I don't need no light to see you SHINE

17

TWs: Past injuries/torture/coercion, anger, destroying things. Stay safe :)

"Oh dear..." Spica uttered after Sun was done explaining, "And you're sure it was its mark?"

"I'm sure. Nine has the same one, only on his left cheek." Sun nodded.

"What are we going to do?" Regulus asked, "It's not like we can eliminate the marks. After all, once a Black Hole sets its hands on you, there's no way to cleanse yourself."

"Unless Sagittarius A* were to undo the marks itself," Sirius crossed his arms, "But we all know that's impossible. Most Black Holes are relentless."

Proxima perked up, "That's right- most Black Holes are... but not all of them!"

The Stars turned to look at the smallest. Toliman gestured them to continue, "Go on..."

"Sun, you have a few NovaStars floating around your part of the Milky Way, right?"

Sun hummed, "Nine, Uranus, and Neptune each have one."

"Do you happen to know their names?"

"Well, there's Wěi, Pinwheel, and Messier."

"Messier, like from the Messier 87 galaxy?"

"Yes, but I don't see why-"

"BH M87 is exactly who we need to help us!" Proxima exclaimed. The Stars looked at them incredulously.

"Did you eat those weird space crystals again?" Toliman furrowed his eyebrows in concern.

"No- well, maybe- but not the point! Just hear me out," Proxima pulled a chalkboard out of thin air.

"Where did you-"

"Just go with it." Toliman gave Regulus a look.

Proxima began to write, "I've heard that M87 has been... less than happy lately. It contains a few hundred billion stars and one hundred fifty globular clusters, making it the dominant member of the Virgo cluster of galaxies, which includes around two thousand galaxies."

"And where is this going exactly...?" Sirius raised an eyebrow.

"Spica, you reside in the Virgo constellation, right?" Proxima turned to the blue Celestial.

"Correct." Spica nodded.

"You've seen what it's like there, right?"

"Well, not exactly..." Spica raised a hand to her chin, "Sure, I've seen a few Stars die out over the centuries, but it's not like I know M87 personally."

"Regulus?"

"Ah, can't say for sure..."

"Then, we'll just have to connect with it." Proxima drew up a diagram.

"Are you crazy? M87 is 1500 times more massive than Sagittarius A*!" Regulus gestured as he stepped forward, "Just think about what will happen if we tell M87- he might destroy us himself!"

"I have to agree, Proxima." Spica spoke, "It's too risky."

The smallest Star frowned before looking back at the chalkboard, eyeing the diagrams of the Virgo and Leo constellations before humming, "Wait... something's missing."

"Are you even listening-" Regulus got cut off by an elbow to his side, "Augh, hey!"

Toliman ignored the blue Star, staring at his sibling, "What do you see, Prox?"

"Messier 87 is right here." Proxima circled an area between the constellations before looking at a clear area of the board, "We're missing something here."