Chapter Text
He couldn’t breathe. He raced from the cover of one tree to another, his breathing erratic from more than just the physical effort. Parrot stared up at the sky, the sun near blinding as he made out the figure dancing around him.
Leath in all the ways that he is strong. Elegance radiated off of him like a battle cry as he flapped his wings, bolting from one point above to another. He took to the sky like he has never done before. And Parrot watched as confusion and anger fought with each other in his chest.
Because what was he doing?
The way Wemmbu skitted around was almost mocking, like he was reveling in the destruction from just the singular stabshot. And that made something boil deep within Parrot.
She had done nothing to deserve death. Just a new player in their world, with the right to live like the rest of them. She had family, friends, and a whole life beyond him. And all that was ripped away from her.
And the last time he was with Wemmbu, they were friends.
So why?
He heard his laugh before he saw him. A loud crack of wings and the sound of another broken fishing rod made Parrot jump from the coverage of one tree to another. Keeping his shield held towards the clouds with knuckles bared white with how tight he was gripping the shield.
Luckily it wasn’t another stab shot, unfortunately the orbital shaded the entire space of the forest. TNT, in great rings, fell from the sky. Igniting atop the canopy of leaves. The explosions were definitely less deadly; however, they were a hundred times more destructive. Just with the first orbital alone, the mass of tree coverage was diminished exponentially. Which posed the problem of less shelter from mace attacks.
Where was Theo? The other bird should have gotten the message. So unless something had happened to the village, he should be on the way. And that was concerning, because Theo wasn’t here.
If it were another time, Parrot wouldn’t have worried about being attacked by his friend. Well that’s a lie, there were definitely times where their relationship was less than ideal, but in the recent months from before his coronation, Parrot was proud to say that they had settled things.
It was a rocky but inevitable agreement. Based on nothing but pure trust. Things were nothing but uncertain. Parrot understands that it was his fault, that their world tilted on its axis because he was too selfish to see someone he deemed unworthy to live a normal life.
It had snowballed, horrifically so. But they persevered, Wemmbu had persevered.
But staring up at his friend now, blindly attacking him without even a second thought, all earlier thoughts of their truce were out the window.
And then there was a theory that Wemmbu didn’t even know that it was Parrot in the first, which also posed more questions than it answered.
Why was he attacking in the first place? Last time he checked, Wemmbu was done fighting for a bit.
Why random people?
Why? Why? Why?
So many questions bounced around Parrot’s mind. Everything was scattered. And Parrot for the life of him, could not figure anything out.
He sprinted behind a tree, off handing his shield to main his bow. Wemmbu was too far away to call so his main choice was to get his attention by either skimming him with an arrow, or if need be, hitting him.
He didn't know where Theo was or if he was even coming. Hopefully he is smart enough to see the death message and get the rest of the players to safety before coming to help. Parrot wouldn’t know what to do with himself if he allowed other players to die because he was more important.
And Theo probably knew that, hopefully.
He drew his bow and fired at Wemmbu, trying to skim his wing. It was futile, if the last thirty minutes or so have proven anything, Wemmbu was agile in the air much like a fish to water. Too fast and too stubborn. However, despite the arrow not exactly making contact it delivered the message.
Wemmbu spiraled around following the direction the arrow had come from, his eyes darting to where Parrot was. And as quick as his eyes glanced his way, another fishing rod snapped. Another stabshot made Parrot tumble back. With the lack of surprise from this one, he was able to find his footing as the brunt of the explosion bounced off his shield.
He needed to get out of the forest, it would be easier to get to Wemmbu that way. Or at least be easier for Wemmbu to see him without what was left of the tree coverage.
Parrot scouted out a path through the trees. Oak trees lining the floor that he needed to sprint through in order to reach the expanse of the plains biome.
He couldn’t just close his eyes and hope for the best. Whatever Wemmbu was doing was completely unpredictable, especially how the dragon hadn’t come down to take an attack on him on the ground. Seemingly sticking to the air, whipping around like there wasn’t a care in his mind. While throwing his orbitals in any way he deemed fit.
It was unlike him. Wemmbu usually was decently tactical with his orbitals, still extremely trigger happy, but usually had a rhyme or reason between each snap of his rods. Well recently that is.
