Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Sneeg hovered over the castle at a distance, watching the front steps of the Kingdom's home. Members of the kingdom talked with Aimsey and Pangi– both seemingly cured and returned to their former selves. The demigod frowned; would they help get him and Crinkle cured? Sneeg's heart ached for his snail. Sure it was supposed to take levels and make life harder, but Sneeg had grown fond of his blue-shelled snail. Crinkle was like a son to him.

What was remaining of his body ached, tired from the countless nights of endless sleep and the infection eating at him. Sneeg turned away from the castle, flying away as he ignored the pain in his right shoulder. Has the corruption started to spread across his back? But if that were the case, why hadn't the vial worked? It had said the sculk was receding.

Ros beamed, bouncing on her heels as she lingered around Aimsey– the Aimsey she hadn’t seen in so long. 

“So what’s next for all of you?” Foolish questioned, “I mean, now that both of you are back to your original selves.”

“We were going to find the correct cure for Pili, hopefully,” Aimsey answered for the three. Lukey and Pangi nodded, agreeing with the Teal Titans’ words.

Foolish and Ros beamed, excited for their attempt at curing the kingdom's knight.

“That sounds great!” Foolish mused.

“Please, if you need any help just ask,” Ros offered, pushing away the worry of another one of her dogs getting killed.

“Thanks, Ros,” Aimsey smiled at her.

Sneeg hovered around the remnants of his beloved Blender and Fish Tank. It had been completely destroyed with holes littering the platform and the water elevator flowing over the shattered glass tower that once contained it. Only his meditation spot and the upper level of the Blender remained intact. A large meteor took place of the long gone outpost, having destroyed most of the tilled land around it.

Anger bubbled in the demigod. Sure he had mentioned the idea to blow up his machines, mainly toying with the idea of destroying the Twohickey with a few people inside, but this? This had been far more than a few pieces of TNT and a farewell. He didn't even get to do it himself.

The souls in his exposed ribcage wailed their grief of the Blender District, discouraged that they would no longer see the floating machine in pristine condition. Sneeg wouldn't say it aloud, but he missed the eclipse of moths that would surround him before he became… well mostly warden. He missed some of the moths lingering in his face to bother him, the same souls that now moved between his ribs to gain his attention.

“I mean, I was done with it,” Sneeg grumbled, “But damn.”

A faint throbbing pain pulsed behind his eyes, as he crossed his arms. The Blender and Fish Tank were beyond repair– or at least the attention span required from Sneeg for a complete repair. Maybe taking a break on his and Phil’s mushroom island would do him some good, calm him down and ignore the rhythmic pain behind his eyes.

He sat on the hill Phil had made on their island. Staring at the giant pig, he frowned. Part of him remembered a crowned piglin brute but the memory was fuzzy, if it was a memory at all. Phil had named the giant pig the same thing as their tiny pig back by the trees, Technoblade. Sneeg gave a small smile to the animal as it looked curiously at him.

The demigod flopped back, laying in the grass and staring at the clouds. Fit, Phil, and him had spent the first few nights watching stars when they joined this realm. Now, he was alone, left with his thoughts and the distant mooing of the mooshrooms and Phil's pig. The spirits in his ribcage occasionally whined, moving between his ribs to catch his attention. He frowned, the spirits knew that going between his ribs felt weird to him.

His mind went from the spirits to the infection as a whole. Sneeg knew couldn't pretend any longer. The sculk was taking him over and it was a matter of time until he was forced to succumb entirely to it. 

Suddenly a familiar heartbeat echoed and the sun felt too bright. The pain behind his eyes throbbed again, his eyes were getting sensitive to the light. It had been a long time since he last heard the heartbeats, and something about it seemed comforting in his loneliness. It echoed around him trying to lure him somewhere.

Aimsey, Pangi, and Lukey walked around the lab anxiously. Pili would be hard to convince into curing.

“So, how are we doing this? I mean, he’s going to notice Pangi and I are free from the corruption and sculk,” Aimsey pointed out.

“He trusts you, right?” Lukey stared at Pangi, jealousy peaking through his words.

