Chapter Text
With everything that had happened in the Celestial families lives it was honestly surprising that nobody had "Family Member slips into coma" on their bingo cards.
However, if the universe was fond of anything it was throwing a curveball between the eyes and, at this moment the family had been hit with a pretty mean one. No, it was not Titan's arrival; granted he was indeed a problem but, has small mercies went he was not the the route cause of this current problem.
That being Cosmos in a coma.
It had happened so suddenly and out of the blue that, the first thought was that it had indeed been Titan but, tests had shown this was not the result of DSP or anything Wither related. Heck the little Astral did not even have a bump on the head or toxin in his system to indicate an attack from an enemy or, heaven forbid himself.
It was no secret among some in the family that Cosmos had been suffering of late; his loss of position among the Astrals and return of his old demons where purpose was concerned had been weighing heavily on the little former Star God. How long that had been the case who could honestly say or, sadly who had truly noticed? Indeed has Moon, Solar and Monty had run tests and administered care an ugly thought slithered between them like a viper eager to share its venom.
If Titan had not pointed out that Cosmos was suffering would they have remained ignorantly blind of his plight until it was to late? And, even then who was to say this was not the universe's way of punishing the family for that blindness.
A silly notion perhaps but, when science had failed to wake their brother it was talks with Nebular and even Ruin of all people who raises a troubling fact that none had considered; the fact that, bound though they were, Cosmos own powers were causing this. Or more specifically the black hole of his darkened feelings had reached inward and, while not exactly breaking the lock on his powers had caused them to, for lack of a better words "Rattle the bars" of their cage to bring this about.
Grief, despair and self loathing were powerful feelings in their own right and, when combined with the power of the stars themselves.... well the results could be unsettling to say the least. Nebular had told them bluntly of the dangers that came when mortals dabbled with such powers and the beasts the Dark Astrals forged by combining the two elements that it was a wonder that Cosmos had not become a savage beast equal to Titan.
Though this coma was not exactly a kinder fate.
Yet for one family member the concern was tinged with a nagging question; "Why had Cosmos kept silent?" or more specifically why had he not spoken to any of them sooner.
And, unfortunately for Terra someone had plenty of answers to give but, none that she as going to enjoy.
End of Chapter One