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Look inside of me and see that I am not afraid
To walk inside the void like a kid inside a cave
Discovering the patterns of my soul and where it's placed
I've been mapping many caverns but it still feels like a maze
The sun scorched high overhead, dry heat surrounded the tall totem man, his shark genes doing nothing for temperature regulation as sweat beaded along his golden skin mixed with gray scales on his lower half and tail. The tall structures of his home surrounded him, hundreds of feet into the hot air, shining bright with precious metals throughout the huge intricate sandstone builds. The ball of fire high in the light blue sky illuminated his sandstone builds in a bright sheet of light that some even claimed was blinding.
When he spawned on this server Foolish had felt immediately at home here in the desert, sure it was uncomfortable but the sand the land provided gave his overactive imagination a medium to design jaw-dropping builds. Word had spread around the server of the sheer magnitude of Foolish's skill, he was a proud man of what he had accomplished so far. Many visitors had stopped by to see the epitome of his imagination, this world was quickly becoming a favourite of the many he had been to with the amount of free time he was allowed to just build and design. Several names had been mentioned in passing of the other beings who also occupied this server, besides the few people who had already introduced themselves but one in particular stood out to the man when he heard it.
Ponk had stopped by to visit Foolish in the where he had settled, bringing a few items they promised the Ruler to pass along to the shark hybrid that were given to every new world member, such as a communicator and a few other things. It was only a few days after Foolish had arrived in this realm, the Death Goddess sent him here with the help of DreamXD’s power. They had completed the exchange when Ponk mentioned the Monarch was throwing their monthly ball and said to invite Foolish, after all Eret had not met him yet and they were looking forward to it.
Hearing that name had thrown the totem, the same name to a companion from a long ago lifetime in a much different world. Ages ago they had separated due to unfortunate circumstances outside of their control, times Foolish still shuddered to remember. Sides tore them apart and the last thing the shark ever heard was they had died under mysterious conditions before fading into the history of souls long forgotten to everyone but the immortal ones, even after hundreds of moons. Memories worked oddly when your lifetime was in millenia.
The grief then still ached in his heart, they were something extremely special to Foolish, closer than a friend but not in a romantic sense more so a partner to fight the world with or burn it down. Someone Foolish could tell absolutely anything too and with their wise nature they could provide counsel, assuaging even the deepest of worries or morale questions. Eret was the only person the shark had ever been so close to in his hundredss of lifetimes and it was ripped away in tragic happenstances, the most unique person Foolish had ever met, one day suddenly no longer within reach.
The sheer amount of things they wanted to ask Eret if it was the same one as his memories had sent the shark into a frenzy with preparing for the weekend ball. He traded his usual white robes for ones he hadn’t pulled on in recent memory, long green silk outlined by plenty of gold embroidery and accents. Arranging his long raven black hair into a tight braid he wove with beads and chains of precious materials, letting it hang down his back to just above where his shark tail met his body. Placing a simple golden ankh in the hole in his right ear, he took one look at himself in the mirror grinning with those sharp pointed teeth, it felt good to adorn himself with formalwear again. Night-black eyes stared out from his golden face surrounded in heavy kohl, high cheekbones dusted with a lustrous metallic powder. His tail was polished to a bright sheen hanging out from the back of his robes to brush the back of his knees, scales intact except for a few small scarred patches.
That fateful night as he walked into the castle he recognized their architecture right away, the pair of them had a flair for the dramatic and huge structures. This giant castle definitely matched that parameter, large windows and oaken floors bringing together the whole build really well. Polished stone coated the walls with colourful tapestries hanging from the smooth surfaces, a plush red carpet soft under the man’s strides as he walked through the archway to enter the Monarch’s castle. The shark admired a lot of the style choices, drawing some inspiration from what worked well.
Foolish froze in his steps at the view before him, one he was sure he would never have the privilege of seeing again. There was no doubt as he looked at the Ruler, this was his long lost partner in the flesh. Somehow alive unlike what history told, looking as radiant as the day Foolish lost them.
They came into view surrounded by close friends, looking exactly how they did in Foolish’s most prized memories. Eret rose tall and proud above most others in the room; a gleaming rainbow crown high on their head of shoulder-length chestnut curls, matching gold wrapped emerald earring the shark knew well and deep red cape swept after them with a glittering white fur lining. Adorned in a long formal blue dress made them stand out among their peers, heavy silk billowing out around their waist to the floor in smooth waves, the rose red cape a perfect contrast to the sapphire shade of their gown. A statuesque profile he could never truly build anything to match the scale of, they drew all the attention in the room to the Monarch as they deserved simply by existing. They looked stunning, their loud deep laugh echoing as Eret spoke with Ponk and Awesamdude, warming Foolish’s heart as it always did. He would do anything to make them smile, they looked so entrancing and could light up a room when joy glowed on their face.
Taking a deep breath and deciding to just make it happen, he waits to speak with them as they work their way through the crowd, greeting each guest warmly. Immediately making them feel at ease with a gentle smile, they stopped to ask specific questions and truly listen to their friends. The totem’s anxiety grew the longer that he waited, hoping that this wouldn’t cause a scene when they recognised him if they had another reaction then a positive meeting of friends after too long apart. Many scenarios ran through the shark’s head as he waited, shifting from foot to foot as he grew restless.
Finally, they made their way towards the shark and as they did, Foolish’s hopes shattered at the look upon their face. No realisation shone in their pearl white depths of their eyes, no pupil visible in the cloud-shaded orbs that were once was the safest place Foolish could be.
Their deep enchanting tone was a welcoming one as Eret introduced themself as the Monarch of the server. “Hello, you must be Foolish! Ponk told me you accepted my invitation, I am very glad you did! I am Eret, the Ruler of the Dream SMP. I look forward to speaking more with you as I have heard you have been busy building incredible things in the desert. According to the local gossip anyways, I'd love to help if you need a hand.”
Foolish bowed slightly to the regal being, pressing his forearm to his stomach as he leaned over, vowing then and there to never remind them of their painful past. Grabbing one of their lovely hands he pressed his lips to their knuckles briefly which they blushed too before giving a bright smile as they chuckled at his gesture.
“A pleasure to meet you, my Monarch and I agree, we should talk so much more.” Foolish straightened, meeting their white gaze. “I love what you have done with this stone home as well, I always admired it from afar but now that I am inside I can see just how much beauty it contains.”
Smiling widely, Eret opened their mouth to respond when piano music wrapped around the room, interrupting their conversation, a curly blonde teen Foolish had not met drawing alluring notes from the instrument. Offering a similar pointy grin as the being before them, Foolish holds out his hand to the being in front of him.
“May I have this dance, Monarch?”
The Ruler looked surprised before gently placing their hand in Foolish’s outstretched one, drawing their tall form into his muscled arms. Wrapping his arm around their waist and holding out their clasped hands, they glide from step to step in perfect harmony. Even if Eret didn’t remember, the duo instinctively moved with a natural chemistry in knowing how their dance partner was going to step next, gracefully moving with the rising and falling bars of piano tunes. Many times in the past they had to attend events like this to infiltrate and gain information, blending in perfectly with the crowd to glean the most knowledge possible.
Other members of the world had joined them on the open floor, enjoying a night of wonderful music and good companionship. Trading partners occasionally, Foolish enjoyed the night while constantly working out how to get back close to Eret. He had found them once more after years of believing he would never see them alive and in the flesh ever again, each moment away from their side was fresh agony. He never needed anything more than knowing their huge heart still beat, determined to make sure it continues to do so from this moment onwards.