“I mean, I think so?” Pangi shrugged.

“What about Foolish?” Aimsey suggested, earning a disgusted look.

Right. They were working with Green Faction, who disliked the king. Aimsey frowned; curing Pili would be harder than the three thought.

Sneeg couldn't remember where he was, let alone who he was. The heartbeats guiding him into the comfort of darkness, easing the pain in his head for the light. Did his body even hurt anymore? Who was he?

As the sculk covered man stumbled his way further down the caves, the more that was forgotten. His unfinished home, his friendships, his enemies, his machines. Each step closer to an Ancient City, the Warden lost part of his former self.

Phil raised his hat from his face, sunlight hitting him as it shined between leaves. The blond haired man squinted, adjusting his posture against the dark oak tree. His comm buzzed, alerting him of a message.

[FoolishG whispers to you: Is sneeg with you?]

[FoolishG whispers to you: I asked him if he could help fix my tools and he isn't responding]

Phil furrowed his brows. Sneeg wasn't responding to his king?

[You whispers to FoolishG: He's not with me currently]

[You whispers to FoolishG: Do you want me to come to the castle?]

[FoolishG whispers to you: Please]

Clown held the lantern out slowly, eyes flicking behind his mask in search of signs of danger. Zam and Foolish lingered close behind the Archmage, weapons ready to protect one another. Fit and Phil brought the end of the group, watching everyone's backs. Ros and Aimsey lingered at the opening on the cave, prepared to do anything necessary to help Sneeg or the group descending.

“Are we sure this will lead to Sneeg? How do we even know if he's down here?” Zam mumbled nervously, wanting her mentor and friend back safely.

“Aimsey said this led to the city they explored with Sneeg months ago when they were trying to work on the cure alone,” Foolish whispered, consoling Zam, “I trust them.”

“Sculk coming up, everyone,” Clown interrupted as he stepped onto the moss. 

It crunched under his boot, the dark sculk getting caught in the treads. The faint clicking of a sensor caused the group to freeze. In the dark, the faint glow of the tendrils announced its presence. Zam carefully hovered up and over, ripping the tendrils away. Not a single shrieker went off. There weren't even any bats.

“I don't trust how quiet it is down here,” Fit mumbled, shoulders tense under his armor.

“Me either,” Phil adjusted his wings closer to himself.

A shrieker erupted from nowhere, startling the group.

“Why did that go off? It would've done it when I messed with the sensor,” Zam questioned.

The Warden stumbled, head swaying as he sniffed the air. Multiple people were there. He grumbled, angry to have been disturbed. The Warden could hear murmurs, his brain foggy with the urge to protect this darkened, long forgotten city.

“Sneeg!” A distantly familiar voice called, causing the Warden to turn towards the sound. Too loud.  

The souls in his ribs cried out to the warden, their pleas growing ignored to the beast as he rushed the loud voice. He raised his arms, preparing to smack the person away as footsteps pounded around him. There was a small thud in front of him, not that he paid attention, more concerned with attacking. He slammed His arms, cracking the deepslate in front of him and striking a person.

Clown grunted in pain as he landed against a ruin, debris floating into the air around him. His ribs and lungs ached for clean, fresh air.

“Clown!” His King called as Clown scrambled to his feet.

“I'm okay, my liege,” Clown winced, as he stood, searching his bag for a health potion. Sneeg– no the Warden that took the demigod over, rushed the Archmage once more.

The Archmage looked up just in time for the Warden to slam him back into the rubble. What might’ve been left of Sneeg didn't seem to remember him.

“Clown, run if you have to!” Fit called, the bald-headed man staring worriedly at the Warden.

Clown pulled an ender pearl from the satchel on his armour. Pain gripped in his shoulder, white hot pain shooting through his arm and back as he tossed the pearl.

“Sneeg!” Phil called, the winged lumberjack pulling the Warden's attention off of Archmage as the ender pearl hit the ground. Clown winced under his mask, the feeling of teleportation colliding with the pain in his shoulder. There was no doubt the creature– no, it was Sneeg, had fractured or at least severely bruised Clown's shoulder.

