#hawktalonflame

When I first got the idea for this story, and the motivation to actually write and share it, I didn't expect it to make it this far. I feared that I would lose motivation mid-way, or that it would just prove to be too challenging. After all, I've tried comics and stories in the past (never sharing them online though) only to give up, and I've seen dozens of creators get too busy and stop before they can finish. But here we are, after an entire year, and it's still going. We're almost done the first arc, and there are plans to keep going and take a more original turn in this (which I will go into more detail when the time comes).

Galaxies Above has a funny origin really. I had restarted playing Red Rescue Team with, you guessed it, Team Galaxy. As someone like myself does, I got hyperfixated on them, and began imagining their story, and different aus. Eventually, I began thinking about the Explorers games. In the past, they hadn't interested me terribly much. I disliked how you couldn't insert yourself as the protagonist so easily because there was already a backstory. But despite that, I love the characters, especially Grovyle, and I wondered what would happen if I could save Grovyle. One thing lead to another, and I ended up looping things back to the Rescue Team games, spurring the idea for Galaxies Above.

It could have stayed there; just an idea, a simple daydream. But I loved these characters to bits, and now that I had combined two games, there was so much more to explore and so much more to change, fix, and edit from the originals. Eventually, I wondered if I should do something with this. I made a post on tumblr asking if I should go on and do it, and got only one response. Despite this, the thought of working on this further than just a daydream had stuck with me. I decided that even if no one ended up liking this, that I would still do it. After all, I do hope to make writing and art as part of my career, and this would be some good practice for me. I promised myself that no matter what, I would stick with this until the end, to teach myself how to probably schedule and stay focused on one big project.

So, I did. And I can never express enough how glad I am that I did stick with this. I not only achieved my goal of improving my work, but I've met so many great people in the PMD community! This story has had its highs and lows, and sometimes I did feel like giving up, but I pushed on.

Of course, I have all of you to thank for that. I'd be lying if I said this is super popular. It's not. I barely ever get a few notes on each chapter, and it can feel like I'm just throwing all my work away to be ignored. But I know that's not true. Even if many of you never leave even a like on the chapters, I know that there are many of you that enjoy this. I know that I have silent ghost readers, that may not say anything, but they still read and enjoy. And in the end, that's what matters. I never did this to be popular. All I wanted was to practice my work and to share a story to the world; and that's what I did. But, that doesn't mean that I did this alone. Even if many of you are silent, I thank you for reading my story and sticking with me through thick and thin. It really means a lot to me. So thank you.

On that note, I would like to thank some specific people. @eev99art is one of the few that pushed me to do this at the start. I hesitantly sent in an ask, questioning if my idea was good and if I should do it, and she told me yes; even promoting the first chapter and doing her best through her busy life to keep reading. @volcanicbakemeat is one of the early readers, and also the first to start leaving reviews. Recently that has slowed down, as life gets too busy to be able to keep up with fanfiction sometimes, but those early reviews really did help push me at the start. Plus, they’ve sent probably the most asks for the Ask Team Galaxy out of anyone, so thanks for being able to provide motivation in my inbox. @kaidacreator also began leaving reviews, and is still going! Whether it’s in the tags, or in the comments, they’ve been doing their best to keep on top of things and keep telling me what they liked. It really means a lot that you’re still going and still leaving little notes about each chapter!! @hawktalonflame has not left comments here on tumblr, but on the AO3 version of GA. They’re not a big tumblr person these days, so when I set up the story on another site, they jumped right up to reread the entire thing, and have even begun leaving some comments every few chapters! They’ve even been picking up all the little details that I sprinkled about, and it’s really heartwarming to see that they didn’t go unnoticed. And finally, @dragonkinglover, who has been consistently reblogging each chapter for awhile now. They’ve never said anything, but just those extra notes really makes my day sometimes. I’m probably missing someone, no one’s memory is perfect after all. But these are the people I immediately thought of. This doesn’t mean that they’re the only people supporting, of course. They’re just the ones I’ve shouted out this time.

Galaxies Above has made it to one year, and I hope it makes it to two, at the very least. I still have plans, and I’m still working strong through this. So expect the story to keep going! And expect more art today for the occasion!

