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Shackles clanged as he tried to escaped. His wings were weighed down. He tried to fly but the chains kept him tethered.
"∴ᒷ ⊣ᔑℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ∷ ℸ ̣ 𝙹 ᓵꖎᒷᔑリᓭᒷ ℸ ̣ ⍑╎ᓭ ╎ᒲ!¡⚍∷ᒷ ᓭ𝙹⚍ꖎ 𝙹⎓ ↸ᒷᔑℸ ̣ ⍑'ᓭ ℸ ̣ 𝙹⚍ᓵ⍑"
It burned. It fucking burned. His blood was on fire.
"↸ᒷᔑℸ ̣ ⍑ ∴╎ꖎꖎ リ𝙹 ꖎ𝙹リ⊣ᒷ∷ ℸ ̣ 𝙹⚍ᓵ⍑ ⍑╎ᒲ, ⎓𝙹∷ ⍑ᒷ ╎ᓭ リ𝙹∴ ℸ ̣ 𝙹⚍ᓵ⍑ᒷ↸ ʖ|| ʖꖎ𝙹𝙹↸ ╎リᓭℸ ̣ ᒷᔑ↸"
He shrieked, his head splitting in two as the burning reached his skull.
"ᛋᛏᚩᛈ! ᛈᛚᛠᛋᛖ ᛋᛏᚩᛈ! ᛈᛚᛠᛋᛖ!" He called, praying that someone would spare him this agony.
"╎リ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ リᔑᒲᒷ 𝙹⎓ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ʖꖎ𝙹𝙹↸ ⊣𝙹↸, ∴ᒷ ∴ᒷꖎᓵ𝙹ᒲᒷ 𝙹⚍∷ リᒷ∴ ʖ∷𝙹ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ∷"
"ᛒᛚᛟᛟᛞ ᚠᛟᚱ ᚦᛖ ᛒᛚᛟᛟᛞ ᚷᛟᛞ!"
The words bashed the inside of his skull, breaking him apart from the inside.
"ᛒᛚᛟᛟᛞ ᚠᛟᚱ ᚦᛖ ᛒᛚᛟᛟᛞ ᚷᛟᛞ!"
He shivered as he felt something drain from his soul.
"ᛒᛚᛟᛟᛞ ᚠᛟᚱ ᚦᛖ ᛒᛚᛟᛟᛞ ᚷᛟᛞ!"
He opened his eyes, the crimson orbs looking at his ç̸҉̡͟a̶̡͜͟͡p̕̕͢͞͠t͢͏̡͞o̧̨͢͝r̡s̷̴͘͢ brothers.
"Blood for the Blood God."
Tommy grumbled in his chains, yanking on them. Of course, they get captured by cultists. Why wouldn't they get captured by cultists?
"Stop squirming," Wilbur growled in his ear.
"Oh fuck off man!" He yelled, shooting his leg back to kick Wilbur.
"You two. Shut up." Technoblade shot, turning back to look at the two of them.
"ᚱᛅᛘᛁᚾᛏ ᛘᛅ ᚢᚼᛁ ᚢᛅ×ᚱᛅ ᛒᚱᛁᚾᚴ ᚦᛅᛘ ᛏᚬ ᚦᛅ ᚴᛅᛋᛏᛚᛅ?" One of the piglins leading them through the nether asked.
"ᛏᚼᛅ ᛅᛚᛏᛅᚱ ᛋᛅᛁᛏ ᛏᚬ ᛒᚱᛁᚾᚴ ᛅᚾᛁ ᚬᚢᛅᚱᚢᚬᚱᛚᛏᛅᚱᛋ ᚢᛅ ᛋᛅᛅ ᛏᚬ ᚦᛅ ᚴᛅᛋᛏᛚᛅ. ᛅᚠᛏᛅᚱ ᛏᛁᛋᚴᚬᚢᛅᚱᛁᚾᚴ ᚦᛅᛁ ᚴᛅᚾ ᛒᛅᚴᚬᛘᛅ ᛒᚢᚱᛅ ᚼᛅ ᚢᛅᚾᛏᛋ ᛏᚬ ᚴᛅᛏ ᚱᛁᛏ ᚬᚠ ᛏᛅᛅᚦ ᚦᛅᛏ ᚢᛅᛁ."
"Hey Tech, you said you could understand what they were saying after you went Hoglin head. You understand them now?"
Technoblade shook his head, answering Wilbur's question with a single motion.
"Well, that sucks. So we can't understand what they're saying, and they're taking us to somewhere nobody knows, and they probably have Phil. Fucking fantastic." Tommy grumbled.
"ᚠᚬᚱ ᚦᛅ ᛚᚬᚢᛅ ᚬᚠ ᚦᛅ ᛒᛚᚬᚬᛏ ᚴᚬᛏ ᚴᛅᚾ ᛁᚬᚢ ᛋᚼᚢᛏ ᚢᛒ!" One of the Piglins snarled, glaring at Tommy.
His words caught in his throat and he stayed silent, glaring at the ground.
"ᛏᚼᛅᛏ ᚢᚬᚱᚴᛅᛏ?"
"ᛏᚼᛅᛏ ᚬᚾᛅ ᚼᛅᛋ ᛅ ᛒᛁᛏ ᚬᚠ ᚼᚬᛒᛅ. ᚼᛅ ᛏᚬᚾ×ᛏ ᛋᛘᛅᛚᛚ ᛏᚬᚬ ᛋᛏᚱᚬᚾᚴᛚᛁ ᚬᚠ ᛏᛅᛅᚦ. ᛏᚼᛅ ᚬᚦᛅᚱ ᛏᚢᚬ-"
"ᛁ ᚴᚾᚬᚢ ᚢᚼᛅᛏ ᛁᚬᚢ ᛘᛅᛅᚾ. ᛏᚼᛅ ᚬᚾᛅ ᚬᚾ ᚦᛅ ᛅᚾᛏ ᛅᛒᛋᚬᛚᚢᛏᛅᛚᛁ ᚱᛅᛅᚴᛋ."
"Hey!" Wilbur shouted, offended by something.
"Wait can you understand them?" Techno asked, looking at Wilbur incredulously.
"Part Piglin Techno. I'm rusty but I get the gist. And that prick just insulted me." Wilbur bemoaned.
"Well, what are they saying?!"
"Yada yada yada, talking about purifying the death outta us."
"Well, that's just lovely."
Tommy continued to glare at the floor, thoughts venomous. What he wouldn't give for his gaze right about now.
He pitifully looked at the path behind them. They had done something to stop Wilbur's pit and his gaze from finding them.
This fucking sucks.
Ok, so their castle/base/fortress thing was pog as hell.
"How come villains always have dope as hell bases?!" Tommy shouted, startling his fellow prisoners. He hadn't said a word until then.
"Jesus christ Tommy."
"If you do that again I will attack you."
Tommy cackled, relishing in their unease and fear.
"ᛊᛟ. ᛁᛟᚢ ᚠᛟᚢᚾᛞ ᛗᛟᚱᛖ ᛟᚢᛖᚱᚹᛟᚱᛚᛞᛖᚱᛊ."
Tommy's attention was drawn to the room they were in. Somehow they had gone from the foyer to the throne room? It's a throne room, right?
There were ten chairs all lined up along the far wall. Each occupied, except one but Tommy wasn't focused on the missing member of whatever high cult shit they got going over there.
"ᛁᛅᛋ, ᛅᛚᛏᛅᚱ!"
"ᛏᛖᛚᛚ ᛗᛖ, ᚹᚺᛁᚲᚺ ᛟᚢᛖᚱᚹᛟᚱᛚᛞᛖᚱ ᛞᛟ ᛁᛟᚢ ᛞᛖᛖᛗ ᚱᛖᛞᛖᛖᛗᚨᛒᛚᛖ?"
"ᚢᛋ?"
"ᚹᚺᛁ ᚾᛟᛏ? ᛁ×ᛚᛚ ᚺᚨᚢᛖ ᛗᛁ ᚾᛖᚹᛖᛊᛏ ᛒᚱᛟᚦᛖᚱ ᛗᚨᚲᛖ ᚺᛁᛊ ᚠᛁᚾᚨᛚ ᛞᛖᚲᛁᛊᛁᛟᚾ, ᛒᚢᛏ ᛁ ᚹᛁᛚᛚ ᛊᛏᛁᛚᛚ ᚺᛖᚨᚱ ᛁᚾᛈᚢᛏ."
"What are they saying, Wilbur?" Techno whispered, looking to the brunette.
"Something about redeemability? It's weird cult stuff man, how would you expect me to understand it instantly."
"The void Wilbur~" Tommy sang.
"It needed a caterer!"
"ᛊᚺᛁᛏ! ᛊᛟᚱᚱᛁ ᛁ×ᛗ ᛚᚨᛏᛖ!"
