A different world

Chapter 1 - Somewhere Away From it All

...

"All I gotta do is hope that Alex, the guardian and emerald Steve- and even that diamond Steve- is able to get far away."

"I don't even know what's gonna happen to the world within the end crystal, or... I never really figured out who's even doing this, but...knowing that they're safe is what really matters."

"I shouldn't have been joking around."

"This is it. Here we go...!"

...

...

...

What was this...?

Where was he...?

He glanced around slowly, unable to move too rapidly, as if he was trapped in molasses. He was surrounded by a bright light, and completely alone, by the look of it.

No, no- he wasn't alone. Some unmeasurable distance in front of him stood a dark figure, starkly contrasting the bright environment. It didn't have a face, or any discernible features besides a vaguely human body.

"Hello-?" Sabre croaked, only realizing after he spoke just how sore his voice was. His hand briefly went up to touch at his neck, confused at the sudden hoarseness. Just seconds ago, his voice was normal. Or...how long ago did he last speak...?

"Hello, Sabre." Interrupting Sabre's thoughts was a silky voice that hummed under his skin and across the vast and open brightness surrounding them. "You were out for quite a while."

"Who are you?" Sabre managed. "What do you mean?"

"I am everything. But that is of little importance." The air rumbled with what sounded almost like an amused chuckle. "You took the blow of the end crystal—it would have killed you, had I not stepped in."

"The end crystal..." Sabre racked his brain in a desperation to remember. He vaguely remembered it; the earth shaking, the sky breaking, and his sacrifice. Oh. "Is- is everyone okay?!" Sabre asked as soon as he recalled it.

"They are...okay, yes. But that doesn't matter anymore." The figure stepped forward, facing Sabre.

"What? Of course it matters! I have to get back to them!!" Sabre exclaimed.

"You did what you needed to, you saved them. You're their hero. But their world doesn't need saving anymore, Sabre." the figure explained, placing a warm hand on his shoulder. "You were called back to the world, whether you were aware of it or not, to deal with the infection. Now time has passed, and the world is safe. They don't need you anymore. But others do."

Sabre felt a pang in his gut. He shook his head, feeling almost angry. No, no, he was angry. He shook off the hand on his shoulder. "How could you say that? I wasn't there just because they needed me! I was there because they were my friends!!"

The figure shook its head. "You underestimate your role in these worlds, Sabre. You are the hero. The catalyst. The Origin of it all. The world you've come to know does not need your help anymore, so you must move on. Move onto another world."

Sabre stood in stunned silence. No matter how hard he tried to think, he couldn't figure out at all what this weirdo was saying. "Move on? Are you crazy? They- they're my friends. I can't just leave because my work is done." Sabre paused, his fists clenched. "And what do you mean, 'move onto another world'?"

"You've saved this world. You've eliminated every issue and every future issue. So...you must go to the next world. Save it." The figure let out a soothing breath that moved through the bright land and almost calmed Sabre's anger. "You do not remember, as is intended, but you've done this many times. You've saved many worlds, in this very pattern. It may be hard for you to accept, but this is your fate. Your role in the universe."

Sabre froze. His role? What kind of role was fit for a silly man in a chicken onesie that couldn't take anything serious until it was too late? "I don't get it." He muttered.

"You do not need to, as you will not remember this encounter, or your past encounters." Despite having no face, it seemed to...smile. And that really made Sabre's blood boil.

"You're going to erase my memories and send me off to some other world?" Sabre growled, stepping forward.

"Precisely. Don't seem so angry, Sabre. This is your life. It's what you wanted."

Sabre was fed up. He jumped forward and attempted to attack the figure, but ended up facing the complete other direction. He turned around, bewildered.

"It was nice speaking to you again, Sabre. I'll see you soon enough."

"No, no, wait-!!" Sabre attempted to run forward again, but it all went black.