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English
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Part 5 of Short Discord Stuff
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Things to fuel my escapism.
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Published:
2023-03-12
Updated:
2023-03-18
Words:
1,685
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5/14
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15
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5
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The Week

Summary:

The week before the attack on the Nether Fortress, and the attack.

Notes:

So, I’d just like to say this story may take a darker turn than my other ones. Nothing crazy gorey, but I may do darker storylines for Rarg and Batwing. (Since they come from a dictatorship, I seriously doubt they’ve got light stories.)

Chapter 1: Chapter 1

Chapter Text

Grayfellow stared off into the red-tinged distance. His eyes were blank, heavy blue.

“Do we declare war?”

Eldra looked up at him and glared, fidgeting.

“Of course, you idiot.”

Grayfellow stared down. “But…he’s my brother. I still…Nova’s a good guy. I know it.” Eldra sighed. “Yes, but Enderstar kicked out two of your friends and put one on a block. For weeks. And Nova…let’s be honest, he was gone the second he started talking to the Wizards. You don’t have a brother anymore, Gray. Not in any way that matters. Declare it now.”

He shifted.

“But he’s there still. He isn’t evil. That’s not Nova.”

Eldra sighed.

“Look, Quia.”

Grayfellow glared at her, fanged mouth gaping open unconsciously. She winced. He growled, a low, threatening sound, staticky and low.

“Don’t you dare use that name.”

She sighed. “Fine, Gray. But…please, just declare it. He needs to know that everyone’s serious. That’ll draw attention from helpful forces, too. So…just bite the bullet and say it. We’re at war until otherwise stated.” “You don’t get it. He’s family. Real, true family. And I can’t just…do that, anyways. It involves trekking to the Overworld and going before the king. It would take weeks.”

“So send someone else. Me, I’m good in the Overworld. Or Bat or Rarg, they’re streetwise.” A silence followed. He continued staring into the distance with that same glazed, sad look. She sighed. “You really just need to do it, Gray. Before anything gets worse. We had five attacks last week. If you could just declare it, everyone would come to help.”

He continued staring.

Eventually, he swallowed thickly.

“I love my brother. I…I don’t want to fight him.”

Eldra closed her eyes and sighed.

“Sorry, Gray. But you have to. For Lavacrest.”

He looked away and closed his eyes. “I’ll draft the letter. There’s a treasure hunter that visits here. I’ll give him it and have him deliver it.” Eldra nodded. “Draft two copies. Nov…Enderstar needs one, too.”

With that, he got up and walked away.

Chapter 2: Chapter 2

Summary:

Grayfellow duels Rarg.

Notes:

Sorry it was so late!

Chapter Text

Grayfellow sniffled.

Rarg, sitting nearby, studied him. “Good?”

Grayfellow sighed. “I guess.”

“Want to duel?”

“Why?”

“Me bored, and Bat say he poisonous.” “Yeah, he is.” Then he asked “Do you want to duel me?” “Yes.” “You realize I’m a sorcerer?”

“I fight sorcerer lot back home. Yes.”

“What kind?”

“Moldsnouts. So mean! They lose lot.” Grayfellow nodded. Rarg asked. “Can duel here?” “It’s fine. It’s deserted. You’re the only one who stays around it.” “Why?” “Light. Sound. It’s scary for most nether monsters.” Rarg nodded.

“Get up.”

Grayfellow did, stretching. “Go to the mushroom.” He backed up until his back was to a large mushroom tree. Grayfellow did the same, a light smile on his face. He felt a little better now. Rarg hopped, holding a large, nondescript red axe. Grayfellow got out his staff, which was a simple oak one. Rarg laughed. “On three?”

“Yes.”

“One.”

Grayfellow dropped into a crouch.

“Two.”

He concentrated.

“Three!”

Seconds later, he was on his back, seeing stars. The side of his face felt burnt. Grayfellow stared, smoke rising from him. He looked down and realized he looked heavily sunburnt. “How did you-“ Rarg twirled. Then came down on him, battle-axe first. He yelped, scrambling out, all form gone. Rarg suddenly froze.

“You ok?”

“What?”

“You ok?”

“No, what did you just-“

“Fight?”

Grayfellow nodded, and the fight was over in minutes. He only managed to get up before Rarg simply leaped onto him and sat him into submission. 

“Surrender! Surrender!”

Rarg rolled off, coming up well, and grinned.

A little smoke was rising from the side of his lip.

“What ability was that?”

“Abil…”

“Nevermind.”

Rarg clapped. “You good fighter. Nice stance.”

Grayfellow nodded, shaky and filled with adrenaline.

“I’m…going to go talk with Eldra. If you’ll excuse me?”

Rarg smiled at him, and Grayfellow finally realized what that sense he’d gotten when he’d met Rarg was.

Prophecy.

“Bye.”

With that, he turned tail and walked for Eldra’s hut.

Chapter 3: Chapter 3

Summary:

Grayfellow and Eldra talk about abilities.

Notes:

So I wrote three chapters last night.

Enjoy!

Chapter Text

Eldra handed Grayfellow a healing potion.

"And you say Rarg did this?"

"Yeah."

"Uh...you're absolutely sure you didn't tumble into the lava, right?" "Positive." "Because this is a second-degree burn." "That's impressive." "Pigmen don't do that." "We live in interesting times. And it seems like the nether fortress monsters that leave usually tend to have some kind of special ability, so I'm not too surprised." "Yeah, but like...this is a big, big burn. Huge. Bat has some cutesy healing and disguise abilities, not straight-up burning ones."

