Chapter Text
Wilbur froze staring at the corroded walls of Phil’s house. “Phil..?” Wilbur asked. He turned around staring at where Techno’s house was. “Why would Techno…”
Ranboo put a hand on Wilbur’s shoulder. “Do you want to go back?” he asked worriedly. He wanted to go back too. Wilbur stayed silent as he started to run back to where Techno and Phil were. Ranboo watched silently. He was not sure if he should follow. “No.. I shouldn’t… I wasn’t close with Phil…” He shook his head covering his eyes. “I can’t cry…”
It started to feel like the shadows were growing around him. White eyes shined in the darkness. Wind started to blow lightly as the forest came alive. Along with the white eyes came a shining smile. “Ranboo” the smile whispered into the wind.
Ranboo looked around shivering. “Who is there?” He demanded as he spotted the eyes.
“In due time ender child. Just know…. I am watching” The wind whispered around him.
Ranboo stared at the face in fear. He was so scared of who was talking to him. The darkness covered him and the forest. He could not see Phil’s house anymore. All he could see was the glow of the smile and the eyes. “Show yourself!” he demanded as he started to shake in fear. ‘Relax. I need to keep from getting stressed.’
The face got closer to him. No footsteps to be heard. Just silence. Silence in the darkness. “Ranboo… my child…” The wind whispered as Ranboo felt a hand on his cheek. The warmth of the hand shocked him.
“Who are you….” Ranboo whispered leaning into the hand. He felt some kind of comfort in this presence. This presence was familiar, but he wasn’t sure why.
“In due time my child… Be warned… Stay on their side and you will die…” The eyes were filled with concern. Ranboo had no idea what the voice ment. The presence backed up as a netherite sword came in and swiped in front of Ranboo. “what are you doing here” the wind asked whoever swung the sword.
Ranboo heard no response. The darkness had its grip around him. He felt like he couldn’t move. “Who are you talking to?” Ranboo asked
The face laughed as it backed away from Ranboo. “my time is up I see… Soon Ranboo… Soon we will talk again.” The wind raged around the young halfling as the darkness lifted and the face disappeared from his sight. Ranboo felt himself losing consciousness.
Eret ran to catch the falling child. “Ranboo!” he shouted as he dived under Ranboo catching him. “Hey hey wake up Ranboo!” He shook the teenager softly, but it wouldn’t wake him up. “How do I wake him up…. Maybe.. .Techno knows?” He asked hopefully as he awkwardly picked the ender child up bridal style. He started towards Techno’s house.
Wilbur finally arrived back at Techno’s base. “PHIL!” he shouted dashing for his father. Techno was sobbing as he gave Wilbur room. “Techno what happened?” he demanded.
“Bad… he ender pearled at the last second and because of that I lost my momentum and… this… happened..” Techno sniffled, wiping his tears away. He lightly lifted Phil’s corpse off of himself and onto Wilbur’s lap. He slowly stood as anger filled his body. “Wilbur. The eggpire is dead.” He looked over to where his portal is, the voices growing louder demanding blood and revenge. “Not yet.”
Wilbur looked up at Techno confused, “Hm?”
“No revenge yet… but soon” Techno growled and tossed his sword into the ground making it stuck. “They will pay for all they have done. That is utter bull…”
Eret started appearing in Techno’s peripherals, he was holding Ranboo who looked worse for wear. Techno looked over to see Ranboo’s veins glowing bright red and pulsating. “Techno help…” Eret begged. Ranboo screamed in pain as Eret ran to Ranboo’s house.
Wilbur looked over at Eret. “Put him in his bed Eret” Wilbur shouted as he picked Phil’s body up and walked towards Phil’s attachment to Techno's house. “Father… I hope you stay safe…” He whispered, closing his father’s eyes and putting him on his own bed.
Eret put Ranboo on his bed, Techno following silently as his worry grew. “What happened Eret?” Techno asked as he brushed one of his hands on the veins. They pulsed in his palm, It seemed to relax the child.
“I-went to go check on Ranboo because he wasn’t with Wilbur… I got there and ah uh..”
“the truth Eret.”
Eret sighed and took his glasses off as he looked at Techno, “I got there and a darkness was around him. Trying to take over him. The thing with this darkness is…. It’s origins… That belongs to H-”
He was cut off by Wilbur walking up and looking around Ranboo’s bedroom. “So this child… is one you care about Techno?” he asked slightly grinning.
“Wilbur shut up. Maybe he is.” Techno chuckled as he saw 2 cats come running behind Wilbur. They had the tags “Enderpearl” and “Enderchest”. The two cats hopped up onto their owners beds, which gave the small child comfort. It seemed to relax him alot. “Eret continue.” Techno demanded.
“The darkness originates in legends… Herobrine... He is real..” Eret looked down at his glasses. ‘Do I mention…’ he asked himself worried.
“Everything Eret.” Techno stated again, unphased by how Eret’s eyes look.
“Fine fine! I am related to him, that's how I know he’s real…” Eret muttered, putting his glasses back on.
