Chapter Text
It’s been 20 and a half years. He’s been stuck in this dark, damp, hell hole of a train station. All alone in a limbo that's not even his own. He sits curled into himself, unmoving for years. His throats raw, exhausted from humming, trying to comfort himself, having given up screaming for help long long ago. The walls surrounded him, covered in scribbles, his hands stained blue.
“..llo?”
Ghostbur’s ears twitch, his eyebrows twitching.
“...Ello? Hello?” Ghostbur slowly crains his head up from his arms, his neck stiff and sore after who knows how long he was in that position. He was hearing a voice. A voice that sounded so familiar, yet one he knows he’s never heard before. It was a woman's voice, so heavenly, warm.
“He…llo?” He croaks out to the dark tunnels. “Who…whos there?”
“Wilbur? Thank the stars, I’ve been trying for ages to contact you.” Ghostbur snarls at the name. The name of the man that stuck him here. That damn monster of a person, who dares share a name with him.
“Don’t call me that.” He coughs into his arm. “I’m not that monster.”
The woman's voice sighs. “Of course. Ghostbur, stand up, darling. It’s time for you to go.” He looks around, looking for the source of the voice.
“What?” His eyes widen, he pushes himself to his knees, his legs too weak to stand completely. He crawls to the edge, watching lights emerge from the darkness.
A train. A train is coming for him. A smile forms on his face, a feeling so unnatural, it hurts his face. But he keeps it. He can’t help it. The train slows to a stop, the brakes squealing and sparking. The doors squeak open, revealing a figure behind it. He looks up at it, or, her. It was a woman. A beautiful woman in a black dress decorated in swirling galaxies. Her long black hair seemed to flow around her, despite no wind blowing near her. “Hello darling.” He stares up at her, his savior from this hell. Her giant veil hid her face, but he could feel her sad smile as she looked down at him. She holds a hand out, gold jewelry jingling with the movement. “Come on, you need to come with me. You don’t belong here.”
With shaky hands, he grabs hers. She lifts him to his feet, holding onto his arm to support him. He was taller than her, but then again, he was taller than most people. She cups his face in her hand, warmth emanates from her. Ghostbur shivers under her touch, but leans into it nonetheless. She stares up at him, the veil parting just enough for him to see her face. She had a soft smile on her dark lips, galaxies swirling in her eyes as she stares at him, full of love. Why did she look so familiar? Certainly he’d remember someone as ethereal as she. She gently pulls him into the train, the doors closing behind him. He takes a seat as the train lurches forward, his eyes never leaving the woman infront of him.
“Who…are you?” He finally gathers the courage to ask the question plaguing his mind.
She smiles at him as she takes a seat beside him. She takes off her giant hat and sets it beside her. She grabs his hand, and rubs the back of it with her thumb. “Someone who should have come for you long long ago. I’m so sorry you had to suffer in that station for as long as you did. My name is Kristin.”
Ghostbur stares down at her hand. Multiple thoughts running through his mind. “Kristin.” He mumbles. He studies her hand for no particular reason, the gold band around her ring finger grabbing his attention. It was a polished gold, with a ruby in the shape of a heart engraved in it. It was beautiful.
He pops his head towards her, realizing he never properly introduced himself. “Oh! Uhm, I’m Ghostbur, thank you for rescuing me, Kristin.”
She blinks up at him for a moment, before a snort comes from her. “Oh, you don’t need to introduce yourself to me, my dear. I know all about you and who you are. I’ve watched over your entire life, ever since the moment you were born. I’ve watched how Phil raised you into the young man you are today.” Her smile fades. “I saw how you, er, Wilbur, descended into madness, and trust me, it broke my heart knowing I couldn’t do anything to help.” Her grip on his hand tightens.
He scrunches his eyebrows in confusion. “Why couldn’t you help? What was stopping you?” He leans his head on her shoulder, trying his best to comfort her.
She smiles with a huff, and shakes her head. “A goddess can’t interfere with a mortal's destiny.”
Ghostburs eyes widen. A goddess? No wonder she had such a celestial aura about her. “What do you rule? If you can’t interfere with us, you must be powerful, I know a few gods who walk alongside us, like Technoblade! He’s the blood god, yet he lives with Phil and even fights in wars and stuff.”
Kristin rolls her eyes with a smile. “Oh, he’s always been one for dramatics. He’s not the blood god, just a devoted follower of her. He was blessed with power from her, but he isn’t her. Trust me. As for me, I rule over the realm of the dead.”
“The dead? So that's why you're here." He hums to himself, before another thought pops into his head. "But you just said gods can’t interfere with mortals, did she break the rules?” Ghostburs head started to hurt thinking about the laws of the gods.