Even though they didn’t know of their shared past, Foolish intended to keep his oath he made to their past self to keep them safe from anything. They were once two ageless creatures who travelled the world together, tasked by deities to save the world from a harm not yet known. Thanks to them, that threat never came to pass as they vanquished the last one aeons ago.
The ending of the ball found the pair alone in the courtyard of Eret’s castle, taking a breather from the stuffy air of a large group of people in one room. Crickets chirped as the pair enjoyed being surrounded by the scent of sweet flowers, fireflies twinkling through the trees in various spots wrapping around a small fountain in the middle. The water splashing was a soothing sound, Eret sitting on the edge of the stone basin of the featured piece in the garden. The cool air felt good against the shark’s sweating skin, the soft starlight causing the Monarch’s pale face to glow.
“I had a good time tonight, Eret, thank you for inviting me.” The shark told them honestly, a kind look on their beautiful face as their moon-white eyes met his night-black.
“I am glad you came, you are very easy to talk to, my new friend.” Eret said happily, not knowing just how much hearing ‘new’ in that statement hurt. “You need to come over for lunch at some point or give me a tour of your builds, maybe both. I would love to see the things you described with my own eyes.”
“Anytime Eret, just let me know.” Foolish said aloud, looking at the one he had so many mixed feelings meeting again, adding softly to himself under his breath. “Always Themis.”
Foolish had no idea what had happened to Eret in the time since they had last laid eyes on each other, obviously something huge besides their clearly exaggerated death. The shark’s eyes landed on the golden earring hanging from their right side, something he wasn’t sure Eret even remembered the origin of.
Foolish points to it which Eret notices, as he asks in an offhand tone. “I really like your emerald, where did you get it?”
Eret’s sapphire-blue painted fingers play with the gem as their face grows thoughtful, voice contemplative. “I am honestly not sure, when I woke up on this server I was wearing it. A few others on this server have taken notice as they have similar pieces, their names are Philza and Technoblade, I don’t know if you have met them yet.”
Foolish had to force his face to remain calm, absolutely having already met them in years past. The Blood God and the Angel of Death left plenty of marks throughout the history the totem remembered, they spent time in different Realms but you weren’t alive for hundredss of years without running into other god-blessed souls occasionally. The emerald was given by the Death Goddess to her chosen, Foolish had given Eret his piece just before they separated for that final time before their ‘death’. Eret had lost their earring in a scuffle and Foolish would have rather given up his own earring then seen them hurt. The shark had written off the piece as lost doing what it was supposed to, so to see it still intact was a sweet sentiment.
“I haven’t yet, I will have to make a point to go around meeting the other members.” Foolish replied, already planning to question the crow and piglin hybrids about how they also ended up here, plus make them vow to not speak of his past to the Monarch.
They seemed so happy compared to those last days of torment, Foolish would rather they live on in blissful ignorance then remember the torture they have been through. Something still seemed to bother the Monarch, throughout the night the shark had observed the few times the proud being looked regretful when glancing at some individuals, there was a story there Foolish wished to figure out.
Looking at the peaceful figure in front of him he decided to investigate that on his own, figure out just what had happened between Eret and the others on the server. The totem didn’t want to ruin the lovely evening of what the Monarch would be remembering as their first meeting, though it felt like knives in his chest when their full moon eyes gazed at him missing that warmth of knowing the other person better than they knew themselves.
I know I'm made of clay that's worn
Blinded by imperfect form
But I will trust the artist moulding me
I am creation, both haunted and holy
Made in glory
Even the depths of the night cannot blind me
When You guide me
The next time he saw the regal Monarch was across the table of the Red Banquet hosted by Badboyhalo and the rest of the Eggpire. Things were going well, socialising and dancing were plentiful as the shark enjoyed time with his friends; Niki, Sam, Eret, Hannah, Puffy, Fundy, Hbomb, and George being the others invited. Then they all sat down to a huge spread of food prepared by Ponk, raising their glasses to cheer for relationships mended. Foolish even had a suit tailored for the event by Niki, paying her handsomely as the final product was exactly what he pictured. When it got to Bad’s turn to hold up a flute, the atmosphere changed from cheerful to dangerous, him declaring the Eggpire’s true plans for gathering them all in one spot with the Egg they worshipped because it ‘spoke’ to them, demanding souls to be paid so its power could grow.
Foolish had been lured into a false sense of security with the fun event and to his horror, the whole Red Banquet was a front to murder them all in a cult fashion to make their false god stronger.
Again.
Foolish was really tired of cults.
“You monster.” Eret, the valiant, brave and selfless being, immediately spoke up after the hooded demon finished his speech. Rising to their feet in a off the shoulder rose-red gown fit for being a centrepiece with chin held high, golden crown with rainbow gems set into the band and emerald earring polished bright to match the gold lining their dress. The Monarch glared at the Eggpire members with burning anger in those pearlescent eyes. “You brought us all down here just to kill us? How could you?”
Bad gave a chilling confident smile, his face relaxed with knowing just how out of place they all were. The event had been perfectly crafted to render them without weapons and armourless, requiring all the guests to check them when they entered into a coat check room now outside the dangerous lavafall preventing everyone’s exit. All were dressed in formal wear which didn’t allow for much movement if they were forced to defend themselves, looking around Foolish wondered just how they were going to get out of this alive. Would this truly be how he lost his first chance on this server?
“The Egg has a demand for souls so it can grow stronger.” Bad’s crimson eyes to match the environment around felt like a predator's gaze, no hint of the joyful demon Foolish once knew. “I believe Eret just volunteered themselves to be the first one we sacrifice. How kind, my Ruler, for you to offer your life.”
Antfrost’s matching crimson eyes shone in excitement, the cat hybrid was also under the Egg’s indoctrination and his fangs were out tonight ready to sink into the flesh of former friends. Looking across the flat surface Foolish was reminded the resistance had planned for this betrayal, springing onto the surface to find the chest he helped hide here. Throwing open the lid he finds it empty, freezing where he is kneeling on the huge wooden table with plates shoved aside in his haste.
“You thought we wouldn’t find out about your back-up?” Ant asked with a cool tone, Foolish’s hope extinguishing realising just how out of his element he now was.
Hannah stood up from her seat with a calm gaze, moving to the side of those with the unsettling red stares. Her rose-red dress hem trailed after the woman, living rose blooms and leaf-green vines themselves climbing down her arms from the gown in the most beautiful accessory of nature itself. Her waist length chestnut hair was pinned up with a jewelled rose clip, the same eager look now on her lovely features staring at their victims.
“Hannah?” Niki asked tentatively, her caramel eyes wide as she looked at the four now standing at the head of the table. She wore a similar dress to Eret’s, off the shoulder with a golden choker around her neck, her shoulder length blonde hair loose in ringlet curls pinned away from her beautiful face.
“The Egg told me the most delightful things.” Hannah told the group, surprise showing on everyone’s faces as no one had suspected she was also for the Eggpire. “Then when Bad tasked me with befriending you to bring him information I couldn’t say no, it's for the Egg’s wellbeing which is my only priority now.”
“Come on Monarch, let’s begin and stop with the stalling.” Bad gestured for Ant to go to their side, they towered over the average height of the cat hybrid in their black heels. Pulling out an axe along the way to the being’s side, Eret’s face remained smooth, showing only the slightest hint of fear upon their features as they stood up.
