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They find the others. Or, rather, the others find them. It’s Gem who breaks through the barrage at the entrance of fWhip and Jimmy’s hidey hole. She’s quick to administer healing potions to both of them and redress their wounds. She’s clinical at first, and then when it’s clear that neither fWhip nor Jimmy are going to be dying anytime soon she’s a fretting sister.
“I could hear the explosion all the way in the Crystal Cliffs!” She cries, tears flowing down her cheeks.
fWhip’s heart aches. He’s only made Gem cry like this once before and he had vowed never to do it again. He doesn’t want to see her like this - worried and afraid and stressed because of him.
“I’m sorry.” He says, it’s all that he can say.
“Don’t apologize.” Gem replies, fierce and certain. “Don’t apologize, it wasn’t your fault. You had no idea this would happen.”
“You were just doing it for my head.” Jimmy agrees softly.
“Jimmy,” fWhip tries, but Jimmy looks away and pulls his hands into his lap.
Gem looks between the two of them, a concerned frown on her lips. Then she sits back on her heels, wipes away her tears, and lets out a long breath.
“Okay.” She says, completely composed. “We need to get to Spawn. We always said we’d go there in an emergency, and I’m sure this counts. Can you two both move?”
fWhip glances at Jimmy. The cod nods without meeting fWhip’s eyes.
“Yeah.” fWhip says.
“Good.”
Gem stands up and holds out a hand. She pulls fWhip up with a surprising amount of strength, and then she hoists up Jimmy.
“Let’s get out of here.” She says.
Gem starts marching off and fWhip and Jimmy hurry to follow her. She walks too quickly for fWhip to really think about the absolute devastation that’s wrecked his poor empire. fWhip hears Jimmy’s horrified gasp as they pass through the remains of the Grimlands. fWhip fights to not focus on the bodies they pass along the way. He hopes that most of his villagers made it out alive, even if it’s clear there are casualties.
Jimmy’s hand brushes against fWhip’s - fleeting and hesitant. He glances over at Jimmy and see that Jimmy is looking back at him. Wordlessly, fWhip grabs Jimmy’s hand. The cod immediately turns away, but he gives fWhip’s hand a squeeze and continues to hold it as they walk with Gem.
fWhip’s elytra were burned off in the explosion (and who knows where the Empire Crown went), and Jimmy’s have been horribly mangled. There will be no flying for them anytime soon, so they’re stuck to walking. Spawn isn’t horribly far away, but it will still be a trek - especially for people in fWhip’s and Jimmy’s states.
The healing potions do well in healing their physical wounds, but the body seems to remember the trauma it’s experienced and it always takes a few hours of rest before it will feel in good health again. Unfortunately, they can’t spare that time at the moment.
They’re lucky to make it to Spawn before nightfall. fWhip doesn't want to think about how it would’ve been to fight through the jungle at night.
He shudders.
The other emperors are already at Spawn.
It’s not a pretty sight.
Everyone is scared and confused, and fWhip has a horrible, sinking feeling in his stomach as they approach.
“Jimmy!” Lizzie shouts, breaking away from the group to throw her arms around Jimmy. Jimmy lets go of fWhip’s hand as he stumbles back, hugging his sister back.
“The Ocean’s gone!” Lizzie says frantically. “The Ocean and your Swamp!”
“Wha-what?” Jimmy stammers. He looks at Lizzie with wide eyes.
The sinking feeling in fWhip’s stomach gets worse.
Jimmy pulls away from Lizzie and lifts a hand to his mouth.
“This is all my fault.” He whispers, tears filling his eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry!”
“My empire is gone too!” Joey shouts angrily. “You’re going to pay for this.”
He’s got his bow drawn and knocked before fWhip can process it.
Instantly, Joel and Scott draw their own swords while Shubble pushes Joey back.
“Don’t threaten the cod!”
fWhip isn’t usually one to freeze in situations like this, but it might be the stress of everything that has happened because he can’t seem to do anything but stare at Joey as he threatens Jimmy (who’s starts to sob).
“If you touch a fin on him, you will regret it, Graceffa!” Lizzie bites out viciously.
“Everyone, calm down.” Pixl commands.
They all quiet down.
Pixl inhales deeply. “Jimmy. What happened?”
