Chapter Text
"Are you ready to be judged?"
A simple nod without hesitation indicates that they had nothing to lose.
It brought a grin to the questioner, drumming their fingers in excitement as they eyed their plaything in excitement, thinking of the many ways to ruin them.
"There's no going back."
And it has begun.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Haru was a simple person. They will do their daily routines such as cave mining with Liam, having fun conversations with Azelf, or simply gossiping with Hiraeth about Bex's shenanigans.
Although they were a simple person, they don't have a simple lifestyle.
They simply never believed in the "Gods" that Bex had ever proclaimed to be true, as they just deduced the fact it was Bex missing Vivyan. Falling in love was never in Haru's vocabulary, and looking back now, knowing the words Haru last said to Bex in the library was harsh, they never bat an eye back at them.
"Maybe because you never felt what it's like to love at all." Spitting in the facts to his face. It was true, Bex wasn't acting like this because he thought he loved Vivyan, but rather he was obsessed with finding answers. The demon prince didn't even comprehend feelings in the past, what makes this time different? That was enough to drive Haru's gears to anger before storming away.
"Was it because of that stupid dream that I'm becoming even more hostile?" Was their only thought, as if it was their answer to everything that's been happening. Sure they do mean what they meant earlier, but that's not what they're more focused on. It was the weird sudden behaviour in her
With a head clouded with many thoughts in their terrain of mind, they strided to the house of Azelf, thinking maybe it could calm themselves down, but just as they took another step forward, they misplaced their footing to a ledge of a pond, and fell straight into it.
Haru was never one to learn how to swim, so they continued to struggle, and struggle. Calling for help between their breaths, amongst all the intrusive thoughts that came to their clouded mind, one stood out the most.
"Is this how I'm going to die?"
They could feel the energy inside them slowly draining from their will to fight against the current waves. The efforts of calling for help was in vain. This was the fate they were set up for, wasn't it?
"Would anyone ever care if I'm gone?" They wondered to the black abyss coming into their vision, as the water filled their lungs with every ounce of pressure of them, loosing the breaths they held on for so long. FlashesWhat an honourable way to go, without even uncovering their own truth of their dreams.
"Liam... Hiraeth... Azelf, everyone... Bex. I'm sorry I didn't say goodbye."
Their own mind hazy and chest filled to the brim with water, their own eyes fell heavy, the sound of the ripples wash them away, as they've drowned into the darkness.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
"Wake up."
"..."
"I know you can hear me, Wisdom."
It took sometime, but Haru swore that voice was clearer than Bex's whining. Honestly, they couldn't stand it.
Stirring to consciousness, they tried to shot up to their feet, ready to be on high alert, but it resulted them to a massive headache, like their head was threatening to split open the moment they decided to take another step forward.
Hearing the amusing chuckle that rumbled from the dark space Haru had found themselves in, they frantically looked around to find where did it come from.
Sounding sinister to its core, the mysterious, distorted voice let out a giggle, sounded as if they're having fun, before speaking out to the very being in the dark void of the space.
"Oh good! I was genuinely worried that you were in a coma or even a goner! I mean, I did know that you would be able to wake up, but still! I would have been bored to death and back again if I needed to wait for more centuries to come!"
Haru only stood still, confusion arise to their senses. How could anyone be glad about waking up in an unknown place, be so carefree about someone being on the verge of death? Unless...
"Do you even have basic human common knowledge?"
"What kind of necessities do I even need to something useless when I'm not even a living being?"
The rude remark confirmed Haru's suspicion. Finding the voice to speak against the unseen made them sure it's not human, nor sane to a good person's eye. Was this karma to not believing in the so called "tall tales" of Bex's conspiracies?
"What do you want from me?" Cutting straight to the point was better than wasting anymore time being toyed by the unknown voice. Its echoes bounced off the walls more than to their liking. There were many questions that came rushing to Haru's head, such as where were they, or how were they here? But the one that stood out:
"Am I dead?"
