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Lifesteal was abnormally quiet.
Normally there would be people running around, gathering materials for traps, buildings and what-not. There would be the sound of wind rushing through the trees, or the sound of birds singing a lovely song.
But tonight, it was quiet. Not a soul to be seen, except for ClownPierce.
And he was not happy.
He walked through the forest alone with a sword on his hip and a scythe on his back. As he navigated through the dense underbrush he held a compass that pointed north-east, leading him to Ashswag’s base.
After his conversation with Squiddo, Clown decided that he was going to have a nice little talk with Ash about this cult of his. Due to the vagueness of Squiddo’s answers he had some of the information that he had been looking for, but these answers also opened up more questions. Questions that Clown was going to ask Ashswag.
As Clown walked over a specific part of the ground, the compass spun around to point the exact opposite way, south-west. He quickly went back and dug a hole into the ground. Sure enough, he found Ashswag’s base.
Ashswag had his back turned to Clown, and was busy digging through a chest. Clown used this opportunity to block off the entrance.
“Ashsawg.” ClownPierce called out, causing the other to drop his items back into the chest.
Ashswag jumped and spun around drawing his sword. “Clown.”
Clown tilted his head, but did not otherwise move.
Ash put his sword away. “What do you want?”
“Answers.” Clown said, crossing his arms. At Ash’s confused look he added “About that cult of yours.”
Ash’s face scrunched up in confusion. “Cult…? What Cult- Oh!” His eyes widened. “That cult. Well, I don't see why it's any of your business.”
“Let me put it like this, Ashswag. Tell me about the cult, or I'll make you tell me.”
“And just how do you intend to do that, ClownPierce?” Ash said, crossing his arms smugly with a smirk on his face.
“Look around Ashswag, we're in your base. I can trap your bed and kill you until you tell me.”
“Fine.” Ash concedes, as he sits down in a chair, his smirk dropping to a look of annoyance. He nods to a chair across from him. “Have a seat.”
Clown walks behind the chair, but does not sit.
“What ‘answers’ do you want?” Ash leans back and crosses his legs.
“I want to know why you started that cult.” Clown demands.
“Well, in the 1900s I got really bored. You can only annoy the same people for so long before it becomes tiresome.” Ash chuckles. “Anyway, I decided to do something fun, and I asked someone what world I should go to. She told me to go to that goat world, so I did. Not long after I got there I met a young goat named Aour.” Ash smiled “I convinced him that I was a god and that I wanted him to create a religion after me. He was very gullible and did as I said. I stayed for four years, giving him advice and ‘teachings’.” The smile fell from Ashswag’s face. “My cult never got bigger than the village he was born in, and I got bored again. I left after a bit, and don't really know what happened.”
Clown crossed his arms again. “You're telling me that you created that cult because you were bored?” Clown straightened up. “You don't even know how much pain it’s caused.”
“Pain? What pain?” Ash asked, confused.
“You may have started it as a joke, but Aour took it literally. He created a whole town for them, and rules; painful rules that they were forced to follow. And while all that was happening you left, didn't even try to check up on them.”
“I- I had never meant for that to happen. I didn't think anything was going to come of it. It must have taken on a life of its own.”
“Alright Ashsawg, here's what's going to happen. You are going to go back there and you are going to disband your little joke, you will get rid of all the ‘holy’ books, fire the priests and do whatever else you have to do to end that cult. Once it’s gone, you are going to write an apology letter to anyone who was a victim of your ‘fun’. You understand?”
“Yes, fine, I'll do it. I do feel bad- but it wasn't entirely my fault. I guess since I did start it, it technically falls to me to end it.” Ash sighs.
Clown nods, satisfied, and turns to leave.
“Clown.” Ash starts, causing Clown to stop and turn towards him slightly. “I have one question. I've known you for a long time- and you never cared about any of the other gangs or cults you came across, nor did you care about what I did.” Ash leaned forward onto his knees. “So why do you care now?”
“I-” Clown swallowed, debating telling Ash the truth. “I suppose it's true, normally I wouldn't have a reason to care. But now- now I do.” Clown turned his back to Ash again, keeping the other in the corner of his vision. “That reason is the only one that I need to have.”
Ash leaned back and nodded. “I understand. It may not seem like it, but I promise I do.”
“Good to know.” Clown left Ash’s base, leaving him with his thoughts.
Clown had someone else he needed to go see.
***
ClownPierce walked through the nether towards his childhood home. His parents had long since moved out of that place in favor of living in the overworld for a change. Clown himself was no better, seeing as he was incredibly involved in all kinds of different servers, and rarely got to visit home.
Clown reached the long winding path up to their house. Originally, the area in front of their house had been plain and lifeless. But ever since his parents adopted his step-sister, she had filled the lawn up with different sizes of trees and decor. Clown swears he once saw a bundle of roses planted in the flower boxes, despite the fact that roses can’t grow in the harsh soil of the nether. Needless to say, the roses didn’t last more than a day.
Clown walked up the stairs to his family home and knocked, despite having a key.
In less than a minute, the door swung open, to reveal the bunny hybrid that was his step-sister Kaboodle.
“Clown!” Kab exclaimed as she opened the door wider for him. “Good to see you! How have you been?”
“Pretty good.” Clown stepped inside, the cool air of their house a stark contrast to the heat of the nether. “How have you been?”
“Same old same old. I've been here mostly, cleaning. Mom and Dad asked me to look for some of their old stuff so that's what I've been doing.” Kab shut the door behind him. “I still haven't found it, but I found some of your baby photos!”