The shark man’s mind grew frantic, not seeing how they could rescue the one they cared about from a death they didn’t deserve. Desperation can lead you to doing rash things for the one who he never wanted to see die. Hearing about it had haunted him for years, the vision coming would be engraved in the worst way onto the surface of his heart. Standing quickly on the table, he leapt off the side to move to between Eret and the spot Bad now stood beside with a sword at the ready in front of the crimson, glowing Egg they worshipped.
“Stop! Stop this!” Foolish raised his voice, drawing all attention to him. He caught Puffy staring at him out of the corner of his gaze, a look of horror upon his mother’s face.
“Foolish!” She screamed, attempting to rush to his side before Fundy caught her, holding her back from where the totem now stood. She looked gorgeous tonight, it only enraged the shark more about who the Eggpire was threatening to kill.
“Can your Egg withstand lightning?” Foolish threw all his caution away, revealing a power no one knew he had.
For the first time tonight, Bad’s confidence wavered as he looked to the being standing between him and his chosen sacrifice. “What do you mean?”
The shark sunk into his mind drawing on power long laid hidden from within, tingling energy racing down his arms to his fingertips. Lightning flashing as he held his hands out to his side, gathering the bolts into shimmering balls of palm-sized storms cupped in sun-kissed skin. The people nearby look on with mouths open, the totem has not revealed this about himself yet. The only people who knew were not here, or couldn’t remember. Looking at Eret’s face he smirked, reflecting on the long buried memory of when he pulled the same stunt to save their asses from a cult when they had a similar expression.
Suddenly, he felt something else in the room come to life, draining his energy from the air. Struggling to retain his hold, Foolish's skin began to sweat, trying to force his lightning to remain within his will. With a gasp, it snapped away from him, severing the draw with a finality like a well being run dry of a life-saving source. Foolish fell to one knee, his chest heaving, it felt like a physical part of him was missing with the energy depleted. His power had never given out like that in his extremely long lifetime, the Egg had stolen it away through unknown means.
“For a moment there, you had me worried.” Bad’s smooth voice made Foolish look up to meet the eyes that wanted his blood spilled across the nether brick floors. “But then our great Egg proved too powerful for such a weak display. How long have you been hiding that power, shark?”
Foolish sneered with his pointed teeth, choosing not to respond as he attempted to recover enough to face his death standing. That was his last option, this had become too much for his out of practice abilities as a demi-god. He only regretted giving some of his soul to this horrifying Egg, worried his energy will give it a boost it clearly did not need. As the shark stumbled to his feet Bad shrugged, turning his gaze to address Antfrost and Ponk who stood to either side of the previous chosen sacrifice.
“I’ve changed my mind, let’s get rid of the bigger threat first. He seems to have a surprising amount of power that our Egg will benefit from greatly.”
“NO!” Eret screamed, as Foolish looked at the one he worried about the most. Able to fulfil the promise he made to himself years ago was the only relief to his impending doom, giving his life for his partner.
The shark knew he would be back to the server after they took his first chance, on this world it ran in numbers of three. Being the offspring of the Death Goddess allowed him special permissions even beyond that, but he wouldn’t have to call in any favours yet. Worry strangled his throat at what the Monarch was about to witness, plotting to come immediately to their side when he returned to comfort them after whatever was about to transpire.
Ant and Ponk grabbed his upper arms, hooking their elbows around his limbs with great force and dragged him to the spot Bad waited. Standing on either side, they hold him in place as he stares down at the spot on the floor where he would be dying. With a sick realisation he noticed the Eggpire had carved a depression into the floor to catch what would be spilled after doing their ritual sacrifice.
“FOOLISH!” Puffy’s shriek hurt deeply to hear, the pain in her voice evident where Fundy and now Hbomb held her back, anger and sadness on all their faces. Tears streaked down the cheeks of the group gathered in morbid horror at what they were about to bear witness too. “Bad, you better not! You better not fucking kill my son!”
“Puffy, he is going to give the Egg so much with his soul, it's going to be so happy with us it will spread further. You will finally understand what a glory it is to be able to speak with it, the power it can provide by being allowed to run rampant.” Bad sounded insane, Foolish wondered how he hid it so well.
Once someone was this far into this mindset, it was impossible to pull them out. The demon echoed scriptures and demands of cults in the past, when their minds had become impossibly twisted with their beliefs. Foolish’s heart beat faster at the knowledge brought forth in the panic filled moments as he stood here, awaiting his own death.
“Bad, if you dare slay him I will come here with Withers and let them loose in this room, I swear upon the Goddess.” Eret spoke in a deadly voice, their white eyes stormy staring into Foolish’s before flicking back to Bad over the shark’s shoulder. Their deep voice held no room for argument, steady even as they trembled with the adrenaline of dangerous situations.
“Oh Eret, don’t worry! You will be next.” Bad’s reply rang out behind him, a smile clear in his tone.
The last thing Foolish hears is the heart-broken scream of the Ruler, something he never wanted to experience again, before Ponk and Ant’s hold tightened allowing no movement from the totem man. Eret’s beautiful face was carved in pain, eyes widened as they stared at the shark held in place.
A sharp point dug into his back before more force was applied on the blade, slicing through his spine which sent pain singing through his torso, the lower half of his body immediately losing feeling. It erupted from the front of his chest, dark crimson splashing onto the ground down the front of his body as the shark attempted to shriek in agony, feeling the damage wrought to his organs. Falling to his knees while blackness crawled across his vision, then he felt no more collapsing at his killer’s feet as his body gave out.
Since the Red Banquet, he has heard nothing from Eret. No correspondence, no letter, not even a message. Eret and Foolish had talked on a near daily basis before the event, now just nothing. He had to figure out from others that he was the only casualty; Technoblade with his hounds of war, Purpled and Quackity had shown up to save everyone else. The totem was at least grateful for that, his death providing the time for their saviours to get there.
He had intended to talk things through with the Ruler but waited until Eret reached out first, but when there was no message sent Foolish got worried. Knowing them, they had probably holed up in their castle and somehow blamed his death on themself. Their mind would become entangled in thorns of doubt, if allowed to spiral it could bring them to a worrying low. It had been a few weeks since his first chance being ripped away and if Eret continued pushing people away, the Monarch of the server would be left without protection from danger.
Foolish made a resolution, right then and there, to follow through on the first vow he made to them centuries ago when they first decided to partner to face threats together. To protect them in any world they existed in because such a wise individual could provide informed judgement in the Gods place now that they no longer visited their creations was their original mission even if they didn’t remember. Which means this silence between them couldn't continue any longer, not while they were in such a position of power in need of protection just like ancient ages.
Today would be the day he broke that silence, deciding to travel to their castle and confront them about the lack of contact, this time telling them everything if he needed to. Foolish never wanted to lose Eret to history again, his mind being dedicated to staying with them until the very end of both their lives through this world and all others that followed.
With that decision, Foolish took a deep breath of the hot humid air, packed for a few days and walked the path to the Nether portal on his property. This time, he wouldn't be returning to his Summer Home to even visit until they actually talked, no disillusion or dishonesty, just the real truth.
Letting himself be pulled into the even hotter dimension, he sets off on the short journey to the main travelling point. Close to spawn and the original houses on the server, it was built near the Community House, a historical building on the server that was first erected by Dream and his friends when they first arrived.
The dizzying feeling of being thrown out accompanied his entrance as he appeared in the different biome, oak and birch forests surrounded the tall shark man. Eret’s castle was large enough to be visible from where he stood, packing away his weapons the shark began the trek to the gorgeous castle containing his heart. Running into no other souls on the way Foolish pondered just how this encounter was going to happen.
