Chapter Text
They traveled for at least half the day before showing any signs of stopping. Tango spent his time watching the scenery pass by, seeing it go from the lush forests of the Avian Empire to the fog filled mangrove of the Evermoore.
Tango got his warning that they were almost at their destination when the forest around them began to slim down and become more barren. There was a slight smell of smoke in the air and the fog around them was fairly thin, lessening the likelihood of them getting lost within it.
Their small string of carriages came to a halt, and Tango’s door was opened. The blazeborn was reluctant to step out, but did so anyway. There wasn’t anything around them other than the thin fog and large mangrove trees. The group all seemed to be lining up and Tango was guided towards the front to stand by Empress Nora.
He had no idea what they were doing.
The portal was nowhere in sight, and yet they were exiting the carriages? They were stepping off the road and heading toward the Evermoore’s fog?
It didn’t make sense.
But Tango didn’t voice his confusion as he stood beside the Empress, instead he just followed along as they began to move forward. Surely they knew what they were doing. They wouldn't just walk into and get taken by the Evermoore's fog, there had to be more to it.
~*~
They walked for around an hour before the portal became visible. A light within the thin fog that guided their way.
Tango was shocked when it came into full view.
He’d seen plenty of illustrations and read many descriptions of it and its beauty. But that was nothing compared to the real sight of it.
The nether portal.
This one stood atop a platform that was about a foot off the ground. The platform was made with some sort of black brick and decorated with bits of gold. The portal itself was made of dark obsidian that shined with the light of the portal, odd particles wavered off its swirling surface. Both were a shade of an indescribable purple.
There were several netherborn guards surrounding it, as if they’d been waiting for them. They more than likely were. Once the group came into their view a set of the guards stepped into and stood in the portal till they disappeared from sight. They didn’t return until the group had reached the platform.
They nodded to their empress as she stepped up and walked forward, and she gave them a small nod in return. Empress Nora then turned her head as she noticed that Tango was no longer beside her.
Instead he was staring at the beauty that was before him, afraid to even step up onto the platform. Through that portal was a whole other world. He couldn’t even imagine what he was about to experience. Tango didn’t notice the small smile that appeared on Empress Nora’s face.
The Empress walked back towards him, Tango too distracted to properly notice. She stopped a few steps in front of him, blocking his view and separating his attention from the hypnotizing portal. The Empress gave him a gentle smile once his attention had shifted to her.
Tango turned his head away rather than return it. This didn’t seem to bother the Empress though, her smile remained as she made a guiding motion and began walking again. Tango only hesitated for a moment before following.
Now that his eyes were no longer stuck on the portal, he could easily see how the guards around it were giving him cautious looks, confused by the odd addition. And he was clearly an addition. His response to seeing the portal and his clothes made it obvious.
Tango did his best to ignore them as they watched him.
When they stepped closer Tango took a moment to take a deep breath. He watched as Empress Nora was offered a hand to step up into the portal, something she politely declined before stepping up on her own. Tango wasn’t far behind.
It was an odd feeling, standing there in the portal. He honestly felt sick, but he had no idea if it was from nerves or nausea as the world around him swirled in purple hues.
Tango probably would have stayed there too long if the Empress hadn't stood beside him, allowing him to notice the moment she stepped out. The blazeborn was quick to follow her, perhaps a bit too quick.
He stumbled out and nearly lost his balance, but was steadied by a hand on his shoulder. Tango hadn’t been sure whether he felt grateful that the Empress caught him or not. But before his mind could decide Tango became aware of the largest change to his environment.
It was so incredibly warm.
It was like being engulfed in the coziest of hugs and wrapped in the softest of blankets. Tango might even call it hot. He’d never felt hot before. The closest he’d ever been to feeling a warmth like this was the few times he’d been in Mezalea, and that didn’t even come close to the heat of the Nether.
The change made him realize just how cold he’d been before.