If blood could freeze in one's veins, it just did.
"ᛁᛟᚢ ᚨᚱᛖ ᚠᛟᚱᚷᛁᚢᛖᚾ, ᛒᚱᛟᚦᛖᚱ. ᚹᛖ ᚺᚨᚢᛖ ᛊᛟᛗᛖ ᛟᚢᛖᚱᚹᛟᚱᛚᛞᛖᚱᛊ ᛒᛖᚠᛟᚱᛖ ᚢᛊ."
"ᛟᚢᛖᚱᚹᛟᚱᛚᛞᛖᚱᛊ?"
"ᛁᛖᛊ ᚹᛖ ᚨᚱᛖ ᛞᛖᛏᛖᚱᛗᛁᚾᛁᛜ ᛁᚠ ᚦᛖᛁ ᚲᚨᚾ ᛒᛖ ᛊᚨᚢᛖᛞ. ᛚᛁᚲᛖ ᚹᛖ ᛞᛁᛞ ᚠᛟᚱ ᛁᛟᚢ."
Wilbur looked sick, hearing half of what they were saying. Techno and Tommy no longer wished to be able to hear it.
The 10th member of the cult court had golden hair. His eyes were a deep crimson, but then again, all of them had the same coloured eyes. He wore red robes and had a heart choker around his neck. Large dark wings sat behind him. The wings in question were adorned with golden ornaments and jewellery. With all that weight it would be impossible to fly.
"ᚺᛗᛗ? ᛖᛚᛞᛖᛊᛏ ᚦᛖ ᛗᛖᛊᛊᛖᛜᛖᚱᛊ."
Tommy turned his head, watching a couple of Piglins run into the room. They were young, he could tell. Maybe about his age?
"ᛅᛚᛏᛅᚱ! ᛅ ᛘᛅᛋᛋᛅᚴᛅ ᚠᚱᚬᛘ ᚦᛅ ᚢᛅᚱᛒᛅᛏ ᚢᚬᚬᛏ!"
"ᛏᚺᚨᚾᚲ ᛁᛟᚢ ᛁᛟᚢᛜᛖᚱ ᛒᚱᛟᚦᛖᚱᛊ. ᚷᛟ ᚨᚾᛞ ᚱᛖᛃᛟᛁᚾ ᛁᛟᚢᚱ ᛈᚨᚲᚲ."
The Piglins handed the guy on the biggest chair a scroll, before turning to make their way out.
They would have made their way out but then Tommy locked eyes with them.
Have you ever looked at a brother or sister and wanted to say something, but you didn't know how? And then they just, understand. You don't need to say something, because one look in your eyes and they just know.
Tommy was experiencing that right now.
"We're going to play lava chicken! You wanna join us?"
"Yeah!" Tommy grinned, whatever lava chicken was, he could tell it would be fun.
"Come on!"
He stepped forward to join them when his hands were yanked back and someone started screaming profanity.
"Tommy for fucks sake, snap out of it!"
He jolted, breaking eye contact and looking at his hands. Cuffs. He looked at the Piglin group again.
"Oh... Sorry."
"We should have noticed. Come join us later then?"
"Sure!"
The Piglins ran off, and Tommy finally landed on earth. Or, well, the nether.
"ᛖᛚᛞᛖᚱ ᛞᛁᛞ ᛁᛟᚢ ᛊᛖᛖ ᚦᚨᛏ?! ᚨ ᛈᚨᚲᚲ ᛒᛟᚾᛞ! ᚨᛚᚱᛖᚨᛞᛁ!"
ᛁᛏ ᛁᛊ ᚲᚢᛁᛏᛖ ᛁᚾᛏᛖᚱᛖᛊᛏᛁᛜ. ᛁᚠ ᛁ ᚱᛖᚲᚨᛚᛚ, ᛁᛟᚢ ᛞᛁᛞᚾ×ᛏ ᚹᚨᚱᛗ ᚢᛈ ᛏᛟ ᚦᛖ ᚱᛖᛊᛏ ᛟᚠ ᚢᛊ ᚠᛟᚱ ᚲᚢᛁᛏᛖ ᛊᛟᛗᛖ ᛏᛁᛗᛖ. ᚠᛟᚱ ᚦᛁᛊ ᛁᛟᚢᛜ ᛟᚾᛖ ᛏᛟ ᚠᛟᚱᛗ ᚨ ᛈᚨᚲᚲ ᛒᛟᚾᛞ ᛊᛟ ᚲᚢᛁᚲᚲᛚᛁ...
"Tommy are you ok?" Wilbur asked, concerned for his little brother.
"Why wouldn't I be?" Tommy responded, confused.
"Theseus you went silent. Nothing Wilbur or I did snapped you out of it."
"Oh. Well, it was nothing."
"Theseus!"
Wilbur turned on the cult council thing, blatantly ignoring the 10th member now in his seat.
"ᚢᚼᛅᛏ ᚦᛅ fuck ᛏᛁᛏ ᛁᚬᚢ ᛏᚬ ᛏᚬ ᛘᛁ ᛒᚱᚬᚦᛅᚱ?!" he snarled, glaring at the cool throne one.
"ᛟᚺ! ᚺᛁ! ᛁᛟᚢ ᛊᛈᛖᚨᚲ ᛈᛁᚷᛚᛁᛊᚺ?! ᛏᚺᚨᛏ×ᛊ ᚷᚱᛖᚨᛏ! ᛗᛁ ᚾᚨᛗᛖ ᛁᛊ ᛉᛖᛈᚺᛁᚱᚢᛊ!"
"ᚹᛖ×ᚢᛖ ᛞᛟᚾᛖ ᚾᛟᚦᛁᛜ ᛏᛟ ᛁᛟᚢᚱ ᛒᚱᛟᚦᛖᚱ."
"Wilbur, translate," Techno demanded.
"Number 10's name is Zephyrus. And the one on the fancy throne is their Leader. They call him Elder."
"... It's Phil isn't it." Techno sighed.
"... Yeah."
"ᛖᚾᛟᚢᚷᚺ. ᚹᛖ ᛊᚺᚨᛚᛚ ᛈᚱᛖᛈᚨᚱᛖ ᚦᛖ ᚱᛁᛏᚢᚨᛚ. ᛏᚨᚲᛖ ᚦᛖᛗ ᛏᛟ ᚦᛖ ᛞᚢᛜᛖᛟᚾᛊ."
"Ok let's go over the information we've gathered."
Wilbur looked at Techno, gripping his curls with that good old Pogtopia look in his eyes.
"Ok then. Let's see if it makes any of this better!" Wilbur shouted, deranged. To be fair, the dark claustrophobia would be getting to anyone.
"Well, Phil is alive."
"And now a cult member and brainwashed with a new name."
"We are alive."
"About to be sacrificed to some god."
"Hey, I am here!" Tommy shouted, trying to get through to the deranged man.
"You weren't a second ago! You were all fucking spaced out and shit and staring at Piglins like they're your best fucking friend!"
Wilbur was hyperventilating, unable to calm down. Techno was trying to calm him down. Tommy was trying to calm him down. And nothing was working.
"Hello, are you guys- Shit mate!"
The door to their cell swung open and Mr "Goes missing and freaks everyone the fuck out but is fine since he joined a cult" runs in.
"Hey calm down. Deep breaths. Uhh..."
Philza stood beside the panicking man, mumbling reassurances.
"Don't worry mate you won't be sacrificed."
"The ritual won't kill you."
"You're going to be alright."
"Just calm down."
"Deep breaths."
Eventually, Wilbur stopped looking like he was 5 minutes away from war crimes and now looked like he was 2 seconds away from war crimes for a different reason.
"You."
Phil was taken aback, stepping away from the deranged individual. Wilbur stepped after him, jabbing him with a finger.
"We fucking looked everywhere and this is where you've been?! Playing house with cultists?! For fucks sake Phil!"
"My names not-"
"Right! Your name's Zephyrus! How could I fucking forget?!"
Wilbur stormed to the other side of the small cell and sat on the bench, glaring at the corner like it killed his dog.
"... What are you doing here?" Tommy spat, moving between his companions and Phil. He glared at the man, grabbing Techno by the wrist to keep him behind him.
"I... I just wanted to ask you three some questions before the ritual." Phil admitted.
"Talk."
Phil sighed and retreated to stand at the entrance of the cell. The three of them silently cursed, realizing they could have escaped.
"How did you three get so far into the nether?"
Techno snorted at that, adjusting his mask.
"I've done it before. Got in trouble with your lot before escaping. You should've seen their bodies by now."
Phil winced, seeming to remember something.
"We've been trying to track the culprit... never mind. What are your abilities and genetics."