“Woah!” Phil's shout echoed in the ruined settlement, followed shortly by fireworks whistling and the warden’s roaring screech.

Clown slouched against the wall behind him, grabbing the bottom of his mask with his good hand. Between the stale air of the ancient city, his ribs, and his mask, it was getting harder to breathe. His friend was that damned beast and he swore Sneeg’s inhuman strength from nirvana still lingered in the throws.

He couldn't tell if he was losing consciousness or not, the dark cave blending into the darkness.

All Clown still knew was he wanted to save Sneeg.

He stumbled, old cobbled stones crumbling around his every step. These noisemakers were disturbing his rest by wandering into his home and shouting jumbled words at each other and him. They were too loud for his hearing, too dangerous for his home. His home. Crumbling and forgotten structures of people long before his existence, now crumbling as he tried to defend it from these outsiders. He was protecting it, trying to give back the city of the people long since gone.

Ros gripped her comm, pacing in the grass. The sun would be setting soon, and there was still no sign of Sneeg or any of the Kingdom search party.

“Ros,” Aimsey called softly.

“They haven't answered, Aimsey. No one is keeping us informed,” Ros glanced up from the device, meeting Aimsey’s worried gaze.

“Ros, I know you're worried, I am too. But you've paced so much that there's a small path now,” Aimsey set a comforting hand on the architect's shoulder.

“But- what if he's too far gone? Or he isn't even there and they're fighting an actual warden? Or-” Ros cut herself off, gulping down air.

“I'm sure the others will message soon, it's almost nightfall. I'll make a small campfire for us and you can make a little shelter for when they come back,” Aimsey consoled.

Zam dumped her water, trident cold in his grip. Foolish and Fit were taking turns distracting Sneeg for Zam to have the chance to strike him. She stared at Sneeg, his own mentor and fellow demigod. Zam's heart ached, not wanting to be the reason for her mentor and friend's potential death.

“Zam!” His father called, pulling the princess from her thoughts, “I know. I know, Zam. But you have to.”

“Oh.. okay,” Zam took a deep breath, watching as the dark figure of his father moved away from Sneeg's mutated form, Fit doing the same in the opposite direction.

The Warden turned towards Zam, focused on the noise of the water at the princess’ feet. Zam inhaled sharply, eyes focusing on Sneeg's horns moving like the antennae on the sensors. Rearing her trident back, Zam shot forward.

He screwed his eyes shut, clenching her jaw at the impact. The cracking of the Warden's ribs echoed in the princess’ ears as Zam quickly dropped onto her feet. The Warden shrieked in pain as darkness engulfed Zam's vision, bringing his arms up to strike. Zam looked up, narrowly scrambling back in time.

“I have darkness!” She called, panicking.

“Get out of range, Zam!” Fit and Phil yelled together, the blond swooping beside Zam to pull him away.

Zam held Phil, letting the winged man help him.

“Keepers!” Foolish yelled, panicked, from somewhere in the Ancient City. Zam exhaled shakily as she stumbled to keep pace with the crow.

Foolish crouched beside Clown, squinting in the dark to see any sign of Clown breathing. 

“Clown,” The King whispered nervously, “Can you hear me? Clown?”

Clown grunted quietly, the totem barely hearing it. That's when he noticed it. Clown’s familiar mask was pulled off, resting in his lap. Foolish squinted, examining the Archmage for any outer wounds.

“Clown, where does it hurt?” Foolish whispered, trying to listen for any signs of the Warden or his kingdom.

Clown grumbled, words slurring into an incomprehensible mess. The King frowned, looking away from his Archmage, noticing the pulsing glow of sculk stumbling past the ruins he hid in. Foolish slapped his hand over his mouth, breathing heavy as the creature that once was Sneeg, moved to follow Fit. The soft glow of his pager alerted him of a message.

[Aimsey whispers to you: Ros is getting worried and the sun just set]

[Aimsey whispers to you: Everything ok?]

Foolish glanced at Clown before quietly typing.

[You whisper to Aimsey: Dont tell Ros but Clown is injured]

[You whisper to Aimsey: Don’t know about the others]

[Aimsey whispers to you: Want me to come and help?]

