Chapter Text
“Here.” Sneeg said, handing Phil the elytra.
Phil grasped the elytra enthusiastically before throwing it over his shoulders. His wings grew stronger and he could feel the wind blowing through the pristine feathers. He stretched his wings out behind him and met Sneeg's grin with his own ecstatic grin.
Sneeg tossed him a stack and a half of fireworks. “Go for a test flight.”
Phil nodded and hopped lightly off the ground before spreading his wings and shooting off with the burst from the firework. It felt amazing having the wind speed past him, ruffling his clothes and cooling his face. He hooted in joy and did a lap of the mooshroom island before he checked the durability of the elytra.
“Over a thousand durability?!” He exclaimed. “Oh these will last a while!” He turned and glided back to where Sneeg was.
Just when he was about to land he saw three dark cloaked figures around Sneeg, who looked annoyed. Phil landed and looked around just as two of the cloaked figures teleported to surround him.
“Who's this?” He asked, looking between the figures.
“These are the Keepers of the Realm that I told you about.” Sneeg frowned before turning to address the figure closest to him. “What do you want now?”
The three figures teleported so that they were in a different formation circling Phil. Sneeg understood instantly.
“But you gave us the materials for the wings! What else did you expect us to do?” Sneeg gestured at Phil's wings. The figures paid him no mind, staring at Phil's wings before teleporting again. “You were fine with us making it yesterday, what changed?”
“Did one of you go against the rules?” Phil smirked. “Someone working on their own?”
Phil felt a punch to his arm and turned to see the keeper still unmoving.
“Hey.” Sneeg growled.
Another punch from the other side.
“Why do you want to take them when I gave them to Phil? Why not do something before? Hey!” Sneeg tried to push one of the keepers but the impact did nothing. Another punch his Phil in the back and he stumbled forward before glaring at the figures.
“You want them?” He pulled out the fireworks. “Race ya to spawn.”
Phil shot off in the direction of spawn with an annoyed chuckle. “Might as well get as much flying in before they clip me.”
The flight was too short for Phil's liking, and he arrived at spawn to see Fit and Sneeg in the center with the three cloaked figures.
The second Phil landed, Sneeg and Fit were by his side, almost sheltering him from the keepers. Their arguments for Phil to keep the wings fell on uncaring ears and Phil could tell that these keepers were not going to let him go before getting what they wanted. They could teleport after all, they would be able to find him no matter how well he hid.
Phil grit his teeth and stepped between his friends so that he was in front. He glared at the figures, all of his comedic coping crushed by bitterness at the lack of choice he had.
“Fine.” He spat. “Take them.”
Sneeg and Fit turned to him but before they could open their mouths, one of the keepers pointed at Phil. Lightning shot down from the clear sunny sky and struck Phil, hitting his wings directly.
The smell of burning flesh was awful, but not nearly as bad as Phil's scream. Sneeg and Fit watched in horror as, in a flash of light and flame, Phil's wings burned off of his back. They could feel the electricity frying the air around Phil, but could do nothing as their friend screamed in pain. In a flash the lightning was gone, leaving Phil's back simmering, horrible burns covering his back.
“WHAT THE FUCK?!?” Sneeg yelled, going to attack the keepers. He lunged forward but all three of the cloaked figures vanished before he could touch them. As his axe swung through the empty air, he let out a cry of frustration. “FUCK YOU!”
“Sneeg- Phil-” Fit gasped behind him and Sneeg turned to see him trying to grab Phil, who had electricity arching off of him. His face was frozen in the scream of pain even though no sound was coming out of his mouth anymore. He twitched as the sparking calmed down before falling face first into the dirt.
“Shit-” Fit went to grab him, flinching as he got zapped a little.
“Phil-” Sneeg joined Fit in picking up the now limp Phil. “My place, I can make healing potions.” Fit nodded and picked up Phil, trying to not touch his back which was still sizzling slightly. The two of them rushed past a few people who had come because of the scream. They ignored them as they burst through the doors into Sneeg's mossy house. Fit gently laid Phil prone on the bed, propping his head to the side so he could breathe. He checked Phil's pulse as Sneeg rummaged through his chests. Phil's heartbeat was inconsistent and when Fit opened the monitoring device in his arm, he saw that Phil's health was dropping dangerously low.
Sneeg tossed him an instant healing potion before putting ingredients into his brewing stand for more. Fit popped the bottle open and poured a gentle stream on the burns, using his other hand to guide the liquid. There was a sizzling noise and the smell of burning muscle got stronger until the bottle was empty. The bubbling stopped but Phil was still bleeding a lot and losing what little health he had left.
