.

Sylvia looked at him, both scared and worried, now with tears in her eyes. She hugged the last Star Guardian—her best friend—tightly. Wander returned the hug, and for the first time in a long time, he let everything out, crying uncontrollably.

—No matter what happens, friend… I’ll always be here for you.