Chapter Text
The problem with having eighteen people following you was that eventually, someone was going to notice.
The bigger problem was that Wemmbu had noticed.
He stopped walking.
Everyone behind him stopped too.
Wemmbu slowly turned around.
There were too many people.
Far too many.
Flame stood with his arms crossed.
Mane was a few steps behind him.
Jaden had somehow ended up beside Rejoicin.
Egg was watching everybody.
Parrot was looking at Wemmbu's wings.
Ferre looked like he was analyzing the entire situation.
PrinceZam stood slightly apart from everyone else.
Boosfer was grinning.
Lomedy had dirt on his clothes.
Wifies had his notebook.
Lettuce was at the center of the Law's growing operation, looking entirely too comfortable with the fact that half the people around him were glaring at one another.
Spoke stood beside Mapicc.
Mapicc looked irritated.
Clown looked amused.
Theo had landed on a nearby ledge.
Wato was standing behind practically everyone, looking increasingly like he regretted every decision that had brought him here.
And somewhere far away, MinuteTech was watching through the End gateway.
Wemmbu stared.
Then pointed.
“Okay.”
Nobody spoke.
“You.”
He pointed at Flame.
“Why are you here?”
Flame shrugged.
“Law.”
“Bullshit.”
Flame's eyebrow twitched.
“You asked.”
“Yeah, and you're lying.”
“I'm not.”
“You followed me.”
“I was already coming here.”
“Why?”
“Because.”
Wemmbu groaned.
“That is the worst answer.”
Boosfer laughed.
Flame immediately looked at him.
“What's funny?”
“You.”
“Why?”
“Because you're doing the exact thing you're complaining about.”
Flame's expression darkened.
“Shut up.”
Boosfer grinned wider.
“No.”
Wemmbu rubbed his forehead.
“Can we not do this?”
“We can,” Flame said.
“Then stop.”
“I wasn't doing anything.”
“You were arguing.”
“With Boosfer.”
“Exactly.”
Boosfer put a hand against his chest.
“Wow. I feel honored.”
Flame looked ready to say something.
Lettuce interrupted.
“Enough.”
Everyone went quiet.
Wemmbu looked toward him.
There it was again.
That voice.
Not loud.
Not angry.
Just certain.
The kind of voice that assumed people would listen because the person speaking had already decided they should.
Lettuce looked at the entire group.
“The Law has been expanding for weeks.”
His gaze swept across the gathered players.
“Territories are changing. Alliances are changing. People are choosing sides.”
He looked at Wemmbu.
“And you're standing in the middle of it.”
Wemmbu raised an eyebrow.
“I've been standing in the middle of everything for months.”
“Exactly.”
Lettuce stepped closer.
“That is why you're a problem.”
Wemmbu smiled.
“You say that like it's new.”
“It isn't.”
Lettuce's expression softened for the briefest moment.
Then he looked at Wemmbu differently.
Not like an enemy.
Not entirely.
More like a variable he had spent far too long trying to solve.
“You destroy things.”
Wemmbu's smile vanished.
“You destroy civilizations,” Lettuce continued. “You leave. You build something else. Somebody else follows you. Then that falls apart too.”
“That's not my fault.”
“I didn't say it was.”
“You implied it.”
“I stated a pattern.”
“Same thing.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
Flame sighed.
“Here we go.”
Lettuce didn't look away from Wemmbu.
“You don't understand what I'm trying to build.”
“I understand enough.”
“You don't.”
“Then explain it.”
Lettuce did.
The Law.
Justice.
Order.
Protection.
A server where people wouldn't have to live in fear of whoever happened to be strongest that day.
Wemmbu listened.
Actually listened.
Then said,
“That sounds terrible.”
Silence.
Boosfer burst out laughing.
Jaden covered his mouth.
Even Parrot looked like he was trying not to smile.
Lettuce stared at Wemmbu.
“You didn't even think about it.”
“I did.”
“For three seconds.”
“That's enough.”
“Why?”
“Because you're trying to make everyone follow rules.”
“Yes.”
“And I'm not doing that.”
“I know.”
“Then why are we still talking?”
Lettuce's jaw tightened.
“Because you are the one person on this server who keeps proving that my rules aren't enough.”
