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“Can I ask you a question?”
“Yeah?”
“What happened to us?”
Illumina opens his eyes and the universe shows itself to Fruitberries. The latter frowns as he stares into the eyes of a god.
“I don’t.. know what you mean, Fruit,” Illumina speaks, his voice echoing through the void. It rings of church bells signaling death and foreboding war drums. “Nothing happened.”
Fruit inhales sharply, biting down on his lower lip. “How can you say that?”
“Say what?” Illumina asks calmly, his hair wispy as it floated around his head. “Nothing has happened, Fruit,” he smiles and the universe squints. “You’re still my best friend.”
Fruitberries had just slain the ender dragon once again, a copy of the mother across all speedrun worlds that eventually led back to Mojang’s End. It was here, in this lifeless, monotonous void that the universe resided, ready to greet those runners who accomplished what few could do.
It was the only way Fruitberries could see Illumina anymore.
He had watched Illumina fight ender dragon after ender dragon. He had watched Illumina equip wings and fly across the seven oceans. He had watched Illumina dive into lava, swim across swamps, and raid villages. He had watched Illumina succeed and he had watched Illumina fail.
“Illumina, Illumina, stay with me, please,” Fruit begged, tears in his eyes as he shook the man in his arms. “Stay awake.”
The wither skeleton had left nothing but a pile of coal and bones, a tooth left among the drops. Still, Fruit hadn’t been quick enough to disarm the skeleton to protect Illumina, whose back had turned for a split second.
The bloodied iron sword was still impaled through the runner’s abdomen, soaking his stealth suit a darker gray with a hint of crimson in it. Illumina’s fingers methodically tapped against the sharp end of the blade that came out his front, eyelids heavy as he stared up at the ceiling. Black was turning his veins into charcoal, paling his skin before ruining it with wither poisoning.
“Illumina, please,” Fruit whispered before choking on a sob, hugging the older man to his chest. “Oh my gods.”
Illumina coughed weakly, his head slowly rolling to rest against Fruit’s chest.
“Aren’t you glad to see me healthy and alive?” The universe blinks before Fruitberries’ own eyes. They used to be filled with amusement whenever he stared at Fruit, or compassion, or even pride. Now, they’re nothing but blank slates of twinkling eyes. “Would you rather me.. dead?”
Fruit grits his teeth and clenches his eyes. He makes an annoyed sound before exhaling. “Yeah.”
Now it’s Illumina’s time to frown. His eyes squint ever so slightly at the facial expression. “That’s not very nice of you.”
“You changed,” Fruit hisses. “You’re not the Illumina I used to know.” Where his hands should’ve been, they curl up into balls. Thing is, he can’t see his hands. All he sees in Illumina and the endless wrappings of the universe. It’s a blinding sight. The credits of that stupid end poem are still rolling.
The universe raises an eyebrow before smiling. His mask is missing. It was never missing, even during death.
“I have changed. I’m a god now.”
“Why would you choose immortality when you were fine a man.”
Illumina keeps up his smile and doesn’t answer. Fruit doesn’t need him to. He’s thrusted from the void seconds later and Illumina says not even a goodbye.
The universe loves him, but Fruitberries does not love it back, and yet, Fruit’ll still go back tomorrow and the day after tomorrow to see him.