Chapter Text
Millions of years have passed since Carl had spoken a word. He had learned to adapt to the silence around him since assuming his new form, considering his lack of senses. At this point, the desert was now a lush forest, life beginning to reemerge. For the first time in millennia, he felt something on him. It was quite prickly, almost making him silently laugh. His leaves ruffled slightly as he realized that caterpillars were back. Surely, he would bring more life than he destroyed, far away from everyone he cared about. He didn't deserve forgiveness...but maybe he deserved redemption. I did this, he thought. Carl did this all by himself. Sure, his leaves were being eaten, but that didn't matter. He was shelter now, and the moon and sun would take good care of him. He couldn't speak of his loneliness, his gratitude for life now that he had been by himself for so long, so he was left to drown in his feelings with no relieve. He destroyed the world, and now he helped to rebuild it. He felt something new, then. Something brushing against his trunk, something almost like fur. He focused on his hearing, and realized that there was quiet breathes, a heartbeat...there was something big enough next to him for him to hear the heartbeat and soft breathing. "You've done good," the thing spoke. The words sounded so foreign, he could barely focus on understanding what it meant. It had been so long since somebody spoke to him, that he couldn't remember voices or names. "I know, I know. You can't speak...I wish I could do something about that. But, you know, being a being of moonlight has it's perks, too." Moonlight, that sounded so familiar...didn't he use it to describe somebody he knew sometime? Carl couldn't quite remember. "For instance," the thing continued, gently reaching its hooves through the trunk, and touching his...head? His eyes fluttered open and he stretched. How long had he been out...? He didn't have time to think, as he was pulled through forcefully, outside for the first time in centuries. "I can do that. There we go, we're face to face now!" Carl didn't respond, just staring at the moon and trying to regain his bearings. "It's beautiful out here...did I do all of this," he asked, to which the voice laughed. It was at this point when he looked up and saw him. The most familiar part about him was his hat, his body glowing with silver and blue, intertwining into a silhouette. "Do I know you from somewhere...? It fills like my mind is drowning." The thing looked at him expectantly, yet it showed such patience for some reason. For what reason should this moonlight thing be patient with him? Did he have any idea who he was? Carl was a monster. "You need to stay away, I'm here for a reason," he said, before the moonlight llama gave him a hug. Green energy intertwined with silver for a brief moment, and for that brief moment, Carl remembered. The horrors he committed, the meadow, the yearning...and what became of him. Tears flowed down his face; he clearly needed this hug. He didn't push Paul away...but he didn't hug back either. "Aren't you happy to see me after so long," Paul asked. "I'm sorry." "That doesn't answer my question, Carl." He looked up at him, hugging him back at last and leaning into the embrace. Flowers blossomed around him, life slowly coming back. "Say my name again, Paul. Say it just like that, all sarcastic and annoyed. I...I missed your nagging." "And I can't believe I'm saying this, but I missed your friendship, Carl. I...I forgive you." "You shouldn't," Carl said. "I know," Paul replied.