“I - I asked fWhip to help me get m - my Codfather head back. We thought… we thought that if we could mix cod and salmon it would show that I’m worthy because I’ve brought peace to the fish, but instead it destroyed everything.”
Pixl’s brows furrow as he takes in the information. He turns to fWhip.
“fWhip? Is this true?”
fWhip licks his lips as he nods.
“It’s true.” He says. “But it’s not Jimmy’s fault. We didn’t know this would happen.”
Joey grumbles to himself, but other than that the other emperors seem understanding and even sympathetic. Lizzie wraps Jimmy in another hug, whispering to him as she glares at everyone.
“What do we do now?” Katherine asks, sounding abnormally shaken.
“There is nothing we can do but check on our empires.” Scott says. “I need to make sure that the crystal is safe.”
fWhip thinks it’s weird that Scott would want the Xornoth-crystal safe, but maybe he just means that he wants to make sure the crystal hasn’t broken and released the demon.
“I need to look over the Ocean.” Lizzie says, sounding hesitant.
“Should we check on our Empires meet back here?” Shelbie asks. “My communicator isn’t working.”
It turns out that nobody’s communicator is working, which is both unsurprising and worrying.
“Let’s meet back here in three days.” Pixl says. “If you’re not back, we will come looking for you.”
Everyone murmurs their agreement and they start to break apart. It’s a weird sort of dispersal. fWhip can tell that everyone feels pretty much the same as he does - they want to check on their kingdoms but they don’t want to leave.
It’s… frightening. They’re all frightened, including Pixl, Pearl, and Scott, who are probably the bravest ones here. They don’t know what to expect and they don’t want to leave each other alone.
“What about two days?” Katherine softly suggests. “We come back in two days.”
“That works with me.” Pixl agrees, his voice equally gentle.
Many of the emperors leave after that. fWhip goes to Sausage before he can fly away.
“Are you okay?” fWhip asks, scanning his brother for injuries.
“Perfectly fine as always!” Sausage replies. His tone still holds its signature cheer but fWhip can hear how forced and strained it is.
fWhip remembers, quite suddenly, being in this exact area with Gem not too long ago. They waited at Spawn together for hours after she’d killed Sausage. His body hadn’t despawned and he didn’t respawn, but they’d clung to the hope that he’d wake up at Spawn and it was all some horrible glitch that’d delayed his return to the server.
fWhip’s heart stutters in fear. He doesn’t want to ever be in that position again. He’s not fully conscious as he takes two steps to Sausage and hugs him.
Sausage freezes, and with good reason. The last time that fWhip hugged him had been when he’d returned from the Spirit Realm for the first time. fWhip’s not big on physical affection when it comes to his siblings, but he needs the reassurance now.
Sausage hugs fWhip back and fWhip takes a shuddering breath. He prays to anyone listening to keep his family safe.
“Stay safe.” fWhip says.
“You too.” Sausage replies.
fWhip hugs him for a few ticks longer before drawing away. Sausage’s eyes are suspiciously shiny, but fWhip doesn’t comment on it.
Gem moves to the two of them and hugs Sausage as well. fWhip backs up to let them have their space. He glances around.
Jimmy is the only other emperor left.
He looks distressed and hopeless and it hurts fWhip to see him like this. He moves without really meaning to and hugs Jimmy tightly.
“It’s going to be okay.” He says.
Jimmy sniffles and hugs fWhip back, pressing his face into fWhip’s neck.
They stay like that until Gem lets out a polite cough. fWhip grabs Jimmy’s hand as he steps back.
“I need to go check on the Crystal Cliffs and my dragons.” Gem says. “Did you want to stop by the Grimlands?”
fWhip’s throat goes dry. He really, really does not want to. In fact, he wants to get as far away from his empire as physically possible. But he can’t abandon it now, not when his people (assuming some have survived) need him the most.
“Yeah.” He says, voice cracking.
Gem looks sympathetic, and for once fWhip appreciates the sympathy.
“We can stop there before we get to the Cliffs.” Gem suggests. She glances at Jimmy. “Are you coming?”
fWhip also glances at Jimmy. He wants Jimmy to say ‘yes,’ to follow Gem and fWhip and stay with them so fWhip knows he’s safe, but it only takes one look to know that this won’t be the case.