Clown nodded, walking over to the living room. “I need advice.” Clown said as he sat down on one of the sofas.
“Aww!” Kab exclaimed excitedly as she sat on the armrest of the opposing sofa. “Who’s the lucky guy?”
“What- You don't even know what I'm going to ask for advice about!” Clown defended, although he knew that it was true.
“Well, if not boys then what are you going to ask for advice about?” At Clown's silence, she continued. “Exactly. Now, as I was saying, who's the lucky guy?”
“It's a guy named Branzy. I want to ask him on a date.” Clown said.
“Okay, well what do you know about him?” Kab prompted. “Do you know his favourite color?”
“It's purple.”
“Okay- what about his favorite flower?”
“Lavender.”
“Favorite kind of chocolate?”
“Milk.”
“Favorite animal?”
“Chickens and goats.”
“Get him chicken nuggets.”
“What?” Clown exclaimed.
Kab put her hands up. “Kidding, I'm just kidding Clown.” She dropped her hands. “What are his hobbies?”
“Redstone, and from what I hear, annoying his friends.”
“Hmm…” Kab started. “Squiddo told me they’d be willing to help.”
“What else did Squiddo tell you?” Clown asked. He had forgotten that Squiddo just so happened to be his sister's best friend.
“Everything. Like how you like him, and how he likes you back, and how you went to extreme lengths for him, and how you rarely talk to him face-to-face.” Kab answered, teasingly. “Listen, I'll reach out to Squiddo and enlist her help. Because you know that Branzy is interested in you, you have to make the first move. Don't wait for him to come to you, go to him. Bring stuff he likes- flowers, chocolate, animals- whatever you think would fit. And be yourself. Don't waste this chance.”
Clown nodded. “Thank you, Kab.”
“Actually- don't fully be yourself, like don't murder anyone before you go. That's not very romantic...” Kab starts.
“Kab-” Clown tries to interrupt.
“Well- he might be into it…” Kab ignores him.
“Kab-” Clown tries again.
“Which, like, is fine and all. Good for him and good for you, but…” Kab ignores Clown’s attempt again.
“Kab!” Clown succeeds in getting her attention this time. “I’m not going to show up covered in blood.”
“Just making sure.” Kab said. “I wouldn't have put it past you.”
“A normal meeting with you- sure. I might show up covered in a bit of blood. But asking someone out? Nope- never. I might not even bring my weapons.”
“Really?” Kab asked, astonished. “You always have your weapons on you, Clown.”
“I wont have them on me, but they might be nearby. I might bury them, put them in a tree or entrust them to Squiddo.”
Kab looked at him. “As long as Branzy can't see the weapons, all should be fine.”
Clown nodded. “Well- I should probably go now. Thanks for the advice.” Clown said as he stood up.
“No problem- I'll let you know when we come up with a plan.” Kab said as she opened the door for Clown.
Clown walked out, and before his sister shut it, Kab added, “Good luck with your goat boyfriend!”
Clown shook his head as he smiled.. “He's not my boyfriend yet.” Clown turned and began to walk away as he mumbled to himself, “Hopefully soon though.”
***
Branzy sat on a rocky up high on a mountain. He normally enjoyed being up high and watching people, be it on a cliffs edge or a tower. From his position he could see all the wild life moving up and down the valley.
Well, almost all the wild life.
Branzy hadn’t seen his beloved goat Squido approaching him until she sauntered up next to him to sit down.
“Ah! Squido!” Branzy exclaimed, jumping slightly at the new presence next to him. “I didn't see you there.”
His goat didn't say anything, instead stared ahead.
“Beautiful view, isn’t it? I could stay up here forever, just watching.” Branzy said, staring ahead and enjoying the view.
The sound of birds chirping mixed with the sound and feel of the cool wind was just perfect, and was something Branzy enjoyed experiencing.
“You know…” Branzy started, talking to his goat. “I- um… I went and had a talk with Rek yesterday.”
Branzy sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “A few days ago he came over and showed me a video of Clown fighting. I hope you remember it, you were there. There was a lot of blood, and that was a little much but-” Branzy cut himself off, a subtle blush rising to his cheeks. “But oh my, Clown was- Clown was incredible. It was really impressive, I wish I could fight like that ,but I can't fight my way out of a wet paper bag.”
Branzy swallowed. “Anyway, I guess my point was I didn't think Rek exactly showed me the video for great reasons. I wanted to talk to him about it and ask why he showed me it and it didn't- it didn't go well .”
When Branzy looked over, he saw that his goat was staring at him. “He showed me that video to try and stop me from loving Clown. He doesn't need to baby me- I'm not a kid anymore.”
The goat continued to stare at Branzy.
“What?” Branzy asked.
The goat kept staring.
Branzy nodded. “Maybe you're right. I might have been a bit too ready to fight- but still! I don't understand why Rek thought it necessary to do that. I'm a grown adult!”
The goat blinked, but didn’t look away.
“You think he was just concerned?” Branzy questioned. “Okay… it's possible- but I don't need him in every decision I make. I'm independent.”
Branzy sighed and looked ahead. “Rek thinks that Clown is bad, and he may be to other people, but he's not to me, and that's what matters.”
“I love him, and I want to be with Clown. But I also want to be friends with Rek. I can fix this.” Branzy mumbled to himself.
Branzy looked back to his goat and met her eyes. “I think I need to talk to Rek again.”