The senile smirk could be heard from every crook and cranny that surrounded the walls of the confined space, echoes ringing in their heads.
"Simple. I want to play with you! A game!"
At a time like this? To the life and death situation, the voice wanted to play a game with Haru?
"You see, I like you to stay alive, even though that's beyond my capabilities, to play with you every time! I get bored cuz there's no one else who would be even more entertaining. But only you!"
Is that the only reason that Haru's alive now? It's ridiculous, that's for sure. But it's the fact that the voice thinks it can toyed with Haru on however it pleases to do so, that's what makes their blood boil.
"And you're saying I would willingly comply to your silly games? Are you done talking in your sleep?" The act of defiance rose from the sound of anger.
"Rest assured Wisdom, I'm very much awake."
Hitching on their breath, their eyes narrowed to a glare into space. So it wasn't their imagination. The voice did called them by their so called "God names". Which means this voice had been associated with the mysteries of the sudden appearing temples all over the server. Or was it just Bex's tantrum getting to them? Dear void would they know.
"It's Haru. I don't intend to keep my "God name." So I would appreciate it if you could call me my real name."
"That would be disrespectful but I don't care! Say what ya want to say!"
Their cackle that resonated in the space... It's so carefree, like it just wants to keep on mocking Haru. It sent shivers down Haru's spine.
What Haru knows now, is that they aren't in the afterlife, although anyone would have mistaken it for hell.
"You see, we're in your consciousness. You're in a coma, pretty simple! You were supposed to be dead by now, but by some miracle, you aren't!"
Sighing out a breath of relief they didn't know they were holding, Haru was a bit glad that they weren't dead. But if they aren't, why did they end up here?
"Fates are funny you see! Like meeting with Neb or Blue, there's so many strange things happening in the server! It's like something will change soon, and you're not even doing anything about it! Mischief's mishaps, making anything his fault, Insanity's sacrifice of Neb as a scapegoat, why do you think your denial has come this far? To take that stubbornness, your hatred for Fortune-"
"Just tell me what you want and leave me alone!"
The sheer split of anger that they felt was like no other towards anyone ever. Not even when everyone was against Hiraeth and them. Not even when Bex's beliefs become even more ridiculous. Haru was genuinely ticked off.
They were taunting them to the fullest, they were mocking all their beliefs, and the friends of who they had. And it's the fact that the voice was right. They hadn't done anything.
Why mentioned the past when there's nothing that could be done in the future?
"How did you even know so much!"
"I have my ways, dear. It's more of a matter of fact that whatever happens to all of you, is none of my concern. Only my playtime gets shortened but that's about it."
It's that sinister grin that held the tinge of playfulness. It's dripping with evil delights. Haru hated every single bits of it to the depths of the nether.
"Hmph. I supposed that's enough from me. Now then!"
Opening up in front of Haru was images of seven random symbols they had seen somewhere before. It's almost like...
"The seven deadly sins." Muttering under their breath.
Sloth, Envy, Gluttony, Wrath, Lust, Greed and Pride.
"You will be judged through the seven deadly sins, on the case of whether or not will you be alive, or dead. This is your chance for survival. To be judged very clearly on the signs of life and death, It's all up to you."
Losing the playfulness and taunting, the voice was dead serious and sinister. As much as Haru would like to call it a lie, every tone in the voice held truth, making it impossible to deny.
They never thought that a game would decide their so called Fate. Whether it's unbelievable or not, it made them shiver in their boots.
"And if I don't do the game? You couldn't simply let me out?"
"So imagine a smartphone being charged, it's only at 1 percent and you decided to take out its charger. What happens to the smartphone? Of course it dies. Now imagine that phone being your life, and your life support was the charger. You decided to take out the charger because you don't want to be apart of it. So answer this, do you even have a choice?"
". . . I supposed not."
