Blueberry

The youngest guardian, who taught Zero fun, and whose rescue is what put Zero in front of The End.

Who he is

Exuberant, bouncing, a single blue eye-light. He was pleased to meet Zero mostly because it meant he was no longer the newest: "Finally, someone newer than me around here!" (ch. 1).

He appointed himself Zero's teacher in the one subject nobody else was covering. "You don't have to be so serious all the time. Even guardians can have fun!"

What his rescue cost

Cut off in the battle and failing, surrounded while shielding a populated universe, he was still making a joke when Zero reached him: "I told you, I'd teach you about fun. Guess we'll have to postpone the lesson" (ch. 1).

Zero answered "No postponement necessary", built a barrier around him, and sent him to safety. The lesser destroyers then parted, and The End came through the gap.

Zero went to him against a direct order from Ink. Everything after follows from that choice.

Open questions

• Whether the lesson was ever postponed or simply ended.