Wemmbu tilted his head.
“That's a compliment.”
“It wasn't.”
“Sounded like one.”
Lettuce almost smiled.
Almost.
Then—
Egg stepped between them.
“That's enough.”
Lettuce looked at him.
“You're telling me to stop?”
“I'm telling both of you.”
Egg looked at Wemmbu.
“Especially you.”
Wemmbu blinked.
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you keep walking directly into things you don't understand.”
“I understand this.”
“You understand the fighting.”
Egg pointed toward the Law structures.
“You don't understand the politics.”
Wemmbu looked offended.
“I understand politics.”
“No, you understand explosions.”
“That's basically politics.”
Spoke laughed.
Mapicc looked at him.
“You agree?”
“Absolutely.”
Egg groaned.
“You two are making my point.”
Spoke smiled.
“I'm just saying, he's got a point.”
“You're the last person who should be agreeing with him.”
“Why?”
“Because you manipulate everybody.”
Spoke placed a hand over his heart.
“That's hurtful.”
Mapicc snorted.
“She's right.”
Spoke turned.
“Did you just agree with Egg?”
“I agreed with the fact that you're manipulative.”
“You're supposed to be on my side.”
“I am.”
“Then why are you insulting me?”
“Because that's what friends do.”
Wemmbu looked between them.
“You two are weird.”
Mapicc immediately said,
“No, we're not.”
Spoke said,
“We are.”
Mapicc looked at him.
“Why would you say that?”
“Because we are.”
“You're impossible.”
Spoke smiled.
And Wemmbu noticed something.
Mapicc had moved closer to Spoke without thinking.
Not toward the Law.
Not toward the others.
Toward Spoke.
That was familiar.
That was them.
The pair that had been through too much together to simply stop being close.
Wemmbu shook his head.
“Whatever.”
He turned away.
And immediately—
Mane stepped in front of him.
“Where are you going?”
Wemmbu stopped.
“Walking.”
“Where?”
“Somewhere else.”
“Why?”
“Because this is annoying.”
Mane frowned.
“Then come to the treehouse.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I don't want to.”
Mane's ears lowered.
Wemmbu noticed.
He sighed.
“Mane.”
“What?”
“I'll come later.”
Mane brightened immediately.
“Promise?”
“Probably.”
“That isn't a promise.”
“Then no.”
“Mhm.”
Wemmbu walked past him.
Mane watched.
Then looked at the others.
Nobody noticed how quickly his expression changed.
Because the moment Wemmbu was out of sight—
Mane was already thinking about what he could add to the treehouse.
Another room.
More storage.
A proper place for Wemmbu's things.
A place where he wouldn't have to leave.
“Wemmbu.”
Jaden caught up.
Wemmbu sighed.
“What now?”
“Come with me.”
“Why?”
“Because I know somewhere nobody else will follow.”
Wemmbu stopped.
“That's tempting.”
Jaden smiled.
“See?”
“Where?”
“The Great Sea.”
Wemmbu looked at him.
Then laughed.
“That's a terrible idea.”
“Why?”
“Because Flame would follow.”
From behind them—
“I heard that.”
Jaden's face dropped.
Wemmbu grinned.
Flame approached.
Jaden immediately stepped behind Wemmbu.
“Why are you following us?”
Flame stared at him.
“I wasn't.”
“You were.”
“No.”
“You literally walked over here.”
“I was going somewhere.”
“Where?”
Flame pointed vaguely.
“...There.”
Jaden looked.
There was absolutely nothing there.
“That's a tree.”
“I know.”
“You were going to a tree?”
“Yes.”
Wemmbu laughed.
“You're terrible at this.”
Flame's eyes narrowed.
“Whatever.”
Jaden looked at Wemmbu.
“You see what I mean?”
“Unfortunately.”
Jaden smiled.
For a moment, the old rhythm returned.
The banter.
The familiarity.
The strange friendship that had survived far more than it ever should have.
Then Wemmbu noticed Jaden's expression.
Jaden wasn't smiling anymore.
“You okay?”
“Yeah.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah.”
“You're lying.”
Jaden looked away.
“I just don't want this to happen again.”
“What?”
“You disappearing.”
Wemmbu went quiet.
Jaden swallowed.