Wilbur cackled, throwing his head back to laugh at the question. Tommy snickered at that as well. Techno just sighed.
"Well good sir, my father is an Avarian and my mother is human," Wilbur stated, venom dripping like a leaky pipe.
"I'm human," Tommy stated, staring Phil in the eyes as if daring the man to challenge that.
"Ok, I- Are you two related?" Phil looked between Wilbur and Tommy.
"They're brothers," Techno answered.
"I'm Avarian, Human, and Piglin." Wilbur elaborated.
"Well you must be at least a Piglin hybrid so are you also related to-"
"Nope. I'm their father's friend actually."
Phil looked distressed, pinching the bridge of his nose. They were quite happy with that result actually.
"So let me get this straight. Your parents were an Avarian and a Human."
"Yep." Tommy chirped.
"And you are a human, Avarian, Piglin hybrid while your brother is just human."
"Correct." Wilbur hummed.
"And you aren't even related to the two of them even though it's the only way that the brunette's DNA would even be possible."
"Right on the target," Techno affirmed.
"... What...?"
"Hey! You asked the question, and we answered it!" Tommy snarled.
"Alright alright! Um... Abilities?"
"I mean... Nothing really?" Tommy looked at Techno and Wilbur.
"I have voices in my head and an unquenchable thirst for violence," Techno said.
"I have a knack for blowing up countries and starting countries. I could also convince you to stop breathing." Wilbur added on.
"Those aren't abilities you two. Those are mental disorders." Tommy deadpanned.
"Alright, plainInnit."
"PlainInnit."
"Aw come on man."
"Nope, sorry Tommy. Chat is already spamming it."
"ᛉᛖᛈᚺᛁᚱᚢᛊ."
Everyone's attention immediately shot to the doorway, where another Piglin appeared.
"ᛁᛏ×ᛊ ᛏᛁᛗᛖ."
Tommy grumbled as he was dragged along behind Techno and in front of Wilbur. In the middle.
Phil and the Piglin were walking ahead of them, guards dragging them along.
"Odds of us getting out of this?" Tommy asked, looking at Wilbur.
"About 30%, and declining rapidly," Wilbur mumbled back.
They entered a large room, Phil and the other Piglin leaving the precession to join the other cult council members. The three captives were lead to a lower level, where they were chained in the centre of the room. Groves ran around each of them, separating them into circles. The groves trailed all the way up to podiums on the upper ring, each podium housing a member of the cult council.
"∴ᒷ ⊣ᔑℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ∷ ℸ ̣ 𝙹↸ᔑ|| ℸ ̣ 𝙹 ᓵꖎᒷᔑリᓭᒷ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷᓭᒷ ╎ᒲ!¡⚍∷ᒷ ᓭ𝙹⚍ꖎᓭ 𝙹⎓ ↸ᒷᔑℸ ̣ ⍑'ᓭ ℸ ̣ 𝙹⚍ᓵ⍑"
Tommy shuffled, uncomfortable. The others seemed to find it the same. He watched as each cult member held their arm above their podiums.
Each of them held a knife.
"𝙹⚍∷ ᓭᔑᓵ∷╎⎓╎ᓵᒷ 𝙹⎓ ʖꖎ𝙹𝙹↸ ᓭ⍑ᔑꖎꖎ ʖᒷ⊣╎リ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ╎∷ ᓵꖎᒷᔑリᓭ╎リ⊣."
Swiftly, they all sliced their wrists at once, blood dribbling down and through the groves. The blood travelled slowly. Tommy was acutely aware of his own heartbeat. It was picking up.
"ᔑꖎꖎ𝙹∴ 𝙹⚍∷ ᓭᔑᓵ∷╎⎓╎ᓵᒷ ℸ ̣ 𝙹 ʖ𝙹リ↸ ∴╎ℸ ̣ ⍑ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ╎∷ ᓭ𝙹⚍ꖎᓭ."
Tommy pulled at his chains, starting to panic. He heard groaning from either side of him and he looked. Wilbur looked sick, and Techno seemed in pain.
"ꖎᒷℸ ̣ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷᒲ ʖᒷᓵ𝙹ᒲᒷ ʖꖎᒷᓭᓭᒷ↸ ᔑᓭ 𝙹⚍∷ ⊣𝙹↸ ℸ ̣ 𝙹⚍ᓵ⍑ᒷᓭ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷᒲ."
Tommy cried out, his veins suddenly igniting. The blood was almost at his circle.
"ᓵ⍑ᔑリ⊣ᒷ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷᒲ ᓭ𝙹 ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ|| ᔑ∷ᒷ リ𝙹 ꖎ𝙹リ⊣ᒷ∷ ʖ𝙹⚍リ↸ ʖ|| ↸ᒷᔑℸ ̣ ⍑, ʖ⚍ℸ ̣ ʖ|| ʖꖎ𝙹𝙹↸."
He cried louder, yelling and calling for help.
"ᛈᛚᛠᛋᛖ! ᛁ ᚪᛘ ᛁᚾ ᛈᚪᛁᚾ! ᚻᛖᛚᛈ! ᛁ ᚪᛘ ᛁᚾ ᛈᚪᛁᚾ!" He cried.
Nobody answered him.
"↸ᒷᔑℸ ̣ ⍑ ∴╎ꖎꖎ リ𝙹 ꖎ𝙹リ⊣ᒷ∷ ℸ ̣ 𝙹⚍ᓵ⍑ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷᒲ, ⎓𝙹∷ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ|| ᔑ∷ᒷ リ𝙹∴ ℸ ̣ 𝙹⚍ᓵ⍑ᒷ↸ ʖ|| ʖꖎ𝙹𝙹↸ ╎リᓭℸ ̣ ᒷᔑ↸"
Tommy dully heard a noise. A roar and a very loud hiss. He cried out again when his head started trying to split itself in two.
"╎リ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ リᔑᒲᒷ 𝙹⎓ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ʖꖎ𝙹𝙹↸ ⊣𝙹↸, ∴ᒷ ∴ᒷꖎᓵ𝙹ᒲᒷ 𝙹⚍∷ リᒷ∴ ʖ∷𝙹ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ∷ᓭ"
The blood surrounded him.
He looked beside him, eyes widening at the beast. A Hoglin. It was huge, at least twice the size of a normal Hoglin. Its crimson eyes looked at him and he gulped, noticing that it was held by no chain. He looked to his other side, seeing another beast. A large winged serpent, hissing at the Elder. Its crimson eyes quickly trained on him.
He jerked backwards, crying out and thrashing in the chains that bound him.
He was going to die, these beasts would kill him!
There was a commotion all around him, but he was more focused on survival than anything. He pulled and pulled, and suddenly the serpent's tail crashed into the chains that bound his hands together. They snapped, and almost snapped his shoulder with them. But either way, he was free.
He ran, ignoring the blood that he stepped in. He heard more shouting and shrieked when he noticed the Serpent chasing him. He ran through the entrance, dodging guards that were running into the room. He ducked and dodged and weaved. He needed safety!
The Serpent was held back by the guards and so he was safe. For now. He slowed down, taking deep breaths. He looked around, noticing that he was beside a window. He could see the whole nether from here!
"Hey!"
He jumped, looking out the window. He approached it and pushed it open, leaning over the edge. Piglins below him waved, and he smiled.
Pack
"We're playing Lava Chicken!"
He nodded quickly and jumped out of the window. He almost had a heart attack, but he sighed in relief as he glided down safely. His landing was shoddy, but he wasn't concerned.
"I'm Michael! I'm the leader of our Pack. What's your name?"
"I'm..."
His breath caught in his throat. Where was his voice?
He tried again.
"..."
When had his voice left?
"Oh? You can't talk."
He drooped and nodded his head.
"Well then try to tell us a different way."
He brightened up, happy to throw his full body language in to get the message across.
"I'm Theseus!"
Wilbur thrashed in the chains, hyperventilating. He wasn't paying attention to the spell at all. His chest burned.
"What. Are. You. Doing to me?!" He yelled, yanking at his chains again.
"Wilbur!"
He turned to look at Technoblade. When he did so, his blood went cold. Techno's tusks were far more prominent. Too prominent.
His blood turned to ice, burning in his veins when he saw Tommy.
His baby brother was in tears, franticly pulling at his chains and calling out.
"Tommy!" He tried to get closer.
Then he blacked out.
"Tommy! Fuck- Tommy!"
He regained consciousness quickly.
He moved fast, noting that the chains weren't binding him anymore.
He positioned himself in front of his screaming brother, flinching as he heard the poor kid cry for help. He heard some... noises... and he turned to see a fucking massive Hoglin.
"Holy-"
"Wilbur?!
He shrieked a bit, moving back from the talking pig.
"Techno?!"
The pig huffed and looked him up and down.
"Wilbur you are a giant winged snake right now."