Silence filled the air as Wilbur and Techno tried to process the new information. “You are kidding right?” Techno asked, hoping Eret was playing.
Eret shook his head looking at the floor, “No… No I’m not”
Techno turned his back to Eret and Wilbur, looking outside the window. “This is bad…” He stared out at the land worried. “Eret… are you saying the thing that has been causing this server issues is… a myth? I just can’t believe you yet… Not until I see it. You might be right, you might be wrong. Right now I am going to hurt the eggpire. They messed with the wrong man.” He turned back around and anger filled his entire face. “They have taken to many things from me now. First they tried to get Ranboo. Now they got Phil? Enough is enough. They need to be taught who to not mess with. Are you with us Eret?”
Eret took his crown off staring at it. The silence filled the air for a moment before he proceeded to whisper, “Yes…”. He took a loud sigh putting his crown on and speaking louder, “Yes. I am with you Techno.”
“I have someone who would be willing to join us too” Wilbur stated while pulling out his phone and texting someone.
“Who?” Techno asked as he went to the head of Ranboo’s bed. ‘Protect him’ The voices demanded, ‘Kill the eggpire!’
“Wait and see” Wilbur cackled and hummed the L’manburg anthem.
--
Badboyhalo high fived Antfrost and Punz as they cheered, “We did it!” He hollered, “Philza is dead!!”
The Egg pulsed as it screamed in all of their heads, “BLOOD GIVE ME MORE!” It demanded.
“Who next?” Bad asked as he kneeled in front of the Egg, Ant and Punz following suit. They waited for a response; only to be followed by silence from the Egg. “Sire! please” Bad begged.
“I think the egg want’s us to decide for ourself” Ponk stated standing up and putting his hand on Bad’s shoulder. “Who do you think?”
Bad looked back to think for a moment, “Eret. He is to powerful. He will make good food for the Egg.” He stood up and smiled, “For the egg?”
Ant and Ponk looked at eachother and nodded then looked at Bad, “For the egg.”
--
Thunder struck in Snowchester as Michael looked out the window. “Boo…” he whispered staring out the window worriedly. “Boo late…”
The enderman teleported into Michael’s room, holding a grass block. ‘Do I?’ he asked himself.
Michael turned around and got excited, “BOO!!” he shouted running to the enderman and hugging his legs.
The enderman was in shock, “Not… Ranboo” he struggled to speak out.
Michael smiled and giggled, “You family with Boo. You hold grass like him!” Michael backed up and climbed onto his chair, then started to pat the enderman on the head. “Family”
The enderman felt tears form. For the first time he felt loved. He couldn’t bring himself to do his only task. “What..is...family?” he asked, confused.
Michael made a tiny piglin sound and sat on the back of the chair; being eye to eye with the Enderman. “Family...is… love… Family protects one another” He hummed Mellohi.
“How do you know that song?”
“It calms boo!! Bee hums it when Boo gets stressed.” Michael played with the enderman’s fur.
“Mellohi...calms him?” The enderman asked confused.
“Mhm!Family have name?” Michael nodded and grumbled as he moved to sitting on the enderman’s shoulders.
“...name?” The enderman was confused.
“My name is Michael… Chicken is friend.. Boo is boo and bee is bee who is you?”
“I...don’t have a name..” the enderman whispered sadly.
“Hmm you name… Stanley” Michael smiled on the enderman’s shoulders.
“Stan...ley” He chuckled and felt his fear fade. Stanley didn’t want this to end but he knew he had to do something. “Michael Stanley has to go… He be back though” Stanley put the block he was holding on the floor and put the small child on his shoulders on top of it. “Promise.”
Michael nodded and bounced on the block, “Ok!!” Michael waved as Stanley teleported to Ranboo’s house.
“What do I do” Stanley mumbled to himself as he paced back and forth in the bamboo farm. “If I go back Dream will get mad at me for not doing it but If I stay with Michael… I might be…” He trailed off as worry filled him. “I could just stay here… and visit the child.”
Techno walked down the ladder upset, “Where is that stupid enderman. He is ann- oh there is many down here…” He stared at Stanley for a while. “Nope I am going back up stairs… I have to make sure Ranboo is ok.”
Stanley froze, “Ranboo is hurt?” he asked in shock. “I- I should check on him.” he nodded and picked up one of the bamboo and teleported himself upstairs.
“JESUS!” Techno shouted getting spooked by him. Stanley looked over at Techno and looked down apologetically.
“Boo… hurt..?” Stanley whispered, “Protect boo…” Techno, Eret and Wilbur stared at the enderman in shock and confusion. Stanley put one of his hands on Ranboo’s face while speaking in ender to him, ‘wake up… Michael needs you.’
“You guys see this too right?” Wilbur asked falling off his chair.
“Mhm..” Eret nodded before clearing his throat, “Excuse me?”
Stanley stared at at Eret’s white eyes tilting his head, “y-yes?” he asked struggling to remember the way humans speak.
“How are you speaking english..?” Eret asked
Before Stanley had the chance to answer all of them heard someone speak while walking up the stairs, “I taught it.” Dream stated.