Also it could have said you will die if you quit, sherlock.
"There's no way to restart?"
"You only get one chance in a lifetime."
Which means this is their only time to win back at life.
"Now that you understand, I'll give you sometime to readied yourself!"
Haru thought all about over and over, thinking this is ridiculous. That a game of something unknown would bring them back? Since when were they in a sci-fi stimulation?
Then again, there were so many things that they even left unfinished outside of their mind. They want to mine more with Liam, they want to have funny conversations with Azelf, have Reneta's baking melt in their mouth, and... make amends with Bex.
They knew, it was never worth throwing away their own life. With their own determined eyes that pierced through their clouded mind, they have decided.
A judgement they shall be passed on them.
------------------------------------------------------------
Looking back at it, Haru kept on thinking about the voice. About how it sounded as if it wasn't the first time Haru had been here, and not just Haru.
"Could everyone else had gone through this at least once?"
No matter. They had to go through this quickly. Who knows what will happen to their own body if they don't hurry.
𝕬𝖈𝖈𝖊𝖕𝖙 𝖙𝖍𝖞 𝖘𝖎𝖓𝖘 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖜𝖎𝖑𝖑 𝖈𝖔𝖒𝖊 𝖆𝖈𝖗𝖔𝖘𝖘.
1. 𝓖𝓵𝓾𝓽𝓽𝓸𝓷𝔂.
Sitting on a short pedestal in front of Haru's way was a cake. And not just any cake, a cake that looks very similar to Reneta's baking style. It was always delicious in Haru's opinion.
They could never get enough of it.
Haru knew what to do. They took a handful of cake from the pedestal, and shoved it in their mouth, indulging in its delights. Sweet icing with smooth dark chocolate. It's almost identical to Reneta's recipe.
Almost.
They then took bite after bite until the entire pedestal was smoothed and clean, leaving just small bits of cake crumbs. The cake then reappeared, like magic. Although Haru felt full, they had just remembered.
This was a test to accept the seven sins, so they had to pull through it.
It was the pain of gluttony, never feeling full as they indulge their pain away.
After finishing the 2nd full cake, Haru's stomach churned as they fell on their knees and vomited the gunk out from their mouth, leaving the taste vile. However, with this, they passed the first phase of Gluttony. Now onto the 2nd phase.
There stood the pedestal, was a glass filled with red liquid. Giving a whiff to scent the drink, it smelled metallic yet sweet, hinted with alcohol; wine.
Drinking in one gulp, Haru could taste the guilts and sorrows of someone familiar to them. They couldn't quite put a finger on who.
After finishing the drink, they set it back on the pedestal as they stride for the next Sin.
2. 𝓔𝓷𝓿𝔂.
How was it that anyone could strive through their hatred after being a scapegoat?
It was a question that Haru wondered about Neb, thus to say whether his sacrifice was true according to his word. All because of something, what though?
To think Azelf would sacrifice someone close to them? Haru finds it quite funny.
What laid in front of them was a scenario of Azelf hugging Haru, or at least...
"I'm so sorry Neb."
What Azelf thinks, was Neb.
It then changes, to "Neb" being banished to Liam, before being locked under the well, trapped and all alone.
To say the least, what Haru saw Azelf holding, was enough to break their patience, and feel the rage of jealousy. All for this sacrifice, for that? Only Haru and Neb knew this feeling.
To be replaced, is the start of Envy.
Haru then was able to find themselves to be able to move again, so they scrambled to their feet and walked to the next room. They wondered what's the next room of Sin will hold.
3. 𝓖𝓻𝓮𝓮𝓭.
To take anything or everything that Mischief wanted was a big laugh to Haru.
Sure the stories of Peace and Mischief could mislead anyone, but to Haru it was gold of how befitting the role can be.
Even though both wanted the same conclusions for the mortals of the over world, they both couldn't help but let their powers decide what they want instead.