There was a time, though. That Parrot remembers, where Wemmbu shot things just for the fun of it. Destroying towns, cities… lives. But that was before, way before. When his life meant destruction, before he was locked away and traded between people like a prize.
Before he wanted to just live.
However, this wasn’t that. Even between what would be considered calculated, it wasn’t, not truly.
Wemmbu seemed as if he was playing with him. Like the forest was a maze and Parrot was simply a mouse he was trying to guide out with a more than deadly operating system. Like his orbitals weren’t a weapon of destruction but rather a new toy to mess around with.
And he hasn’t truly seen Wemmbu treat them like since the first time he had got them.
But that made his behavior a lot less predictable. And the only thing Parrot could think to get him out of this situation at the moment was to get to the open field and talk to him.
So he waited for the distinct crack of black wings, and bolted for the exit. He kept his shield equipped in his off hand and his bow partially drawn in his second. He steadied his breath as he weaved between the oak and birch trees, trying to keep a level of stealth as he navigated to his destination.
He breached the end of the forest by jumping to the ground and shooting a blind arrow in the direction of the dragon. His shield held up to the sky, ready to take the incoming attack.
Wemmbu stalked him above, prowling around him in loops like a predator. But it wasn’t in that slow controlled primal way that suggested an end. It was fast. He whipped around the sky like he owned it. Like it was his first time taking flight all over again, like the natural instinct was beyond him and what was left was just a clap of strong wings and the rush of wind.
But he never came shooting down with a mace in hand. He hasn’t even seen the dragon equip it.
Parrot shot another arrow, this time actually aiming for him. Tracking his pattering. Drawing an invisible line in the sky, mapping out the circle that the dragon created then firing where Wemmbu was going rather than trying to desperately follow him in hopes of hitting him.
And the arrow landed. The dragon stuttered in the air, going off balance as he stumbled to get his wings under his control. Purple feathers fell from the air, swooshing side to side like a pengaline.
He couldn’t tell if it bounced off or actually embedded itself in the wing, all he knew for sure was that it caught the dragon’s attention. It wasn’t obvious but Wemmbu’s behavior shifted.
Wemmbu abruptly turned and shot up into the air, his usual laughter that followed was left silenced.
Parrot held his breath, gathering himself to his feet and waited. Simply switching his bow out for a totem. He squinted up towards the sky, losing sight of the other as he continued to fly past the clouds.
He was trying not to be seen, Parrot concluded. There would be no reason for Wemmbu to fly that high, unless he was actively trying to confuse Parrot.
It made sense judging by his behavior before. So far he’s had a relative pattern, changing minor details just enough to keep things unpredictable. He would circle to draw attention, to force eyes to watch him, most likely trying to make him anxious, or leave him guessing as to what his next move is.
Then he tended to change his direction and depending on the direction was his attack. But the problem is, he never did the same thing twice. He just camped in the air and waited for something.
Not a single mace attack in sight.
The worst part, this isn’t how he observed Wemmbu’s fighting before.
Wemmbu was erratic and acted before he thought, he only really camped when he was low on health or resources. Other than that he was constantly throwing blows, either with his orbital or his mace. Never has he been so slow with his attacks.
Parrot squinted as he saw the rings of TNT materialize, glowing white and grey, flickering as it rained from the clouds, in a destructive display of power. He finally let out the air he kept choked in his throat, shaky but certain.
Wemmbu rocketted down, his wings pressed against his back as he aimed directly towards Parrot. Darting through the center ring of the falling explosives.
Parrot watched, not making any move to dodge or attack back. He needed to get to Wemmbu and this is the only way he could think of.
Wemmbu landed first. His wings bracketing open like a parquet hoisting him backwards where his feet were able to crash into Parrot's shield. The force of his body weight knocked him to the ground, his back pressed hard against the grass.
The nearby peony’s petals shook off in the breeze, shocking up from the force of the impact. Purple feathers followed suit, dancing around them as the TNT went off only seconds after Parrot hit the ground.
The ground erupted, as the explosives scattered around the two of them. Parrot’s eyes unconsciously squeezed shut, hard enough to make colors dance behind his eyelids. All he could hear amongst the TNT was the loud boisterous laugh of Wemmbu.