Tango remembered feeling cold in the beginning, when he’d woken up and the days that followed. But he’d gotten used to it. It had been so normal. But this, this was what he was supposed to be surrounded by. A non-stop warmth that left him feeling comfortable and safe.
It was only after he registered the temperature change that he actually started to take in the world around him.
He was inside of a room made of a sort of brick that Tango didn’t recognise. It was a much darker shade than what the blazeborn was used to seeing. Though to be fair, the only building related materials that he knew of from the Nether were crimson wood and warped wood.
The interior around them was beautiful, as if it was made specifically to impress. Everything seemed to have the smallest addition of gold to it. The room was illuminated by torches on the walls. Torches weren’t common to see in large buildings in the Overworld. The open flames were deemed too dangerous, and rightfully so. Instead many places were lit by magic or redstone, both much safer alternatives.
But of course that sort of thing wasn’t a worry in a place like the Nether.
There wasn’t much in the room, and it wasn’t that large either, but there were a few people within it. Netherborns who were clearly confused by the sight of Tango. A strange blazeborn that hadn’t been with the Empress when she left and that wore clothes that stood out when compared to what everyone else was wearing.
The rest of the entourage began to pass through, making the room grow crowded. Empress Nora turned to him swiftly and made a motion for him to follow, then she opened the door before them and stepped through. Tango looked around himself briefly before following the silent request. It wasn’t like there was much else for him to do.
The blazeborn scurried after her, staying just a few paces behind her once he caught up, his back straight and hands clasped behind him. The halls around them were made from the same dark bricks as the room before, but these halls were more decorated. There were banners hanging from the walls with intricate designs, telling stories that Tango had no hope of deciphering, and occasionally small accent tables that held sculptures or pots of odd plants.
They passed a few staff members in the halls, every single one looked at Tango with confusion and curiosity. But of course they did, how often does one see someone in clothes that are clearly from the Overworld in the Nether?
Not very often, Tango guessed.
So far, from what Tango could tell, clothes made in the Nether were dark shades of reds, yellows, oranges, and browns. And while Tango may have been in brown, he was in white and light blue as well, two colors he’d yet to see.
So if Tango started to walk a little closer to the Empress when he noticed the stares, well then it was for no one to notice but himself… and possibly Empress Nora. But if she did notice she didn’t seem to mind it. If anything she seemed pleased, as if she was just moments from letting out a rumbling purr.
She continued walking, with a soft smile on her face. Each step she took seemed to be made with a purpose. The Empress led him down many different halls that all looked exactly the same, except for small differences in the decorations. It reminded Tango of when he had first started to roam the halls of the castle of the Avian Empire, needing to be guided or he’d be lost at every turn.
But this place was worse in that sense. As if it had been designed to confuse one’s mind.
Eventually, the Empress stopped in front of a door and gently knocked before waiting for whoever might be on the other side. She didn’t have to wait long, as a ruckus emerged from the other side immediately after the sound.
The door then was quickly opened, revealing a demon on the other side. He was taller than Tango and had a large build. He’d be quite intimidating if it weren’t for the smile on his face. His skin had an almost yellow tint to it. It looked rough, like his skin was thicker and made to endure more. That belief was only strengthened by the large patches of black scales, like armor along his skin. He had a set of horns and wore a black shirt with golden accents on it. He had a pair of almost bat-like wings sprouting from his back and his eyes had the slightest yellow glow emitting from them. Swaying behind him was an almost dragon-like tail.
It took Tango a moment to process what he’d said when he greeted Empress Nora. He couldn’t have known for sure after not speaking Netherian in years, but he believed the demon before them had said ‘Your Majesty’ in a bright tone.
The Empress smiled before greeting the demon in return. Tango also thought that she had asked for something, but he couldn’t really tell. Her head tilted slightly to the side as she spoke.
The demon responded with enthusiasm and stepped to the side, holding the door open for her. Empress Nora then turned and nodded at Tango, encouraging him to go first. When he walked in he avoided the other’s eyes. The blazeborn’s body was full of nerves that couldn’t seem to settle.
