No Hard Feelings - Chapter 3 - Solar_Glitch, The_only_cheese_lord (2024)

Chapter Text

When my body won’t hold me anymore.

And it finally lets me free.

Will I be ready?

Moon listened to the song on loop. It’s been ten days since Sun had left him. Ten agonizing days, that dragged on like a long fork scraping over a plate without an end in sight.

Time moved on, without Sun.

Without his precious Sunshine... his brother, his ground of reality, his other half, his everything...

The guilt was unbearable. It was eating him up from the inside; an aching, pulsing pain coming from deep within, unsure if its source was physical or code related. He didn't have a protocol for handling this, no idea how to control the intense emotions, and all he wanted was for it to be over.

He cried day and night, sometimes quietly, sometimes loudly. It wore down his artificial fluid reservoirs, and he wasn’t refuelling. Sun wasn’t there to make sure he did.

His brother seemed happy 10 days ago...

He wanted to spend more time with his Sun 10 days ago...

He was going to… now that everything had been over with, he was going to…

The last memory he had with his brother replayed in his head repeatedly, now knowing that Sun probably already settled on his plan when they last talked...

He stopped the song he had been listening to non-stop in the last few days, and replayed the memory one more time:

Ten days ago, when the sun disappeared behind the horizon, and the moon shone down on the house, almost everyone was asleep.

Everyone, except for Sun and Moon.

The first night with Solar back...

"You okay there, brother?" Sun whispered, leaning over the couch to see Moon better.

Solar and Lunar cuddled each other quietly, already deep in their sleep, and Moon had pulled the two towards himself a long time ago. Solar's back laid against Moon's chest, whilst Moon himself laid against the armrest of the soft fabric - half asleep - but still aware.

Sun had a sheepish smile adorning his face.

"So… you're happy?" Sun asked, looking down to Solar and Lunar. He carefully reached down, and pet Lunar's head as he waited for an answer.

Moon studied Sun's expression. He seemed calm. At peace too. He was clearly tired, but he didn't seem to feel anything negative.

But there was something behind that smile Moon couldn't place. A hint of... jealousy? Guilt? He knew his brother was good at hiding his true feelings. But right now, he felt tired too.

He will ask him tomorrow if he is okay.

But Moon did know he’d dismissed and avoided Sun a lot, especially since Solar died. Moon isolated himself completely in his grief, under the pretence that everyone mourned differently. And while this was true, he only ever got to see Sun during their gaming videos... that couldn’t possibly be enough?

He had to make it up to Sun.

Sun hummed, and looked at their entwined hands, not responding to Moon's acknowledgment. He was lost deep in his own thoughts.

You should've told Sun you love him.

"And you'll be okay, Moon?" suddenly Sun asked, still as quiet as their voice box lets them.
'What an odd question', Moon thought.

You should've pulled him in for a hug.

"Yeah. Everything can go back to normal now..." He was tired. His eyes slowly closed, his battery on 2%.

Tell him you love him...

You could've stopped him, you fool...

Sun smiled again, and gently squeezed Moon's hand.

"I love you, Moon..."

SAY IT BACK YOU FOOL!

He’d briefly wanted to wake Sun up and convince him to come to work. They could clean the house together afternoon. He’d wanted to open the shift with Sun, like they used to. He’d wanted to try and take care of kids with Sun, being at peace enough to just try. Even if he hated kids. Even if he hated morning shifts.

He’d just wanted to spend time with Sun finally.

But when he entered the room, Sun had been sleeping too peacefully to disturb. He must have been exhausted.

From that moment on, there was a dimension somewhere in the multiverse, where Moon decided to wake Sun up. A dimension, where he did his best to convince his brother to come to work. And maybe that wasn't enough either, and Sun protested against the idea.

Another choice, another split of dimensions and possibilities. A dimension, where against the wake-up, Sun stayed home, and a dimension where Moon managed to convince Sun to get up and come.