One of the explosions hit him dead on, breaking on his head, and with no defense besides his armor his totem popped. He felt himself die and stitch back together in a matter of seconds. He gasped, breathing hard and fast as he came back to himself.
The weight of Wemmbu crushed him from above, the dragon’s entire body weight pushed onto his shield that he held against his chest to protect. The weight was crushing his lungs, not enough to make him lose air, but it definitely restricted his breathing.
Parrot fluttered his eyes open, peering up through the edge of his shield. Wemmbu’s void black eyes blinked down at him, and he watched as the dragon’s face dropped. Eyes blowing wide as he stood on the shield, then he dove towards Parrot’s face.
Wemmbu sprouted a smile from ear to ear. It was a near manic sort of smile. Something that screamed dangerous. He tilted his head leaning in close as his hands gripped the edge of the shield, long tallon like nails digging into the underside of the wood as the dragon seemed to sniff at him.
The behavior was animalistic in nature. Something that Wemmbu had never allowed himself to do before. Opting for a more regal type of intimidation than to allow his animal side to take over.
Wemmbu has always been very animalistic, no matter how hard he tried to suppress it, but this wasn’t the same that he has witnessed thousands of times. This wasn't his usual control , but rather something instinctual. Wemmbu wasn’t doing this because he understood that some parts of his dragon slipped when he was focused on a fight, but rather it was his body telling him to do it.
“Well well, a face I thought I would never see again.” Wemmbu cackled, leaning in impossibly close.
“Wemmbu… what?” Parrot coughed out a rough wheeze. Wemmbu growled low in his throat. He blinked down at the bird, teeth peering through a tense grin.
“This is just so fascinating.” He bit out like venom. He laughed like it was a chore, boisterous and mocking, making a show of the power he has in this situation.
Parrot struggled a bit, using the unprompted distraction to plant his feet and buck upwards. The movement set the other unbalanced, earning a gravelled yelp, as Parrot took the momentum rocking towards his head to push the shield up. Causing Wemmbu to tumble over his head. He breathed out, hard, taking a greedy gulp of air as he rolled over to his knees.
Wemmbu’s wings flared, almost like he had lost control of the appendages attached to his back, they fluttered in contrast to the ground trying to find purchase on their own. The dragon rolled on the ground claws digging deep into the destroyed earth, huffing in irritation as he stared at Parrot from the ground. The avion scrambled up to his feet, holding his shield down towards the other as a precaution to his behavior.
“What is wrong with you!” Parrot yelled, his face contorting into an ugly scowl. His wings bristles behind him, his soft green and blue feathers fluffing up in an attempt to make himself seem bigger. “Do you know what you just did?”
Wemmbu glared up at him in return, seeming to not care that he was kneeled on the ground. His eyes had a glint in them as a wicked smile stretched across his features, a boisterous laugh falling soon after. He cackled loud, and brash. The sound was unbridledly annoying to Parrot’s ear as the dragon clutched his stomach and rolled over onto his back, chuckling like a hyena.
Parrot glared at him with resentment. He didn’t know that Wemmbu could get any more annoying than he already was, but whatever he was on at the moment really took the cake. Because what was bro actually thinking. Currently laughing like a maniac on the floor like a kid having the time of his life.
“Awwww, what’s wrong?” Wemmbu wheezed, the same grin spread wide and slowed his movements. He splayed his arms out like he was basking in the sun, arching his head to make eye contact with the avion. The position couldn’t have been comfortable as the dragon’s body contorted to the uneven ground. “Don’t worry there was no real harm done.”
“No harm done?” Parrot took a step back. A tight coil of anger had begun to spiral around his gut, leaving him spiraling. “No harm done! You just killed someone!”
“Like I said,” The dragon rolled back over onto his stomach, folding his arms under his head and resting it there. His face brightened as he watched Parrot's bewilderment. “No harm done.”
“Who do you think you are?” Parrot’s voice dropped to a dangerous level. He was seething, more than seething. He was beyond angry, everything in him was boiling over. He had been toyed with for the past hour, an entire forest had been destroyed, a massive crater had taken the place of a field, and a player under his protection had died. All by the man that’s laying down in front of him. “Do you know what you just did? Do you even care?”