"I'm a what?!"
Wilbur examined himself and he was indeed a giant winged snake.
"What the fuck is this?!"
"It happened to me that other time. We just got to get to Dream and we're set."
Wilbur was grateful for that piece of information.
"Elder something went wrong!"
Wilbur snapped his head around, hissing at the Piglin.
"You-"
He was cut off by frantic clattering. His gaze went from the Piglin to his baby brother in a heartbeat.
"Tommy!"
His brother was silent, thrashing in his bindings. His mouth kept opening and closing, but no sound escaped him. His eyes, once as blue as the sky, were now crimson.
Wilbur was quick to free his young brother, smashing his tail in the gap between Tommy's hands. It worked and the boy was freed from his cuffs.
As soon as that happened, he ran.
"Wait!"
Wilbur tried to follow, but Piglins blocked him.
"Move! I have to save my brother!"
Techno stomped on his tail, making Wilbur double back to the Hoglin.
"What the heck?!"
"Wilbur. We have to get out of here. We'll save Tommy, but we gotta get safe first!"
Wilbur looked around, counting his options. He noticed the roof.
"I'll fly us out."
They were gone quickly, leaving behind the Piglins and Phil. Leaving behind Tommy.
"We'll get him back Wil."
"I know."
Theseus tumbled out of the lava, shaking off just as the potion wore off.
"Wow! New record!"
"I even told you guys. I'm the best when it comes to potions." He bragged, fluffing up.
"Where'd you even learn?" Asked Michael.
"I..."
Brown hair and eyes. A kind smile. A warm hug. Songs on summer nights.
Like this you Gremlin Child.
"I don't remember actually."
"That sucks. I can't remember my parents." Michael responded.
The rest of his pack agreed, and Theseus felt a bit better.
"What kind of hybrid are you?"
Theseus grinned at that, proudly showcasing his golden/white wings in all their glory. Embers fell from them like snow.
"I'm an Avarian hybrid! Like my Dad! He's so cool!"
"You remember your Dad?" Someone asked.
"Not really. But I know he's the only man ever. And I know my older brother is The Blade and the best. And I also know my other older brother is really cool and great at songs. But I can't tell him I said that or he'll cry."
At that moment, some older brothers entered the courtyard where they were playing. One of them came running right to him.
"Tommy! Are you ok?!"
Theseus huffed at the nickname. He doesn't like the nickname.
Are we the bad guys Tommy?
You want to be a hero Tommy?! Then die like one!
No fuck off Tommy. You aren't my son anymore.
"I'm Theseus, not Tommy." He protested, jerking his wings and fluffing them up.
It took the older a second, but the man got it.
"Oh! Theseus, right. Umm, well hi. This is probably our first formal meeting-"
Theseus was startled back when the rest of the pack pushed in front of him. They crowded around him in a protective circle. It made his chest warm.
"Huh?" The older was surprised as well.
"Our packmate." Michael huffed, giving the older a small glare.
"Hands off."
"Keep back."
"You can't have him."
"Ours!"
"Woah, I'm sorry for startling you all. I'm just here to talk. I'm his mentor." The older said, hands up in a placating gesture.
Theseus, caution forgotten, squirmed his way back to the front.
"My mentor?"
"Yeah young one. I'm your mentor. My name is Zephyrus."
"Pog."
Zephyrus burst into laughter, and Theseus did the same. This is so cool.
Wilbur chewed on a Crimson Fungus, thinking hard.
Tommy was so terrified of him back then. I mean, to be fair. Being chased by a snake the length of a football field wouldn't be fun, but still!
He scared Tommy.
You're scared. TommyInnit you're scared that people are going to think differently of you-
Had he always scared Tommy?
Since his revival, he's noticed Tommy flinches a lot. At him, at heights, at a clenched fist.
"Wilbur."
Wilbur jolted, turning his head to face Techno. The Hoglin was sitting there, watching him.
"Wilbur we'll get them back."
He huffed, turning away. He knew Techno, he knew what he thought.
"You just want Phil back. As soon as we get him back then you'll be gone, with him. Off on another grand adventure."
The hoglin trotted over to him, bumping him on the side.
"Eh, we'll grab the child on the way out."
Wilbur grumbled, moving away.
"Come on- we've gotta work together here!"
"You don't fucking know Tommy do you?"
"Heh?"
Wilbur turned on the Hoglin, baring his foot-long fangs.
"What is Tommy to you. Tell me."
Techno rolled his eyes.
"Oh, where do I start. The kids' loud, annoying, selfish, inconsiderate, disloyal, and a thief."
"Well the first two and last one are... yeah they're true. But the other three aren't."
Techno stood to him, head to head. Wilbur, ready to defend his brother's honour. Technoblade, ready to defend his beliefs on the boy who abandoned him for a pit in the ground.
"TommyInnit is not selfish, he is not inconsiderate, and he certainly is not disloyal! He fucking lost two lives in one day for L'Manberg! Ghostbur told me he fucking lied to Tuboo- his best friend! -to protect Ranboo. He got exiled for protecting someone he only knew for a day! So there's your fucking selfish, inconsiderate, disloyal brat. He's a kid! A kid who right now is on his last life and trapped in a cult that worships the fucking Blood God!"
Wilbur shrank back in on himself, curling up into coils.
"Oh my god, they'll kill him."
He just realized it. They're probably torturing him right now. And soon they'll kill him, drain his blood dry for their precious god.
"Techno we have to go back!"
The hoglin was silent, turning away and continuing their previous path.
"Techno!"
"We can't help him like this Wil. He was basically quivering at the sight of you. If we want to save Phil or him, our best bet is to get our own situation sorted out.
Wilbur quickly slithered after him, hasty.
"The sooner the better," Wilbur mumbled.
Techno gave the Hoglin edition of a smile.
"The sooner the better.
Theseus sighed in contentment, laying on the pile of hoglin hides that was his bed. He was content. He met Zephyrus, got a mentorship, had a good day of Lava Chicken with his pack, what could be wrong?
A thump and Theseus sat back up. Huh?
He scanned the room, trying to find anything different.
Wardrobe? Check.
Bed? Check.
A mysterious box that wasn't there before? Check.
...
Wait...
Theseus slowly approached the box. Looking at it carefully. It had two round objects on top. They were flat circles, mostly black. They both had coloured rings inside, around a hole. One ring was green. The other was white and purple. He picked them up, examining them.
Why were these here?
He looked at the box again, noticing a slot in the top. He noticed that he could probably fit these circles in.
He slid the green one in, not really expecting anything to happen.
But something did.
Tommy shot back into focus, his blue eyes opening with a gasp. He choked, stumbling back onto the bed.
Holy shit.
Holy fucking shit.
"Everything ok in there mate?"
He gasped again, staring at the door.
Is this what happened to Phil? He was so comfortable around them all, fucking creeps.
"Theseus?"
Tommy scrambled to his feet, knocking on the crimson wood door.
"Uh... Is that a yes? Two knocks for yes."
He knocked twice.
"Alright, mate. I'll just be next door if you need me."
Tommy sat on his bed again, staring at the jukebox. It contained his discs, Mellohi and Cat. He remembered how fuzzy his memories were before he played them. Were they- were they his only tether to his memories.
He laughed a silent laugh, the truth of this whole thing sinking in.
He was here, trapped without his gaze. He could only remember things by listening to his music discs. Phil was trapped with him. Techno and Wilbur are missing.
This is so fucked.
Techno stared at the demon in front of him. It stared back at him. And then it blinked.
Nope
Back out back out!!!
Abort!
Find another route!
No way!
Techno scrambled back, putting an obstacle between him and the demon. Said obstacle was Wilbur.
"Why are you freaking out about a Warped Fungus?" Wilbur asked him, turning his head to look at the Hoglin.
"No. That is a demon. It's lying to you Wilbur. Deceiving you."
Wilbur sighed, the snake moving over to the demon.
"Wilbur no!"
Wilbur wacked it with his wing, causing the demon to revert to its true form.
"... Oh."
Wilbur looked him dead in the eyes. And then looked at the large warped forest they had to traverse.
"This is going to be a long trip."
Tommy shifted in his seat. He looked at the Elder, nervous. Theseus and him are kinda different and the same.
Theseus was all bright, cheery, and happy. He didn't swear at all and was everything Tommy wished he was.
Tommy is just a troublemaker. He swears like a sailor, hates doing what he's told, and has gone through hell and back. It's impossible to be happy after that.
"Theseus. I've been getting some older brothers tell me that they are concerned about you."
He ducked his head, nervousness spiking in his chest.
Elder is mad.
Elder is mad.
Elder-
Fuck he needed to listen to his discs again.
"Theseus, are you alright? Have you been keeping up with your sacrifices?"