Out there, there was a dimension where Sun lived. Multiple even, maybe.

Where Moon convinced Sun to come to work and have fun.

Where Moon asked Sun if he was okay.

Where Moon coaxed Sun to talk to him about the things he kept for himself; the things he felt he had to hide from Moon.

Where Moon told him how much he loves Sun...

A place, where maybe, Sun finally broke down. Where he spilled out everything to him. Where Sun finally felt safe with him.

Moon idly thought there would be a dimension where he never had to see the cursed letter which ringed in his audio processors, as if Sun would be whispering it to him non-stop. He didn't want to have to live with the guilt of losing Sun, and envied the him that just had the lingering thought he almost lost Sun to deal with.

f*ck that Moon.

He deserves his own breaks. One break won't hurt any of them, right?

Emerging back from the memory had Moon in a familiar place.

Edge of the ocean again.

Always here. Always…

Eclipse was hovering nearby again. Moon looked at his own hands, that clung to the memorial. For Eclipse’s sake, maybe he should do an effort to clean himself up a bit. For his family’s sake, he should try.

Moon walked back inside, and Eclipse nearly followed him into the bathroom. So focused on Moon. So paranoid—

“Eclipse, I’m just going to take a shower...”

Eclipse wanted to protest, but he, too, was tired. He hoped Moon was telling the truth. With only just a moment of hesitation, he lifted his hands up in surrender, and headed towards the couch. Moon quietly closed the bathroom door behind himself.

Under the shower, Moon closed his eyes against the torrent of hot water, letting it soothe his weary body and rinse the worst of his inky tearstains away. He was happy he’d created special cleaning liquids to get this gunk off faster. Sun’s tank was much cleaner.

Why did he get saline tears and Moon got oil?!

More little things to dwell on as he cradled Sun’s ray cleaning shampoo bottle.

”Moooon, don’t take my stuff!”

“I’m not taking it Sunny, I-” Moon’s eyes snapped open.

“Sunny? Sunshine?” The whispers echoed softly in the too-bright bathroom. Moon nearly crushed the bottle he was cradling in his arms. He stood there, trembling, and tried to collect himself.

Sun wasn’t here.

He wasn’t here.

He didn’t want to be here.

“You didn’t protect my BROTHER, TRAITOR. I knew I shouldn’t have entrusted such a thing to a f*cking imposter!”

Moon screamed when he heard the voice. Of course, he knew exactly whose voice it was. Moon screamed and screamed, and Eclipse had to bust the door open, only to find Moon huddled in the bathtub as if he’d just seen a ghost.

“He- He-“

Eclipse grabbed Moon’s shoulders and shook him.

“Get a hold of yourself. I cannot keep doing this with you!” It was too much. Eclipse was breaking too.

Moon looked at him with wide eyes, which instantly fell into a cold, apathetic look.

“Get out.”

“Moon-”

“Get. Out, Eclipse!”

Eclipse tch’d and left Moon there. Storming out of the house, through the portal, into the Daycare. He was muttering to himself, heeding Lunar - whom he’d almost barrelled over - no mind. Solar was walking down the stairs towards the Daycare when his other entered the place. He rushed down and managed to hear Lunar calling out behind himself, towards Eclipse.

“Hey, what’s-”

But Eclipse turned on his heel and stalked closer, towering over him.

“If you really want to know! Your brother is a selfish bitch! And I’m not talking about Moon - though him too. Him f*cking too.” Eclipse growled and muttered tiredly.

“I’ve had enough. I’m leaving.”

Lunar stood there, shell-shocked.

“And where are you going?!” Lunar called after him again but made no effort going after his ex-brother.

Eclipse didn’t turn around, just lifted his left arm and put his middle finger up.

“Does it f*cking matter?! I’m not paid for being Moon’s caretaker, give me one goddamn hour of break!” He yelled back and disappeared behind one of the jungle gyms. Lunar thought for a moment, but decided on finding Earth, Solar and Monty.