“When did you get so soft?” Wemmbu groaned like he had the right to be annoyed. The rubble of stone around them left the ground in waves of uneven surface. “You used to be so intimidating.”
“You killed an innocent player! She isn't coming back because of you! And you’re just lying there talking in circles.”
“Jeez, when did the righteous stick get shoved up your ass?” Wemmbu huffed, pushing himself up onto his knees before sitting down. Leaning back on his hands and arms, head tilting with a cheshire grin splayed on his features. “Where’s all that world ending fury?”
“What are you talking about?’ Parrot was really getting tired of this guy. Wemmbu has been acting more than a little weird, something has been off since he first realized who was circling them.
“Isn’t this place great?” Wemmbu laughed. His eyes closed as he dropped his head back, sun hitting the purple skin on his face.
“What?”
Wemmbu hopped up onto his feet, netherite sword glistening in his hand. Its purple enchanted glow catches the light the same way the tiara on his head does. He didn’t hold his casual care like he usually did when fighting, as he flipped the sword in his hand like he didn’t. As if there were no consequences to what he was doing.
Wemmbu’s time throughout the past year, had left a bitter spot in his chest where fighting and becoming strong used to fulfill. Parrot remembered standing in the center of Northern Council, with Theo by his side, as Lopezz forced the dragon to the edge of the podium.
It was probably the most exhausted he had ever seen him. The comforting lack of remorse he had before he faked his death, seemed to vanish after that. Parrot had observed it himself. How fighting became less fun for and more of a chore for survival, how the world itself kept the dragon at arms length while tying him down.
“There is no limitation here.” Wemmbu’s wings slowly started spreading, for now keeping a couple of feet of distance between Parrot and himself.
The avian stood tall where he was, shield in one hand and switching his main hand to his diamond sword. This was his stubbornness, he was not going to lose his ground nor his composure for a lack of morals. Whatever Wemmbu was trying to do he refused to allow the dragon to get his way.
“Don’t you see?” A low laugh left Wemmbu’s mouth, running his fingers down the blade of his sword. Watching amused as black blood from his index finger left a trail behind. “I don’t have to work to be strong here, because I already am.”
A surprised gasp left Parrot’s mouth as the dragon leapt in the air with a loud break in the sound barrier. He didn’t fly up far, just enough to be a couple of feet above Parrot's head, strong wings flapping behind him.
Wemmbu lapped around him, this time much closer to Parrot, slower, so close that the avian could almost reach out and graze the strong purple wings with the tips of his fingers. The arrow that Parrot shot earlier now on displayed, lodged deep into his left wing. Blood subtly dripped from the wound, slowly coating the purple feathers underneath with black.
Wemmbu has always been a magnificent creature, he holds power with every breath. But it was earned.
Wemmbu wasn’t always so strong, he worked for who he was. He vaguely remembers the training the dragon pushed himself through during their days together when the mafia reigned.
Now he’s more than impressive. Someone to marvel at, someone that can rival FlameFrags head to head and beat him. A friend that he has seen struggle to get to the point where he is now only to see him slowly start to dwindle down his power to a slow simmer.
Wemmbu hasn’t always been who he is now, but he had worked for it, and it was a surprising success.
“Look at these wings, Parrot.” The dragon dragged his wing in a long flap, enough to keep his momentum while showing off the sheer power of the massive appendages. “No elytra needed to reach the sky.”
Parrot’s own wings bristled, a certain envy bubbled to throat surpassing his anger. Wemmbu’s wings have always been grand. Beautiful purple wings that held great power and strength. His own, now torn from past trauma, were never as impressive.
He truly loved his wings, he took great care of the green and blue feathers, making sure they stayed healthy, even if he could no longer fly, well not like he used to anyways. Short distances, like to the top of his grand bookshelf, is about the existence of his recent flight duration.
Parrot will probably never truly be able to get rid of his envy. He had come to understand a long time ago; however, things he had found out about the dragon had helped.
Wemmbu is more emotionally intelligent than a lot of people would like to admit.
It was recently, while he was trying to get Wemmbu back to the Northern Council in time for the debate, where they had found themselves taking cover in the back of a cave as a raging blizzard whipped around on the outside.