They take and give nothing in return except war, because of their own selfish desires of their kind of worlds.
It was a laugh, really. As it just doesn't apply to them, but to Haru as well. To selfishly deny the fact that they were a God in the past.
And they will hold onto it, never giving anything back.
The riches Haru holds are more than enough to sum up a description to Greed. They never shared their expenses, never finding the joy of sharing.
The power of Greed is a dangerous one, to take and never give.
4. 𝓢𝓵𝓸𝓽𝓱.
Laloo had kept her own peace, never wanting to start conflict. She brings peace to all. But when it comes to her other people's complaints, she has done nothing.
Whatever opinions that anyone asked of her, she kept silent, never uttering a single word, said nothing.
Haru now plays the role of Laloo. Hearing different complaints, when ask of anything, they kept silent.
"The village is dying, and they demand a raise in funds. What do you have to say?"
Nothing.
"Your head is in line, and your people are the ones to behead you, what do you have to say?"
Nothing.
"When odds come again and many were to despise your power, but of course, what do you say?"
Nothing.
To do absolutely anything, will be defying the power of sloth. Laziness, ignorance and silence.
Through all the process of silence with the phantom of pain, Haru said and did nothing.
5. 𝓦𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓱.
Hiraeth's, or more so, Destruction's rage were to nurture the fact it is indeed great power.
Haru had been sent back to the war of Mischief and Peace. The first they saw were blurred out faces coming towards them.
Haru then killed them all with a power they know that wasn't their own, but Destruction's.
Somewhere in-between the slaughter, they heard a scream, they turned to see Liam themselves had been hurt, as they fell to the ground.
Before soon enough, Haru felt the rage engulfed themselves, blinded by hatred, and destroyed all the beings that stood in their way. There was nothing standing anymore except their own two feet.
They couldn't even feel the need to puke at the smell of pungent dead bodies. They only felt the flames of wrath being fanned to their skin.
The fit of rage, anger and fear. That is the power of wrath.
6. 𝓛𝓾𝓼𝓽
The story of the demon prince and the Goddess of Love having a forbidden bond, a relationship of 2 unrequited love, had died a while after they both perished from life.
So long as the flowers in the garden of the Goddess of Love still blooms, their love is still alive.
What Haru stood in now was the beautiful sunset of the Lapis SMP. With their head resting on Vivyan's thigh.
They knew it was the role of Bex.
"I'm sitting here."
Their hands and mouth moved on their own as they sung out loud. It was the song Bex wrote for Vivyan. They were the ones singing it. It felt as if there were butterflies in both their stomachs.
"Resting my head on your thighs."
They continued willingly, observing every way that Vivyan bops her head, like a lover would. Her smooth locks had befallen on her smooth face. It was astonishing, for at least Bex.
"I'm laying here."
Whatever had been said to Bex before, about never being in love before at all, they knew that feeling very well. It's because those words applied to them. Every ounce of love had been given to both each other. Haru just didn't understand.
In tears of the realisation that they will never understand the love Bex had felt for Vivyan, whether it was past or present or future, they continued the last line, hoping to listen throughout Bex's outburst anytime they met up with him.
"Looking up to the skies."
Lust, falling in love, or admiration towards another. It's beautiful yet so cruel. Love is indeed a complicated word. A word Haru never understood, but wished to hear it from Bex.
And lastly with the room up ahead of them... The last Sin.
7. 𝓟𝓻𝓲𝓭𝓮.
Haru didn't turn into anyone else, it was just Haru being Haru. Though they should have expected that.
After all, their pride was honed to be the most stubborn of all.
There, in the room, stood a lonely mirror. To prides one self esteem, you would have to face yourself.
The bold arrogance to conquer someone's jealousy, that is pride. To hold a title to one like a lion, that is pride.
Haru stood in front of the mirror, to find not their reflection, but someone that looks like them.
Pale eyes that stood with a terrifying smirk, it may have sent shivers down Haru's spine.