[You whisper to Aimsey: Only if you see a death message]

[You whisper to Aimsey: Can you make sure there’s an area to help them when we get out?]

[Aimsey whispers to you: Already on it buddy]

Zam began to hyperventilate as she stepped back onto the stone floor, Phil landing beside the princess.

“Zam,” The lumberjack called softly, grabbing his armoured shoulders, “Mate, listen to what I’m about to say.”

Zam tried to calm his breathing, looking the blond man in the eyes.

“I know it will pain you to do it, but you are the only one of us as powerful as Sneeg is. You have to try to do it Zam,” Phil stated firmly, “I can take the last shot if you can’t, but I’ll need you to lower him to that point. Okay?”

Zam sniffled and nodded.

“Oh okay,” Zam agreed hesitantly.

“He won’t hate you, if that’s what is worrying you.”

Chapter Text

Zam stared towards the looming portal-like structure, the blue flames below making it easier to spot. He had to do it– Phil was wise and knew Sneeg longer than she had. If Phil told her that Sneeg would understand, then he would follow through with the lumberjack’s words.

The princess quickly drank a vigor potion and threw down a strength potion. Readying her trident and spear, Zam raised into the air.

“Ready?” Phil flew beside the princess.

“As ready as I have to be.”

Ros paced the temporary shack, the monsters of the night lingering around outside. Aimsey bit at their fingernails, staring at their comm impatiently. Phil, nor the Kingdom had messaged for help. And none had died. Phantoms shrieked outside, a reminder of the lack of sleep both were going through.

“Aimsey,” Ros murmured, distressed, “What if we got here too late? And they're trapped down there?”

“Ros…” Aimsey closed their message from Foolish, having read the conversation over and over, "That's why we're here. We're here to help them when they get out. They aren't trapped. Phil, Fit, all of them, Ros. All of them will make sure the others are okay and get out together.”

“But we aren't-”

“Ros. Listen to me, please,” Aimsey set their communicator down and walked towards the architect, “The Kingdom is strong. Your faction cares about each other and will make it back to us. You have to trust them.” 

Rockets whistled in the darkness, pale smoke fading into the cave. The Warden shrieked as it was attacked from different angles. Phil flew away, the princess barely seeing the silhouette of the lumberjack’s wings in the darkness. Zam stood in the water once more, the end of her dress getting soaked and sticking to his boots. Memories of fighting Bad alongside Sneeg resurfaced. They were memories of a man now taken over

Zam stared at the pulsing glow of souls in Sneeg's ribcage. That would be her mentor's greatest weakness now, or at least the princess hoped it was.

“Ready!” Zam announced, heart racing as she started at the glow of the souls moving in Sneeg's chest.

“Fit you away?” Phil called.

“Zam, shots clear,” Fit informed, indirectly answering the lumberjack’s question.

Zam pulled her trident back, taking a deep breath. As he exhaled, Zam released the trident, barreling towards the Warden. 

[Sneegsnag was slain by PrinceZam using [PrinceTrident]]

[Pangi: Oh?]

[Roscumber: WHAT]

[Roscumber: WHAT]

Ros looked up from her comm, tears forming as she made eye contact with Aimsey.

“Ros-” Aimsey took a step wanting to comfort the architect.

Ros equipped her elytra and ran to the cave entrance. She jumped in, carefully flying down the cave system. Monsters tried following her, the architect narrowly colliding with rock structures in the darkness. All that mattered is she got down there to her friends and to her kingdom.

Clown slowly gained consciousness, hearing muffled sobbing and voices with a faint hum. Hadn't he been helping search for someone and got struck by a Warden? Pain broke through the haze of first waking up, blooming in his ribs, back, and shoulder. It felt worse than anything he could faintly remember.

“Clown!” Foolish's voice cut through the humming. 

Clown felt a cool breeze on his face, setting his hazy mind into overdrive. His gaze flickered around the darkness before landing on Foolish beside him. Clown couldn't conceal his quickening breath, he couldn't think right.

“Clown,” Foolish grabbed his wrist, “You're okay. What do you remember?”

