Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

[Click]

[MUGM]

Statement of Nebula Seren regarding an experience of death. Original statement given July 27, 2023. Audio recording by Mugm U., head archivist of the Showtime Institute.

Statement begins.

[MUGM(STATEMENT)]

I shouldn’t be alive, yet somehow I stand here, recording this statement. No one knows of this incident except for me, Strobe and Xp. 

I guess I should start from the beginning.

The three of us decided to go on a little hike to get some fresh air. Of course Xp still brought a couple statements to read, she’s really dedicated to her work, but we thought it would be nice to see nature, view the outside! It was a wild trail, not really defined by any path, but it was fun. 

Xp kept on reading statements, so much that Strobe had to take them away from her. Of course, Xp wasn’t happy about it but Strobe insisted that she enjoy nature instead of burying her head in some “dusty old papers”. 

Of course, a small argument started, it was playful of course but Strobe did end up winning! It was a really beautiful mountain, the water was clear and the ambience of birds made me feel at peace. 

Sooner or later, we did reach the top. It was a breathtaking view, being able to see the world from so high. All of us set our bags down and walked to the cliff side. We decided to set up camp.

I don’t remember anything memorable from the day, it was just fun. That’s all I can describe it. It was calming and relaxing, being able to hang out with friends.

Soon, it became night, and the stars came out. Back in school, I was the “astronomy kid”. I was obsessed with the stars and the galaxies at night. So much so that I had actually brought my telescope with me. It took some time to set it up, but once I did, it was like taking a part of the galaxy and putting it in my eyes. I was lost in the stars. I think I even saw a nebula…ironic.

Strobe then wanted to give it a try, of course I wanted to use the telescope longer so a little argument started between us. It was nothing serious, just a playful one. We started shoving each other and it seems that we forgot that we were standing on a literal cliff. Xp tried to break it up, not because she was worried that we were fighting, but she was worried about…what happened next.

Strobe pushed me a little too hard and I lost my balance. I felt the wind blowing through my hair as I fell. I didn’t scream. Falling felt oddly nice.

I hit the ground yet I didn’t seem to stop falling. When I opened my eyes, I saw the stars. I was forever falling in a beautiful galaxy. I admit, it was terrifying, there was nothing to hold on to but I felt at peace. Suddenly, the falling sensation stopped, and I floated down. 

I was surprised when my feet hit the floor. I looked down and saw myself standing on a rocky asteroid. I thought it was a dream. I took a second to gaze at my surroundings. It was so beautiful. It only then hit me that I was dead. This was the afterlife, wasn’t it?

I remember walking to the edge of the asteroid. I considered jumping down, afterall, if I was dead, I couldn’t die again, right? It was worth a shot. As beautiful as this place is, it’s kind of lonely.

So I took the step and fell. 

I fell and fell and fell. I knew that something changed during that fall. My eyes started to hurt and my head burned. I felt as if the sun was in my eyes yet everything was dark. I don’t know how long I fell, but I remember feeling the atmosphere change, and I opened my eyes. I was lying in a hospital bed, Xp and Strobe sitting next to me. As soon as I woke up, Strobe rushed over next to me and hugged me. She said that she thought I had died. Falling from that high of a cliff…there was no way I survived. 

When she pulled back, her eyes widened in shock. I asked her what happened and she said my eyes looked different. That they were purple and pink and sparkly. It’s almost as if the night galaxy sky seeped into my eyes. She said that when they ran down to the bottom of the cliff, I was there, passed out, yet with no injuries. 

We went home after that, the doctors said that I was fine except for the fact I fell into a coma for no apparent reason. When I got back to my apartment. I remembered what Strobe had said about my eyes. I went into my bathroom. It was dark, I didn’t feel like turning on the lights. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a strange glowing sensation. When I looked in the mirror, my hair was flowing and it was like a piece of the galaxy was attached to my head.

I always dye my hair purple, so maybe that's why the others didn’t notice, but now I’m in the dark and I see everything clearly. My eyes were exactly as Strobe described. A piece of the galaxy that fell into my pupils.

I was so confused, because even though whatever happened felt like a dream…a part of me knew that it was real.

[Click]

[MUGM]

Statement ends.

Now this one…has a direct relation to the previous archivist. Nebula was a part of the previous team, but now, has also disappeared off the face of this world. Maybe whatever happened to her in that “dream” caught up to her. Or something else, I’m not sure.

She did leave with us a phone number, but it’s out of service now.

There are some notes left by the previous archivist, confirming the appearance of Nebula. There’s also this “Strobe” person. From what we’ve found, she was killed by…

The watchkeeper.

I’ve seen that name while I was skimming through some of the files. Hm, I think I’m going to go do a bit more research on that.

End recording.

[Click]

Chapter Text

[Click]

(Door creaks open)

[MUGM]

You wanted to see me?

[ZOLISTER]

Yes, I just wanted to check in. How have things been?

(Chair squeaks)

[MUGM]

It’s been alright, I mean, I have all these assistants to help me so…..

[ZOLISTER]

That’s good to hear! Do you have any questions whatsoever? I’ll be happy to answer.

[MUGM]

Hmm….Where did the previous archivist go? I mean, like, she kinda just disappeared off the face of the Earth and I figured, the one who would know about it the most, would be you…Like, did she get fired or something else?

[ZOLISTER]

That is a question I unfortunately cannot give an answer to as I am not aware of what happened to her as well. 

[MUGM]

Oh, I see.

(silence)

[MUGM]

Uh, I have one more question.

[ZOLISTER]

Ask away.

[MUGM]

Do you know anything about the watchkeeper?

[ZOLISTER]

The watchkeeper…yes I have, why do you ask?

[MUGM]

Your name was mentioned in a statement that I was skimming through, I’m trying to find info related to “The Watchkeeper” right n-

[ZOLISTER]

Bring me that statement when you have the chance, alright? 

[MUGM]

-Oh. Alright, I guess. I’ll take my leave now…?

[ZOLISTER]

Have a good day.

(Chair squeaks and door creaks open)

[MUGM]

You too.

(Door closes)

[ZOLISTER?]

It seems like they’ve found something on you, haven’t they?

[Click]