Rolling lawns of green grass blowing softly in the wind stretched out between the grey castle walls and the main structure, a few woodland creatures were foraging in different spots on the impressive property. Eret would be in the courtyard at this point, the shark knew their regular routine perfectly, striding through the main archway to where their pride and joy tended to their gardens.
Their captivating beauty far outshone all the various types of coloured flowers planted throughout their safe space, the overhead sun illuminating the natural scene in front of him. So much love had been put into every square inch of this sanctuary, the being existing within’s passion displayed in visual art planted in the soil around the stone brick water fountain in the middle. The Ruler sat upon a wooden bench, no crown today, only that gold gilded emerald earring, loose soft chestnut curls brushing their high cheekbones as they plucked at a golden lyre Foolish recognised.
Foolish froze at the sight, enthralled by hearing that instrument hum along with the deep voice accompanying it, practised hands strumming the strings in perfect rhythm. It was music that haunted the totem’s every thought, each time he was lucky enough to hear it was a blessing to his very core. Enchanting the very earth itself, Foolish decided to enjoy it for just a moment longer as the Ruler of the server sang to ears they didn’t realise were listening.
I know I'm made of clay that's worn
Blinded by imperfect form
But I will trust the artist moulding me
I am creation, both haunted and holy
Made in glory
Even the depths of the night cannot blind me
When You guide me
Creature only
The morning air was warm as Eret sat up from the soft sheets that caressed their skin, the urge to lay back down and laze around this morning felt intriguing but they had done that the past three days so for motivation’s sake the Ruler should get up. Heavy aromas of blooming flowers blew in the open windows of the Monarch’s bedroom, leaves rustling and birds chirping wove a delightful symphony to wake up too. Slowly their mind became more aware as they pulled themselves from their bed, bare feet touching the cool wood floor as they placed them down.
Moving towards their wardrobe they run their fingers through their curly hair, detangling it with gentle fidgeting. Feeling each outfit with careful fingertips they decide what to wear, pulling on a long shirt with a belt at the waist and a flowing cotton skirt that reaches their ankles. Slipping low wedges onto their feet, Eret left the crown behind today deciding instead to just wear their emerald earring, they felt bare without it. They had no idea where it came from but it held such a comforting presence tapping against their neck, waking up in spawn with it hanging from their ear made them quite attached to a possible key to their past, one of the only items they had from their life before they had no memory of. The finishing touch was thick sunglasses to cover their sensitive eyes, the harsh outdoor sunlight too much these days and would give them a headache after a period of time.
Today was a hot day, Eret noticed, the heat bathing their skin as they strode through their castle halls from the large windows set in the stone. No sound followed them besides soft tones of music, heels muffled in the plush carpet lining the wooden floor. They hummed to themself as they strode the length of the hall, moving to their courtyard to enjoy the weather and settle their mind. Today was another day they had slept in for quite a while, sins keeping them awake, tossing and turning long into the night until the sun had begun to rise above their horizon before dreamland stole them away.
It had been several days since the Eggpire's Red Banquet, when they were in that pit of black stone and red vines enjoying a delicious meal with those they thought had changed. So much conflict, so many painful times, so much regret, it all clouded their every thought and dream. Having this outing was something they were looking forward to to get out of their own despair for a while.
The turn the evening took was not an entirely unexpected one, but the loss that night had been devastating. The sound had echoed through their skull at the worst times, ribs crunching as Foolish’s screams got cut off, the thick liquid dripping to the floor from the netherite sword through his strong heart. Bad’s laughter as the shark’s body fell ungracefully to his feet, a proud man slain in the place of the one who owes the server their soul for a tratorious act that cost four chances on a deadly night.
The door creaked as they opened it into her courtyard, the centre of their castle held a well kept garden surrounding a fountain. Eret had spent hours out in most weather to arrange the garden how they wanted, putting so much love into each plant they nurtured. They had done a lot of trading and negotiating to get the species they desired from people’s travels, perfecting a mini climate to grow any hardiness zone of plant type in. Awesamdude took their commission for the finishing touch on their safe place, a retractable glass pane to protect the garden from the outside on stormy or snowy days.
Before they left their room they had picked up their lyre, intending to spend some time lost in the lullabies of times long past. Eret didn't remember when they learned how to play, but the instrument felt as natural as if it was a part of their very soul. Placing the stringed lyre beside them for a moment, they prepared for something that was now a rare thing in their recent days. They settled onto the bench, afternoon air drifting across their face and tugging at their curly hair, the sturdy bench grounding beneath them.
They took a deep breath of the floral air and pulled their thick sunglasses down, holding their eyes closed for a few seconds to prepare. Centering themself, they opened their pearl white gaze to the garden around them.
Eret wasn't sure when their vision had begun to fade, months had passed since the time they had their first blind spell. When it happened they wrote it off as being a one off, never to happen again. The Monarch had always been prone to migraines and had looked into their symptoms and causes before, though not experiencing that exact one of temporary blindness until then. Going to sleep for the afternoon, they woke up fully recovered and didn’t think about it for a while.
Then it happened again, this time lasting for more time in that scary nothingness. The spells grew closer together and longer in duration, the Ruler grew more worried about it but wasn’t sure who they could trust with this information so they told no one. Eret would stick closer to their castle and work on their museum, spots they could travel easily between because the scenery never changed and started relying more on touch to navigate.
They got by with memorising familiar rooms, carefully following footfalls when around friends and in the darkest of nights, grieving for their devastating loss. No one knew of their Monarch’s plight.
After that night Foolish died for them, their sight declined with more intensity. Soon, they spent more time in blackness than light, their vision disappearing for hours at a time in the days that followed. Eret had grown terrified they were losing their vision all together and had shut themselves in their castle for the past week, reaching out to no one.
The feelings Foolish evoked meant he was out of the question to turn too for help and they didn’t want to bother Niki with their concerns as she was still recovering from the Banquet. It had been a final nail in the coffin for her for some relationships, the woman had grown much more reserved from what she was like in the past. Eret hadn’t seen her in a while, she would send letters through Philza’s crows but had still not revealed where she was living. Most days Eret would bring the letters from friends to read in the garden for the precious moments they were able to use their eyes for their intended function.
These days it was only minutes that their vision cleared enough to make objects out, they tried to spend it in their garden to view the bright colours of the flowers. With sensitive eyes watering they would memorise as much as they could view before it faded to an absence of anything visible, just a blurry mess then an absolute darkness. Those precious few moments, while their energy remained, they could watch sunlight prancing across lovely various petals and clouds in the sky, in their little pocket of cultivated nature.
They knew it wasn't something physically wrong with their eyes, they suspected some sort of curse from their past. Legends spoke of the Wither effect, something that would rob a person of their own bodies by attacking nerves or cells to damage healthy tissue due to long term exposure to the demon phantoms. They were too afraid to search, too afraid of admitting their shortcomings to anyone for help so Eret hid it from everyone, acting like nothing was wrong. After all, with their past being more questions than answers, they were very afraid to investigate and find more sins to attach to the chain of ones they committed already. Yet, the questions persist about where they came from with no way to begin the search, it was easier to deal with problems at hand then ones they couldn’t even fathom where to start.