Wemmbu was propped up against the edge of the cave wall, his eyes closed as he wrapped his wings around his body to conserve warmth. Parrot had stared at the purple feathers the same way he was staring at them now. With the same envy that sits with him every time the dragon takes to the sky with those wings.
Wemmbu had caught on as he watched Parrot preen at the loose feathers of his. Taking his time to make his smaller wings look nice. To try and make up for what he lacked in his wings.
“I don’t know how to preen wings” The dragon had chuckled leaning his head on the wall, his eye lids blinking at the avian with tire lucidity.
“Huh?” Parrot’s nimble fingers twisted an out of place feather with gentle fingers. He lifted his head to peer at the other from across the narrow cave.
“Didn’t have anyone to teach me. Egg has three pairs of wings, you’d think I’d learn?”
There was a pause, Parrot blinked at him, mouth slightly pressed into a thin line as he listened to Wemmbu spill something like that. Preening was an almost necessity, with all types of wings, whether you used them or not, it was needed. So admitting to not knowing how was, for lack of better words, pathetic. Especially for wings like Wemmbu’s.
“He tried to teach me a couple of times, but I could never get it right, I just can’t sit there long enough to do it properly, and well my claws tend to get in the way. I tend to do more harm than good.” Wemmbu continued.
“How?” Parrot watched him shrug tiredly.
“Never had another dragon around long enough to teach me how to do it, and my wings are different from what a lot of other hybrids use, so I had a lot of people just lose hope on them when I was younger.” Wemmbu told it like it was a funny story, ignoring the weight and vulnerability that came from his confession.
“Then how do you take care of them now? Shouldn’t they be awful and painful and stuff?” Parrot questioned, it was comforting to know that someone of such power lacked a skill as simple as preening wings. The other had laughed as he seemed to pick up on it.
“Most of my life they were like that, didn’t know anything different. Egg was pissed when he saw the blood for the first time, man he tried so hard to teach me, bro. He was like the only one who could take care of them until he taught Minute. He liked preening them, something about siblings or what not.”
Wemmbu’s eyes opened, half lidded, and Parrot had nodded a long. It made sense, how Wemmbu’s wings always seemed to be in worse condition when he wasn’t around Egg for long periods of time.
Pieces of past interactions, where Partot would stare at the appendages with burning envy, clicked into place.
And even though the envy never went away, because Wemmbu can fly, he saw the dragon in a new light.
And it sits the same now.
Watching his friend lap around him with those same beautiful wings.
“Even the resources, Parrot.” Wemmbu’s voice boomed as he flew behind him for a moment in his circling. “There’s no limit. Netherite, totems, even different weapons do more damage than they have ever done before”
What are you talking about, bro. You actually sound insane.” Parrot sneered, watching as the other glided to the ground in front of him. They are now standing face to face in conversational stand off.
“I can do whatever I want here.” Wemmbu’s arms flew out as he did a little spine. It was a mockery of the situation they were in. Childish and abhorrent. “I have so much potential, and yet I have yet to take advantage.”
Wemmbu leaped towards Parrot knocking them both to the ground. A sharp piece of stone jutted into Parrot’s back as he made contact with the ground. The dragon straddled him, in a show of strength. Purple wings flare out in intimidation, stretching the wound more. It was unsettling with the way he ignored the pain, making no move to heal it.
“Bro, what. You actually sound crazy.” Parrot spat. He struggled under the body on top of him trying to free himself, but Wemmbu wasn’t budging. Parrot wasn't defenceless, he could get out, but that risked information.
“You lost yourself here.” Wemmbu said curiously, taking a clawed hand and gently caressing Parrot’s face. Instinctively, the bird turned his face to the side trying to create distance from the talon. The index finger slowly pressed harder into the side of his jaw slowly drawing blood with his nail. “You’re so so so much weaker than you used to be.”
Each word was said with spite, growled out like a confession. Like it was Parrot’s choice to be in this position.
He was never great with pvp, always relying on others around him to get him through battle heavy situations. But Parrot wasn’t weak, after years of doubt, he had come to that conclusion, many of his friends of now and of the past have helped him through that turmoil.
He didn’t need to be good at fighting to be great in battles, he had his wits. And even now he had his grasp on an ender pearl just in case things got out of hand. But he couldn’t risk a retreat, not yet anyways.
He had Wemmbu talking.