They had to talk about Moon.

When Lunar turned around, he saw Solar standing at the Daycare doors, shocked. They shared a glance, and both of them silently agreed what should happen now. Solar opened the portal to the brothers Moon’s house, and Lunar made his way towards Monty and Earth.

When Solar entered the house, he was alarmed to find the door ajar.

“Moon?” He tried, gently. Then louder, when he didn’t receive an answer.

“Moon?!”

“Bathroom, I’m in the bathroom!”

Solar heard, hoarsely coming from the general area of one of the bathrooms.

“Oh uh, I’ll leave you alo-”

“NO! - no, just... just come here, please. I-”

The shout tapered off into the smallest broken whisper Solar’s heard from Moon yet. Previously, every time he’d tried to check up on Moon - which was quite often - Eclipse had been around, and he did seem like he’d been keeping Moon under control. But well, remembering how Eclipse stormed into the daycare, they probably argued. Eclipse has limits too.

“Moon...”

When Solar saw the state Moon was in, naked on the bathroom floor, shivering, he immediately grabbed a large towel and wrapped the other in it. Animatronics didn’t get cold or hot the same way humans did, and they certainly couldn’t get hypothermia, so... why was Moon shivering? Did Solar even dare to ask?

Moon, when Solar wrapped him up in the comforting towel and lifted him up, couldn’t help himself but to cling to the touch. He sobbed quietly as the two of them made it up into Moon’s room, Solar whispering comforting words to his friend.

He laid Moon in his bed and sat on the edge.

“Care to tell me what’s going on?” Solar asked softly.

Moon closed his eyes and rolled over with his back to Solar. He couldn’t face anyone.

“I heard them... Sun... and the old Moon.”

Solar was alarmed but tried not to show it. Clearly Moon needed him. Moon needed someone right now.

“And... that scared you? You’re shivering, Moon.” Moon nodded.

“Yeah... I... think I’m losing it. I haven’t been, you know, really sleeping, charging, eating-” Moon choked back a sob. “I miss Sun’s cooking...”

The look in Solar’s eyes softened. He never realized Moon loved Sun this much. The way Moon treated Sun previously was... ambivalent at best. He didn’t get to see the lovelier moments all that much. And the only Sun and Moon dynamics he was really used to be his own Sun and Moon. Which wasn’t... very positive.

Stupid, stupid. Why would you ever think Sun was okay in this dimension just because Moon was nicer?? Solar quietly berated himself, as Moon reached out to touch his arm.

“Hey... hey, come back. Earth to Solar.” Solar blinked and realized he’d been spaced out.

“Sorry, I... -” He cut himself off, suddenly struck with an idea.

“I think I can help you.”

Moon looked up at the solar bot, wincing as the image momentarily overlapped with an effigy of Sun. Not now Moon, pull it together.

“Might as well try your idea, Solar. I have none left... my head feels like the soggy cereal Sun sometimes ate for breakfast when he was in a bad mood...” Moon closed his eyes and curled back on his side, away from Solar.

Solar put a gentle arm on his shoulder.

“I’ll be back in a few hours. If this works, you’ll be able to get some rest.”

Solar stood up and made his way to the door, but stopped, and looked back.

“Oh, and put some clothes on. That cannot be comfortable.”

He made his way out of the house, messaging the others he took care of Moon for now, but someone should come over for a few hours.

Moon was left alone. He didn’t heed Solar’s warnings of wearing anything but did exchange the towel for a comforter. He fell asleep, dreaming of many, many horrible things.

To think his own mind would become his biggest enemy like this...

Solar called up the old recipe for Moondrop candy and surveyed its contents.

“Hm, this won’t work. It’s too weak an effect and, no - maybe if I add a little... damnit I’ll have to make this from scratch.”

Solar discarded the blueprints and went through his online database of known chemicals and their interactions. He simulated some ideas side by side with Moon’s nanite-based stomach and subsequent circuitry, comparing it to all information he knew about Moon’s reactions to foods, drinks and non-food substances.