Each day they could the Monarch would visit their garden to see what has grown next and the moment their vision faded they played the lyre until their heart no longer ached for what they were losing. Long fingers plucked familiar grooves accompanying their voice in a symphony sung only for one. The lovely tones rang around the yard to accompany nature's songs of bird calls and water rushing in their own special peaceful place.
As they reflected on this the blackness stole across their sight once more, they took an aching breath and strummed the lyre.
Time slipped away while Eret played whatever came to their fingertips allowing muscle memory to decide the tune, escapism an old friend to many people here. Humming under their breath, it morphed into a tune they hadn't played for months, letting their voice crescendo to singing loud to the peaceful atmosphere that surrounded them. Filling their lungs with air they let their voice fall along bars sung alone for far too many years, many complicated emotions tied to the anthem that was once the battle cry of a nation.
"Well, I've heard there was a special place,
Where men could go and emancipate,
The brutality and the tyranny of their rulers… "
They finished the rest of the lyrics before letting it fade out, once again feeling the stab of guilt that followed whenever they thought of the nation they betrayed, a soft clapping breaking their concentration. Eret jumped at the foreign sound before nervously chuckling, turning their head in that direction trying not to show how much it unsettled them when someone was interrupting their time in the castle gardens.
"Good day, I hope you are well." They placed the lyre beside them carefully, standing up to flatten their clothing down before turning their tall body to the applauding person.
"Hello Eret!" Foolish's cheerful voice threw them for a loop, stomach tightening as the one they really didn't want to hear stood in the sanctity of their special place.
"Foolish?" They stammered out, their surprise showing in their lack of words.
"The lyre is such a wonderful instrument, isn't it Monarch?" Foolish sounding so pleased to see Eret, they didn't know why after what had happened.
Their fingers trailed across their instrument, smiling softly before feeling their face fall, sadness and regret twisting the Ruler’s gut as they ignored his question. "What are you doing here?"
"We haven't spoken for a bit, I wanted to make sure you were okay." They heard the concern in Foolish's gentle voice and Eret’s immediate reaction was to close that down, no one should worry about the one who deserved isolation; they deserved this punishment and more for what the Ruler caused.
"I'm fine." They felt bad shutting him out but they were still processing that night when he gave himself up instead of them, so very confused as to how the shark saw them as someone to protect. Knotting their long fingers together they fidget as their mind races, sent into insane speed the moment they are forced to face the one they had been avoiding.
There was a whole web of emotions wrapped around Foolish in their heart, disappointment in themselves and anger being the two most prominent. They were enraged that they were robbed of the chance to atone for their sins, the blood dripping from their history thick enough to drown in some days. When the ghosts of past memories came to haunt them in the darkest of times, reminding them of what they traded for an empty title; a pretty crown upon a figurehead that Dream saw as just someone to puppeteer. If they could give up all three chances right now to go back and undo that decision of betrayal, there would be no hesitation. So much conflict had happened because of them, the latest victim appearing when they least expected it in a place meant to calm them.
"Eret, I know you." Those words caused their nervous tics to freeze, turning more towards the shark totem again. "Why are you upset?"
Those words stuck in their brain, still not used to being read so easily. It's why they kept Foolish at a distance this past little while, the familiarity they had between them scared Eret to death that he’d know something is wrong right away. To all others the Monarch could keep a mask up, impenetrable to all who attempted to guess their feelings even in the roughest of times but Foolish could still read it as though he had browsed the book a thousand times.
Everyone kept Eret far away, other than Niki no one came to visit besides when they needed something only the royal being could provide. Whether it be title or past actions, no one was in regular contact with the Ruler. Everyone was too caught up in their own pursuits and futures or barred by the past action they committed to gain their ruling position.
Besides Foolish. The moment he showed up it felt like all the walls they constructed of obsidian around their soul were knocked down in an instant. Eret felt like they had known the shark forever, an easy chemistry between the pair in the many times they spent time together.
"Eret, just tell me." Foolish confirmed his voice closer than they realised, the Monarch jumping at the proximity. They attempted to step back panicking, stumbling into the bench. They sat down hard, pulling their lyre to their chest for a grounding item as they faced what the Monarch had been avoiding.
"How do you know me so well?" They must have surprised them both with how quiet Foolish grew after that question. “It’s not just since you came to my ball, we just seem to connect in a very rare way that feels intimate. It’s like you know everything about me, you feel like a confidant I have known since I was a babe. Yet I have no knowledge of how I ended up on this server or what came before, it’s just blank. It’s unlikely, but do you know where I came from before this world?”
The garden's symphony grows in the silence before they feel him sit heavily beside, leaving a bit of space before taking a deep breath.
"I think we have a lot to talk about, my old friend." Eret loosened their grip on their lyre, dropping one hand to between them.
Foolish laid his on top tentatively, before leaving it there when they didn't pull away, embarrassed at their near fall and anxious energy skittering across their skin. They would let him in for just this moment cause they needed a steady person while their world collapsed from under them, judging by how contemplative Foolish had gone.
"Tell me everything." Eret commanded, hearing Foolish give a low chuckle at their tone.
“You don’t have anywhere to go, my Monarch?” Foolish asked, Eret cocked an eyebrow in the direction of his voice.
“Do you really think I have anything as important as figuring out my past?”
“You are right, you need to know.” Taking a few moments to gather himself, he begins to speak.
Look inside my heart and find a perilous ravine
Carved within the beauty, the darkness in between
Standing in the balance of complete and incomplete
I identify the echo of what is and what will be
“We first met about around a thousand years ago, when I was travelling between different worlds hunting a cult of Wither worshippers who were raising the phantoms and setting them loose on towns in a sort of ‘cleansing ritual’...”
Foolish started to explain, drawing on memories that came easily to his grasp, treasured moments in time when his life changed for the better even in the midst of disorder.
The Death Goddess had given him the quest of hunting down different sects of this new cult and wiping them from existence, she was unable to go to an alive realm so as her son, the totem was trusted with the task. The first few hundred years of his life were dedicated to this; this cult was a rogue offshoot of another religion who worshipped the Death Goddess but their beliefs centred around the phantoms themselves. After herself, the Blood God and the Angel of Death created the unstable souls for pure destruction to lead their armies in the wars they waged; some with warped ideals saw them and dedicated their lives to spreading their chaos further than a battlefield.
The Emerald Duo were off dealing with other problems so the demi-god volunteered to track them, needing to get out of the realm his mother lived in. It would be his first proper outing since his birth, the Death Goddess was concerned but waved him off with a smile, making him promise to send a crow if he needed help to call for backup. They didn’t know too much about these cults other than what her crows told her, they would wipe out entire town populations within a night from dusk to dawn, releasing one of the Withers to wreak havoc on peaceful cities.
The moment he arrived with the combined power of his mother and DreamXD’s inherited one, he began to track this cult through the horrific path they left. The Death Goddess had sent him just after the night of no moon, informing the shark they performed their rituals on nights of a full one. The totem made his way through a few towns before actually catching sight of one of the members when they visited their chosen victims, scoping the place out.
They wore long black cloaks, able to cover the greying skin that was a telltale marker of being a part of one of these groups. Choosing to come into towns more at night when it's easier to hide the pallor of their flesh, Foolish noticed they would make frequent visits to bring large amounts of food and supplies to the travelling group. Setting up camp near the town they chose to make their intended target, the shark followed suit in a place he could keep easy watch.
The totem was excited, it was his first real mission. Often practising his lightning abilities during the day, he would observe the camp at night to keep track of their activities. Sure, he didn’t get much sleep but this was important!