“What?” Clown furrowed his brows before wincing, remembering the pain.

“What do you remember?”

Clown held his breath, trying to get his ribs to stop hurting. He racked his mind for answers.

“We were looking for someone,” Clown went to move his arm, gritting his teeth, “Fuck. There was a Warden. I got hit by it… Why is my face cold? It shouldn't be cold with my mask.”

Foolish hummed, grabbing his Archmage’s mask and quickly studying it.

“It's cracked. You must've taken it off before I got to you. Don't worry, only I've been with you and I can't see much,” Foolish answered, carefully placing it to rest atop Clown's head, “I'll let you pull it down and adjust it. I just want you to breathe for a bit first. You passed out.”

“Foolish! Zam!” Ros’ voice echoed in the darkness, the architect’s voice noticeably distressed.

“Ros?” Clown murmured. Foolish hummed.

“She's down here because we had to…” Foolish sighed, “Zam had to kill Sneeg. He was too far gone with the sculk and was the Warden that struck you.”

He could hear the sound of the small waterfall leading into the pond. The sun felt painfully bright as it shined through the leaves. The Warden went to sit up, confusion and pain blurring together.

A black mist appeared, slowly materializing into a cloaked person. He didn't know what happened, the sound of breaking glass and pain erupted around the sculk. He shrieked, pulling large chunks of grass, trying to burrow into the safety of the ground. The ground never betrayed him before; why would it now?

Clown leaned against the wall, pain blooming in his shoulder as he moved his arm to rest in front of him. Ros and Phil were sitting around the bed Sneeg rested in. Zam stepped into the room, closing the door quietly behind her. The Archmage turned back to watch Sneeg, the demigod was breathing slowly still.

“How is he?” Zam whispered to Clown.

“Same as a few hours ago,” Clown winced under his mask, his ribs still trying to heal.

“And you?”

Clown turned towards the princess, not responding.

“Sorry-” Zam began to apologise.

“It’s fine. I’m fine,” Clown looked away from him.

The pair went silent, everyone waiting for Sneeg. 

“I’m off to talk to the King, message me if anything happens please,” Phil stood, adjusting his wings.

“Okay,” Zam and Ros murmured.

Silence filled the room. All three staring at the fresh scarring on their friend.

Phil stood in the the entry of the balcony overlooking the throne room. The crow could admit, the totem had done well this round of life, surrounding himself with loyal and talented people.

“Foolish,” The lumberjack called, causing the totem to stop his pacing and look up.

“Ah, Phil! Hello,” Foolish greeted, lifting his crown to run a hand through his hair.

“He's still resting, if that's what's worrying you. Ros, Zam, and Clown are with him,” Phil informed.

“Good, good,” Foolish nodded, his mind clearly elsewhere.

“What is it? I've known you for enough centuries to know when somethings on your mind.”

“The whole sculk and corruption, Phil. Both calamities don't make sense. It didnt leave marks on Pangi or Aimsey like it has on Sneeg. And it never appeared on Ros, even though she messed with both. Corruption never touched us or Bad when we tried cleaning the towers of it. And the eyes, Phil,” Foolish rambled, glancing out the windows at the incoming storm.

“I don't know, Foolish. Maybe it didn't touch us or Bad because of our…” Phil eyed the rafters before lowering his voice, “Our immorality. But that wouldn't explain it with Ros or anyone else that touched either calamity. Although, Sneeg once told me that both practically cancel the other out.”

“Aimsey told me the same,” Foolish confirmed, “But that still doesn't explain the eyes.”

Phil adjusted his wings, feathers disturbed slightly at the thought of the eye that replaced the moon and the first night he saw it. Sneeg has been with him, on their cozy mushroom island. The man that now laid unconscious a few rooms away, had once laughed at the lumberjack’s reaction to a floating purple eye where the moon should've been. Phil would never truly escape that world would he?

“Phil,” The King called softly, understanding the lumberjack’s unease.

