Chapter Text
Fwhip awoke from his slumber to hear a soft moaning sound. Moving from his position, he saw Katherine awaking too. He had fallen asleep by the couch in which she laid for who knows how long. It was dark outside and no one else was seen.“F-F-Fwhip-?” Katherine mumbled.
He looked up at his lover to see her fully awake.
“Oh thank gosh…” Fwhip felt ease fill his body. “I thought I lost you…” He sighed hugging her neck. “Why did you do that careless move Katherine?” He mumbled. A sigh escaped her. “Those skeletons were incapable of being defeated the way we were doing it. They weren’t normal. It was weird I know. Gem would know what they were.” She explained. “I saw that we couldn’t defeat them with weapons and so I knew I had to crush them.”
“You could’ve died.”
“You would’ve done the same.”
Before Fwhip could respond another voice filled the air. “You can go see your sister now Fwhip.” Pearl stood there in the doorway confidently holding her arms out. “I’d say go see your sister.” She said.
Fwhip blushed but then lit up when he heard that his sister was alright.
Katherine placed a hand on Fwhip’s shoulder. “Go see your sis.” She insisted.
Fwhip nodded quickly getting up and running toward the kitchen but saw a empty room instead.
He was concerned for a minute but then Pearl sighed and said. “She’s in a room you doofus. You didn’t think that I’d keep her on a filthy table. Did you?”
Fwhip didn’t know. “Maybe. Which room?” He asked. Pearl smirked. “First one on the right. In fact, the only one on the right.” She said. Fwhip nodded and ran up the kitchen stairs which led him towards the bedrooms.
-—————-——————————
He followed Pearl’s instructions and hesitated as he placed his hand on the doorknob. Swallowing he opened it. There laid his sister laying in bed sleeping peacefully.
Fwhip nearly fell as he ran towards her bedside. “Sis!” He cried.
Of course, Gem didn’t reply since she was asleep but that didn’t stop him from giving her a hug. He felt her bones as relief and sadness filled him. He didn’t know where Scott was but did that matter? No. What did matter that his sister was alive.
She wasn’t in her ragged clothes anymore but in bandages. Fwhip couldn’t help but smirk at her exposer. She had always been one to say-“Chasity is always very important and that is why I never show my shoulders.” Fwhip thought this was funny since all the other girls showed their shoulders. But what concerned him the most was that streak of white in her hair.
The thoughts of Scott attacking her was deep in his mind. But what if it was Xornoth? Fwhip shook his head. He knew he couldn’t worry about that at the moment. Still, he wondered where the others were. He hadn’t seen Sausage or Joey.
He thought of when he saw Gem laying there dying. Thoughts of his mother’s death for her came to mind. It took all of his strength in his body to dismiss the idea of sacrificing hisself for her. Like his mother. But he knew that Gem wouldn’t want him too. He knew it good and well.
Then why was it so hard to not accept?
Fwhip shook his head. Thoughts of his father came to mind. Grief had taken him when their mother had basically taken her life.
——
“Sapphire!” His father cried.
Fwhip remembered that faithful day when Gem was deathly sick. And that night when his mother snuck in and murmured a healing spell. Killing her instantly.
Ferdinand (Fwhip and Gem’s father) had went insane after that and at one point nearly sliced Fwhip’s hand off in anger. By this time Gem was already in training to become a wizard. So when that happened Fwhip had ran to Sausage who was visiting for protection.
Sausage.
Fwhip missed him greatly. His own brother. Despite being neither flesh and blood of his own.
A voice moaned his name breaking him from his thoughts. “F-Fwhip…?”
Gem.
Fwhip looked over and saw her. His sweet twin sister. Awake. “Sis!” He cried. Fwhip was never happier. He thought of when Gem had casted a healing spell on Shelby. She had gone into deep sleep. But something about this was far more sinister.
Nevertheless Fwhip was happy. In fact, so happy he cried out in the ancient language. “Tuum vivit! O vivit! Tuus vere vivit! Quidni, inquam? Nescio quidem quid dicam. Quid loquor? O Gemma! Im tam felix te videre!"