“What do you mean?” Parrot questioned through a gasp. Blood trickled down the edge of his jaw as Wemmbu leaned in closer. The ghost of the dragon’s breath dancing on his cheek.
“Oh Parrot2x…” Wemmbu whispered, sinking his talons into the bird's cheek causing the other to let out a strangled noise. “You are nothing.”
Something was not right. He hasn’t seen this side of Wemmbu since the days when the wonders were destroyed. Where he talked in riddles or spread lies like wine.
Instinct flared like a flare signal and Parrot threw the ender pearl without hesitation, landing a couple of blocks behind the other. His breathing heavy as he stared down at Wemmbu, gravity making his blood travel down his neck.
There was something in the way the dragon acted that was almost nostalgic. Like a sense of Deja Vu, that thudded in hard when you walk through a place you swear you’ve never been before.
Wemmbu didn’t move, the hand that used to be on Parrot’s face dropped to the ground, fisting the stone. The dragon’s wings flopped like a wet blanket, the tip of Parrot’s arrow head glinting in the sunlight. His shoulders rocked as a rough cracked laugh barked out from him. Starting low with just simple breathless wheezing to manic cackling.
Parrot took a step back, every instinct telling him something wasn’t right. In the way the dragon was crouched over, to the way his laugh wasn’t filled with its usual expression, and how everything was off with his supposed friend.
He requipped his sword, pointing it forward at the dragon. His hand shook with fear of not knowing what the other was going to do next, but he stood tall in front of the other. Not allowing his fright to show.
He stared hard, words too hard to form on his lips.
He watched the dragon drag himself through slow subtle movements. Parrot couldn’t quite make out what exactly the other was doing, with the expanse of the purple wing covering his body.
Wemmbu’s back arched as his left wing shook, the arrowhead that was lodged into it slowly starting to be pulled through the appendage. Parrot watched blankly, the only sign of discomfort from the other being a slight tremble in the wing as more blood seeped from the now open injury.
Then the arrow went flying towards a swift whistle through the air. It was sudden, shooting at him at the mimicked velocity of a bow. The arrow twirled through the air before lodging into Parrot’s shoulder.
It caused him to step back, feet slipping on the uneven terrain. The bird squealed a pained noise but didn’t dare move, keeping his eyes on the dragon, afraid of Wemmu’s next move.
Wemmbu pounced up. His agile body twisting in the air as he lunged towards Parrot. Sharp teeth flashing in a manic grin as he reached out towards Parrot. In his hand a netherite sword glistening with enchantments.
The bird readied himself, widening his stance holding his own diamond sword in both of his hands. He closed his eyes preparing mentally for the incoming attack. Knuckles white has he angled it, ready to parry any incoming blow.
“Parrot! Totem!” A call came from behind him. And without thinking twice he switched his sword to his totem.
His eyes popped open just in time to watch an explosion pop next to his feet, causing him to fly back as green and yellow light ignited around. Feeling his body physically stitching himself back up.
“Theo! Where have you been?” The smile was heard through his words. His wings flaring, catching in the wind to steady his balance, a new crater in place of where his feet were.
Wemmbu had also rocketed backwards, a bright burn blistering across his arm where the extent of the explosion collided with him.
There wasn’t time for conversation, though, as another giant ring of TNT started falling towards them. The dragon rocket back up to the sky covering them both in a cloud of grey dust. Parrot struggled to see through it, using his arm to keep the majority of the dust out his face.
There wasn’t much time for anything. On any normal occasion he would allow Theo to take the fight, but something didn’t add up. There were things that needed to make sense, and as much as he believed in Theo’s ability to win. Parrot sucked in a greedy breath switching to his shield as the rings of flashing light fell around them.
He didn’t know what Wemmbu was currently capable of.
“Parrot?” Theo yelled, reading his shield.
The TNT ignited, sending them both feet above the ground. The feeling familiar from battles fought with the dragon on their side, as water caught their enviable descent to the ground.
Parrot didn’t give time to ponder as another set of orbital TNT formed above them. He grabbed ahold of Theo’s wrist and redirected them away from the battle, sprinting off in the opposite direction, away from capitol city and the village.
“We need to lose him.” The statement was final in its instruction as he led them away from the incoming explosions.