Tommy nodded, wanting to leave as soon as possible. He had to defend his pack's honour in a game of Slime Ball. They've been on a down streak and he wants to show the brutes a lesson.
"Are you sure?"
Tommy nodded again, stubborn.
"Show me your wrists."
Tommy showed him his unmarred wrists, wincing at the small tuts the Piglin made.
"You lied to me Theseus."
Tommy looked away, biting his lip. He didn't want to watch this. He knew what would happen. Dream would hurt him, and then tell him it was his fault. He's heard it all before.
He gasped as he felt something placed into his hand. He looked back and almost fainted.
A knife, golden and adorned with runes.
"Now Theseus, perform your sacrifices."
Tommy gulped, bringing the blade to his wrist. He was supposed to hurt himself. Injure himself and make his blood run into the small, blackstone dish.
Blackstone. Obsidian. Blood. Lava. D R E A M.
Tommy felt his arms get moved before his wrists were held above a different shaped dish. It was gold. The Elder hummed as he took the knife, slicing Tommy's wrists quickly and easily. His own blood bled into the dish.
"We offer this blood to the blood god. May he never die."
Tommy twitched, repeating the phrase.
"Thank you, Theseus."
The Elder wrapped his wrists up, placing the dish with his blood to the side.
"I want you to come back here every morning and evening. I only want to guide you in your sacrifices. Zephyrus will remain your mentor, and I will simply teach you sacrificial practices. Alright?"
Tommy nodded, staring at his wrists.
"Good boy. Now run along to your pack."
Tommy left quickly, not wanting to look back at the Elder.
Techno shot awake when he heard Wilbur shriek.
"Wilbur!"
He ran to the source of the shriek, in time to watch as Wilbur Soot fell into the lava ocean.
"No!!!!"
Wilbur was freaking out, splashing around in the lava while he burned to a crisp.
...
This went on for 10 minutes.
Eventually, their screaming quieted down and the two looked at each other.
"... I guess your lava proof."
"I guess I am."
Techno huffed at the snake, who was now just simply floating in the lava.
"Are you going to get out before you tie yourself into knots or-"
"Getting out."
Tommy shivered as he entered the Elder's room. It was the evening now. He had helped his pack win slimeball for once and they had been celebrating in the dining hall. But now...
"Theseus. Good lad, now come here."
He obeyed the elder, setting in the chair in front of the old Piglin. His eyes narrowed in on the goblet in the elder's hands.
"Here. Drink this, and then we will start."
Tommy did as he was told, picking the goblet up and taking a sip.
...
no...
no way...
"Drink." The elder said, this time with force.
Tommy locked eyes with the Elder. His violet eyes locking with crimson ones. They had an understanding at that moment.
"You know..."
The elder smiled and nodded. It was such a kind expression, but it made his blood freeze.
"Drink."
Tommy drank it. He drank the goblet dry, gulping down his own blood. It was still warm, probably from the nether heat. He placed the goblet on the table, wincing when the elder deposited the knife in his hand.
"Now. Here's how to sacrifice."
Wilbur grinned a snake's grin as he exited the nether.
"Oh, sweet gods! The overworld!"
Techno followed close behind, shaking off the crimson roots that still clung to his fur.
"Yeah. Now come on. We've gotta go to the prison."
They walked/slithered through the overworld. It was a pure miracle that nobody saw them. And then they made it to Sam.
The creeper hybrid was standing in front of the prison observing it. Techno snorted, gaining his attention.
"Wha- oh seriously? Again?"
Techno nodded and the creeper hybrid sighed.
"I'll grab Dream. But I swear if this happens again I'm leaving you like this."
Sam went inside the prison and left Wilbur and Techno waiting.
"So... how's Dream going to fix this?"
"He calls his dad."
"What?"
Sam came back, Dream in tow. The man was fully in chains. He could barely walk.
"Oh. This again?"
Techno rolled his eyes and Dream grinned.
"Fine. I'll help again."
He then took I step out of the prison.
-
"Dream. You are not allowed to do that."
"Wha- Oh come on man! I was cooking dinner!"
Suddenly, Sapnap and a being were there. The being had 3 pairs of white wings and was adorned in green robes. These weird green eyes adorned him and he wore a white mask. It had an open smiling face, a criss-cross crack above the smile. Golden rings floated above the being.
And Sapnap was wearing an apron.
Dream quickly stepped back into the prison, gesturing to the two beasts.
"Here you go, Dad. Techno got in trouble again and now he's got a companion."
"Seriously? This is why I was called out?" Sapnap grumbled, crossing his arms.
The weird being floated over to the two of them, waving his hand in the air.
"Blah blah blah, fuck sake can't the cultist leave you two alone. Great void..."
The being muttered a few unintelligible words, and Wilbur blacked out.
He came to and quickly checked himself over. He was human again.
"Oh, sweet dexterity." Wilbur sighed, moving each muscle individually.
"Wait the snake was Wilbur?" Sapnap asked.
"Yes. I was the snake. Now if you excuse me, I have a little brother to save."
Techno grabbed Wilbur by the wrist, growling at him.
"Wilbur. We've got to rest and regroup. We can't save Theseus if we've been travelling for days on end."
"Wait Tommy's in trouble?!" Dream exclaimed.
"He's captured by cultists," Wilbur explained. "So is Phil."
"Madness. Blood. I understand your concerns, but the angels will be fine. We will rescue them when it's time." The being said,
"I want to go with you two." Dream spat.
"Heh?"
"What?"
"I'll save Tommy. He's outside of my control in that cult. I wanted him back in the SMP, weeks ago."
Wilbur could see the double agenda there, but the help would be appreciated.
"Only if Sapnap, DreamXD, and I go with you Dream," Sam growled.
"Fuuuu- Why me?!?!" Sapnap yelled.
"1, because Dream is grounded. 2, Sapnap is damage control." DreamXD explained.
"... Is pandora's vault only because Dream was grounded."
"Yes."
Tommy entered his room, pulling Mellohi off his belt. He kept his two discs on him at all times, paranoid about them being stolen by a rival pack. He was going to carry the jukebox everywhere, but it would be a hindrance.
Mellohi invokes his happy memories, making him smile. Cat makes him remember the more unpleasant memories, forcing a shiver through his spine.
He reached over absentmindedly, dropping Mellohi into the jukebox. He took another step with half-lidded eyes, planning on just going to sleep with it on.
His eyes shot wide when he heard the disc clatter against the ground.
No...
He turned, looking at where the Jukebox was supposed to be.
It was gone.
Zephyrus was reading a book on flowers, noting down anything interesting. Flowers, a phenomenon only recorded in the overworld. Fascinating. For a scholar and a researcher like him, insights on the overworld were amazing.
He heard a knock on his door and looked up.
"Come in."
Theseus slowly opened the door, sliding into the door and shutting it behind him. Zephyrus felt himself soften. The little chick always did that to him.
"What's the matter Theseus? Something happen?"
Theseus' eyes were purple, as he looked up with tears in his eyes.
Zephyrus has been studying his charge's eye colours and moods and had a few notes on them.
Blue normally means he's sad and irritable. He can be a bit jumpy and very suspicious around brothers and older brothers. God forbid his eyes are blue around the Elder. He even flinches around Zephyrus! Lucky his eyes are normally only blue at the start of the day.
Red means he's happy. He's just a ball of energy and spirit. He's respectful as well. He'll twitch and chat as if his life depended on it. It made Zephyrus' heart warm to see him like that. Unfortunately, it normally means it'll soon be followed by a long bout of blue. And red can sometimes take days to appear.
Purple was the most common of the colours. It varied, but normally it just meant how close he was to going red. He starts off blue, and then slowly his eyes change colour to purple and then red.
Theseus continued to walk towards him, causing Zephyrus to stand from his seat.
"Theseus are you ok-"
Theseus hugged him, silently crying into him. He softened again, hugging the boy.
"Oh, Theseus."
He pulled the boy around to the next room over, Zephyrus' bedroom. He sat down on the bed, Theseus numbly following him. He stretched out one of the boy's golden/white wings, preening them gently. The boy continued to mourn his loss, and Zephyrus mumbled encouragement and hope to him.
They fell asleep in the bed together, Zephyrus curled protectively around his charge.
In the morning, Zephyrus smiled. Theseus' eyes were a bright crimson, and his smile had returned once more.
Theseus was flying through the nether, returning on his way from a message to the Northern Warped Forest. He smiled as he glided along the thermals.
When he gets back, Zephyrus is going to teach him how to do tricks. That will be so cool!
As Michael would say, he was a happy birb.
Suddenly something fell on him from above.
"Ahh!" he twitched in the air, trying to get the thing off him. More of the things fell onto him, driving him down into the warped forest below.
"Ow..." His wing lowered and he looked up. He was on his stomach and locked eyes with the things that were falling on him.