One of the main things that stuck out to the shark while he did his spying was there was a large pitch-black tent with deep purple accents in the middle of all the smaller ones. Very few people actually went in there and if they did they left behind adoring members outside, meaning the elders were the only ones who went in. The higher up members of the order were easy to tell, the more affected by the Wither you were the more holy the group saw you and would crowd around your every move. The effect seemed to show in other gruesome ways unique to each individual but the common affliction was gray skin, nearly to dark smoke shades on some.
The moon began to wax when Foolish decided to sneak into the main tent, far too curious about what they were protecting. Waiting for the party to leave to travel to the nearby town for supplies, he hid nearby the encampment planning to make his way to the back of the tent and slice his way through the fabric wall. A few days ago one of the cult worshippers had gone to wash themselves in the pond and Foolish had stolen their robes, planning to just walk right up to the main tent in a disguise.
Eventually, after a loud argument, a good amount of the cult left the area to go to town, posting a few guards who quickly grew lazy with their watches. The shark had been sure no one bothered them as he staked them out, letting them relax their perception until he worked out a way inside their walls. It wasn’t a difficult task, besides a few rogue travellers that he directed away from the encampment, the cult had set up in a pretty sheltered forest.
Draping himself in the heavy black cloak, letting the hood fall far down his face to hide his golden skin, he waits for the members left to gather around the main campfire. When the laughter grew loud while they goofed off the shark made his move, breaking the fenceline to stride over to the back of the tent with purposeful strides. Peeking around, noticing no one in sight, he draws his sword from a glowing inventory and slices down the tent wall, breaking into the structure.
Pulling open the new entrance he made he had to muffle a scream at the unsettling sight inside; Wither skulls with empty eyes were scattered throughout the unfurnished area, some even hanging from the ceiling rods with rope. The most shocking thing inside was the handsome human chained down in their midst, an iron ankle shackle leading back to the main tent pole made of metal.
Draped in similar clothes to the ones outdoors but they also wore a blackened crown of Wither roses over bark-brown curls with coal-shaded dust brushed around their startling white eyes lacking iries, smooth and iridescent like pearls. Their high cheekbones were too prominent to be healthy, sunken gaze haunted as they stared at the shark hybrid with a scared look.
Not expecting a person, Foolish holds up his hands after placing his sword back in storage, wondering why the hell these cultists had kidnapped a living being. The person was adorned in all the valuables the worshippers had, precious jewels hanging from various points on them, all colours of gems throughout. Hoping this person doesn’t scream for help, Foolish places his finger over his lips gesturing to them to stay quiet.
Those moon eyes narrowed as they glared at the intruder, before their shoulders dropped a small amount, giving in. A deep voice that would become his lullaby spoke quietly, gravelly from lack of use.
“Who are you?”
“My name is Foolish, I am here to stop the cult!”
The being proceeded to raise an eyebrow while staring at the demi-god, making him wonder why this brunette wasn’t ecstatic that someone friendly arrived and felt rather intimidated by their glare.
“Alright and how exactly do you plan to do that?”
Foolish opened his mouth to explain before falling short, realising beyond getting into the camp he had no clear idea on how to even stop the ritual from happening. Surprising the shark again they let out a rumbling chuckle, a small smile breaking out across their face.
“Dear boy, who even sent you to do this or did you stumble onto this all on your own?”
“The Death Goddess did!” Foolish explained, to which the person shook their head in disbelief after that statement.
“The Gods left these planes many years ago, the cult you have broken into prefers the deadly phantoms of the Goddess’s army over anything else.” Staring off over the shark’s shoulder, they got lost in their own thoughts while still speaking softly. “They intend to raise a Wither to send upon my hometown to cleanse it from this world, the worshippers don’t agree with our primary religion being the Death Goddess herself and not the uncontrollable phantoms.”
Foolish felt his concern grow, knowing through stories just how much damage a loose Wither could cause. The regal brunette met his night-black eyes once more, a sad look upon their face as he asked. “Then why are you here?”
“I am one of the priests of that group and happened to be walking home alone while they were looking for their sacrifice to give to the Wither. On the full moon they intend to slay me to give the phantom enough energy to exist before they unleash the chaos.” Looking remorseful, Foolish vowed then and there to make sure that doesn’t happen.
“They shouldn’t be able to raise the phantoms, only the Blood God and Angel of Death can do that.” Foolish replied, wondering aloud just how they were able to do so. “They shouldn’t have the right energy to perform that summoning, how did they figure it out?”
The being shrugged, choosing to wander back to the other side of the tent while playing with their fingers, chain clanging as it dragged behind them. “I don’t know the extent of how, I just know the others within my religion had spread word about this dangerous cult and we were told to be careful because they took special care to select someone from our church to sacrifice.”
Deciding it didn’t matter for the moment, the shark wasn’t going to let this person die for some insane worshippers to get their dangerous wish. “We need to get you out then, we can plan how to take them down later.”
The brunette laughed before shaking their head, determination shining in their pearl eyes. “If you break me out they will only find another to sacrifice, I am staying here until you figure out how to stop them.”
The pressure of what Foolish undertook hit him then and there, with no plan how exactly he was going to halt this ceremony under the full moon in a few short weeks. The silence grew between them until the shark rolled his shoulders back, meeting their white eyes once more.
“I at least need to know the name of the person I am going to sweep in and rescue on the night of the full moon.”
“Eret. My name is Eret.”
Foolish left the same way he came after a few more comments between the pair, sliding the hood back up high he slips back into the deep forest. Sending a crow to the Goddess with the knowledge he found, the shark man threw himself into how to save Eret and the town they came from.
Another week passed before the Goddess sent back her answer in the form of her two most trusted souls, between the trio they planned how to stop the ritual. If it came to pass before they could, Technoblade would take control of the Wither while Foolish and Philza took down as many of the members as they could. These cults had murdered many innocent people and the Death Goddess ordered them to not hold back, drawing blood was recomended in fact. They angered her with their misuse of something meant for only her God-blessed, she wasn’t known for her mercy if you fell out of favour with her by murdering those who didn’t deserve it. Foolish was a little annoyed that his mother had sent back-up for his first mission but understood the concern, he knew just how out of his league this had morphed into.
The pair arrived in their usual glory dressed ready for anything, shining armour and skills prepared. The blonde crow’s giant void-black wings gleamed in the afternoon sun while the lily-pink haired piglin was more reserved in his appearance, both muscled beings wearing travelling clothes besides emerald earrings and amethyst amulets. Both of them were dangerous in their own right, their reputations far preceded them with entire battalions falling to the Emerald Duo. Techno’s combat skills and Phil’s tactics made them a combination unmatched in most conflicts they participated in.
The campsite of the cultists morphed before their very eyes over the next few days, setting up a blackstone altar where the great campfire was. Between the three people they took watches on the settlement, trading information as the moon waxed. Foolish didn’t get another chance to speak with the one he thought about constantly, worried about their well being. It seemed the worshippers wanted to keep Eret alive but barely and isolated, none of them had seen the elders bring them into the daylight. The only reason he knew they still breathed was Philza had sent one of his vibrant eyed crows one night to bring them an emerald earring the Goddess blessed to only be handled by the ones she named her chosen souls, and the crow returned without it. The Death Goddess and crow hybrid spoke often through the mystical birds, she told the avian that Eret had the earring now and was under her watch.
