The outside of the universe now wreathed in the bright blue light of stars. The darkness of void being repelled by starlight. Lost ones staying clear of such hideous objects, their black eyes in pain from the light.
Each new creation, each soul within said star, is connected to Eta's rainbow glass brush. The lines stretching all across the universe, relaying all that happens in the stars view. Every movement, every change in light, every miniscule sound, made apparent to the not-so-young god.
Each piece of information causes her to jump. Her imagination racing with all the possibilities that could befall her universe. Despite the constant ideas, Eta goes about her existence as usual. Roaming about the universe, observing the various planets of life. Making new laws when needed and diving into the flow to check time as necessary.
Eta finds herself close to the barrier, in a very old galaxy. In this old spiral galaxy, a very advanced civilization had control. These are beings that evolved in the void of space, their bodies adorned in beautiful patterns the like of planets of water and rock or the constant ebb and flow of the surface of stars with colors to match. Creature with no need for air or atmosphere, they live off the ambient energy of the various stars, dwarfs, and black holes scattered throughout the spiral. This life large, the size of asteroids, calmly roamed about their galaxy, their fins catching the stellar winds. They meet in their floating cities that mine into planets and satellites. They talk in a language made of energy and light. Much like Eta's language of song and melodies, these creature's language is closer to that of art.
As normal, Eta transforms into one of the creatures, one slightly larger with a pattern of the galaxy itself. She meanders into a city floating within a cloud of gases. Various of the creatures move around the city, going from building to building. Some shopping for furnishings, others for canisters of energy from rare places, and still others working on research within the buildings.
Some turn to see Eta, her form very different to that of most in size and pattern. They speak in their lights and energy. They speak of surprise at the sight of one different. The colors of blue and specks of green in a flickering style.
"They're large." One says.
"Are they a royal from far off?"
Eta observes their language more to get a full grasp on it. Despite knowing their language, she wants to learn the idiosyncrasies within their language of light.
"Would one of you fine souls perchance show me about this city? I've never been in one such in a cloud of gases." Eta's lights a rosy red color with a noticeable tempo reflecting her melodic nature.
A few approach Eta, two with the pattern of moons and one the pattern of a gas planet.
"Well traveler, you have met three who know the city very well." The one with the gas planet pattern speaks. "I am Finder, my two kin here are Sati and Euro. What would you like to see traveler?"
"Show me a place of beauty, one that others would stop here just to see for themselves." Eta circles them lazily.
Finder starts off to a brighter point in the gas cloud. "We live here in a star factory just for such a reason. Seeing the birth of stars and all that comes from such is our reason for existence. While many of us may return to the ether before the star ignites, those that stay will be witnesses to a truly special moment."
They pass by spires of metals and rock where other mill about. Some glancing at the four moving through while others go about their business. The city of gases is constantly abuzz with activity from small collectors using the various dusts to fabricate new objects or buildings, to large stellar rail ways linking to far off cities. The transport vehicles large than that of Eta's home planet's moon. Each one carrying enough energy and light to feed the city for years and years.
Each of the creature a work of art in of themselves. Their patterns showcasing structures of beauty. The ones of planets, stars, satellites, remnants, and everything in between. Those that do notice the four journeying to the edge of the city, they gaze at Eta's pattern. Many having an idea of what the pattern is with none being able to confirm that it is their galaxy.
The smaller of the moon patterns, Sati, says, "Traveler, could I ask a question?" Before Eta has a chance to respond, Sati continues. "Who are you? Your pattern is that which I've only seen once when watching a video of our king and queen."
Eta turns to the Sati, "You can call me Eta, I am not such as royalty. Just think of me as a very lucky being who searches all around for beauty and intrigue." Her lights a calm pink with that of a slow tempo.
Euro now speaks, "I wish I had a pattern like yours. I like my icy moon, but a galactic pattern is so much cooler." He chuckles slightly. "Do you know if that is what our galaxy looks like or is it one of the galaxies that dot the universe?"
"It is of our galaxy here. I had the privileged of being able to venture far enough out to see it once long ago." Eta smiles, giving them a story they know to be false.
Finder turns back to them, "Keep your tales Eta, no one has ventured that far out. I bet you've had a true dream though of such an event."
"A true dream? I haven't heard of such."
"I wouldn't expect you to. It's a little superstition we have around here. One that states that some will receive a dream of something that is true. Whether that be in your case, seeing the galaxy, or in mine, seeing that something will darken our space one day." His lights turning that of a somber grey.
They travel in the relative silence of darkness for a fair bit longer until they arrive to an object that is slowly causing its surrounding to spiral into itself.
"We're here, the proto-star we all live to see. Our mayor has been slowly growing the star as we hope it to be a pure white-blue. It should be igniting sometime within a millennium or two." Finder points with his large fin to a orb that is glowing ever so slightly.
"I love seeing this. A proto-star is such an odd, but mesmerizing celestial body." Eta just observes it as more gases fall into the dense orb. "I'd like to ask, what drives you to live for this?"
"Time is fleeting, to live is to die. And at the end of my life, I'd love to say that I loved how I did what I wanted and saw what I desired. Whether that include this star igniting or not, I get to say that I helped nurture a star." Finder gently pushes dust to the proto-star. "I know not what the future will hold, whether it be good or bad, it will be my life all the same."
Eta looks at the proto-star closer, seeing what it's soul is saying. It is on the cusp of igniting, it wants to be the star these people want it to be. Why not give it a nudge?
Eta subtly produces her glass brush and gently points it to the proto-star. It glows brighter as it ignites in a beautifully blinding light. A pale white-blue star slowly peaks through as the four watch the moment the star is truly born.
"Its, its beautiful." Finder gazes upon the star he had a real hand in making.
Sati and Euro move around quickly, trying to get more angles of the star. They capture the moment with a device to record and broadcast it back to the city in the cloud.
Finder dimly says to Eta, "Thank you for doing this Eta. They wouldn't know what you are, but I've lived long enough to have seen you once before at the edge of the galaxy. Apologies for barely recognizing you."
"Thank you for keeping it a secret Finder, but this is where I shall leave. Thank you, really, for being a kind soul." She starts off, towards the edge of the now receding cloud of gases and dust.
Eta sets off once more to patrol the universe, the lines to blue stars outside the barrier still following her.
Until they are all cut at once. The last message, "Trillions."