It was fuzzy, like a Hoglin piglet. It had round triangular ears and markings all over it. The one in front of him was a kind of golden colour, while the rest were grey/brown.
"Oh hello." Theseus wanted to bring them back with them. They're so cute!
The fuzzy things ran around him, and he smiled. He sat up and they piled onto him.
A stick snapped and the fuzzy things all looked at the source, Theseus following suit.
An overworlder!
They had brown hair, nubs pointing out of the locks. Their blue eyes were trained on him.
Another creature stood beside the overworlder. Theseus tilted his head, looking at the creature.
They were clearly a hybrid. They were dual-toned, half of them white and the other half black. Tommy saw ender particles floating around them. Their eyes were green and red. An enderman/ghast hybrid?
"Hi! I'm Theseus!" He tilted his head side to side and flapped a wing. He ducked his head as an apology when he almost sent a fuzzy buddy flying. He knows that only ghasts, blazes, and himself can fly.
"... Tommy?" The hybrid mumbled.
Theseus huffed. He really hated that name.
_-_-_, please escort Tommy out of _'_-_-_-_.
I'm a god Tommy!
I want you dead Tommy! That's the truth!
He really hated that name, it wasn't his.
"My name is not Tommy. It's Theseus." He retorted, his wings fluffing up.
"Well, what do you have on your hip there Theseus?" The overworlder asked, walking up to him. Theseus beamed.
"They're my discs! They're funny since they're one of a kind! I call them Dream and Ranboo!"
The overworlder just started laughing, before pulling out a box.
"How about you play them for us? We've been travelling for a while." The overworlder seemed excited at the prospect.
"Sure!"
Theseus stood up, bouncing over to the box. He grinned when he saw the slot in the top. He slid Dream inside, smiling.
The first few happy notes rang out, but Tommy was more focused on the ram hybrid in front of him.
"Tubbo?"
Tubbo grinned, before punching the Avarian in the gut.
"Next time you run off and lose your memories, I will stab you."
Tommy nodded, trying to keep his breakfast down. He should stop eating so many potatoes at mealtimes. Sure he's 'Underweight' and Phil 'Just wants to keep him healthy' but he is basically becoming a stuffed Turkey.
"What in the world was that Tommy?" Ranboo asked, helping the pained boy.
"I got captured by a cult," Tommy admitted, looking away.
"... Tommy. Where's your voice?" Tubbo asked, going from pissed off to concern and worried in a blink.
"I don't know. Since the cult captured me I just can't speak. It's a load of shit I tell you!" Tommy ranted, his wings fluffing up and head raised high as he twitched and jerked.
"... Well we're glad to have you back Tommy," Ranboo murmured, kind eyes gazing at him.
His special racoon perched on his shoulder and Tommy scratched it behind the ear. His gaze was back, Ranboo and Tubbo are here. Things were looking up.
"You named Mellohi 'Ranboo' and named Cat 'Dream'." Tubbo snickered.
"Shut up!"
Zephyrus limped into med bay, cursing his luck. He had left raw ancient debris on his desk to study. In the raw form, ancient debris is heavy but smelted into an ingot and it becomes light. Why?
Well, he can't answer that right now because he dropped a whole block's worth on his foot.
He sat down on a bench, waiting for a member of the medical team to notice him. They were all volunteers, none of them part of the group itself. They didn't worship the blood god, only worshipping Herobrine. Either way, they were a huge asset.
"Hi th- What did you even do?"
Zephyrus was knocked out of his musing by a nurse. She sat in front of him, examining his foot.
She was gorgeous.
Her long brown hair was tied in a low ponytail, but it cascaded down her back like a lavafall. She had a large hat on her head, the brim was wide and long. A veil hid her eyes from any glares, but he couldn't even see them. She wore a purple dress, it slowed around her like waves.
"Did you drop obsidian on this?" She asked him, looking up to him.
Her eyes were beautiful.
They were brown, more vibrant than any instance of soul sand or soul soil could ever be.
If Herobrine were to strike him down at this moment, he wouldn't mind.
"Hello? Are you in there?"
He jolted back to reality once again, stumbling over his words.
"Uh.. um... ancient debris?"
Zephyrus, you are an older brother. Get yourself together.
She laughed, a sound that Zephyrus would die if it meant that the sound would carry on forever.
"Of course. That's probably the only other thing that could have happened to this foot."
She treated him, and he managed to strike a conversation with her. It held no real direction, jumping from topic to topic like a Hoglin's aim. He was a happy birb by the end of it.
"Stay safe in the castle you. I don't exactly want to see you in for a silly mistake like that."
Zephyrus laughed. 'I'll be careful, don't worry."
A strange look came across her, and he was confused. Did he say something to upset her? Please don't say he said something upsetting. He might cry if he did.
"My name's Kristen if you were curious."
He perked up, standing straighter. His wings fluffed a bit, surprised.
"Ah... Uhm... I'm Ph- Zephyrus! I don't know why I said that. My name's Zephyrus!"
She laughed, her divine laugh. Zephyrus would do anything to protect that laugh.
Tommy was whining, and everyone knew it. He was the one at the head of the group so that if he said something they would know. Unfortunately, that also meant when he complained, they would know.
"Tubbo! I'm bored!"
Tubbo smiled at him, the least threatening smile anyone could muster.
"If you say that again for the 48th time, I will disembowel you and leave you to the birds."
"... I don't even speak verbally."
"Tommy we can all read what you're saying." Ranboo pointed out.
"Yeah, but I thought you guys would have more trouble than just, this. It's like every time I talk to someone they just understand it."
"Oh yeah!" Tubbo gasped, an epiphany forming.
"What?"
"You remind me of Schlatt. How he twitched and jerked before he finally died."
"Oh fuck off man! Not cool!"
The group were suddenly interrupted by chaos.
"Evil! Evil!"
"Techno they won't hurt you!"
"They're demons Dream! Pure chaos and despair!"
"For fucks sake Techno!"
"Nope!"
"This is amusing."
"It's fucking hilarious."
The bench trio bore witness to a clearing, where Technoblade himself was attempting to run away from a warped fungus. Wilbur and Dream were attempting to get him to calm the hell down. Sam, Sapnap, and DreamXD were pissing themselves laughing.
Tommy's eyes suddenly went from blue to red, as he stared at the scene. He jumped into the clearing, kicking the offending fungi away. His eyes went back to blue and he waved.
"Sup bitches!"
"Tommy you idiot!" Tubbo called, joining his best friend.
Dead silence in the clearing.
"Tommy!" Wilbur fucking ran at him and scooped him into a hug, picking him up in a way that kept his wings from being crushed.
Tommy squirmed, unable to talk like this.
It took five minutes for Wilbur to finally let go.
"Are you ok? Are you hurt? Where's Phil? How are your wings? Nobody tried to take your feathers right?"
"Wilbur I am fine. And you are still balding."
"Wha- I'm not balding, child!"
"Baldbur!"
"Theseus, where is your voice?" Techno demanded, taking charge.
"Lost it after the ceremony." Tommy twitched, grimacing at the memory. "That fucking snake scared the shit out of me."
Wilbur winced, looking away. Techno sighed.
"Well, you see Theseus-"
Zephyrus looked up from his papers, smiling warmly as his charge skipped in.
"Theseus! How ar- Your eyes are purple!"
Zephyrus was quick to check up on him, examining him.
"What made you upset sunshine?"
Theseus' wings fluffed up, leading Zephyrus to pull him into a quick hug.
"Didn't think I would notice? You're eyes go blue when you're upset. Then they slowly go back to your happy red colour."
Theseus looked miffed about that.
"I didn't notice that what-?"
"It's alright. So what made you upset sunbeam?"
Theseus' face went red and his twitches were small but present.
"I found my jukebox. Someone made fun of me though."
Zephyrus hugged his charge again, moving their conversation to the bed. He started to preen the boy, watching as Theseus talked about his day. Adventures he went on while he was out and the likes.
"So will you teach me tricks?"
"Of course."
Things were balanced.
Tubbo enlisted in the Medical Bay, getting accepted quickly. He tended to hang around Tommy's pack a bit, and the pack didn't mind much. He was like... the neighbour's kid who your friend's with but not brotherly close. Like soulmates, not brothers. Michael got along well with Tubbo.
Ranboo joined a warped forest and visits the cult regularly. Michael gets along with him as well.
Phil keeps going to med-bay, injuring himself just to see Kristen. He was determined. Phil did cry on Tommy's shoulder for the afternoon when Kristen said that she was married. But despite that Phil still tried to be a friend.
Wilbur ended up enlisting as a potions master, quickly becoming accepted as a volunteer.
Dream ran off and joined a nether fortress, Sapnap and Sam having to follow him. Nobody knows how he managed it.
