Weight of the World

Prologue

Bright light shot into every direction as the wave rippled across open space. All stars paled in comparison as the explosion continued outwards before suddenly switching directions. Gravity pulled all of the light, gas, debris, and more into the center. Within a moment all movement ceased. Everything had folded in on itself. The universe sighed in relief as the remaining mass looked around. The destruction had led to the creation of something new. Something frowned upon.

Its molten form stared unblinking at the twinkling of stars in the distance. As the dust settled, it began to move. Gently pushing itself towards the nearest star, it skated through space. Once it was within a light-minute of its target star, it slowed to a halt. The ball of gas pulsed and flickered as the creature stared. It wasn't a star. It's what was left of one.

The creature bubbled as it watched the star. One pulse, two pulses. There was a pattern. A familiar one at that. It counted every pulse and flicker, decoding the calming sensations.

"Another Fallen floats before me."

Pulsing from other directions caused the creature to turn.

"Which of us fell this time, I wonder?"

"Does it matter? They lost our pity long ago."

Turning towards the original star, the creature tilts its body. As it turns, it catches a glimpse of a distant conversation.

"...those Terrans have discovered magic at last."

"They've caught up with most other worlds..."

It pushed itself again, speeding past the celestial judges. Where it saw reference to these 'Terrans', it would follow. Light-years passed as the Fallen propelled through the cosmos. It burst through space dust tinted purple as it slowed to a stop. Debris and space dust floated outwards from a singular point. The last flickers of light shot past the creature as it decoded its final words.

"At last... reunited with the Void once again..."

A moment passed as the creature stared at where the light originated from. Newly forming thoughts began connecting the dots. A Fallen..? The debris that I came from... What did those stars mean by Fallen? Was I a star? What was a Void? Its core bubbled as it tried to reign itself in. Unyielding thoughts would do the creature no good. Slowly turning in place, it caught sight of another conversation. The pulses were faster and more sporadic.

"How does one fulfill a wish like that?"
"You know our powers stretch thin enough as is."

"If the three of us focus, I'm sure it could be done." "But is a wish of that caliber even worth it?"

The pulsing slowed and the stars flickered.

"Of course it is. We're meant to grant them after all."

"At our own digression. If we determine a wish to b-"

A bright flash emanated from the star, before it retreated into a steady and rhythmic pulsing.

"I understand the rules. You do as well. There's no need to shout over something so trivial."

Another push allowed the molten creature to drift towards the three stars. A red giant argued its case to a white dwarf and a neutron star. The creature tilted the other way as the stars continued.

"Vague wishes have hundreds of solutions, and you expect us to bow to your proposal?"

"Of course not. I've been the only one to suggest a solution."

"...It seems we have a visitor."

All of their pulsing or flickering slowed to a standstill as the creature floated between them.

"A Fallen."

The creature bubbled for a moment. It tried to emit light like the stars around them. A pathetic glow barely flickered before sputtering out.

"It tried to speak to us."

"I doubt it can understand us."
"But it tried. Isn't that the least bit interesting?"

It was then that the stars all 'spoke' in unison.

"The Terrans discovered the Void's magic..?"

Tilting its body, the creature turned towards the furthest star.

"Terrans are messing with dangerous territory for those under the least amount of protection."

A moment passed before the creature pushed itself away from the trio. It caught a glimpse of the giant's last sentence.

"...perhaps the solution just left us."

The creature's mind began to wander as it moved through space.