“Lizzie said my empire’s dried up.” Jimmy says quietly. “I need to go check on my people.”
“We understand.” Gem says. fWhip’s thankful she said something, because he doesn’t think he’d be able to form the words.
“I’ll see you in two days?” Jimmy asks.
“Yes, of course.” fWhip says hoarsely.
He’s hyper aware of Gem’s attention on the two of them and he’s starting to shake as the shock of everything catches up to him, but he doesn’t care. He leans forward and kisses Jimmy quickly.
“Don’t die.” He says firmly.
Respawn may exist, but in times like this it’s always best to avoid death, just in case.
Jimmy nods. He gives fWhip’s hand a parting squeeze and then he turns away. fWhip watches him go, heart pounding in his chest.
He feels Gem’s hand gently grasp his forearm.
“fWhip.” She says softly.
“I know.” He replies. He takes a moment to breathe in deeply, then he shakes off the lingering fear and anxiety and uncertainty and starts walking back to his empire.
* * * * *
It hurts him just as much as before to see his beloved home destroyed. fWhip has to reign in all his emotion to keep from breaking down in the center of it all. Gem stays by his side, patient and supportive.
To fWhip’s immense relief, he finds survivors. Eastvale, while still affected by the explosions, is largely intact and most of the villagers from the heart of the Grimlands have found shelter in the smaller town. Gem continues on to the Crystal Cliffs without him so that he can have more time with his people, but she promises to return the next day.
fWhip spends a few hours taking stock of their supplies and who’s present and still missing. He sets up a temporary council (as most of the council leaders passed in the explosion due to their close proximity to the forge). fWhip organizes rescue groups and people to start clearing away the wreckage.
He does everything a responsible leader should do, and he forces himself not to think about Gem or Sausage or Jimmy.
fWhip doesn’t get much sleep, but it doesn’t bother him. He’s got a purpose and a duty to his people and he’s not about to fail them.
One of the hardest parts is planning what to do with the fallen. It’s Grimlands tradition to have a quick funeral - no use dwelling on things that cannot be changed. It’s difficult to set this up, however, with so many people gone. It sickens fWhip to know that so many of his citizens have died because of his own foolish error.
fWhip pushes aside the gut-wrenching feelings of guilt and focuses on planning a mass funeral for the following day. He needs to think about sending another group into the Grimlands to see if they can find anyone else. fWhip’s also got to worry about his food supplies - most were destroyed in the explosion.
fWhip tells his people of his plans and lets them know they are welcomed to find sanctuary in the Crystal Cliffs should they crave more stability (fWhip never actually talked to Gem about it, but he knows her well enough to know it’s true). The people of the Grimlands are proud and stubborn, however, and they firmly tell fWhip they’ll stand by their emperor in their empire.
fWhip almost cries for the hundredth time.
It’s nearing midday when he hears the sound of rockets. He looks to the sky eagerly, expecting to see Gem. Instead, it’s Joel that lands. fWhip’s heart sinks.
Joel’s not wearing a happy expression.
“fWhip.” Joel says urgently, eyes darting around wildly. “Where’s Jimmy?!”
“Jimmy?” fWhip asks, his heart starting to pound. “He’s at the Swamp.”
Joel swears and spins around, hands gripping his hair.
fWhip’s never seen Joel like this. The clay-man is tense and shaking.
“What’s wrong? What happened?”
Joel breathes out through his mouth and when he faces fWhip again, fWhip can see the redness and wetness of his eyes.
“It’s Lizzie.” He says, sounding choked. “I went to check on her and she - her Council were with her and trying to calm her down. She doesn’t - doesn’t remember anything , fWhip. She doesn’t remember being the blue axolotl - she’s not it anymore, by the way - she doesn’t remember being seablings with Jimmy, she doesn’t remember being the Ocean Queen, she doesn’t remember me.”
Joel’s voice breaks and he pushes the back of his hand against his mouth.
fWhip's chest constricts painfully. He takes a step towards Joel but stops when Joel stumbles back.
“She doesn’t remember me and I’m-” Joel cuts himself off with a dry sob. He shakes his head. “I’m scared it’ll be the same for Jimmy. They forgot everything once before, who’s to say it won’t happen again?”