Technoblade was confident in his battle prowess, a small encampment of weak cultists didn’t worry him. The only reason he didn’t storm them now was the trio were worried they would put a knife to Eret’s throat and threaten their life early unless they backed down. It seems their only requirements were priests of the religion that opposed them, with a church in the city nearby they’d have their pick of new sacrifices.
Plus, Foolish was really worried about Eret which Phil just looked at him with a knowing face every time he shot down plans that might put the being in danger. Making offhanded comparisons to the feelings being similar to how he thought about his piglin partner, the shark would just glare at him and say it was for the good of the town. Even if he refused any plan that would put them in danger, that did not mean anything. The feelings were not anything like how his mother described romantic love but his soul called to know more about the intriguing one who called him out on his reckless actions.
Too soon, it was the night of reckoning, the full moon creeping above the horizon as the stars shone in the black sky. All three warriors had dressed head to toe in battle gear, enchanted shining armour and sharp weapons. Techno had his sword, Phil wielding his bow and Foolish gripping his trident as they walked closer to the camp in the shadows of the night.
The cheering and celebrating had grown quite loud, the camp running high in excitement for the upcoming ceremony. From their spying activities they learned they intended to kill Eret at the height of the moon, before freeing the phantom upon the town they chose to attack. Sneaking to the borders just as the moon was a quarter risen, they settled in to wait for the ceremony to begin. Planning to storm the moment they brought Eret out, Foolish grew antsy at the wait and began to pace.
The crow hybrid kept looking at the shark, they had decided to stake out together because Techno was more skilled in combat and according to the piglin, hearing the shark gripe would have gotten on his nerves. Phil, being the more patient of the pair, told Foolish he would wait with him, the crow leaning against a tree with his wings folded behind him. They stood in the forest just off to the side in eyesight of the black altar, waiting for Techno to do as he schemed.
The activity within the camp only increased as the moon climbed its path to the peak, stars shining above a town unaware of what was planned for them. Finally and not soon enough, three hooded figures disappeared into the tent that held the object of Foolish’s worries. Dragging the tall figure out, they were adorned in glamorous robes of violet purple with Wither roses embroidered into the heavy fabric. Wearing the same crown the shark saw them in previously and now with a gold wrapped emerald earring, this time with slim wrists trapped in thick manacles while the cultists walked them to the black stone slab.
Suddenly, the four people froze, Eret looking confused then surprised, the tall human looking sickly thin under the heavy gray ash dusting their cheeks staring forward at the massive piglin striding into camp. Technoblade looked inquisitive but completely at ease, holding a shiny sword in one hand while all the cultists just stared. Clearly, no one had just walked into camp before during their preparations, especially not one in the shimmering armour with a toothy grin showing off his tusks.
“I heard you ladies and gentlemen were looking for a Wither?” Foolish couldn’t help but admire the piglin in his element, seeing why he intimidated the hell out of some others that had come to visit the Death Goddess. Any man who walked into a camp full of crazy people with a smile on his face was not someone you took lightly.
“Dramatic bastard.” Phil commented affectionately before he faced the shark, a blonde braid trailing down from behind his left ear with two beads attached at the end, lily pink and grass green. “Wait for the right moment and then get them out of here, Eret is your first priority we already know. Techno has been planning to give one of these groups some of their own medicine for a while now, I doubt he will even need us.”
Foolish was grateful even though he hoped the Death Goddess wouldn’t be annoyed that he didn't complete his mission. Deciding to worry about that later, he nods to the crow. “Thank you.”
“Anytime, mate.” The avian gripped his bow, slipping an arrow between his fingers from the quiver at his waist. “Let’s go do what she asks and clear out this blight upon the world.”
Glancing back at the scene, the totem noticed that some of the cultists had drawn weapons yet the piglin didn’t look remotely worried. In fact, he seemed to be enjoying himself as they hurled threats at the hybrid while clumsily swiping at him with shaky strikes which he defended with ease. Many seemed unaware how to even hold a blade, making this easy for someone who had been through hundreds of battles.
The trio of elders stuck close to their chosen sacrifice, whispering desperately between each other while Eret seemed to be scanning for an escape. Foolish debated the best way to get to their side when Phil decided for him, drawing his bow to put an arrow through the temple of each of the three worshippers smoothly with perfect accuracy in quick succession.
“That’s for you, beloved.” Phil mumbled which Foolish overheard before he rushed to the tall captured brunette.
Eret looked frightened as arrows appeared in the cultists, stepping further from their bodies while Foolish made his way to their side. The group’s attention had focused on Techno and now the crow avian, wielding a matching sword and standing back to back with his partner parrying blows. The shark tugged the cloak he stole higher and walked quickly to Eret’s side, hoping to not draw much attention, keeping his trident tucked below the long fabric.
As he got closer he noticed just how pale Eret’s skin had become under the heavy dust covering their face and his worry grew. Their sharp features jutted out from their skin, clearly their health declined since the shark last laid eyes on Eret. The brunette was swaying slightly when Foolish finally reached them, meeting their moon eyes with his own, joy shining in them as the being recognised them.
“Told you I’d come save you.” Foolish said, looking over his shoulder to notice the group still converged on the warriors who caused the diversion.
“Do you really have to kill them?” Eret asked softly, face fading to a sad look at the bodies around them. “They are just misguided people, do they really deserve death?”
Foolish hadn’t thought about it from that angle, it confused him for a moment before he remembered the stories told about previous towns they had burned to the ground. “Their group had been responsible for so much loss and destruction, I trust the Death Goddess’s judgement. After all, I brought her Angel of Death and Blood God with me to stop them from releasing the Wither to ruin your city.”
Surprise crossed Eret’s face once more as they looked at the piglin and crow, awe on their face. “That’s who they are? I’ve read so much about their excursions in my studies, how do you know them?”
“The Death Goddess is my mother.” Foolish announced to which Eret’s mouth dropped open before their voice pitched up when they spoke next.
“You are not serious.”
Technoblade slayed the last member, leaning down to wipe the blood off his sword on the black robes beneath him. Phil shook his wings, stretching them out before walking over to where the shark and brunette stood followed by the piglin. Eret attempted to straighten themselves from their hunched posture before stumbling, Foolish catching their elbow and wrapping an arm around their boney waist.
“You okay?” Foolish asked, concerned because their skin was becoming really pale as they leaned into his side.
Techno’s blood red eyes met Eret’s, the hybrid man looking closely as Foolish helped them sit on the ground, their legs giving out under their own weight. The piglin met the crow’s eyes, before glancing back to Foolish. “I think we should talk away from here.”
“I am aware of the consequences of being around a Wither too long if that's what you are trying to hide.” Eret’s usually strong voice was soft, their eyes drooping.
The moment Eret said that, all the pieces connected as to why they looked like a walking skeleton now. Though the cults dedicated to the Wither themselves were a recent threat, many had been misusing the demons for years before that and the illness had been chronicled by other God-blessed souls who were spread out across the servers. The research he studied comes to the forefront of his mind that he had done before setting out for this mission, analyzuing the situation and listing all that Eret would be facing as their body collapsed.
The cultists had kept them trapped with the remains of the demons for almost a month, exposing them and weakening their flesh at the same time. Remembering all he had been told about the effects; the fact that it wasn’t a sudden degeneration, it happened slowly over time as it ate away at muscles and tendons. A few moments here and there, small bouts of exposure were fine but long-term? Senses and entire body parts had been robbed from mortals who went too far with the phantoms, as evidenced by the various bodies around the group.