Empress Nora walked in after him and the demon shut the door behind them. The room around them seemed to be a cluttered office of sorts. There were tall bookshelves that were filled to the brim and a desk covered with different papers that were either a pale crimson or a light blue in color.
The demon then asked the Empress something with a smile, Tango wasn’t sure exactly what. She looked at Tango, a twinkle in her eyes. The Empress gave a small gesture over to him as she spoke. Whatever it was she had said left the demon in shock. While Tango hardly knew Netherian anymore, he had a feeling that the word ‘son’ had just been said.
“Tango?” The demon asked in nearly a whisper, now looking at Tango with shock and awe, as if he’d never expected to see him again. That was very likely the case. And now Tango had to figure out how to communicate with him, a person who had clearly known him as a child that he had no memory of. Great.
“Oh, um, hi?” Tango said awkwardly as he tried to remember how to speak in Netherian. “I- uh, don’t know, the Nether. I- um, don’t know you? Sorry.” The demon looked a little confused by what Tango had said in his stumbled word. The Empress, though, looked pleased by his use of the language, even if it was more than likely butchered.
“I’m sorry,” The Demon apologized gently in Common. “I don’t fully understand.” Tango, while thankful for the switch, couldn’t help but feel more embarrassed.
“I don’t remember anything from when I was little,” Tango explained in an apologetic tone. “So, I don’t really remember the Nether, or the people I knew before. So I… I don’t know who you are.” The demon’s eyes grew disappointed, but his face was understanding.
"Oh, it’s fine. It was a very long time ago anyway. I’m Impulse,” The demon, Impulse, told him. “We used to be best friends before you disappeared,” He explained briefly, unknowingly making guilt grow within Tango.
Thankfully, the Empress moved along the conversation.
“Tango was found by the Avian Empire’s royal family and has been living with them ever since,” She began to explain. “But because of him being unable to remember anything about the Nether, I’d like to ask you to act as his guide of sorts. Take him from place to place so that he doesn’t get lost and act as his attendant.”
Tango felt like he should have been offended by the request, but he knew he’d probably need the help, both the guide and attendant. He wouldn’t be able to take a single step in this place without getting lost and he knew from experience just how important having an attendant to help out with the daily life of a prince was. Just this time he’d be the one being attended too. It was an odd turn around that he decided was better left unthought of for the moment.
The demon looked surprised at the mention of not remembering anything of the Nether and Tango had to fight the instinct to turn his head away in embarrassment. Impulse turned to look at Tango before speaking to him again.
“Really? I understand forgetting a person, but the entity of the Nether?” He asked with bewilderment. Tango just nodded his head as his arm reached up and he placed it on the back of his neck, his fingers finding the clasp of his new necklace unintentionally.
“Well then,” Impulse said, surprise in his voice. He shook his head a bit before a smile appeared on his face again. “I’d be glad to help, as long as Tango’s okay with it.”
The two’s eyes turned to Tango, who was still feeling embarrassed. He nodded in agreement instead of actually replying. Empress Nora gave them both a smile at their answers.
“Excellent, then I'll leave Tango in your care,” She told him before beginning to walk towards the door. Tango’s head shot over to her in shock.
“Tango, someone will get you when your room is prepared,” Empress Nora said as she began to close the door behind her. “Come find me after. You’ll know where I’ll be, Impulse, correct?”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Impulse answered with a smile.
And with that the Empress was gone.
Tango was so out of his depth, completely lost. Sure, Tango had a strong dislike for the Empress, but that didn't mean he wanted her to leave. At least not while he was in the Nether and unfamiliar with his surroundings.
The blazeborn was so shocked at her leaving that he even noticed Impulse get closer.
“There, there, buddy,” The demon said as he patted Tango's shoulder. The blazeborn jumped in surprise at the action, nearly letting out a small yelp in surprise. Impulse chuckled softly at him, and Tango only slightly resisted the urge to join in.