Something hollow and cold worms its way into fWhip’s heart. He’s out of breath with how quickly he’s become anxious.
“Jimmy’s at the Swamp.”
Joel meets his eyes and purses his lips. “I’m going to go get him. Are you coming?”
“Of course.” fWhip says, without hesitating. “Let me talk to my Council first.”
“Okay.” Joel agrees.
fWhip’s grateful that, despite how crazy and eccentric he is, Joel's a great leader. He’s the Mad King through and through, but he looks out for his people and isn’t bothered by fWhip doing the same. fWhip wishes he could drop everything easily and go and find Jimmy, but that’s not realistic.
It takes a good hour of discussion before fWhip manages to break off from his temporary Council. He explained the situation to them and set up protocols for while he’s gone. He gives a message for his Council to give to Gem when she visits if he hasn't already returned. His Council are understanding, and even worried. It comforts fWhip to know he still has the support of his people, even with all the mistakes he has made.
“Ready?” Joel asks. He’s been remarkably patient for a man whose wife has amnesia.
“Yeah, but my elytra was destroyed in the explosion. Jimmy had my spare.”
“I’ve got spares.” Joel says. He takes a moment to retrieve a spare from a shulker, then hands it to fWhip.
“Thanks.” fWhip says.
He puts the elytra on. It doesn’t fit the way his old one did - it lacks the personalized design and measurements - but fWhip couldn’t care less. He’s just glad he won’t have to walk to the Swamp Empire.
He and Joel take off. The flight isn’t short, which is frustrating, but it allows fWhip to see the destruction of the area around the Grimlands. The Jungle burns as they fly over it, and fWhip grimaces as he remembers Joey’s anger.
“How’s Mezalia?” fWhip asks, yelling over the wind.
“There’s a blumin’ crack down the center of my Matral Palace.” Joel replies heatedly. “Not as bad off as your empire, though.”
fWhip winces.
They fly the rest of the way in silence.
The Swamp Empire is almost unrecognizable. The water has completely dried away and everything looks dry and desolate.
fWhip and Joel land in the center of the empire. fWhip sucks in his breath as he looks around the area.
Bodies of villagers and cod alike are everywhere. It makes fWhip queasy to see it all. The Swamp Empire was already such a small kingdom, fWhip’s not sure anyone survived.
“Jimmy,” he thinks, “I’m so sorry.”
“Jimmy!” Joel shouts, looking around. “Where are you, lad?”
“Jimmy?” fWhip joins in as he raises his voice. He and Joel split in opposite directions, both in search of the cod.
“Jimmy!” fWhip yells. “Come on, buddy, now’s not the time to be hiding.”
His stomach is clenching and heart is racing as he checks through every building and every nook and cranny. There is no sign of Jimmy.
“Jimmy!” fWhip calls again, his pitch rising in desperation. “Jimmy!”
He comes to the last building - the Cod Church.
fWhip hesitates at the door. Then he straightens his shoulders and goes inside. A chill runs down his spine instantly and the air seems to shift. He sucks in his breath. He catches the whispers of something, but he can’t make out what.
fWhip’s blood goes cold when he sees it. Numbly, he stumbles towards the front of the church.
The Codhead rests on the Altar.
It stares at fWhip with its blank, beady eyes, almost like it’s mocking fWhip.
fWhip knows exactly how much it means to Jimmy. He knows that Jimmy cares for it far more than he should, and not because it helps him to breathe but because he thinks that it is proof that he is worthy.
fWhip knows what the Head means to Jimmy, and yet he can’t help but hate it at that moment. It’s like it’s taunting him, reminding him of everything that’s happened, telling fWhip that maybe if he’d been able to convince Jimmy that the Head doesn’t mark his value then they wouldn’t be in this predicament.
fWhip despises that head.
And yet, he picks it up with extreme caution. It stares at fWhip, its eyes gleaming in the light.
“fWhip?”
fWhip jumps at Joel’s voice and whirls around.
The other man stands at the entrance of the church. His eyes widen when they catch sight of the object in fWhip’s hands.
“Is that…” Joel trails off.
fWhip swallows.
“Jimmy’s gone.”