Gem looked at her brother in confusion. Fwhip continued to speak nonsense out of happiness when Gem slapped him. Bringing him back to reality.
Fwhip looked at his sister who had the face of confusion on. “What’s wrong with you?” She asked. Fwhip looked at his sister and just laughed. It had been too long since she had slapped him. He missed it.
They looked at each other for a long second. Then they laughed and hugged each other. “Gem…” He said. “What happened to you?” He asked. Gem looked at Fwhip and frowned. What had happened to her? She had vague memories that were blurred.
“…Scott…” She murmured.
Fwhip tilted his head. “What did that elf do to you?” He asked.
Gem looked away. She had to tell him. It was his right to know. “Before I tell you…what happened to you?” She asked trying to hold it off.
Fwhip scowled. He was angry not at his sister but at the memories. But that made him sad. But then…no…
“W-well.” He said.
“After Sausage did whatever it was that he did. I awoke in the snow. I climbed a mountain to look for Rivendell. Then this is where I went downhill. Literally. I was so angry and worried about you that I didn’t use common sense. And I fell off the hill oblivious to the fact that I had the high chance of frostbite.” He explained.
Gem bit her lip as she heard him speak.
“And soon it got dark and I was still miles away from Rivendell and I had to fight off monsters…soon around sunrise (it was starting to snow by the way) I was losing my mind and somehow I knocked on Rivendell’s gate..”
“Then Joel and…” Fwhip stopped momentarily before continuing.
“…And Katherine.” He said. Gem tilted her head and looked at Fwhip. “Something happened.” She said. “Did Katherine do something to you?”
Fwhip shook his head. He was skating on thin ice. “No….its nothing. Anyway! So then they found me and brought me up to the palace and according to them I got hyperthermia.” Gem looked at her brother in fear. “Are you okay?” She asked concerned.
Fwhip nodded. “Yes. Anyway. Sometime later when I awoke I found out that Jimmy and Lizzie were both ill…” He said.
Gem looked at Fwhip and then frowned. “Oh no! Did they get fishathermaia?”
Fwhip. Nodded. “Yep. Fishathermia alright.”
“Did you give them your cure?”
“Of course. Anyway. Then they told us (as in Shelby and Katherine) about why they were here. Apparently Jimmy said that the elves would know the answer to this winter. Of course that’s kinda right. Anyway then I sorta was forced to tell them what was going on so yes now they know about Scott and…Xornoth…” Fwhip said the last bit gritting his teeth.
Gem frowned as she listened intently. “I see…then what happened…?” She asked.
Fwhip sighed then continued. “Alright, the next part well we decided to go to Mythland cause of Sausage…” He said with sadness. “We were attacked by cursed skeletons and Katherine was injured in the process.”
Gem raised her brow. “Is she okay!”
“Huh…? Oh Kathy- Katherine? Yeah she’s fine. She was awake before I went to see you.”
Gem nodded ignoring the nickname that Fwhip slipped. “Then what?”
“Oh…then I left the band temporarily and I found you in the Mythland’s Throne room.”
Gem turned her head which had been looking at her hand. “So we are in Mythland?” She asked.
Fwhip nodded. “Yes. We brought you to a house so you could rest.” He said.
Gem looked sadly at Fwhip. “Where’s Scott?” She asked. Fwhip looked at his twin and furrowed his brow. “I have no clue. He, Joey or Sausage were no where to be seen when we were looking for you.”
Fwhip then turned to Gem. “Why’d you asked?” He replied. His twin sighed “I guess I have to tell you what happened to me.” She said.
“I awoke in a cell. It was very overgrown and also dead though. But…in the next cell…” She trailed off sadden at the thought. Fwhip cocked his eyebrow. “Scott was there wasn’t he?” He asked.
Gem slightly hesitated but nodded. “Yes, Scott was imprisoned with me. It was very scary….” She said. Then she told Fwhip the shocking news.
“Scott is Xornoth’s brother!” He cried in shock.
“Please don’t freak out! But yes.”