Sneeg felt like he was in the void, trapped in lonesome darkness. His body ached like he had been struck by multiple Keepers using the strongest weapons possible. Voices sounded like they were underwater, distorted and distant enough to make them unrecognizable. Hello? Sneeg wanted to call out, beckon the voices to help him to see if they could pour health and regen potions across his arm, leg, and ribs. Sneeg listened, not like he could do much otherwise. Only three voices were speaking, only now quieter and still distorted. Where were his moths or the souls? Sneeg missed them, missed the way those annoying moths would fly in his face for attention or the souls flying between his exposed ribs to disturb his leveling. His missed Crinkle, his beloved snail with the small blue party hat. He missed playing and feeding the creature that bore the same infection as him.

But what Sneeg missed the most was his friends and his sense of humanity. He missed seeing Ros smiling as she explained her latest ideas for the kingdom builds. He missed bickering with Clown. Sneeg missed watching Zam, Foolish, and Tina excitedly ramble to each other. And Sneeg missed who he was. He missed his body without the sculk.

Clown noticed Ros's attempt to hide a yawn. He frowned as he pushed himself off the wall. The archmage ignored the ache in his ribs and back, moving to the architect and princess. Zam looked up at him for a moment before relaxing his shoulders.

“Both of you should go rest. You two need it.”

“Clown-” Ros stopped herself.

“Ros, I can stay with him for the night. The kingdom needs both of you awake and alert in the morning,” Clown consoled, his voice growing softer when he noticed the unshed tears in the architect's eyes.

“You're right,” Zam murmured, moving to stand. Clown dipped his head to the princess.

“Goodnight Sneeg,” Ros whispered, giving a small squeeze to the demigod's unbandaged hand.

Zam moved over and helped her stand, comforting her friend. The princess whispered in the architect's ear before pulling back to look at the demigod. Clown reached for Ros, ignoring the pain as he pulled her into a hug. Ros needed comfort and Clown would give it, even if that meant causing himself a a bit more pain.

“You'll be the first to know if anything changes,” Clown murmured into her hair, feeling her nod against his shoulder.

Ros pulled away, giving a sleeping Sneeg one final look before moving towards the door. Zam moved to follow her.

“Zam,” Clown called, causing the princess and architect to look back at the archmage.

“Yea?” 

“You did good today,” Clown complimented, “I know it was hard since he's your mentor and friend, but what you did was needed.”

Zam nodded, trying to keep her composure. Ros interlocked her arm with the princess, offering some physical comfort. 

Thunder grumbled outside, low and oddly comforting. If the Archmage had to identify any of his friends as weather, he would label Sneeg as thunder in his mind. Sneeg would come into situations strong and fast; a man of few words when he was angry. Ros was the calming rain that joined the thunder, trying to calm and downplay the severity of a situation. But she could also stand alone, trying to make the area around them beautiful. The princess was lightning, fierce and strong yet hauntingly beautiful to certain eyes. She was Sneeg's right hand, fighting side by side in any battle. The archmage considered his king to be a sunny day. A beacon of light, warmth, and familiarity. Foolish was their familiar lead, lighting the Kingdom on its individual and group success. But if Clown had to describe himself as weather, he wouldn't know. He could see many of his friends traits in himself, but also traits he possessed long before them. So maybe he was a hurricane. Something that left destruction in his wake, spiralling havoc that went hand in hand with thunder, lightning, rain, and sunshine.

Clown sat down, looking at Sneeg before looking at the door. Silence. No approaching footsteps, no muffled conversations, just the silence of an exhausted kingdom. The archmage pulled at his mask, setting it between him and the demigod.

“I don't blame you,” Clown's voice was quiet, hesitant, “You were consumed by the sculk. I-”

Clown lowered his head, trying to gather the correct words. He doubted Sneeg would be able to remember, let alone hear him.

“I wish you hadn't kept it to yourself like you did. I wish you had written for me to come back, had told any of us how bad it was getting. I doubt Ros or Zam could've handled it going further than it had the last few days.”

Foolish stopped, hearing Clown's muffled voice as he talked. The King knew it was only his archmage and blacksmith in the room. He had seen his daughter and his architect pass by on their way to their rooms while talking to Phil. Foolish looked down at his comm. No new messages alerting that Sneeg woke up. 