Techno joined a nearby bastion, quickly becoming a high ranking warrior.
And Dream XD just pops in whenever the fuck he feels like it.
Things were balanced.
Until they weren't.
"1"
Wilbur wandered the halls, grumbling. No, he wasn't fucking lost. He just fell into a lava lake and now he's stuck wandering the hall he found himself in.
Techno is still affected by warped fungi, and he's still lava proof. Figures.
'Stop complaining. It's a useful skill!'
"Shut up Ghost me," Wilbur growled.
"Where was that book?"
Wilbur stopped, looking at the door beside him. His eyes narrowed, and he hissed under his breath.
"Unlock it."
One of his snakes slid through a crack in the wall, and he soon heard a click.
Wilbur strode into the room, noticing a ghostly outline of the Elder. The Piglin was holding a book.
"Here it is."
Wilbur watched the Piglin place the book on a table, opening it.
"Soon. Soon the ritual will finally be complete."
The Piglin faded, and Wilbur approached the book. His eyes went wide as he read the words on the page.
He needed to tell everyone.
"2"
Wilbur entered Tommy's bedroom, face grim. Everyone was there. Techno, Tommy, Tubbo, Ranboo, Dream, Sapnap, Sam, and DreamXD.
"I've gathered you all today because we have some bad news."
"Then tell us." Techno deadpanned, shooting down Wilbur's dramatics before they could even begin."
"... rude... Anyway, here."
Wilbur handed them all a page. Dream noted that it was likely copied.
The blood drained from all of them when they read the contents.
"I got a... vision... of the Elder. He is planning that ritual."
Tommy was more focused on a certain part of it.
'An angel's blood must spill'
There was only one angel they knew.
Phil wasn't the correct angel.
"3"
Zephyrus hugged Theseus, letting the boy silently cry into his side. He had burst into the room in tears, twitching that Zephyrus was in danger. Zephyrus knew he was safe, so he only consoled the weeping boy.
"I'm safe Theseus. You have nothing to worry about."
The boy continued to cry, breaking the winged man's heart.
"4"
"I would like to announce something!"
Everyone in the dining hall quieted down, looking to the Elder expectantly.
"I will be holding a banquet."
The younger brothers muttered amongst their packs, excited. They haven't gone to a banquet before!
"It shall be open to everyone working with the pack. This includes the volunteers, who help us in our times of trouble."
Michael grinned, looking to his best friend. Theseus looked anxious, shifting in his chair. The Avarian was pale.
"It will be held in a week's time. In the meantime, prepare yourselves. This will be our biggest celebration yet. In honour of the Blood God!"
Michael put a hand on his best friend's shoulder, looking into his purple eyes. He smiled reassuringly.
"It'll be ok." He mumbled.
"I hope so."
"Blood for the blood god!" The room cheered. Only a few abstained.
The messenger pack were a part of those few.
Wilbur glared from where he leaned against the far wall, his brown ashy coat and ruby eyes making him imposing.
"Have him turn around so he can have deniability." He muttered an eye blue.
"5"
Tommy entered the Elder's room, sitting on the chair and taking the goblet unprovoked.
"Good boy." The Elder praised.
A small part of his chest grew warm from the praise, and he almost trilled a silent trill.
No Tommy. Don't get all buddy-buddy with the guy who is plotting to kill Phil. No. Bad Innit.
The Elder ran his fingers through Tommy's hair as the boy drank his own blood, making him lean into it.
Shit.
"I want you to pick the room."
Tommy jolted a bit, flicking a wing.
"Huh?"
"I want you to pick the room we will hold the banquet in. I don't plan on it being the dining hall, and you've been well behaved. Consider it a reward."
Tommy put the goblet down, now drained of blood. He absently picked up the ritual knife and dragged the dish towards him.
"... I'm not sure Elder. There are a few rooms I have in mind but I don't think that any of them would be perfect."
"Come now. Surely you can think of the perfect location? You little schemer."
Tommy rolled his eyes and silently chuckled, slicing his wrists easily and letting his blood drain into the dish.
"Well... The only location I can think of is the ritual room."
"Why do you say that room?"
"It was the room I joined the group in right? And if a group sacrifice is planned the groves will funnel the blood away perfectly."
Tommy allowed the Elder to wrap his wrist. Not able to stifle a silent croon when the Elder chuckled.
"Then it's perfect."
"6"
Techno took everyone's notes, grim.
They all wrote wills. This was serious now.
"We all acknowledge that there is a very real possibility that we will die."
Everyone nodded, solemn. Not a joke from Tommy. Not a cocky laugh from Dream. They all knew who they were up against.
Techno leaned down, holding the wills out for members of Tommy's gaze and Wilbur's pit to take.
They wrote their wills, and they would be delivered to the SMP. They would go to Techno's house.
People will find them.
"7"
"I'm worried Kris," Zephyrus admitted, looking at the love of his life that friend-zoned him.
"What about?" Kristen asked, bandaging Zephyrus' hand. The man had crushed it so he could come and see her.
"Theseus... He seems so worried."
"Why?"
Zephyrus inhaled. He thought back to the first time he really met Theseus. The teenager behind his lovable sunbeam.
"Theseus... he wasn't called that before."
"Hmm?"
Confession time.
"His name was Tommy. He was brothers with another man, a brunette. He told me he was human, and he looked human! He must've had his wings scrunched under his shirt. But he and the Brunette were with another man. I think he was their guardian or something, cause apparently, he was their father's friend."
"And how did Tommy become Theseus?" Kristen asked, placing a hand on his cheek.
"We did a ritual. I think it changed his memories. He doesn't remember his brother. He doesn't remember his father, who he clearly remembered before. And he certainly doesn't remember his father's friend. We took his life away and changed it into something else. I used to look at him when he was happy. I remember thinking that this was better for him but now? I don't know anymore Kris."
Kristen was silent for a minute.
"... Do you think he was the first to have that happen to him?" She asked him. He almost didn't hear it.
"What?"
"Do you think he was the first to have his life rewritten to join this cult?"
"I..."
Zephyrus thought about it. The elder was confident in the spell. He knew exactly what he was doing. It all just looked like it was practised.
Was Theseus the first?
"I don't know Kristen. I just... I don't know."
"8"
Zephyrus hugged Theseus, burying his face into the boy's hair. The boy in question jolted, surprised. They were in the boy's room this time, and one of Theseus' discs were playing. Ranboo Zephyrus thought.
"Theseus. Are you happy here?"
Theseus nodded, moving the adult Avarian off of him.
"Of course Zephyrus. Why wouldn't I be?"
Zephyrus sucked in a deep breath. Make or break moment right here.
"Tommy are you happy here?"
The boy froze, staring at him with a look of fear.
"Tommy. Please. I know you dislike the name but please. I need to know if this place is better for you than the life you lived before."
Theseus- Tommy hugged him again, a pitiful smile on his face.
Zephyrus got the message.
"9"
Michael trotted to Theseus' room. He was worried. The banquet sounded like bad news, and the whole pack was concerned.
Their youngest was especially off-put. Theseus had even looked sick.
The banquet was tomorrow. Michael, as the pack alpha, went around to check on everyone. Theseus was his last stop.
"Theseus? Hello?"
He knocked on the door, waiting for a response. It was quiet.
"Theseus?"
He knocked again. No answer.
"I'm coming in."
He pushed the door open, flicking the lever that would reveal the glow shrooms and bathe the room in light.
...
He ran out, banging on Zephyrus' door to wake the Avarian up. He was panicked by what he saw.
Zephyrus opened the door, looking half asleep. That changed quickly with Michael's next words.
"Theseus is gone!"
Outside, in the lonely nether. Something that shouldn't happen, happened.
A crow cawed.
And the rest of the flock would soon follow.
"10"
Everyone milled around the ritual room, having a blast.
Well... Most of them.
The messenger pack was distressed, keeping an eye out for their youngest.
Zephyrus was near them, keeping an eye out for his charge and the pack. He was going to protect his charge's pack if it got him killed. It was the least he could do.
Wilbur was glaring at the Elder with a vengeance. He despised this room since the last time he was in it...
His brother was silent, thrashing in his bindings.
Techno grimaced at the food. Carrots? Bruh.
[The truth: He was acutely aware of everything and everyone, including the exits.]
Tubbo and Ranboo were mingling with everyone else, being pleasant.
[Tubbo had eyes on every weapon everyone had. Ranboo was watching for any hints of fireworks.]
Dream and Sapnap were arguing about something. Sam was trying to placate them.
["We're supposed to be watching the Older Brothers" "I know but Dream refuses to tail that guy over there!" "I've been watching 5 of them give me a break!"]
Tensions were high.
And then everything came to a head.
"I have invited one of the younger brothers to perform a sacrifice for the blood god. A special one in fact."