This hadn’t been a surprise to anyone. In fact, back when Papyrus could stand on two legs, Sans had remarked that his little brother would probably shoot up like a weed sometime soon. He’d said it in a sigh - crossing his arms as he watched Papyrus brush his teeth in the bathroom mirror one evening.

Papyrus had been excited at the idea. Being the bigger brother had always sounded a lot easier. He’d always had to reach for things, or ask Sans for help, or fall victim to his brother picking him up and carrying him to bed when he was cranky and upset and not tired, he didn’t need to sleep…

No, Papyrus growing larger hadn’t been the surprise.

When the time came that his head was the slightest bit higher than Sans’ , both brothers shared a look. Sans - sleep deprived, but less so than he’d been in a long time - had given him a bit of a sad smile.

“… well, we did say it’d happen, bro.”

He’d reached out and scratched Papyrus’ muzzle.

The Blaster, having been locked in this form for three years now, whined softly.

How much larger was he going to be? When would he stop growing? Papyrus wondered if the time would come where he wouldn’t be able to fit through the doorway of Snowed Inn. He knew he was already starting to get too heavy for his bed - he’d recently taken to sleeping on the floor.

With size hadn’t come excitement. Now it was caution at everything he did. There had been vases bumped to the floor, doorframes scratched. There had been grimaces when he’d tried to excitedly nudge his brother, and cries of pain when he’d accidentally wagged his tail too close to Sprig, leaving a mark across his face.

He had decided on something after that afternoon, where he’d spent the rest of the day curled up underneath his doona.

Papyrus was strong. And he was getting stronger.

So he would just have to be more careful.

The time that had once been spent practicing for the Royal Guard became time spent practicing his awareness.

He had to be mindful of his form - where his footfalls landed, whether there was room for him to move his tail. Growing older, he’d always padded slowly through Snowdin, ensuring that nobody was too close, no children had raced underneath him.

He had to be careful. Very careful.

It was something he became very good at. In spite of his size (which mercifully stopped increasing when he was at least four Sanses high) Papyrus always focused on the details of things. He mastered his awareness first - the confidence arrived later.

He was good at what he did.

It caught the captain of the Royal Guard’s eye, when he reached his full size. She’d been thrilled at his tall and intimidating presence, or so she’d said. His spikes, his teeth his claws - Papyrus had the potential to do some great damage.

But after he’d shown off what he could do, the disappointment was evident.

Papyrus was graceful, intimidating, strong - but he had never explored his fighting prowess since he’d gained this form. His moves were precise, controlled - and the times when he finally could let loose in more open spaces of the Underground, he spent time running at full speed rather than practising the extent of his power.

He had no access to his magic abilities. The mutagen clogged up his SOUL with this form, and prevented him from using them.

Undyne had offered training. But it wasn’t something that appealed like it used to. Papyrus had been the centre of attention in Snowdin for most of his life. Though he was unable to speak - he had a small following within the small town. And the desire to be cool - the Coolest and Strongest, the centre of attention - had faded into contentment with what he had.

And caution of what could happen, should he become careless around so many people.

Papyrus wasn’t sure if he wanted to be any stronger. He was strong enough.

He was strong enough.

He’d nearly trodden on Sans, once. And one time, when he’d gotten ill to the point of feverish dreams, he’d thrashed about on the ground - sending Reno flying across the room.

And one night, when the faint buzz in the back of his mind threatened to grow louder than its usual volume - he was thrown into a panic that made his eye sockets fill with orange light and his jaws fill with flames.

Papyrus was strong enough. He’d decided that already. He’d believed in that fact for a very long time.

So when Gaster finally discovered a way out of the dungeons even deeper Underground, he received a rude shock.

He’d planned. He’d planned for a very long time. And when he’d gotten the chance, he had changed Sans, just as he’d changed Papyrus.

Except Sans had not acclimated to the mutagen.

He had become a weapon at the doctor’s beck and call, almost immediately. Papyrus had had to fight his older brother - only to be cut off at every turn. He’d trained for awareness - and that had helped - but he’d had no idea how to take back Sans. He’d had no idea how to fight back.

When Gaster had at last fallen, it had not been easily.

The battle had been brief, but the pursuit for the stolen Sans had been long - lasting days as Papyrus, Undyne and Frisk had relentlessly pursued them. The Royal Science Crew and the rest of the Royal Guard had been involved as well - finally cutting off all escape routes for the doctor from Hotland.

