this wasn't meant to happen
The colourful world Hiro’s dreaming mind conjures up is a perfect replica of what he experienced through the portal all those weeks ago. Debris floating calmly around like satellites in space and being utterly alone save for Baymax and the knowledge of another life in need of their help. The bright puffs of stardust keep their distance from them and Hiro realizes that’s really what this place looks like - the colourful clouds of nebulae he’s seen on so many astronomy posters growing up.
There’s only so much dread a mind can dream up when you’ve already experienced your nightmare in reality. Hiro knows what’s coming. Baymax’s thrusters will be damaged after they find Abigail’s pod, and then…
Knowing what will happen and that everything turns out alright in the end doesn’t make reliving it in dreams any less heartbreaking.
Tonight, however, it isn’t Abigail’s face Hiro finds behind the frosted glass of Silent Sparrow’s ship, but a face he sees more and more traces of each day in the mirror.
”Tadashi…" He can barely breathe. With the sudden, drastic change in the story suddenly it’s all too easy to forget that this is just a dream. In his mind now it’s real. This is his brother he needs to save.
Hiro crawls onto the pod, clinging to it like a lifeline, and directs Baymax through the field of debris in front of them. If they can just get through all of this everything will be fine…
But the feeling of dread is a heavy pit in his stomach. He knows without a doubt that he will be losing something important to him to this world of fractals and stardust.
There’s a collision, and Hiro isn’t surprised when Baymax announces that his thrusters are damaged beyond use. His solution is not a surprise to him, either. The tear-filled goodbyes are far too familiar for comfort but he consoles himself knowing that he will be able to rebuild Baymax again with Tadashi by his side.
"I am satisfied with my care."
Baymax deactivates and the rocket booster in his armored glove fires up.
He hears his brother’s words ring through his head as his world is suddenly consumed by a whirlwind of fire.
Someone has to help!
Hiro wakes up with a scream on his lips.