Fwhip tried to regain his posture. “Alright. So, Scott is Mr. Xnor Xnor’s brother. But why do you have a white streak in your hair?”
Gem looked at her twin in confusion. “What streak?” She asked. Fwhip sighed then grabbed onto her hair and gently pulled on it so she could see.
It was true. Gem had white in her hair. She cried out in shock. It was true. She had crystal white streaks of hair. She was ever so surprised. “What is wrong with me?” She asked.
Fwhip shrugged. “A lot of things.” He said making Gem give him a slap to the face. Fwhip muttered something. “Jeez can’t take a joke still ehh?”
Gem crossed her arms annoyingly. “What happened between you and Scott?” Fwhip trying to continue with the seriousness. Gem looked at Fwhip and stared. She thought of Scott. What was that spell that Xnornoth casted upon them?
—-
“O potens Exor, te appello! Hostiam fero si innocens! Sanguis veneficae! Sanguis Agni! Da eam puero! Da eam in elf! Da eam in fratrem meum! Fac ut dolorem sentio! Animam eius da ei!”
It had been what Xnornoth had said. And it scared Gem. She gently translated it and it made her tremble.
——
“O powerful Exor, I give him to you! I bring a sacrifice of the innocent! Blood of the Witch! The blood of the Lamb! Give it to the boy! Give it to the elf! Give it to my brother! Do her pain! Give him her soul!”
“Let me have him. Make him submissive to me. Make him my servant! My servant!”
Gem started to cry. The thoughts scared her. She remembered the pain. The deep evil pain. Fwhip noticed her trembling body and her whimpering mouth. “Hey…sis…it’s okay…what happened….?” He asked Gem sobbed as she suddenly clenched onto Fwhip’s arms. Fwhip gasped in surprise as she did so.
The twins held onto one another. It felt good and bad. It was weird. Fwhip rubbed her back desperately trying to make her feel better. More cries filled the room then suddenly taking a breather Gem finally spoke.
…”Xornoth….h-he….po-possessed….S-Scott…Fwhip! He hurt Scott!” Gem fell into her twin’s arms. Her body ached with pain and she laid there in bandages but Fwhip didn’t notice he felt sadness and betrayal. From what he heard Scott was possessed by the demon and must’ve caused Gem’s pain.
He bit his lip. He had to ask her. “S-so…did-did Scott cause your wounds or did Xornoth?” Fwhip asked.
Breathing heavily into her brother’s arms Gem spoke again. This time a little easier. “Well…Scott and I were taken to the…the… th-throne room….and then Xornoth casted a spell on me…he then possessed Scott and used me as his sacrifice….(more sobs came out) And-and Xornoth is now unleashing the enteral winter…”
Fwhip undid his arms around his twin. He then looked at his crying sister in the eyes. “Gem…” He said. Gem looked up and stared into his purple eyes.
“We need to go…” He said.
“I know…”
“But where Fwhip?” She asked.
Fwhip shrugged. “I don’t know. Your hurt, I’m stupid, and the world’s going to hell. And all we got is a few rulers some I hate- and now we got this demon dude who has a liking to my own sister and is spreading ice all over the world…” He ranted.
Gem gave Fwhip a hug. She rested her head on his chest and he rested his on her head.
“Are we going to die?” She asked.
Fwhip let a tear fall down his face. “I’m not too sure…perhaps…we won’t though.” He promised. “Has he been effecting your dreams?” He asked. “Oh wait…let me guess…he has.”
Gem nodded. He always knew. “Yes, I even saw him in real life when he casted a spell upon us.” She sighed. Fwhip clenched his fist. “Of course, what did that horned red eyed piece of trash do to you in it?” He gritted his teeth.
Gem looked down as Xnornoth appeared in her mind. “Good morning my witch, did you have pleasant slumber?” He asked. Gem silently sneered. “Not thanks to you you devil.” She spat. The demon just laughed.
“Ahh my dear witch, you bring out many surprises, won’t you come after me?” He mocked. Gem narrowed her eyes. “D-don’t call me that.”
