Turning to Stone 5: The Shadows Fall

Prologue: Gone

Galvana was gone. She had taken herself and the other Celestials from this world with a single spell, but not before leaving behind something else in their place.

Wublins could be carved from statues and zapped to life, so Galvana took inspiration from both her family and her own rescue. Now, any monster could call upon the power of the stars, so long as they had a statue and the right eggs. Ever since Pickle's grand adventure, the knowledge of how to wake up Celestials was freely available, yet no one ever thought they would need the knowledge.

The monsters Galvana had been close to were long gone. Pickle was but a legend by now, yet the leader of the Celestials knew him as nothing more than her father. Attmoz still mourned the loss of his sibling, R, who was also close to Furnoss as a partner. The other Celestials had mortals for parents and siblings and partners and friends, all who eventually perished and left them behind.

That was what led Galvana to her decision. The Celestials would be what they were back in the old days, gods to be revered but only thought of from a distance. Sure, from the afterlife they could answer prayers and send prophecies (although she hoped it'd never come to that), but now monsters wouldn't be able to talk directly to them like they could now.

She knew it was selfish, but she didn't want to get attached to anyone else. This is what happens when gods mingle with mortals, they find family and friends and lovers and are stuck mourning eternally when they're gone.

But there was no going back, the hallway ahead of her was lined with the portraits of monsters past. Every notable figure in monster history was up on the wall, from before, during, and after Pickle's short time of heroics. Monsters as a species (or many species) have lived for many, many years, and with luck they would continue to prosper.

"Follow me." Galvana led the Celestials down the hall. They all stopped to glance at some portraits, figures they knew from their second life or simply observed from their first.

She recognized figures she had only read about in textbooks at school, the first leaders of the islands. They had brought peace to the monster world while the Celestials were trapped in stone. Although they had become leaders when they were young, they were adults in their portraits. All of them had a sense of maturity about them, they'd grown up facing the dangers of the world and protecting their citizens from it.

Was she a coward, running from her emotions? Why couldn't she face her duties of helping the monsters below? It's too late to turn back now. She told herself, touching the portrait of the first Wublin Island leader lightly. A Pixolotl. How ironic.

The entire group stopped in front of a familiar section of portraits, names and faces they recognized.

Matatum the Loving

Ross the Innocent

Bap the Writer

La the Knowledgeable

Torb the Defender

Loola the Prankster

Pickle the Protagonist

Galvana stopped at the painting of her father, sighing deeply. This was what she had done everything for. This was her entire reasoning for the Celestial's departure. Would he be disappointed in her? Glad to see her? It seemed rude, being glad that someone was dead, but Galvana just wanted to see him again.

Attmoz had found R's painting; they had also ended up in the Hall of Heroes. They were the one who killed W, they deserved to be here. "What's it say?" She approached Attmoz.

"R the Brave." Attmoz read aloud. "I think they'd like that. They were brave, even if they didn't think so." He touched the plaque lightly, leaving no fingerprints when he pulled away.

They kept going, seeing new faces that they hadn't paid much attention to. Monsters that had done great things, not just slaying bad guys. There were teachers, leaders, public figures, writers, all monsters who had contributed something to the world.

The paintings grew sparse as they kept going, the world hadn't needed heroes as much lately. There were no threats, no one about to destroy the monster world. As they got closer to what Galvana sensed was the end, Syncopite stopped at a pair of empty paintings.

"They're... empty?" Galvana gasped. They'd never seen an empty painting, all of the paintings were full unless you happened to stumble upon your own for the first time. Yet these two were unmistakably empty, right next to each other.

"Look." Syncopite waved his hand over the frames, and something appeared within them. In the first, a lock of white hair and a single vertebrae. In the second, two feathers, one bright red and one bright blue. The pieces remained for a moment, until they faded away.

"That-" Syncopite stepped back. "-was a vision. A warning." Jeeodes could see the future, a trait shared by their Celestial. Every day was like a many sided crystal, according to him, and every side represented a possibility for the day. For the future.

Galvana stared at the empty frames, clutching her staff close. The other Celestials murmured amongst themselves, and she felt Attmoz getting closer to her in an attempt to comfort her.

"Do you think I've made a mistake?" She asked quietly. Attmoz stayed silent for a moment or two before responding. "No. We've done plenty for the monster world. We deserve our eternal peace. If whoever these frames belong to is able to have frames in the first place, then I think the monster world will be safe with them."

"Attmoz is right." Torrt shuffled closer. "The monster world has always had heroes. Even when we were unable to do anything, trapped within statues, the mortals found ways to protect themselves. And now with the ability to create Celestials, I think they'll be just fine."

The leader of the Celestials sighed, turning away from the empty frames and stepping into the blinding light at the end of the hall. For a brief moment, she couldn't see a thing, white covered her entire vision.

The next thing she knew, she saw so much green. Green leaves and plants, a beautiful display of nature. It reminded her of Plant Island, but it wasn't Plant Island. Not yet, technically, although it never would be.

Blasoom was clearly enjoying it, rolling around in the fresh grass like he was just awakened from his statue. Galvana laughed at his display, guilt and sadness slipping away from her.

Looking around, she saw that they were on the Continent, the land they had observed for centuries before the very first Rare Wubbox had split it during their attempted rampage. They had died almost immediately, but their tries had trapped the Celestials and changed the monster world forever.

Yet here in the afterlife, the peace of the Continent was trapped forever. Nothing could ruin it, they were safe here. All monsters could relax in the sun, eat as much good food as they wanted, and talk to each other.

"Galvana?"

She turned towards the sound, seeing familiar green scales. She ran up to him, hugging him tight. She'd grown taller than Pickle, which was a bit strange. No one really likes being taller than their parents.

"What are you doing here?" He broke away from the hug to look up at her. "I'm here for you." She said. "The Celestials are tired of being alive." It was a heavy thing to admit, but it was something that had to be said.

"But what about-" Pickle protested, but Galvana cut him off. "The monsters below will be fine. We can still answer the occasional request, and we've made it so monsters can make Celestials almost as easily as Wublins. They may not be as strong, but the monster world will be just fine."

The Pixolotl seemed reassured at her words, hugging her again. Galvana set her staff aside, focusing only on her dad. "I missed you so much." She bit back sobs. "I missed you too." Pickle smiled at her.

The other Celestials were already saying hello to loved ones, reconnecting with friends, explaining the situation to everyone else, and enjoying their new "life". Looking at them having fun reassured her. She hadn't made a mistake. She'd done the right thing.

...Right?