Melatonin: Weak effect, no side effects

Valium: moderate effect, weak side effects

Zopiclone: strong effect, strong side effects, incompatible with subject [Moon]

Cetirizine: weak effect, no side effects

Trazodone: moderate effect, severe side effects in subject [Moon]

Bisoprolol: Incompatible with subject [Moon]

Analysis estimated to take [1] hour.

Solar let the list run, keeping an eye on it in case it ran into snags. It eventually started on non-human substances including anaesthetic gases, CO, vapours, oils, and others.

It was a beeping noise that shook Solar out of the small nap he’d been falling into. He’d dreamt something very strange... too strange to dwell on. Two Suns gazing down on him, giggling as they tried to pet his rigid rays.

Solar sighed and looked up at the program.

Substance ratio completed for subject [Moon]

Survey contents?

[Yes]

Solar checked the list of contents, alarmed by some and amused by others.

Would this really work? He tested and retested the safety features, eventually deciding to take the drug himself after it was manufacted.

Just to make sure.

For good measure, he added some flavour to it. The most compatible flavour, without compromising the integrity of the drug, was an artificial lemon.

It was only when Solar held the pill in his hand that he realized how much it smelled like Sun - specifically like the cleaning liquid he used to swear by.

”It gets stains out that even bleach can’t get out!”

Solar came to associate the scent with Sun. It always clung to him. He held the candy-like pill to his chest and willed back the swell of emotion, before popping it into his mouth. Moon had made his new endoskeleton similar enough to his own that this should work. He should go find a bed.

Solar quickly found himself in... probably the most beautiful place he’s ever seen in his fragmented life.

Nebulae swelled around him, seemingly alive. Stars played cosmic catch with trails of light. Binary stars kissed their last goodbye, exploding into new worlds. Astral hands touched him, held him. They were so familiar.

Solar held on to the one animatronic he’d recognize in every lifetime, in every world, in every form.

His Sun.

But he was embraced by another familiar figure as well: the Moon whose soul he was trying to save from breaking.

The angels in his life.

When Solar woke up, he gasped and seemed confused by the light around him. Miniscule glowing orbs that dissolved into lemony vapours. Did the candy turn his tears to that? Solar sat back heavily onto the chair and thought for a moment, then he batched manufacturing the candy-like pill, chuckling.

“Solar’s Soothing Lemondrops, guaranteed to kill your humans and give your animatronics nice dreams...” he smiled proudly, then added with a hint of worry “Fazbear should never find out about this.”

Solar made his way back to Sun and Moon’s house with the package. He couldn’t save his Suns, he couldn’t save one of his Moons, but maybe he had a chance with the other. When he arrived at the house, he put the stash in the fridge, and took out one for Moon.

Eclipse was laying on the couch, asleep.

Solar could see Earth had been by too, judging by the cleanliness of the house and the little sandwiches on the table. There was also a small note.

”Dear Moon,

Please don’t shut us out like this.

We’re worried for you.

You know you can talk to me anytime.

Even about this...

We can get through this together!

Just... please, try?

We miss you.

Love, Earth”

Solar touched one of the sandwiches fondly, and then ate it. He scrunched his face, but swallowed. Too salty!

He smiled wryly, and walked up to Moon’s room. He wasn’t doing this just for Moon, but for all of them. It would be okay. It would be okay this time. Moon would be able to sleep, calm down, heal. He could dream beautiful things about... whatever it is that Moons dreamt of.

Machines and Sun? And maybe a cure for cancer.

At the door, Solar was surprised to hear Moon talking to someone. He was laughing even.

“Come on, Sun, you know that’s not true. It’s the left drawer that holds the key!”

Solar opened the door in confusion. Moon was awake, but he didn’t look quite alright. His smile didn’t match the tears staining his faceplate again. Disoriented was understatement for Moon’s look.