Grayfellow shrugged. "In Rarg's defense, I don't think he intended to burn me quite this badly." "Did Rarg even know about this?" "I didn't ask him. I think so, though." Eldra shook her head. "We've all got strange abilities, but that one definitely takes the cake." "Definitely." "How are they doing here, by the way? I haven't seen either of them much."

"Eh, Bat's spent the past few days reconciling with his boyfriend. Rarg's just kind of hung around the well."

Eldra sighed. "I still don't get all the abilities."

"Why?"

"Just...you know. Type restrictions? Abilities in direct opposition to a race? I mean, Batwing. Take Batwing. He's a wither skeleton. You know what kind of abilities he gets?" Grayfellow shook his head. "Rekindle...and Cure Poison. A wither skeleton. With Cure Poison. And he's poisonous. I'm still trying to figure out how he isn't in a constant state of anaphylactic shock."

Grayfellow shrugged awkwardly. "To be fair, Batwing's not full wither skeleton." "But the abilities...Batwing's lucky he just has something useful. Once I met a guy who had a ability, a prophecy ability...that consisted of being able to materialize dark sunglasses."

"Surely there's more."

"...That's it."

He laughed.

"I've heard enough for today. I'm going to go visit Tufty and Meowz. Batwing and his boyfriend are washing them. See you at the town meeting?"

"...Did you just say they were washing cats?"

He was out in seconds.

Chapter 4: Chapter 4

Summary:

There are attempts to wash cats.

They fail.

Chapter Text

The second Grayfellow edged in the door, he heard a rabid screech.

"Well, that's a bad sign", he muttered to himself.

Batwing popped around a corner. He looked terrified. "Everything is wet and cats look like demons when washed." Grayfellow nodded. He heard a loud yowl and watched Meowz, her fur plastered to her skin, two sad blue eyes peeking out, hurtle down the steps. Then his boyfriend, Bzzr, tripping down the steps, covered in cat hair and wearing a large poncho, shouted "Stop getting away!" Batwing looked up.

"I told you cats didn't need to be washed."

He glared, soaked. Grayfellow studied him with concern. "Are you full blaze?" "Half. Only reason I'm still alive. Because this idiot won't wash a cat." Batwing groaned. "You don't wash cats. You never, ever wash a cat." Meowz whimpered at the foot of the steps. "I'm so cold." Batwing glared at Bzzr, who sighed. "I...I have miscalculated many things. Alright, babe?"

"I...you don't wash cats, and you...where is Tufty?"

Grayfellow interrupted. "Over there, beneath the table, covered in breadcrumbs." Bzzr glared at Batwing, who groaned. "I swear it was closed." Grayfellow froze. "You just eat breadcrumbs?" "No, it was for a recipe and-" Tufty looked up from the overturned can. "They washed us." Grayfellow looked over at them. "Why did you do that, anyways?"

Bzzr groaned. "I pet-groom hoglins. I thought I could do cats. And they need to look good for the thing tonight, right?" Batwing sighed. "Bzzr, I love you, but don't soak cats in water and attempt to blow-dry them with a fire tornado." "This is what you signed up for when we got offical, alright?" Batwing sighed. "Fine. But I'm not getting anywhere near those things with a blow drier." "...Fine."

Grayfellow beckoned. "Bat, a word."

Bzzr looked over suspiciously. "Can I come?"

Grayfellow shook his head. "I just want to talk to him about the Fortress for a minute. Don't worry." Batwing frowned. "Alright. But don't take too long, alright?"

Chapter 5: Chapter 5

Summary:

Batwing and Grayfellow talk about the upcoming attack.

Chapter Text

Batwing shifted.

Grayfellow sighed. "Sorry. Just...I wanted to talk to you. Since, well, the attack's coming soon." Batwing sighed. "I mean, yeah, it's nice of you to tell me that, but...I really don't like the war. And you know that." Grayfellow nodded sadly. "I don't like it either. I had to declare war against my brother. That's going to make family reunions awkward."

Batwing snorted. Then sighed. "I have family back in the fortress. Lots of cousins. I don't want to have to fight them." "Well, you might not, what are they?" "High-ranking general is one. Another is a propagandist. Most of the rest are either soldiers or they've moved. They're big Enderstar people. So, yeah. I'm gonna fight at least a few."

Grayfellow shifted unhappily.

"Would you go back to the fortress...you know, if you could?" Batwing laughed bitterly. "Yeah. No question. Sorry, Gray, but...I really do not like Lavacrest." "Why?" "I miss my home, you know? I mean...yeah, this was cool for about a week, but then I wanted to take Bzzr and go back to our little house and cat cafe and have a lazy, peaceful life with him. Not live here and be in the thick of all these politics."

Grayfellow sighed. "Yeah, I get where you're coming from. Just curious."

Then, on a lighter note, he asked. "How is Bzzr, anyways?"

"He's actually happier. Really, he loves Lavacrest. All the plants are his favorite, and there is way less prosecution." "Makes sense for a human-blaze hybrid to like plants, I suppose. Also...can I ask how that happened?" "Well...I...never actually got the courage to ask that question. You'll have to do it yourself. And possibly risk becoming a charred crisp."

Grayfellow clapped.

"How'd you get that burn?"

"Well, Rarg..."

He went on, detailing. Finally, Batwing shook his head. "Yeah, I've seen that. Interesting. Well, you better get going."

"Why?"

"You promised to let Clyde shop for stuff with you?"

"Oh. Right. Well, bye, and good luck with the cats."

With that, he ran out.

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