“No, not really. We can interact with our most devoted followers, and can give a gift to a chosen one. She chose Technoblade, she saw potential in him, and gave some of her power to him. Even now, she watches over him, making sure he doesn’t abuse her power.” She nuzzles her nose into his hair.
“What about you? Have you chosen someone?” He looks up at her, watching her smile grow as a hum escapes her lips.
“Oh, yes. I have. And you know him very well. I gave him the gift of eternal life. I saw how much he loved the people and creatures of the planet, and his soul was restless with adventure. He never took life for granted, and respected and understood the true meaning of death. So the moment he entered my realm, I chose him to become my angel and watch over the land for me.” She sits up, looking out the window. “We’re almost there, my dear.”
He looks out the window, watching fields of green flash by. When did they leave the tunnels? He presses his face to the glass, tears swelling in his eyes. It’s been so long, he seems to have forgotten what grass looks like.
The train starts to slow, signaling his stop. “This is for you, Ghostbur. I hope you have fun, and enjoy your life.” She pulls him to his feet as the train comes to a complete stop. The doors slide open, the cool night air fills the train car. He takes a step outside, staring up at the billions of stars twinkling down at him. In the distance, he can see the silhouette of an island, floating in the sky, warm lights coming from the base of it.
“Are you not coming with me?” He turns to her, fidgeting with the sleeves of his sweater. Despite only knowing her for a short time, he feels almost betrayed that she’s leaving so soon.
She shakes her head. “I can’t, I have a realm I need to rule.” She cups his face in her hands, and plants a soft kiss on his forehead. “Tell Phil that I said hello, would you?” She steps back inside before he could respond, and the doors slam close.
“Wait! I have more questions!” But with a blink of an eye, the train disappears, leaving him alone once again.
He stands in place, the gentle warm breeze dancing with his hair. He turns his attention to the sky, staring at the house. Maybe he could get some help there.
He takes a deep breath of the fresh air, and makes his way there. It wasn’t far at all. He walks through the grassy fields, picking up a blue flower as he goes.
“Oh shut up, man!” A voice echos through the air, followed by a group of laughter. Ghostbur gasps at the voices, hiding behind a tree. He squints at the group of people around the campfire. There seemed to be about five of them. A young boy sat with his arms crossed, red wings puffed up behind him. “I will beat the shit out of you boob boy.”
The enderman, dressed in royal garbs sat beside him. “Excuse me, you don't have the athority to threaten me. plus I doubt someone like you could hurt me.”
“Ugh.” Ghostbur cringes at the snarky character, and steps back. A snap comes from his feet as he steps on a fallen branch.
“Everyone, shush.” A young womans voice calls from the small body of water beside them. “Did you hear that?”
“Hear what?” The enderman asks, his eyes scanning the area.
“I thought I heard something, Isn't everyone else still asleep?” She dips into the water, only to return a moment later.
Ghostbur gasps and tucks himself behind a tree. Why was he hiding? He’s not a threat.
“Come on out mate, we ain’t gonna hurt you.” The last voice calls out. Slowly, Ghostbur peaks around the tree, his eyes locking with glowing blue eyes. “Come on, I can see you, I won’t hurt you.” He stands up, giant wings dragging the ground as he walks to the trees.
“Uh, No thank you!” He calls out. The man seems to freeze for a moment, before continuing his pursuit.
“Look, I’m harmless, come on out.” He holds his hands up. “My name is Philza.”
Ghostbur’s eyes widen at the name. He steps out from behind the tree. “Phil?” They stare at one another, recognition in their eyes.
“Woah! A phantom!” The red bird boy jumps on Phils shoulders. “I’ve never seen one before!” The boy had red feathers tangled in his mop of blonde hair. He had blue eyes that seemed to be so full of childhood innocence. He looked and sounded just like the boy he once knew.
“Tommy?” Ghostbur whispers.
The boy freezes, his eyebrows furrowed. “How the fuck do you know my name? I’ve never seen you before in my life.”
Ghostbur glances between the two, confused.
“Uhm, I told him your name!” Phil says, pushing the boy off him. “Now, we gotta get him somewhere before the sun comes up, or else it will burn him.” He holds out a hand. Ghostbur stares at him, but takes his hand. Phil pulls him out of the darkness. “Come on, you must be hungry. Tommy, go get some bread, will you?”
“On it, crowfather!” He salutes as he runs off back to the group.
Phil returns his attention to the ghost in front of him. “Uhm, what's your name?”
What? How does he not remember his name? What is going on? “Uhm,” Ghostbur contemplates his answer, he could say Ghostbur, or he could claim to be Wilbur. If Phil doesn’t remember him, and neither of Tommy apparently, then he could start a new life as Wilbur. The one and only. There would be no bad meaning behind the name. Anyway, if he said Ghostbur, it would suggest an Alivebur, right?