But it never pierced their stubborn mind.
"Whatever everyone believed, I believed it's wrong. For my own pride is where it will take me to my destiny. My own life is by not fate, but by my own hands. I'm my own body, will, strength and power. Not one could ever be me, even if they tried."
It was their own pride of heart that bursted to the mirror. The unwavering reflection that was not their own had a smirk wider than the Joker's.
Soon, the reflection started to crawl out of the mirror, coming face to face with Haru.
"No one could be you... huh? I was right... You truly are an entertaining one, Wisdom."
"It's Haru."
The so called "reflection" looked back, and scoffed before giggling like a maniac.
Suddenly, it tried to strike an arrow to Haru's face, as it grazed it a bit.
"Show me that pride! Show me the strength you had to protect yourself! Show me that you deserve to be alive!"
As the attack of arrows kept on going, Haru then stride forward, with every graze and cuts from the incoming sharp arrows, they narrowly dodged as they came up to the distorted voice reflection.
"Well? Fight back and show me your pride!"
"I don't have to."
With extended arms, they embraced the psycho being tightly.
"You were alone for so long as well, not being able to accept yourself as you continue to judge life and death. You've forgotten who you were."
"What are you--"
"I'm being myself, to hold onto something to never be let go of. My pride, my being, to stubbornly stay like a leech, as long as I'm myself."
It was then silence, before all fallen arrows made contact with the ground, as returned arms made their way to return the hug, as they cried on their shoulders.
It was a fallen judge that hadn't had the time to ever look forward to seeing themselves to fit in or stand out. A time where they don't remember about being themselves.
Pride holds recognition, to established their own identity. To be proud of who you are.
They let go of the hug, as the reflection looked to be back to their cheerful self.
"Well now! I think that's all! I will continue to be bored for the next few centuries!"
"This isn't the first time we came here, was it?"
The reflection only grinned, before nodding its own head slowly. So they were right. They had been on the verge of death multiple times before. Wonder if there was a time where they did fail.
Giving a snap of its fingers, they were then found in a pitch black room, with no other distractions.
"Are you ready?"
Haru knew it's time. Whether they passed or not, it will be up to this psycho. And whatever the outcome, they hopefully will never meet with them again.
"May judgement be upon you."
In the last moments of what has been said, it was time for them to take their final breath.
Life and death were playing with them. But fate never decides for them.
--------------------------------------------------------
Liam paced around the house with Azelf, Bex and Hiraeth. They all found Haru drowning at the pond near Azelf's house.
Because Azelf was a cat and never knew on how to swim, they called for anyone they saw.
How could this happened? If only they were all together, if only Bex never had that fight with them, if only they were able to come quicker.
Hearing the sound of something cracking, they all turned around to see Liam's fist against a cracked wall, which they all assumed he had punched it for the umpteenth time.
"Damn it... Dear Void, why did it happened!?"
He was the most frustrated one. It was his best friend, of course he would be. To not being able to do anything was exactly the case. He thought it was his fault.
Azelf saw the tears threatening to fall from Liam's face, before they engulfed him in a tight hug.
Suddenly, they heard a cough from the mattress that Haru was lying on, and then soon, they opened up their eyes, squinting to adjust to the sunlight.
The first to break the silence was a loud scream from Liam as he broke free from Azelf's hug and embraced Haru tightly.
Haru then embraced Liam before everyone else joined in, sighing in relief as their friend was alive.
Friends, huh? Haru never really dug deep into that word. They should probably cherish that, along with all the people around them.
They had so many things to do, like meet ups with Azelf, finish mining with Liam, gossip with Hiraeth, and most importantly, hear out and apologise to Bex. They wanted to reflect upon what had happened with all of them together. But for now, they like to stay in the silent embrace, as they all fell asleep on the mattress.
For now they will accept the fact, they got the greatest of friends, and that's their own judgement.