Everyone looked up, only to see Tommy standing at a podium. A golden knife was held in his hands and a goblet in front of him.
"Theseus. Perform the sacrifice."
Tommy, in a trance, lifted the goblet to his lips.
"╎ ᓵᔑꖎꖎ ⎓𝙹∷ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ !¡⚍∷ᒷ ⍊𝙹╎↸ ᔑリ↸ !¡∷ᔑ|| ℸ ̣ ⍑ᔑℸ ̣ ╎ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷᔑ∷ᓭ ᒲᒷ" The elder started.
The Avarian drank from the goblet, his eyes glassy. Everyone was on edge.
"╎ 𝙹⎓⎓ᒷ∷ ⚍!¡ ℸ ̣ ⍑╎ᓭ ᔑリ⊣ᒷꖎ 𝙹⎓ ᒲᔑ↸リᒷᓭᓭ ⎓𝙹∷ ||𝙹⚍∷ ∴╎ᓭ⍑ᒷᓭ"
Tommy finished the goblet, and quickly sliced his own wrists. The blood dripped through the groves.
"ᔑリ↸ ᒲᔑ|| ||𝙹⚍ ⍑ᒷᔑ∷ ᒲ|| ⍊𝙹╎ᓵᒷ ╎リ ∷ᒷℸ ̣ ⚍∷リ"
The young Avarian pulled bandages out from nowhere, wrapping his wrists. Then he was still. Standing there vacantly.
"!¡⚍∷ᒷ ⍊𝙹╎↸, i ᓭ⍑ᔑꖎꖎ ⊣╎⎓ℸ ̣ ||𝙹⚍ ᔑ ʖ𝙹↸||"
Chaos unfolded as the building rumbled. Shrieks came from the walls. The barely patched up roof from Wilbur and Techno's escape showed shadows from outside.
They were moving.
"ℸ ̣ ⍑╎ᓭ ᔑリ⊣ᒷꖎ’ᓭ ʖꖎ𝙹𝙹↸ ∴╎ꖎꖎ ᓵᔑꖎꖎ ||𝙹⚍ ℸ ̣ 𝙹 ℸ ̣ ⍑╎ᓭ ∷ᒷᔑꖎᒲ"
Everyone went into action. The Messengers ran to their youngest, forming a protective guard around the tranced Avarian. Dream, Sam, and Sapnap started leading the panicking cult members out. Their job was to get them to safety. At this point, they were bystanders.
Tubbo and Ranboo joined the protective circle, standing beside who they claimed as their platonic son. They would protect Tommy and Michael, as well as the rest of the pack.
Now it was up to Zephyrus, Technoblade, and Wilbur.
...
Now it was up to Technoblade and Wilbur. Zephyrus just up and vanished.
"ᔑリ↸ ᓭ𝙹 ||𝙹⚍ ᓭ⍑ᔑꖎꖎ ↸𝙹 ᒲ|| ʖ╎↸↸╎リ⊣"
Creatures, darker than a moonless night, smashed into the ritual room. Tommy's blood ran through the groves and the creatures targeted any unfortunate souls near the blood trails.
Techno and Wilbur fought them off. Sapnap, Dream, and Sam aided them.
"ᒲᔑꖌᒷ ᒲᒷ ᔑリ↸ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ⊣𝙹↸ ╎ ∴𝙹∷ᓭ⍑╎!¡ ᒷ⍊ᒷリ ᓭℸ ̣ ∷𝙹リ⊣ᒷ∷!"
They managed to get a few down, but more just kept coming.
"They don't stop!" Dream yelled, killing one of them.
"Just keep swinging!" Technoblade called, decapitating one of them with his axe.
A feather fell from somewhere.
"ᔑリ↸ ↸ᒷᓭℸ ̣ ∷𝙹|| ↸ᒷᔑℸ ̣ ⍑ ⎓𝙹∷ ⊣𝙹𝙹↸!"
A crow cawed.
The room went from the nether heat, to antarctic with that single sound.
Another caw.
The beasts stopped attacking.
"⍑ᒷᔑ∷ ᒲᒷ! !¡⚍∷ᒷ ⍊𝙹╎↸!"
A final caw.
Kristen herself, in all her glory, walked to the centre of the still room. The elder wasn't focusing on the room around him. His final mistake.
She put a finger to her lips, a thin yet satisfied smile graced them.
Barely a whisper escaped those thin lips...
"Ten paces fire."
"⍑ᒷᒷ↸ ᒲ|| ᓵᔑꖎꖎ ᔑリ↸ ᓵ𝙹ᒲᒷ ℸ ̣ 𝙹 ᒲᒷ!"
The Elder finally heard a noise, behind him. The rustle of fabrics. He turned around.
A scythe's blade flew from the shadows, decapitating the Piglin.
"Sorry mate, I can't let you do that."
Philza, the angel of death, strode from behind the headless corpse. His green clothing flowed around him, gravity not holding any weight to him. His wings, free from the gold that weighed them down, were folded tightly behind him. It was more threatening than if they were spread. A large sunhat, the typical white and green stripes. A black veil covered his eyes from view.
Overall, terrifying.
Phil smiled, watching everyone from the end of the bridge. They were all bidding their farewells.
He laughed, watching Tubbo and Ranboo try and convince Tommy to leave his pack. The boy was refusing, fighting them. His pack aiding him in his attempts to stay.
Techno was covering his face, trying to get the Piglins of the bastion to stop telling Wilbur all the embarrassing shit he did. Wilbur was rewarding their information with his own stories of Technoblade's past.
Sam, Dream, and Sapnap were trying to escape the denizens of their fortress. The blazes mother henning them and demanding to know if they packed everything they needed. The wither skeletons were insisting on them taking all this combat gear and armour with them, despite their own full sets of enchanted netherite.
Even XD was there, looking like he just got a levitation effect during a hurricane. Something about the Impure Void being a bitch?
"So Phil, what are you going to do after this?" Kristen asked, standing beside him.
"Probably going to go back to the arctic with Techno. Now that the whole flock refuses to leave and all." It was tough enough to get them to stay a bit away just for this. And even then a large number were perched all around the place.
"And everyone else?"
"Well, Dream and Sam are going back to the prison. Sapnap said he was going to get Karl an apology gift and leave Quackity his own apology gift in secret. Tubbo and Ranboo are probably going to try and kidnap Michael and bring him to Snowchester so that will be interesting."
"Wilbur and Tommy?" Kristen was smirking at the question.
"Ah... those two. Wilbur will probably continue with whatever scheme he has. Tommy... Well, he can visit."
Kristen laughed, and not for the first time Phil thought to himself.
Phil would do anything to protect that laugh.
"╎'ᒲ ⊣ꖎᔑ↸ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᔑℸ ̣ ᓭ⚍ᒲᒲ𝙹リ╎リ⊣ ᓭℸ ̣ 𝙹!¡!¡ᒷ↸. ╎ ↸╎↸リ'ℸ ̣ ⎓ᒷᒷꖎ ꖎ╎ꖌᒷ ᒷリ↸╎リ⊣ ᒷ ̇/╎ᓭℸ ̣ ᒷリᓵᒷ ℸ ̣ 𝙹↸ᔑ||."
"||𝙹⚍'∷ᒷ ⋮⚍ᓭℸ ̣ ꖎᔑ⨅||."
"リ𝙹 ╎'ᒲ リ𝙹ℸ ̣ !"
"!¡⚍∷ᒷ ⍊𝙹╎↸, ||𝙹⚍ ᔑ∷ᒷ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ꖎᔑ⨅╎ᒷᓭℸ ̣ ʖᒷ╎リ⊣ ╎ ⍑ᔑ⍊ᒷ ᒷ⍊ᒷ∷ ∴╎ℸ ̣ リᒷᓭᓭᒷ↸ ╎リ ᒷ ̇/╎ᓭℸ ̣ ᒷリᓵᒷ. "
"𝙹⍑ ᓭ𝙹 リ𝙹∴ ∴ᒷ'∷ᒷ ⚍ᓭ╎リ⊣ ⎓╎ꖎꖎ リᔑᒲᒷᓭ ℸ ̣ 𝙹ℸ ̣ ᔑꖎ ᒲᒷᒲ𝙹∷||?"
"╎ ⊣⚍ᒷᓭᓭ ∴ᒷ ᔑ∷ᒷ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷリ."
"..."
"リ𝙹 ∴ᔑ╎ℸ ̣ ᓭℸ ̣ 𝙹!¡! ╎ ℸ ̣ ᔑꖌᒷ ╎ℸ ̣ ʖᔑᓵꖌ!"
"ℸ ̣ 𝙹𝙹 ꖎᔑℸ ̣ ᒷ ᓭ⚍ᓵꖌᒷ∷!"