ChromaTober | 2023 FMS Writing Challenge

-| Day 21: Guilt |-

AU: Hovering Clouds (The Sky People, having been disconnected from Sabre because of the timeline-traveling, now wander the Realm either looking for a familiar, trusted person to attach to or waiting for Sabre to return. They are bitter to most of the Steves, especially those close to Sabre that didn't treat him well, as the terrible experiences that Sabre went through affected them too and made their forms resemble melancholic stormclouds rather than their usual selves. This makes them less compassionate and more stone-hearted and upset. At the same time, they're a constant reminder to the Steves that they failed Sabre. AKA the Sky People get a depression arc that guilt trips the entirety of the Realm lol.)

Context: Light, the only one that was found after the battle with the Curse, is visited by a Sky Person while he's recovering.

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[Light's POV]

I'm currently standing at the balcony of my home, watching the people of the Orange Kingdom go about their days. Seeing everyone continue life even after the Curse has been nice during my long recovery.

It's tough having to watch as the other Guards pick up the slack from my absence, but I can't do my normal duties while I wait for these injuries to heal... not to mention recovering from power drain. I'm lucky to be conscious, but I can't even teleport. Is this what Sabre felt like during his time here, since he didn't have any powers...?

"You still think of him?"

A wispy voice startles me. After a moment, I turn to see a spirit-like figure floating beside me, their head tilted to the side in curiosity. Their eyes have raindrop tears constantly flowing down their face, and the entirety of their being is either tinted or turned grey. Thick collections of mist that look like tiny rain clouds swirl around them.

"I asked you a question." The being says, sounding a little annoyed. "It's usually expected that you answer it."

I sigh and turn back to looking out at the Kingdom. I take a moment to respond.

"...Of course I do." I reply solemnly. "He was my friend."

"Friends don't attack each other. Or ignore anything they're trying to explain." The being says. "Or exile them. Or-"

"Are you creatures this snippy with everyone?" I ask, getting a little tired of this one's jabs at me.

"We have different ideas of who we're mad at and who's... good enough." The being shrugs. "I'm kind of neutral with you."

"Sure doesn't feel like it."

"Would you rather be on my revenge list and have me messing with every little part of your day, Snowball?"

I'm quiet for a minute.

"That's what I thought."

"Isn't that what your friends are doing to the Professor?" I say, remembering Professor Red complaining about that.

"Yep. He's pretty high up on the list of people we're mad at."

"Seriously? Nobody even knew he or his people existed until close to the fight with the Curse. What'd he do to deserve that?"

"He tried to experiment on Sabre and basically blackmailed him with the threat of letting Time Steve die." The being glares. "Take a guess."

"I... can sort of understand that, actually."

There's a good chunk of silence between the two of us. Eventually, I get curious and ask the being a question.

"You said that some people are 'good enough'. What does that mean?"

"They were kind. And treated Sabre nicely. Treated him like a person..." The being says, smiling as of looking back on a fond memory, but quickly becomes angry again and makes another jab. "And had common sense, unlike most of you."

I ignore the insult for now.

"So who's lucky enough to be on that list?" I ask, blankly staring at the horizon.

"The Green Steve that lives alone in the forest, and the village he's part of. They are acceptable."

"You mean the village that was harboring the First Curse trapped in the Armor?"

"Much like you, they didn't know what they were doing. Except in their case, it's forgivable."

"Could you stop insulting every Steve you talk to for five minutes?"

"Maybe you should've been less of a jerk."

"Okay, okay. I get it. We screwed up." I say, tired of this and starting to snap. "Could you stop making this so much worse for everyone that it needs to be?!"

The being looks surprised for a moment, and stares blankly at the town below as I wait for them to reply. After a while, they finally speak.

"...We don't know what else to do. Where to go... if we even can leave this place." They say quietly. "We had been tethered to Sabre for so long, that... none of us know what to do without him. He was so much more than just a best friend at our sides, he was our family, our reason to- to keep going, and..."

The being leans against the railing of the balcony, their tears dripping onto the polished wood, then disappearing.

"...And now he's just gone."

The being is silent now. They just stare at the surrounding area as they continue to cry.

...

After a moment, I lean on the balcony too, watching as the people go by with them.

"...I understand."