Sneeg tossed Fit two more healing potions and one regeneration potion, all of which Fit poured on the burns again. When he finished the third healing potion, Phil's back was no longer bleeding and the burns looked slightly less raw. He poured the regen potion on Phil's back before checking his pulse again. It was more regular but still a bit fast. On the heart monitor, Phil was no longer losing health, but he was still worryingly low and not regaining health. He would die if Fit smacked him a little too hard.
“He's not actively dying anymore, but I need more regen.” Fit said, not taking his eyes off the monitor. Sneeg grunted in response and placed some more brewing stands.
Another 3 healing and 2 regen potions later, Phil's back was looking a little better and he was regenerating health at a steady pace. Fit sat back and sighed. Sneeg put more ingredients into the brewing stands and looked over his notes to see if there were any other potions that could be helpful.
“Why-” Fit finally spoke, voice cracking slightly. He cleared his throat. “Why didn't they just clip him!?”
“Yeah! They nearly killed him!” Sneeg threw open a chest. “And with their 'It's not yet time.' shit, I thought they would do something small, not blow up his FUCKING WINGS!”
There was a hesitant knock at the door. Sneeg groaned and tossed a pack of gauze at Fit. “Patch him up, I'll explain things to everyone else.” Fit nodded as Sneeg exited.
Sneeg looked up to see about a dozen people outside the castle, looking nervously at the trail of blood that lead to his house. A few of them flinched at the rage flowing off of Sneeg before he took a deep breath and walked between everyone.
“I'll explain things in the castle.” He grumbled as he approached the front door.
As the days pass, Sneeg and Fit take turns staying with Phil, healing his back. After a few days, the burns were beginning to scar over, but they still looked really red. A week had passed when Sneeg removed the bandages to see that the scars were completely covering the wound. He gently massaged another healing potion onto the scars, feeling each bump and dip where the skin was mutilated. It was a nasty scar that covered most of his back. The burn scars were concentrated where his wings had been but there were also lichtenberg scars shooting between them and outward.
Sneeg sighed and walked over to his ender chest. He pulled out the only god apple he had and began peeling it and cutting it. He sat on the floor as he worked, occasionally glancing up at Phil. He had just finished cutting the apple when he heard a shaky exhale from the bed and looked up to see Phil's eyes flutter weakly open.
“Phil!” Sneeg stood up quickly and went to Phil's side. “Phil, are you awake?”
Phil's eyes looked around unfocused and his head twitched in what Sneeg thought was a nod. His hand twitched on the bed and Sneeg rested his on his palm, trying not to frown when Phil's fingers weakly curled around to hold his hand.
“You're probably a bit paralyzed from the lightning strike.” Sneeg said, gently squeezing Phil's hand. “When you feel up to it, I cut up a god apple for you, you need to eat something.”
Phil took a long shaky breath in and out before blinking and opening his mouth. He tried to say some words but nothing came out.
“Take it easy, you nearly died.” Sneeg grabbed the apple slices and held one in front of Phil's mouth. Phil took a bite and slowly chewed. Sneeg watched as his eyes became a little more focused with each bite. He was right, a god apple was what they were missing.
After his 5th slice, Phil was chewing normally and paused to look at Sneeg with tired eyes. “How... long...?” He croaked out, vocal cords strained from screaming and a week of being unused.
“About a week.” Sneeg answered, giving him another slice. Phil chewed while he processed where he was. He lifted his arm so that he could take the apple slices from Sneeg and feed himself. Sneeg rested the bowl with the rest of the slices on the bed next to him and stood up to fetch a healing potion.
He returned as Phil finished the last slice and helped him drink the potion. Phil swallowed the last bit before closing his eyes. Sneeg could see the exhaustion fade from his face and when he opened his eyes again, they had regained their lively blue. Sneeg put the bottle and bowl into the nearest chest and turned as Phil moved both of his arms to push himself up.
“Phil you should stay dow-” Sneeg moved to stop him but stopped himself just before touching Phil's back. It didn't matter, because as Phil lifted himself, the would on his back sent a throbbing pain throughout his body. He screamed in pain and fell on his side, thrashing around in a futile attempt to get the pain to go away.
“Phil!” Sneeg grasped Phil's hand and gently touched his cheek. “Phil, focus on me. You need to stop moving, you're only hurting yourself.”
Phil froze at the touch and he stared forward, eyes blinking rapidly. His body shook and Sneeg gently gripped Phil's hand again. He noticed that Phil's irregular blinking was accompanied by a look of confusion.