“Oh, Solar! Hey, remember Sun walking into the ocean? It was all a prank! He got us good, didn’t he? Look, he came back!” Moon pointed at... nothing.

Solar was unsure how to react, he just prayed Moon will snap out of it. He stared at the thin air he was pointing at, and then looked back to Moon, who were seemingly waiting for his reaction. But to Solar’s relief, his smile slowly fell as he didn’t react like Moon thought he would. Moon sighed and rubbed his faceplate.

“He’s not really there, is he?”

Solar nodded carefully.

“He’s not, Moon. I’m sorry.”

Moon slumped back into the bed, looking dishevelled still, wrapped up in a comforter. He never wore the clothes. He ignored the non-existing figure of his brother smiling down at him as Solar hummed and sat on the bed.

“I said I’d help you, right Moon? Just... trust me?”

Moon tiredly looked towards Solar.

“I’d trust you with my life, Solar.”

Solar smiled fondly and offered the pill.

“What - candy - oh.”

Moon almost looked like he is on the verge of tears again as the scent hit him.

“Try one, I promise I tested them myself.”

Moon ate the thing, savouring the taste as he held back the tears. It didn’t take long for him to fall asleep. Solar watched over him for a long while, to make sure nothing would go wrong. He layed down next to Moon, a hand petting his friend’s head, and Solar just let this quiet moment be. Eventually, he saw the night go by and the sun rise.

At least one sun could still rise...

He looked at the sight mournfully before hearing a hushed argument downstairs. He briefly checked Moon, noting that he was stable, even peaceful, before checking out the commotion downstairs. It sounded like Lunar and Eclipse were arguing.

“For the last time, Lunar, you can’t put mayonnaise on strawberries! God, why don’t you ever listen when people are telling you things!” Eclipse yelled.

“Well, I think it might be good so I’m going to try it!” Lunar retaliated.

Solar just blinked and groaned.

“That’s marshmallow fluff.” Both of them looked at Solar, who just deadpanned. “You’re both idiots.”

He took the jar from Lunar and dumped the contents in a bowl, microwaving them. Neatly, he arranged the strawberries, topless, around the bowl on a plate and put it on the counter.

“Eat and stop arguing. Moon is asleep. Finally...”

Lunar attacked the snack as Eclipse eyed Solar.

“Hm, you did something.” Solar nodded.

“Just a little sleeping aid. Tested it and everything. It should be safe, but I’m keeping an eye on it.” Eclipse didn’t protest.

“After what I’ve been through, I’m not in a position to question this. I’m tired. And maybe if you have extra’s you might as well give me one.”

Solar glanced at the fridge.

“You might as well but I did design it for Moon so I don’t have a clue what it could do to you.” Eclipse scoffed.

“I’ll take the risk.” But when he took the candy in his hand, he froze. His hand started trembling, almost crushing the hard ball. “This... scent. This - f*cking.”

He put the pill in his mouth and retreated to the guest bedroom, slamming the door shut, but not before shouting.

“I’m sleeping where you died, asshole!” It had very little venom in it. Eclipse just sounded hurt. And neither Lunar nor Solar knew why.

“Prick.” Lunar muttered with his mouth full.

“Yeah…” Solar only half-heartedly agreed. Maybe he’d been a bit too sentimental with these.

3 weeks passed, and Moon started to seemingly get better. He still isolated himself, but he was taking better care of himself and eating the offerings left behind for him. The family was a little worried about how little they saw Moon, but every time they did see him, he seemed in high spirits. Eclipse had less and less arguments with him, and Moon broke down less too.

So, when Moon told them that he was taking a vacation, they didn’t quite question it.

Moon said he wanted to go fishing on a nearby island where he and Sun used to compete about who could catch the biggest fish. It was a prime fishing spot, whereas their own island only had smaller breeds. Moon even had a little vacation home built there, for stay overs. The family told him to send messages every now and then, but otherwise wanted him to have his own private time.

