Chapter Text
King Philza’s jewel and gem collection was extensive, spanning dozens of biomes and dimensions. Ever since the recent discovery of amethyst geodes and crystals that were found in the lush cavern system beneath the kingdom, Philza had everyone, even his children, looking for these precious entities. However, everyone who made the trip down there never actually survived to find these geodes. According to researchers who helped to locate this fantastical purple gemstone, the geodes themselves are hidden behind vines in the darkest of passageways away from the light of the elusive glow berries.
Determined to get his hands on the amethyst, Philza sent his two sons: Wilbur and Tommy, down into the caverns to retrieve it for him.
These two were ecstatic to go down into the caves and locate this for their father; it’d be a great deal for the kingdom as well. Other kingdoms would be searching far and wide for these sought-after entities, but L’Manburg would get the credit for being the first kingdom to lay their hands on it.
“You ready, Toms?” Wilbur asked as the two of them meandered down the cobblestone path.
“Hell yeah!”
“You brought your swords and armor, right? Dad would be livid if you didn’t do that.”
“I did, I did, don’t you fret. I’ll be ready to kill these mobs with my big sword! Because I’m a big man!”
The two ventured out of the threshold of the kingdom as the path became increasingly craggy and uneven. The sun beamed down on them with their arid rays of gold, as it soon was vanquished by floccose clouds which loomed overhead.
In the distance was the mouth of the cave they would be heading into, its opening large and vast, seeming to scale the cliff face in front of them. Moss scrawled up the walls as they got closer. Tommy felt trepidation rise and fall with his breath, but he wanted to maintain a strong front. He was a big man after all. Wilbur, on the other hand was intrigued and excited. He’d only flipped through the research papers on the lush cave system, but he’d never once seen one for himself. The vines and lush greenery would be like an eerie oasis – quiet, but with an unsettling cascade of droplets falling from the sky.
Upon entering the cavern, the opening seemed to expand as far as their eyes could see, baubles of light dimly dancing on vines which stretched hundreds of feet above and below them. Even with all this light, Wilbur and Tommy’s eyes could not adjust to the void that embraced them. Silence enveloped their senses as they lurked deeper and further away from civilization.
Of course, these two were not alone, the cave itself was alive with spiders and other fantastical, undead creatures, but a deeper mystery loomed in the cave itself. Random bursts of noises ricocheted off solemn walls as the glow berries slowly vanished from view. The ground beneath them slowly became more reminiscent of rubble.
“Watch your step, Tommy. I think we’re nearly there. According to the papers I read, the most plentiful geode is located in the north easter-”
“SPIDER! FUCK! DIE YOU MOTHER FUCKER DIE DIE DIE!” Tommy shouted, aimlessly swinging his sword around as the spider’s body was slain. “Sorry, Wil, continue.”
“Uh, it should be in the north eastern area which, if this fucking compass would work, is around here. They won’t be immediately visible, so we may have to mine for them. Our coordinates should be about 50 feet below the surface. We mine from this wall until we spot something. The ore in here is supposedly ginormous.” And the pair dug and dug and dug until Tommy hit something that was nearly impenetrable to get through.
“Hey Wil! I think I got something!” Tommy shouted, as Wilbur ran through their tunnel they created, as he felt the stone Tommy was trying to chip away at.
“I think this is it, Toms! Good find!” Wilbur Whacked at this rock until it crumbled, to reveal a palatial cavern of bright purple crystals. Both of them looked around in awe, as Wilbur took as much as he could and put it into his inventory.
“Gods dad is gonna be so happy! Let’s go! We got what we need!”
“What say you and I keep a bit for ourselves? I mean we busted our asses for it? Deal?”
“Deal. Now let’s get outta here before some skeletons try and murder us!”
Both of them ran their way out of the tunnels and trailed they blazed, running back up jagged paths, claiming a few berries along the way as a snack.
They soon returned to the kingdom, holding onto many pieces of precious cargo that their father would be eternally grateful for.
Entering the warm and equally hostile halls, they briskly moved past servants and maids, to emerge at a door with emerald symbols carved into the dark oak. The two knocked, before being let into Philza’s office.
“I see you two were successful, seeing as you made it back. You were the first to actually return.”
“Yes, Father. We have a fair amount of amethyst for your collection, and perhaps to gift to neighboring kingdoms as well.”
“Wonderful! You make me so proud, my sons. Would you like the chef to prepare a special dinner for the two of you?”
A chorus of “Yes please” erupted from Philza’s office as the king embraced his two sons tightly, proud that they were safe and that he got his gems to complete his collection… until, of course, the next elusive stones come around.