Sneeg quickly opened his messaging device and sent Fit a single word: 'hurry' before looking back at Phil, who had pushed himself up to a sitting position successfully. He was looking around the room in panic, mouthing silent questions. Sneeg reached out to try to calm himself when Phil grabbed his head and curled up, squeezing his eyes shut and groaning.
Fit burst through the door and his face flipped from joy to worry when he saw Phil clutching his head on the bed, hyperventilating. Sneeg turned to look at him for help and Fit rushed to the other side of the bed.
“Phil- Phil what's happening?” Fit asked, trying to keep his voice steady. He gently rubbed Phil's arm in a soothing motion and Phil released his grip on his head and looked over at Fit. He blinked rapidly a few times before he turned and grabbed Fit's other arm.
“F-Fit-” He stuttered, trying to catch his breath. “Fit, where are the kids? Where are my kids?”
“...What kids?” Fit asked hesitantly. Phil stared at him in shock.
“Y-you-you know...” He looked Fit in the eye. “Ramon. Chayanne. Lullah. All of them.” He gripped his head as he shook it. “No- no no that's wrong- no not them. Friends?” His head shot up and he looked between Fit and Sneeg. “W-what about the syndicate? Ranboo, Niki, T-Techno-”
Sneeg and Fit froze at the last name and glanced at each other before Sneeg spoke.
“Phil... who are you talking about?” He asked carefully. Phil's head whipped around to look at him in panic. His eyes were pleading for Sneeg to know who he was talking about. Fit reached up and touched Phil's shoulder, his hand accidentally brushing a thinner scar that had snaked up from the burns. Phil yelped as pain shot through him again and Fit retracted his arm quickly.
“Shi- Sorry!”
Phil curled up again and held his head as tears fell. In between groans of pain, they could hear broken pleas for the pain to stop. Sneeg reached out, unsure of what to do. Fit stood up and walked over to get another healing potion. He had just gotten back and opened the bottle when an electric pulse shot out of Phil, pushing the two of them away from the bed. All they could do was watch as electricity sparked around Phil as he screamed.
The air around Phil's back began glitching and the others watched as a pair of wings flickered into view. Multiple different versions of Phil's crow wings flickered in and out of the glitching air. There was a pair that was lightly frosted at the ends, but otherwise healthy. Next was a pair looked like they had been freshly burned, muscles torn from overexertion. Then there was a pair that looked like they had taken the blunt of an explosion, as if they were used as a shield. There was another pair, the healthiest out of all of them, but it was quickly replaced by similar wings that had been cleanly clipped. The last one looked like it had been burned by acid. Purple veins snaked along the wings and glinted on the edges of destroyed feathers and flesh.
Fit covered his mouth in shock as the different wings flickered between each other. Sneeg could feel himself wincing with each pair that was destroyed. The glitching wings faded as the the air became less electrified. Phil's own form flickered a little as he breathed heavily, still curled up on himself. Sneeg fought the remaining electrical current to get to Phil.
“Phi-” Sneeg reached towards Phil but jumped when Phil suddenly shot up and rushed past him and out the doors with surprising speed and strength.
“Phil!” Fit called, getting up and running after him with Sneeg right behind him. They practically sprinted outside and looked around frantically before they spotted Phil just outside the castle area, looking around in confusion before sprinting off towards the woods. Sneeg and Fit ran after him but somehow the injured man was faster than both of them and running around unpredictably, and they lost him in the woods. Sneeg and Fit stopped to catch their breath, listening for any sounds that could be Phil, but they only heard their own breathing and the usual sounds of the forest mid day.
“Damn it Phil-” Fit wheezed, steadying himself against a tree.
“He... He seemed to be running towards his tree farm.” Sneeg noted, looking around. He spotted a nearby river and pulled out his trident as he walked quickly towards it, Fit following suit. They hopped into the water before shooting off in the direction of the tree farm.
It took only a few minutes to cross the hundreds of blocks to the tree farm and they scrambled out of the ocean and up to higher ground, searching for any sign of Phil.
“Chest-” Sneeg pointed. They rushed over to a chest that had been flung open. The contents were strewn about randomly, shoved to the sides as someone had dug through the chest to find something.
“How did he get here before us?!” Fit looked around as Sneeg inspected the contents of the chest.
“No clue. I also can't tell what he took. There is a loose scrap of paper so maybe a book?”
“An axe?” Fit pointed towards one of the trees which had an oddly shaped gash in it.
Sneeg looked back and frowned. “Who else is awake?”
Fit popped open another apparatus on his arm. “Foolish and Tubbo.”
“Good, we need their help if we want to find Phil.” He pulled his trident back out. “Tell them to meet us at spawn.”