Foolish glances frantically between the warrior partners who both wore looks of pity, his mind kept trying to tell him what he didn’t want to be true; that they had not discovered a way to reverse the Wither effect. With how long Eret had been exposed, there would be no recovery for them. Many with the effect could live for years depending on how it ate your body, but eventually your flesh would succumb to the slow demise. They would have longer bouts of weakness, increasing in length as their muscles shrunk. It wasn’t contagious if you carried the Wither, the only thing that could infect you were the demons themselves but it was a death sentence once infected.
“Least it’s only me and no one else from my city.” Were the last words Eret said before their body went limp, chin falling to their chest as Foolish pulled their too light body into his arms. Chains rattling from their still bound wrists, the shark hoists them into his embrace under their knees and behind their shoulders, facing the piglin and crow.
“Let’s go speak with the Death Goddess.”
Phil contacted his wife through a violet-eyed crow, a few moments passing before a large portal appeared before them, made of amethyst and cosmic void swirling in its depths. All three of them walked into the space one by one with Foolish carrying Eret, arriving in the Realm containing his mother.
The Goddess awaited them when they stepped out the other side, a bed placed in the middle of the mycelium platform surrounded by glittering space. That hadn’t been there when the shark left, the world his mother lived in would just adapt how she desired it to be. Her throne of Wither bones was nowhere in sight, the Death Goddess herself also dressed down. Her long raven hair was tied back in a tight braid laying down her spine, exposing the onyx bones of her skull where it showed on the left side of her face, the other half being that of a beautiful, tanned woman. Crimson vines climbed from below her skin to overtop the black bones, converging on the Wither rose that covered her left eye socket.
Her lavender eye landed on the being Foolish cradled, a worried look pinching her brow as she gestured to him to place them down. Her dress covered in galaxies was also missing, simply in a long night-black dress of lace with half sleeves exposing her delicate arms. The only shiny thing she wore was an emerald earring Foolish knew well, all people in this room wore one now.
Laying the being he had one conversation with down in front of his mother, he met her eye. “Please do whatever you can to save Eret.”
“Foolish, my son, you know you can’t just demand me to save one particular soul from death, I have a balance to uphold for the universe to stay right.” She reprimanded, already examining them even as she berated the shark. “You are lucky this one has a good heart and I have been observing them for a while. I will do all I can but I cannot guarantee they will never deal with the Wither effect, we don’t know the most about it yet and all we can hope is that if I do bless them to be ageless it will hold off the symptoms.”
Foolish came out of his memories then remembering the timeline he stood in now, staring at the one who he would do anything for who now ruled a realm named the Dream SMP. “So that night, she blessed your soul and when you awoke you seemed to be much healthier. It was a slow recovery while you regained strength but after you did we decided to focus our lives on wiping that cult from history. Similar to the Blood God and the Angel of Death, we earned our own names as ones who struck fear into the hearts of those who wronged the Death Goddess; becoming Themis and their Undying Totem.”
Eret looked blown away by all Foolish just described as he clutched their hand tighter, holding it to his heart where a sword had been a week earlier and Eret met his eyes again. “The night you awoke and we made that decision, I swore I would be at your side until both our hearts stopped beating. We travelled many realms and worlds passing judgement on who the Death Goddess instructed for a few hundred years before she couldn’t find any more cults to send us after. Ever the stubborn one, you refused to accept that we had been successful in our mission done over centuries. The last I saw of you was when we had an argument, you demanded to be sent to a Realm on your own to investigate afterwards without telling me and that was the last I ever heard of you. I searched so many worlds for months, the Death Goddess and her God-blessed doing the same, but no one could find you, you just vanished without a trace. Most assumed you died, some weren’t convinced as the Death Goddess had never heard of your passing but it was hard to find another explanation. After a few centuries of silence, I started to believe the same until I saw you standing in that castle months ago after Ponk invited me.”
Eret stood then after pulling out of his grasp and stood, beginning to pace in front of the bench as Foolish’s worries grew, knowing they just gave them a lot of information. The Monarch whirled to the shark, squaring their stance before asking.
“Why did you never tell me this?”
“You seemed so happy here, I didn’t want to unload years of painful memories that I couldn’t even back up with evidence. How could I prove what I just told you to be true?”
I know I'm made of clay that's worn
Blinded by imperfect form
But I will trust the artist moulding me
In a room that's growing dim
Illuminated from within
The pull of tension's empathy
Eret felt the flames of anger engulf their insides, hearing the shark defend himself from hiding everything he knew about them. They would be thinking about everything they had learned for days, so much to process. Their overwhelmed mind settled back on rage as they glared in the direction the totem’s voice had come from.
“You could have trusted me like you apparently once did that I could handle the painful truth?” Eret felt their voice start to rise in volume, unsure of how they were supposed to express this drowning amount of knowledge they now had whirling around their brain. “Foolish, you have never lied to me until today, I trust my friends tell me their honest thoughts so I would not have doubted you! You never thought I might want to know? The amount of times I have wondered why you felt so familiar to me could have been avoided if you had just told me.”
This is one of the times Eret wished their sight returned, so they could read the emotions on the face of the one they were laying into. With that thought, their ever so helpful brain pulled the knowledge at least they had a likely culprit as to why their vision had degenerated. They stumbled as the realisation sank in, though they had not heard about it for a while no one had ever found a cure for the Wither effect. It was simply an accepted risk for wielding dangerous amounts of power until eventually you couldn’t anymore.
Strong arms caught them, leading them back to the bench as they accepted their vision would not be returning. The Monarch was still angry at the shark but they had no one else to turn to, right now they would take what they can get. Nature’s singing resumed while Eret’s brain observed the realisation from every angle, forcing themselves to accept that one day they wouldn’t get moments of clarity anymore to see the flowers they had carefully cultivated.
“Eret?” Foolish’s voice sounded so concerned.
Eret decided to rip into him later because he wouldn’t be getting away from keeping this secret, leaning into the totem’s side as he pulled them close. Accepting that they just worked together and they could fight later, Eret let themself fall into the comfort of a close friend while they spoke aloud what they had told no one else.
“Foolish, I have been having blind spells for weeks now and I think you just explained why that’s been happening.” Eret felt their eyes well up, tears slipping down their cheeks and dripping from their jaw to their clasped hands. “I finally have my reason as to why.”
“Oh, Eret…” Foolish pulled them into a tighter embrace, letting them press their face into his broad chest. “I am so sorry.”
The rest of the afternoon passed with once partners re-learning to talk, Foolish vowing once more to never leave their side. For now, he understood their reasons for not revealing their new weakness, there were too many beings on the server who would use that against them. The totem told the Ruler they would never be alone again, even if he had to sleep in the garden every night until they stopped being angry, he was staying. That made the Monarch laugh which was his goal, the mood raised as they finally had the open communication both had been desperately missing.
Even in the darkest of times, friends could be the ones who pulled you out, supporting you even when things were at their worst. Maybe it was time Eret let someone in, especially one they had trusted in the past with their life. Now that Foolish knew everything, they could rely on him for support while navigating this conflict-filled server they held Rulership of.
That night, when they curled up in their sheets with Foolish just down the hall in a guest room he declared his forevermore, the Ruler slept peacefully for the first time in months. It was a devastating acceptance that their sight would never return one day but they at least finally had someone to open their heart too. Even if they still had a lot to talk about and questions to share, they finally found each other again and this time history wouldn’t separate them. That was the vow Eret made just before climbing into bed, their heart content with that promise, slipping into pleasant dreams with a smile on their face.