“Ahh…but Gem, it’s like you said-a witch relies on demonic spirits while wizards relies on light magic. Did you not just cast dark magic?” He echoed.
“Gem- Gem….hey Gem? You okay?”
Gem opened her eyes to see Fwhip looking at her in fright. Shaking her head she smiled. “I-I’m fine.” Her voice faltered making it easy for Fwhip to tell that she was lying.
“No your not, the demon, he was there. I can see it in your eyes. He just visited you didn’t he?”
Gem clenched her fist. Why did he always know no matter what?
She then gave him a slap to the face. “Ow!” Fwhip muttered unprepared. Gem then looked at him and sighed. “Honestly, why do you always know when I see Xornoth?” She asked seriously.
Fwhip shrugged. “Just can tell, you usually look more scared then when a villager sees a zombie at his backdoor. Asking for a cup of flour.”
Gem looked at her brother and shook her head. “Of course I am. Fwhip-“ Suddenly there was an knock on the door. Gem causally laid back onto the headboard and Fwhip sat up straight. Then suddenly Katherine entered.
“Gem!” She cried running to her in happiness. She then gave Gem a hug and both winced.
Fwhip smiled and looked at Katherine’s appearance. Thankfully now she was in much better condition to the point of being able to walk. She wore a completely white dress with a purple sash running across it. Her hair was down with flowers all over. She looked heavenly Fwhip saw this and it took every ounce of blood in his body not to jump up and kiss her. Even in a crisis she still valued her looks.
Gem looked at Katherine and then at Fwhip who seemed to be staring. Then she realized that Katherine was still injured. So breaking the hug she held Katherine with her shoulders. “Katherine, are you hurt?” She asked seriously. “Fwhip told me that you got injured.”
Katherine slightly nodded not wanting to seem weaker than she was. “Y-yes. I was crushed. Not the most pleasant but it’s all okay now.”
Gem sadly nodded. “I’m sorry about that though. I hope you get better.” Katherine nodded. The girls seemed to have forgotten about Fwhip as he watched them have their dramatic moment. “What about you Gem? According to Fwhip you sounded like a lost cause.” She said.
Gem bit her lip. “Well, I still hurt a ton but not nearly as much as when I first was injured. If that’s what you meant.” She replied. Katherine nodded. It was exactly what she meant.
Gem looked down and saw that her chest was naked with only bandages covering her breasts. “Oh my gosh I’m naked!” She shouted covering her chest with her blanket. Fwhip smirked while Katherine hid her eyes in respect of Gem.
“Your just now noticing they your naked sis?” Fwhip laughed. He thought it was hilarious and amusing that Gem had such an embarrassment. Of course as reply, Gem gave Fwhip a slap to the cheek.
Katherine cocked an eyebrow as she watch this. She thought it was weird that the twins acted like that. It made her wonder if she had any siblings. She would never know for she was abandoned.
“Who are you child…?”
Katherine shook her head then. The memories echoed in her head. It made her feel alone.
Terribly alone.
“Katherine…?”
Kathrine looked up at the twins. Fwhip had a concerned face on and Gem’s was curiosity. Katherine blushed when she realized this. She couldn’t help but admire Fwhip’s face. It was so cute.
“Sorry.” She said. “I uhm-I got distracted.”
Fwhip smiled and Gem shook her head.
Suddenly voices came from the other room.
“Hey Fwhip! The boys want to talk to you!” Pearl walked in. She smiled at Gem and Katherine. “Glad you feel better Gem.” She said.
The three turned and saw the beautiful, strong woman in surprised.
“Oh hi Katherine glad your awake.” She said.
Gem looked at Katherine and cocked an eyebrow. She and Fwhip were hiding something. And she couldn’t quite sense what it was.
Fwhip sighed and nodded. “Alright Pearl, I’m coming.” He said leaving. “Bye sis, I’ll be back,” he said. Then before he left he turned to Katherine who looked at him in the eye. “Bye Kathy-Katherine.”
Then he left. Pearl shook her head. “I should go too.” She said turning.
Then with that she left the room and left to go hideaway from the world.
Alone as always.