|| [ SNAP ] || [ A Take-on of a New SAMS AU] ||

CHAPTER 1 - _ " Let me do this for you " _

[FIRST PERSON POV, SUN'S POV]

When was the last time I had seen Moon's face? Two weeks, give or take?

I would finally be able to make my brother proud. I would finally be able to finally do something useful for them instead of being stupid, worthless garbage that constantly weighs them down.

Why couldn't they just see why I was doing this? They've done so much for me. It's only right I return the favor.

As I searched the forest, stumbling through bushes and over hills, I found a bunker.

Finally! The next bunker, finally. It was just below the hill I was standing on.

I would wander over hills and through bushes if it meant I could finally help my brother for once, even if they didn't appreciate it.

I stumbled down the hill clumsily, almost tripping and landing face-first into the dirt.

I began to walk towards the bunker when a too familiar voice erupted in the air.

I turned around to see Moon.

"Sun- Wait!" They yelled as they rushed towards me from behind one of the many trees in this forest.

I scowled. Were they here to stop me? From helping them?

Once again, the question came up of why they didn't allow me to help them. I guess, that would never be answered by Moon honestly, though.

"What do you want? To stop me? Because if so, you're a little too late." I folded my arms, staring at Moon inquisitively.

"No, Sun, I'm not here to stop you, I'm here to apologize."

Their answer left me a bit startled, to say the least.

"Really?" I blurted out, too stunned to stop myself.

"Yes- And I wanted to talk to you, about... Going into that bunker."

Oh. So they really were just messing with me.

"I thought you said you wouldn't stop me from going into that bunker." Sun said, now suspicious.

"Well, I won't stop you, physically. I'm not actually in a physical form, if you haven't noticed. I'm a hologram." Moon explained, in a somewhat mischievous tone.

"Really-? You know what, I'm not even surprised at this point.." I sighed, "Now, what do you need to say? Make it quick."

Moon nodded, and cleared their throat.

"Sun, I'm sorry, for not allowing you to help more, but really, you have been helping. That isn't a lie."

I tilted my head, I had helped? What a joke. I hadn't helped anyone at all, but still, I was intrigued.

"You've always been there for me, through thick and thin. When I had panic attacks- when I couldn't believe in myself. You were even there for me when I hurt those children.."

I blinked, perhaps I did do something..?

"I didn't know you were less than content with just that, I just assumed you wanted to be out of the crossfire, and I wanted to protect you, as well."

With the next few word, though, I narrowed my eyes.

"I? Wanting to be out of the crossfire?" I scoffed, "I may be scared of dying, but that doesn't make me just suddenly not want to help you in any sort of way. And to protect me? You shoved me away to protect me? You worked yourself to the bone to protect me? You hurt yourself, damn it! That didn't protect me! I was just left here feeling guilt-ridden because I was the 'dumb one', the one who couldn't help. And you know what? It doesn't feel like you were trying to protect me. It feels like you were trying to protect yourself from me changing for the better!"

Tears welled up in my eyes as anger overwhelmed my senses.

Moon was stunned to silence, their expression turning to one of guilt and sadness.

"Sun I'm sorry-" Moon began.

"Shut up! Just leave! I'm not going to stop just for you to leave me in the dark again and again!" I turned, and began to ran.

I wanted to be anywhere, anywhere but here. I didn't want to see Moon's face. Perhaps if I ran far enough they would give up and leave. I didn't want to see them.

So as I ran through the woodlands, trampling over sticks, leaves, and other woodland undergrowth, I felt tears sting my eyes. I heard Moon call for me, but couldn't bear to look back.

I didn't want to see anyone I knew.

Not Lunar, not Roxanne, not Monty, and especially not Moon.

It hurt too much to even look at them.

I suddenly came to a clearing, and collapsed onto the ground. Dirt sprayed onto me, and only then did I return to my senses. My heart still pounded, and my pain sensors were definitely going off. Perhaps it would've been better if we didn't have those. Especially with the children..

Back on topic, I still had to go back to that bunker, but what if Moon was there still, just waiting for me to return?

I sighed. I would have to return to that bunker later, but I couldn't risk it now.

I stood up, wincing as my pain sensors shamelessly continued to go off.

Definitely not the smartest idea to fall onto the ground.

The next bunker was.. Beta 3? I was quite far off from checking all the bunkers, but I would search every single one, A-Z, if it meant that I could kill Eclipse, finally.

And so I began to walk off, back into the woodlands, following the GPS as it lead me to the next bunker.

I have a vague memory of checking the rest of the bunkers except for one.

[END]

[Without End Creds: 940 Words]
[With End Creds: 951 Words]