And after his own weapons slowly turned against him, Dr W.D. Gaster had met a fiery end, plummeting into the hot magma below.

---

“Sans! Sans, c’mon - talk to us.”

Papyrus warbled in worry, hovering behind a stern Undyne and a concerned Frisk. The duo were crouched over his brother, who lay breathing heavily on the stone ground of Hotland.

He lay in the centre of a mess of scrapes and burns, his small and mercifully normal body shivering with pain and fatigue as he tried to move. Then, he finally relaxed, blinking a few times as his skull finally moved to look at the concerned trio.

“… m’fine.” He said with a weary smile, his hands rising to his face. He experimentally felt at his features, then around his skull. “… how bad is it?”

Frisk seemed to relax in relief.

“J-just a fang.” They said. “You look fine - no spikes, or anything!”

Sans exhaled, his arms dropping to the floor beside him. Papyrus noted that his lab coat was in tatters - intact enough, but definitely ripped from some of the spikes that had emerged through them.

“… guess that’s it, then.” He said, blinking.

Papyrus was relieved that there were no signs of his own claws. He’d had to use his full weight to subdue Sans - pinning his brother down as his connection to the doctor was severed at last, causing the smaller Blaster to thrash about in feral panic.

But Sans had calmed. He’d calmed, and Papyrus wasn’t sure what quite got to him - but the beastly Sans had looked directly up at him, in shock.

< … i can understand you, bro… > He’d mumbled, awed.

His transformation back had been sudden and unpleasant - and Papyrus had released him and stumbled back in alarm and caution because he certainly had not wanted his brother to be crushed.

But he was fine. Sans was fine. As long as he gave him space, he would be fine.

Papyrus stood back, watching Frisk help Sans up into a sitting position. Undyne began applying her healing magic to all the slashes he’d received.

He was safe. Sans was safe.

Papyrus glanced around, ensuring that nobody was in his immediate vicinity before finally sitting down. He was exhausted. His tail drooped, in spite of his relieved happiness.

His sternum ached a little, with the realization that Gaster was indeed gone for good. He’d heard no kind words about the monster, who he’d only ever met once beforehand. He’d steadily been explained the matter as he’d grown older - gentle talks by a solemn Val. He’d learned what Gaster had intended, and what Papyrus was meant to have become.

… Papyrus felt more sad and tired than anything. And it had all ended so suddenly, too.

It was strange to think that it was all over. That Gaster was gone…

Papyrus blinked, suddenly.

… Gaster was gone.

Slowly, he raised a claw up to his sternum, blinking slowly.

The mutagen had been in his SOUL for years. He still felt it there - it was essentially a part of him, now. But… there had also been a presence within his SOUL.

A command and control that had been maintained for almost twelve years - and…

… and it was gone, now.

Papyrus, blinking slowly, mentally reached towards the absence in his SOUL.

No one was calling him. No presence was there. No Gaster.

Just him.

… just Papyrus.

And then, the Blaster felt a lurch in his sternum.

His bones crackled orange. Fear gripped him as his body suddenly felt heavy and limp - and unresponsive.

“Whoa!” Undyne, her healing interrupted, leapt to her feet as Papyrus staggered back. “Hey, what’s with you?!”

Frisk stood up, startled.

“Papyrus?”

The Blaster shook his head abruptly. He had to lie down. That’s always what he needed to do if he wasn’t well. Otherwise he’d trample on someone - and Papyrus was always very careful. So he did.

It was more of a collapse than properly lying down, but no one was hurt. And his head was spinning and his SOUL was pulsing and his bones began to ache and strain -

and then he was falling.

Papyrus felt as if he’d been holding onto something as tightly as he possibly could for the longest time - and then just, let go. His bones creaked, and he shivered - his spine cracking and popping as he felt his entire body seemingly compress in on itself.

His bones were changing shape. The sensation was painful and frighteningly familiar.

Papyrus had once had nightmares of the last time such a thing had happened. So he panicked at first, and let out a yelp - but he didn’t move, he didn’t thrash about - that would hurt someone and he had to mind his strength -

“papyrus!? hey, bro! hey!”