What they didn’t know, is that he took the entire stash of lemondrops with him.

And Solar would only notice when it was already too late.

It started with that first lemondrop.

When Moon took it, he was a little sceptical, but if it was anyone he’d trust to make something magical happen, it was Solar. He felt a pang of envy try to override the admiration; now that Solar was here, maybe he was as obsolete as Sun thought he’d been. Both of them had been eclipsed by a better Eclipse. Even Eclipse himself probably didn’t hold a candle to Solar. It was such a f*cked-up thought, right before truly falling asleep, that Moon felt the guilt crash into him hard.

And then there was only peace.

Moon found himself in a dreamscape that night. He vaguely heard Solar speaking to Eclipse and Lunar downstairs at some point, but mostly he was just standing in a place he wasn’t familiar with. The colours of the area were like gentle breezes of a sunrise. Moon was amazed to find the colours alive, breathing. Touching them caused them to touch him back, wind around his arm playfully and twirl him into a dance. For the first time in a long while, Moon elicited a genuine chuckle.

What kind of nonsense world was this?

Besides the colours, there were also clouds dispersed in the otherwise featureless area. They nudged at him like excited animals. Some seemed shy and skittish. He pets the one that begged for attention.

Soft.

Highly unscientific. And for just this one time, Moon allowed himself to not think. To not try and solve the problem. To not go insane.

He felt like he was living in one of Sun’s crayon drawings. Sun’s inner world. Sun’s expressiveness. Sun’s soul.

Time went on and Moon visited these dreamlands more and more, unwilling to part from the peace the places brought. Sometimes he’d wander through Sun’s favourite cat café. Other times he’d visit Sun’s favourite bakery. Moon always knew when Sun had splurged on those lemon-custard pudding breads. Sun and his lemon-scented things. Moon could swear he smelled the scent even now, although this was a dream.

He wondered how Solar had created - Solar?

The name rang vaguely familiar but who… who was that?

Moon noticed it early. The pills had a price. He was exchanging reality for a dream. He was forgetting his family. Should he stop?

It’s not like they needed him anymore... they had Solar. Solar could fix things.

Moon remembered. Solar could fix everything. Solar was better than Sun. Solar was better than Moon. His family would be alright.

So, when he was on the island, he had a walk. Savouring every little memory, which he shared with Sun here. It wasn’t enough.

He let the guilt burn his frame one last time. He deserved it after all.

He texted the family that he would be heading to sleep early that day. They wished him good night, sent gifs and hearts and sweet words. He stared at the messages for a moment, feeling the piercing guilt of planning something they have no idea about. A sudden emptiness and fear, like a child committing their first act of mischief on purpose, scared to the core of being caught at any moment. But the fear and guilt only fuelled the pulsing adrenaline that kept him going.

Was this how Sun felt that night?

Moon knew by now Sun already settled on his plan that night. When they held each other’s hands. Sun was thinking about if he should truly go, and even though he already settled on it, maybe… just maybe, Sun wanted to grasp something he could hold onto more. Maybe to hear Moon say he needs him. Not for his help or usefulness though. If onlt Sun had known…

Moon needed Sun for his smile. For that cursed lemon scent Sun had everywhere. For the late-night shifts where he had to argue with Sun about cleaning the barrels. For their game nights that weren't for recording, just for the two of them. For Sun’s raging during any game. For Sun’s voice in general. For Sun’s warm hugs… Moon just wanted Sun to be around.

He replayed the memory again. He wanted to hear the silly question Sun asked.

"And you'll be okay, Moon?"

“No, Sun… I’m not okay without you. It’s selfish of me, because I know you wanted to go… but I can’t live without you…” he took a sharp breath, and choked out “I just want to see you again…”

He’d give anything to just see Sun again.

And so, he sat down on the sandy beach of the little island with the lemondrops, and took it all, one by one. The last dream came at the edge of the ocean. Moon wanted to sleep under the setting sun. Vaguely, he was aware this may be the last time. He let the lemondrops do their job.