“I already lost you once.”
Flame's expression changed.
Even he didn't interrupt.
Jaden continued.
“I don't want to spend another arc wondering if you're alive.”
Wemmbu didn't know what to say.
So he did what he always did when something became too serious.
He smiled.
“I'm hard to kill.”
Jaden laughed despite himself.
“Idiot.”
“Yeah.”
“Wemmbu.”
Parrot approached from the side.
Jaden looked at him.
Parrot looked back.
There was an immediate understanding.
Not friendship.
Not rivalry.
Something more like recognition.
They both cared about Wemmbu.
Just differently.
Parrot looked at Wemmbu's wings.
“You're still holding that one strangely.”
Wemmbu glanced back.
“I am?”
“Yes.”
“I didn't notice.”
“I did.”
Parrot stepped closer.
“Come here.”
Wemmbu hesitated.
Then let him adjust the wing.
Jaden watched.
So did Flame.
So did Mane.
So did Egg.
Parrot's hands were careful.
He knew where the sensitive joints were.
He knew how to straighten the membrane without hurting him.
Wemmbu's shoulders gradually dropped.
“Better?”
“Yeah.”
Parrot smiled.
“Good.”
Wemmbu looked at him.
“You're weirdly good at that.”
“Experience.”
Parrot shrugged.
Wemmbu laughed.
“Right.”
Parrot smiled.
He didn't explain the rest.
He didn't explain that he'd begun noticing every time Wemmbu's wings were uncomfortable.
Every time they drooped.
Every time Wemmbu adjusted them.
Every time he hid the discomfort.
That knowledge felt like something he wanted to keep.
Something that belonged to him.
Not because he owned Wemmbu.
Because Wemmbu had trusted him with it.
Ferre suddenly spoke.
“Left wing.”
Wemmbu looked over.
“What?”
“You favor the left.”
Parrot's head turned.
Ferre continued.
“When you're tired.”
Wemmbu frowned.
“You've noticed that?”
“I've noticed a lot.”
Wemmbu narrowed his eyes.
“That's creepy.”
Ferre smiled.
“Probably.”
Wemmbu took a step toward him.
“How much have you noticed?”
Ferre didn't answer.
Wemmbu stepped closer.
“Ferre.”
“You shift your weight before attacking.”
“Everyone knows that.”
“You don't.”
“What?”
“You don't know when you do it.”
Wemmbu stared.
Ferre smiled.
“You also look at people's hands before you look at their faces.”
Wemmbu stopped smiling.
“Okay.”
Ferre's expression remained calm.
“You touch your wings when you're uncomfortable.”
Parrot glanced at Wemmbu.
Wemmbu immediately crossed his arms.
Ferre continued.
“You joke when you don't want to answer.”
“That's bullshit.”
“You just did it.”
“Shut up.”
Ferre laughed.
Wemmbu pointed at him.
“You've been studying me.”
“Yes.”
“At least you're honest.”
“I don't see a reason to lie.”
Wemmbu shook his head.
“Creepy.”
Ferre smiled.
He didn't disagree.
A book slammed shut.
Everyone looked up.
Wifies.
“I have a theory.”
Boosfer groaned.
“Oh, no.”
Wifies ignored him.
“The reason everyone keeps ending up around Wemmbu is because nobody trusts anybody else around him.”
Egg nodded.
“Exactly.”
Wifies looked at him.
“That's part of it.”
“What is the other part?”
Wifies looked directly at Wemmbu.
“He's unpredictable.”
Wemmbu grinned.
“Thank you.”
“That wasn't a compliment.”
“Still taking it.”
Wifies opened the book again.
“Every person here thinks they understand him.”
“I understand him.”
“No, you understand his fighting.”
“Better than you.”
“I have more data.”
“You have notes.”
“Same thing.”
“No.”
“Both of you shut up,” Wemmbu said.
They stopped.
Wemmbu stared.
“Why did that actually work?”
Wifies shrugged.
“Because you're the subject.”
Wemmbu looked increasingly concerned.
Lomedy suddenly grabbed Wemmbu's sleeve.
“Come on.”
Wemmbu looked down.
“What?”
“Farm.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because you always have something for me to do.”
“Yes.”
“That's suspicious.”