He could hear Sans coming closer, and the room was spinning and he almost tried to snarl - Sans had to stand back, he didn’t know what was happening to him. He had to just stand back until this was all over -

he felt hands on either side of his head, and he flinched.

Sans was right next to him. He was too close. They were all too close, and he wasn’t in control of his limbs, and he didn’t know if he’d roll onto them by accident -

Papyrus tried to pull away - but he found he couldn’t. His brother’s hands gripped his skull firmly, but a thumb stroked against the side of his head. It was a soothing gesture - one that had been used through illness and nightmares.

… he didn’t recall his brother’s hands feeling this large, however.

“just… calm down, okay?” Sans sure didn’t sound calm. “… c’mon buddy, it’s okay. we’re right here…”

Papyrus shivered, drawing in a shaking breath as his body continued to crack and creak. He found himself rolling to his side, teeth gritting - and his skull hurt…

“… Oh my God.”

When Papyrus heard Undyne’s voice, it was from above him. He must have been completely disoriented - or voices were simply bouncing around the caverns, like they sometimes did…

The cracking and creaking and popping suddenly stopped entirely. The crackling of the strange energy that had engulfed him slowly seemed to splutter… and silence.

Papyrus’ joints ached. His vision was blurry and his head was throbbing, but he finally felt himself relax.

But something was wrong.

“… bro?”

When Sans’ face swam into focus, Papyrus flinched. He could see the scarring of his brother’s skull up close - and his eye sockets were wide, the eye lights shrunken into pinpricks.

Papyrus was now lying on his back. He could feel the warm ground beneath him, but blinked rapidly.

… Why did he feel so comfortable like this? His spines only permitted him to lie on his side, or curled up, or…

Another face suddenly appeared, and it was Frisk. And he was looking up at Frisk, he was looking up at the small, tiny human that had he had met not long ago…

He felt a tug on his forelegs, and he gave a strangled gasp as he realized they weren’t feeling right, either, and he reflexively grabbed back at the muscular teal arm that had forced him to sit up.

And he froze.

He looked at Undyne’s startled face, first. Then, he looked down at himself.

He looked at his fingers and hands, clutching at her wrist.

He let go.

“Whoa whoa - whoa!” Three pairs of hands darted out from all sides, steadying Papyrus as he found himself falling back. And they steadied him with ease, and he shook, unfamiliar with the sensation of others managing to hold him so easily.

“rrRR…RRrRnNN…” He tried to move his jaw, tried to form something of comprehension, but everything of his seemed frozen. He just sat there on the floor, stunned, his hands placed before him to keep him steady like he usually did while sitting.

His legs lay straight out before him, and he blinked wearily as he felt something warm suddenly cover his shoulders and arms.

Sans’ labcoat was a little small for him. But… big. Papyrus felt small, stunned.

Everyone was staring at him. Everyone was so close.

“…is this what he really looks like?” Frisk asked, stepping back. They seemed almost awed.

“I guess so.” A shaky laugh suddenly erupted from Undyne. “Look at you! Still got the teeth going a bit!” She pointed at her own grin. “But man, I never thought you’d be this lanky!”

Papyrus looked at them in wonder, unable to really process what was going on. But finally, his gaze arrived at Sans.

Sans was on his knees, at his side. His hands were still hovering near his shoulder, from placing on his lab coat.

“… we’ll… getcha something that actually fits.” He said, blankly.

He looked up at Papyrus.

“… how’re you feeling?”

There was a silence. Papyrus suddenly realized that neither of them really knew what to say. And he also knew that he… couldn’t quite form words. Not yet.

… but he would. He would, soon. His mouth could do that. It was built for that.

He lifted his aching arms. He reached over to Sans, as they trembled with fatigue.

And his brother suddenly hugged his torso. His arms reached around his ribcage, and Papyrus flinched at the feeling. And Sans suddenly pulled away like lightning, eye sockets wide.

“whoa, i - sorry bro.” He said with a shaky laugh, and Papyrus saw that tears were starting to form at the corners of his eye sockets. “i just - lemme know if i’m hurtin’ ya or anything.”

He wiped away a tear with his wrist. “guess i gotta be careful of my strength now, huh?”

Papyrus stared at him a few moments longer. Sans’ smile faded.

“…pap?”

Papyrus reached for him. Grabbed him by the shoulders.

And pulled him into a hug.