“Moon?”

Moon regained consciousness, or some semblance thereof, almost immediately after he heard that voice. He was back in the surreal world, and he turned around towards the familiar voice.

“Sun...” He was looking at Sun clear as day.

Sun is here. He is with Sun again. He is with his Sunshine.

“How are you here, Moon?” Sun sounded nervous, but his mannerisms seemed much more relaxed than he’d seen from Sun in years. What... was this?

“I... I don’t know, Solar made this new pill for me and-”

“You can stop there.”

Moon was just about to tell the story when another voice, not Sun’s, interrupted him. He whipped his faceplate around to come face to face... with himself?

No, this was definitely a Moon, but it wasn’t him. Its colour scheme was the same, but it seemed to be gleaming. It looked unearthly no matter how Moon looked at it.

“You aren’t supposed to be here, Moondrop.” The being spoke.

Moon stumbled back, into Sun’s arms. Sun steadied him and he felt the same peace from his dreams so far radiate through him. No, it was tenfold that.

But the being in front of him inspired fear that even the peace could not override.

“What are you...”

The being chuckled and theatrically bowed before Moon. It was graceful and elegant. Nothing like Moon would ever expect from himself.

“Merely a guardian for the sanctuary. Like yourself, my name is merely Moon, but your Sun calls me Full Moon. He’s seen many a Moon, apparently.”

Sun smiled bittersweetly and turned Moon to face him.

“Moon, you have to go back.”

Moon hesitated a moment, but then threw his arms around Sun, crushing him so hard Sun swore he felt his joints strain. He let it happen, as this place had no real death. He was already dead, after all.

And Moon would be too, if he couldn’t convince him to return. In the softest voice possible, Moon whispered, practically nuzzling into Sun in a bid to get closer - maybe be one again.

“I can’t leave you.”

Sun squeezed Moon gently.

“You have to Moon. You must live... I never wanted you to die for me, or because of me. Not the first time and not this time either."

Moon couldn’t accept that.

“Then why? Why did you die? Why did you leave me alone?” Moon parted enough to look into his brother’s eyes, letting tears fall freely from his eyes “Sun, I miss you, I can’t do this without you...” Sun tensed.

“I have... many reasons. Not all of which you’d understand. But... I’m okay here.” Sun glanced behind himself. “There’s... a sanctuary here. Sanctuary of Suns. I know, very uh... interesting name, but Moon… I’m happy. I’m happy here.”

Moon looked up at Sun in confusion.

“You’re… happy?”

Sun nodded with a sad smile.

“But… I…” Sun pressed the top of his faceplate against the top of Moon’s.

“You can come back, and we can be together, after you’ve lived your life. Love the family that you still have, Moon. They miss you.” Moon’s face contorted in anguish.

“But Sun, you’re my family. You were the first-!” Sun cut him off.

“I was... your family. But... Moon, I never felt like family to anyone. I didn’t… I didn’t belong there.”

Full Moon added softly from behind Moon’s back, pressing a gentle hand to his shoulder.

“Look into the distance. Do you see that? All those Suns milling about in the distance? So many lost Suns; they can’t even move on after death, because of how pained and twisted their essence has become. Moon… Suns need a lot of love and kindness to survive. In a world that lacks both… they just die in pain. It got so bad that we had to make the sanctuary. It’s only me, and a few others taking care of all these Suns before they can move on. If you want to help, then help yourself first. Become someone reliable.”

Moon buried closer into Sun and trembled. But he did say one word.

“Okay.”

When Moon parted from Sun, it was bittersweet. Sun took Moon’s face into his hands and whispered to him a final goodbye, or maybe closer to a ‘see you later, Moon’.

“Since tied by a promise only they could see.

Glistening gold in the sun’s eternal glow.

Thread to thread, soul to soul.

There comes a time when we have to go.

Apart, yet together at heart.

Our broken halves will learn to be whole.”