“Wilbur. I’m Wilbur.”
Something seems to swirl in Phils eyes. “Wilbur. Well, it’s nice to meet you, Will.” He pats him on the shoulder.
“Uhm, Phil? Where am I exactly?” Wilbur looks around, he doesn’t recognize the terrain around him.
“Well, you’re at a place that a bunch of us hybrids have called our home. The big island up there is the Pube, I know, dumb name. But we call it home.” He smiles up at the building. “I built that with my own hands. It’s the centerground of the little village.”
“It’s very nice, It looks cozy.” He stares up at it, admiring the architecture.
Phil turns his attention to the quickly fading stars. “Come on, let's get you somewhere before morning. Are you comfortable with me carrying you?”
Wilbur blinks a few times. “Huh? I mean, I guess?” Phil smiles as he wraps Wilburs arms around his neck, and scoops his legs up into his arms. Dispite being quite smaller than Wilbur, he seemed to have no issues holding him. Was it because he was a ghost?
With a few heavy flaps of his wings, they take to the skies. Within seconds they’re soring above the Pube, and towards a snowy mountain. Wilbur glances around, watching as the sun threatens the skies with its light. The wind pressing against his face, being held in Phils arms, brought him back to his childhood. “You know, Phil, when I was a child, my father used to carry me and fly around with me just like this.” He hollered over the wind. “He uh, also had wings like you.”
“Is that so? No wonder you don’t seem freaked out by heights.” Phil laughs, an oh so familiar laugh. Wilbur watches as a small hut appears amongst the snow. “That's my house, you can rest there for the day if you’d like. We can chat as well, cause I have a feeling you’re not like the others.”
They land in the soft snow just outside the cabin. Wilbur looks out amongst the land. Oh prime, it was beautiful. The sea of the greenest grass in the world, for as far as his eye can see, surrounded by beautiful giant mountains. A river cuts through the land, leading off into the sunrise.
Wilbur soaks in the morning sun, the warmth welcomed to his body.
He starts to sweat. Why was he getting so warm? He’s surrounded by snow.
His body continues to heat up. His blood feels as if it were boiling under his skin. He looks at his hands, red blisters start to form on his blue stained fingers, turning them purple.
“AHH! FUCK!” He falls back into the snow clawing at his face, the heat becoming unimaginable.
“Hey hey! Get inside, come on!” Phil grabs him under his arms and drags him into the shade. “What is wrong with you? You’re a phantom! You can’t be in the sun! Do you want to die?” Wilbur lays curled on the floor as Phil shuts the door and closes the blinds around the house. Phil returns with a bucket of water and a cloth. “Come on, let's tend those burns.”
Wilbur curls more into himself. “N-no, water burns me. I…I don’t know why the sun hurt me, it’s never hurt me before.” Tears start to swell at the corners of his eyes. “I…I don’t know what’s going on! I was just dropped off here, there's people I recognize but they don’t know who I am! I don’t know where I am, why all of a sudden the sun hurts me,” Tears pour from his eyes as he sobs into his sweater. “Please, I just want Kristin to pick me up and take me home to Friend!”
The bucket hits the ground, spilling water all over the floor. Phil stood above him, his eyes wide. “Wil. Did you say Kristin?”
Wilbur looks up at him through blurry eyes. “Y-yeah?”
Phil drops to his knees, and wipes the phantoms eyes with the sleeve of his cloak. “I think I figured out who you are and how you got here.” He picks the bucket back up, and sets it aside. “But I’m sure you’re tired. Let's get you to bed and we’ll talk later tonight, alright?” He stands up and walks into a separate room. “Go ahead and make yourself comfy in my nest, I have some errands I need to do today.” He returns with some towels in his arms, and spreads them onto the puddles on the floor.
“But, are you sure? I…I don’t want to intrude.” He sits up, curling his knees to his chest.
Phil smiles, and offers a hand. “Of course, I was the one to offer it, plus it wouldn’t be the first time I've opened my home for…someone like you.”
Wilbur takes his hand, cautious of his own burns, and stands up. “I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not, but alright.” He chuckles as Phil leads him to his nest. A giant crater created by soft hay, layered with thick blankets and pillows stuffed with black feathers. Wilbur falls into the nest, the warm blankets quickly enveloping him. Sleep is quick to overtake him for the first time in over 20 years.
Phil smiles down at him, and throws an extra blanket on top of him. He watches as Wilbur subconsciously snuggles into the blanket. He sits on the edge of the nest, and stares down at his left hand, twisting the gold band on his finger. “Kristin.” He whispers. “What did you do this time?”