Lomedy looked offended.
“My crops are not suspicious.”
“You are.”
“I am not.”
“You've been giving me food every time I visit.”
“Because you're hungry.”
“I didn't say I was.”
“You always are.”
Wemmbu paused.
Lomedy smiled.
“See?”
“See what?”
“You keep coming back.”
Wemmbu stared.
Lomedy realized he'd said that aloud.
He coughed.
“I mean—because farming is important.”
Wemmbu laughed.
“Sure.”
Lomedy smiled.
And that was exactly what he wanted.
Not a dramatic promise.
Not a declaration.
Just Wemmbu returning.
Again.
And again.
Until the farm became familiar enough that leaving it felt strange.
Zam watched the exchange.
She hated how easy it looked.
Wemmbu trusted people.
Constantly.
Even after everything.
Especially after everything.
She stepped forward.
“Wemmbu.”
He turned.
“Yeah?”
“You should come with me.”
“Where?”
“I need to show you something.”
Lettuce immediately interrupted.
“No.”
Zam looked at him.
“Excuse me?”
“You're not taking him anywhere.”
Zam smiled coldly.
“And you are?”
“I lead the Law.”
“I didn't ask about your title.”
Lettuce's eyes narrowed.
Wemmbu looked between them.
“Why are you two fighting?”
Neither answered.
Zam looked back at Wemmbu.
“You trusted me before.”
Wemmbu's expression softened.
“I still do.”
That hit harder than she expected.
Because that trust had been earned after everything.
After the empire.
After the betrayal.
After the prison.
After all the times they'd been enemies.
She could have used it.
She should have used it.
Instead—
“Never mind.”
Wemmbu blinked.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
She stepped back.
Nobody else understood what had just happened.
But Zam did.
Her old plan had become impossible.
Because now she didn't want to be the person who betrayed him.
She wanted to be the person nobody else was allowed to betray him.
Boosfer leaned toward Wemmbu.
“Wemmbu.”
“Yeah?”
“I have a joke.”
“No.”
“You haven't heard it.”
“Still no.”
“You're going to love it.”
“I won't.”
“You will.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
Boosfer grinned.
Wemmbu laughed despite himself.
“There.”
Boosfer froze.
That was it.
That reaction.
That tiny laugh.
He wanted another.
Then another.
And another.
“Okay,” Boosfer said. “I can work with this.”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Rejoicin stepped in.
“Enough.”
Boosfer looked at him.
“What?”
“He's tired.”
“I was making him laugh.”
“He can laugh tomorrow.”
Wemmbu looked between them.
“I'm literally right here.”
“I know,” Rejoicin said.
“Then stop talking about me like I'm not.”
Rejoicin smiled.
“Come sit down.”
Wemmbu sighed.
“Fine.”
He sat.
Rejoicin sat beside him.
No questions.
No demands.
Just quiet.
And Wemmbu relaxed.
That was all Rejoicin wanted.
The realization settled heavily.
If Wemmbu needed somewhere to rest, Rejoicin wanted to be that place.
If Wemmbu needed somewhere to escape, Rejoicin wanted to be the door.
And if everyone else became too loud—
he wanted Wemmbu to know exactly where to go.
Egg noticed.
Of course he noticed.
He noticed everything.
He leaned toward Rejoicin.
“Don't make yourself his only option.”
Rejoicin looked at him.
“I wasn't.”
“You were thinking about it.”
Rejoicin sighed.
“So were you.”
Egg went quiet.
Fair.
He looked toward Wemmbu.
The truth was worse than he wanted to admit.
He didn't just want Wemmbu safe.
He wanted to know who was around him.
Where he was.
What he was doing.
Who he trusted.
Egg had infiltrated the Law in canon because he wanted to stay close to Wemmbu.
That instinct had never really left.
Now it was simply becoming more obvious.
Egg muttered,
“Someone has to watch.”
Rejoicin smiled.
“That's what you always say.”
“Because it's true.”
Spoke had been listening.
He finally stepped forward.
“Wemmbu.”
Wemmbu looked up.
“What?”
“Come with me.”
“No.”
Spoke blinked.
“You don't even know where.”
“Doesn't matter.”
“Why?”
“Because you always have a plan.”
Spoke smiled.
“That's exactly why you should come.”
Mapicc snorted.
“That's exactly why he shouldn't.”
Spoke looked at him.
“Whose side are you on?”
“Wemmbu's.”
Spoke paused.
“...Traitor.”
“You'll survive.”
Wemmbu laughed.
Spoke looked at him.
There.
That laugh.
Spoke knew how to manipulate people.
He knew how to get them to follow him.
How to make them think a choice had been theirs.
How to turn favors into obligations.
How to make alliances out of necessity.
But Wemmbu was different.
Wemmbu didn't respond well to being manipulated.
So Spoke couldn't force him.
He needed trust.
And that made Wemmbu more valuable.
Because if Wemmbu ever chose Spoke willingly—
Spoke knew he'd have something far more powerful than an order.
He'd have loyalty.
“Fine,” Spoke said.
“I'll let you decide.”
Wemmbu blinked.
“That's surprisingly normal.”
“I'm capable of normal.”
Mapicc laughed.
“No, you're not.”
Clown finally moved.
The crowd quieted almost immediately.
Even Lettuce looked toward him.
Clown had that effect.
The King of the Nether didn't need to announce himself.
His reputation did it for him.
His territory stretched across the Nether.
His civilization controlled its resources.
His castle and vault were among the most heavily protected places on the server.
And Clown had a long history with Wemmbu.
Not a friendly one.
Definitely not an uncomplicated one.
Clown stopped in front of Wemmbu.
“You're causing quite a problem.”
Wemmbu smiled.
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Clown glanced around.
“At least half the people here changed their plans because you moved.”
Wemmbu looked around.
“That sounds like their problem.”
Clown smiled.
“Perhaps.”
He stepped aside.
“You know where my territory is.”
“Yeah.”
“You know you can enter.”
“Usually you try to kill me when I do.”
“That was before.”
Wemmbu raised an eyebrow.
“Before what?”
Clown didn't answer.
He simply looked toward the Nether portal.
“If this gets worse, you know where to find me.”
Wemmbu stared.
Clown turned away.
Ferre looked at him.
Clown gave Ferre a small nod.
Ferre understood.
The King had just offered Wemmbu a place inside his domain.
And somehow—
that was more significant than a threat.
Theo landed beside Wemmbu.
“Don't.”
Wemmbu looked at him.
“Don't what?”
“Trust everyone.”
Wemmbu laughed.
“That's literally impossible.”
Theo looked toward the others.
“I'm serious.”
“So am I.”
“You've forgotten what happened before.”
Wemmbu's smile faded.
“No.”
Theo lowered his voice.
“I haven't.”
Neither spoke.
The past sat between them.
Theo remembered.
Wemmbu remembered.
Neither needed to explain it.
Theo looked away.
Then whispered something.
Wemmbu sighed.
“Apparently that's today's theme.”
“What?”
“Everyone telling me they're scared I'll disappear.”
Theo looked at him.
“Maybe you should listen.”
Wemmbu smiled.
“Maybe.”
Then—
his wings opened.
Theo's eyes widened.
“Wait.”
Wemmbu stepped backward.
“You're not actually—”
Wemmbu launched himself into the air.
Wind exploded outward.
Dust scattered.
Leaves flew.
Everyone looked up.
Wemmbu climbed rapidly, laughing.
“SEE YOU LATER!”
Flame shouted upward.
“WEMMBU!”
Wemmbu circled once.
“WHAT?”
“GET BACK HERE!”
“NO!”
Boosfer started laughing.
Lomedy yelled,
“YOU STILL OWE ME FARM WORK!”
“PUT IT ON MY TAB!”
Jaden cupped his hands around his mouth.
“YOU'RE AN IDIOT!”
“LOVE YOU TOO!”
Jaden froze.
Everyone looked at him.
Wemmbu kept flying.
Jaden's face went red.
“I—”
Boosfer exploded into laughter.
“Oh my God.”
“Shut up!”
Flame looked like he wanted to scream.
Mane was staring at the sky.
Parrot was smiling.
Egg was already calculating where Wemmbu would land.
Rejoicin sighed.
Wifies opened his notebook.
Ferre watched the flight path.
Zam followed Wemmbu with her eyes.
Lettuce looked toward the horizon.
Spoke smiled.
Mapicc shook his head.
Clown laughed quietly.
Theo spread his wings.
Wato simply stared.
And then—
MinuteTech's voice came through the distant portal.
“He's heading toward the End.”
Everyone turned.
Wemmbu was already a speck against the sky.
MinuteTech smiled.
“He always comes back.”
Lettuce's expression hardened.
“No.”
He looked toward the sky.
“He always leaves.”
A pause.
“That's what we need to change.”
The others went quiet.
Because that sentence wasn't aimed at Wemmbu.
It was aimed at all of them.
Eighteen people.
Eighteen different attachments.
Eighteen different ideas about what Wemmbu needed.
And not one of them had asked Wemmbu what he wanted.
Above them, completely unaware of the conversation below, Wemmbu laughed to himself.
The wind rushed past his face.
His wings beat steadily.
His body felt heavy.
His head still hurt.
But he was flying.
And for the moment—
nobody could stop him.
The wind rushed past his face.
His wings beat steadily.
His body felt heavy.
His head still hurt.
But he was flying.
And for the moment—
nobody could stop him.
Except something was wrong.
Wemmbu blinked.
The horizon tilted.
He frowned.
“What...?”
He tried to correct his flight.
His left wing responded.
His right didn't.
Not properly.
The next beat was weaker.
Then weaker again.
Wemmbu's smile disappeared.
“No.”
He forced his wings downward.
Nothing.
A strange heaviness had settled through his body.
His arms felt heavier.
His legs felt heavier.
Even breathing suddenly seemed like more work than it should have been.
The potion overuse.
He'd almost forgotten about it.
Almost.
The effects had been there for days.
The headaches.
The dizziness.
The strange fatigue.
He'd ignored all of it because he could still fight.
He could still walk.
He could still fly.
So it didn't matter.
Except now—
it did.
“Come on.”
Wemmbu pulled his wings in slightly and tried to regain control.
The right wing trembled.
Then folded.
His stomach dropped.
“Shit.”
He was falling.
Not far.
Just enough.
Enough for his heart to slam against his ribs.
He snapped his wings open again.
They caught the air.
For half a second.
Then his strength disappeared.
Both wings sagged.
Wemmbu dropped another few blocks.
“NO—”
He forced them open.
Nothing.
The world rushed upward.
He managed one final, desperate flap.
It slowed him.
Barely.
Then he hit the ground hard enough to roll.
Silence.
Wemmbu lay there.
For several seconds, he didn't move.
Then—
“...Ow.”
He tried to push himself up.
His arms shook.
That wasn't normal.
Wemmbu stared at his hands.
“What the hell...?”
He tried again.
This time he got one knee underneath himself.
His wings were spread uselessly behind him.
They weren't injured.
That was the terrifying part.
They simply—
wouldn't cooperate.
Wemmbu swallowed.
“No.”
He reached back and tried to move one.
Nothing.
A tiny twitch.
Then nothing again.
His breathing quickened.
He hated this.
He hated feeling weak.
He hated not understanding what was happening.
And most of all—
he hated that someone else might see.
A sound echoed through the forest.
Footsteps.
Wemmbu's head snapped up.
Someone was coming.
Then another set.
Then another.
Wemmbu's eyes widened.
“No.”
He pushed himself upright.
His legs immediately buckled.
He caught himself against a tree.
“Come on.”
His wings twitched uselessly.
“Come on!”
Nothing.
The voices were getting closer.
Wemmbu clenched his teeth.
He could still fight.
Probably.
He could still—
His vision blurred.
He froze.
For the first time since the potion had been used against him, Wemmbu understood.
This wasn't temporary tiredness.
Something had changed.
The potion overuse was finally catching up to him.
And he was getting weaker.
He heard someone approaching.
It was funny,
it really was.
He'd flown away to escape them.
And now—
his wings had failed him.
He looked down at them.
The enormous Enderdragon wings that had always carried him above everyone else lay against the ground.
Still.
Heavy.
Useless.
Wemmbu whispered,
“...Don't let them see.”
The branches moved.
Someone stepped into the clearing.
Wemmbu looked up.
And smiled weakly.
Because there was no time left to hide.