Immediately, his mind went to the dark, underground city. Seeing a shell of Sneeg, of his friend, had been hard. It had been as hard as seeing Sneeg when they all first arrived in the server, when few remembered each other. 

He took a tentative step towards the door, wanting to go in but also give Clown his own time with Sneeg.

“Come in,” Clown called out, clear behind the closed door. 

Foolish stared at the door handle, hesitant. Absent-mindedly, he reached for it and by the time Foolish realized, the door was already open. The King immediately met the familiar eye marks on the porcelain mask of his Archmage.

“Hello, sire,” Clown greeted.

“Hello,” Foolish looked over at Sneeg, his smith resting peacefully.

Sneeg looked so peaceful, something he hadn’t seen with the demigod in a long, long time. There were bandages covering most of Sneeg’s left side, at least his arms, torso, and face from what Foolish could see. Silence fell between the three, the Archmage eyeing the door.

“You can continue with what you were saying to him, Clown,” Foolish broke the silence, “I heard parts of your speech."

Clown took a breath before taking the mask off and sitting in the chair near Sneeg’s bed. Foolish tried to hide his surprise at the Archmage’s actions. Sure he had seen Clown without his mask, but that had been in the Deep Dark, where he couldn’t see Clown that well.

“There’s nothing else, really, Foolish. I said what I wanted, what I hoped. And now we just have to wait for him to be okay,” Clown responded.

Sneeg barely opened his eyes, met with nearly blinding light. His body ached, similar to the time he had flown too fast and collided into the Blender before he had seen it. Why did it feel hard to breathe? Why did his ribs want to reject the air that his lungs so desperately needed?

“Sneeg?” Foolish’s voice called, causing Sneeg to feel like the world was spinning. 

Sneeg opened his mouth, trying to ask what had happened, but no words spilled from his mouth. His vocal cords felt strained, like he had screamed for hours. A pair of footsteps came closer, followed by panicked tapping on a screen.

“Sneeg, can you hear me?” Foolish asked, appearing in the demigod’s vision. 

The totem was slightly blurry in his left eye, appearing to be slightly more radiant, like he was the sun itself. Sneeg furrowed his brows, the action pulling at the bandages across his head. Sneeg closed his left eye, his king appearing like he remembered. He repeated the action with his right eye closed, this time Foolish still looked god-like.

“F-” Sneeg croaked before coughing. His throat was too dry and his body was spasming in pain from the sudden coughing.

The door barged open as Sneeg stopped coughing, kingdom members frantically spilling into the room. Ros went straight for her friend, collapsing on him with a warm embrace. Sneeg winced as he smiled, loosely returning Ros’ hug with his right arm. Zam was hugging her father, sobbing. Tina lingered close to Zam and Foolish, wanting to also comfort the princess. Phil, Clown, and Fit stood closer to the door, watching as Sneeg painfully continued the hug.

"Don't do that again, please,” Ros sobbed into Sneeg’s shoulder. Do what?

“Ros, he just woke up,” Phil reminded softly, moving over to the architect and smith. Ros mumbled, pulling away from Sneeg, still 

Sneeg blinked a few times, trying to stop his world from spiralling much more. Either he was seeing things with his left eye, or the sculk had messed with his vision permanently. Phil had a faint glow around him like Foolish did, except the lumberjack’s was a deep emerald green, similarly colored to the one dangling off the blond man’s hat. He glanced at Fit and Clown, neither of them had any sort of glow. Neither did Ros or Zam. Only Phil, Foolish, and Tina had any kind of glow around them. Tina’s was a soft purple and had horns?

“Mate? You all right?” Phil asked gently once he noticed the confusion in Sneeg’s eyes.

“Wha-” Sneeg broke out in a coughing attack once more, straining his already weak voice, “What?”

“Do you not remember anything?” Tina questioned, her arms crossed as she gave a concerned glance at the others.

Sneeg shook his head, stopping as soon as pain bloomed in his neck. Darkness fell over for a moment, a Keeper materializing in the crowded room. Everyone frowned, they knew Sneeg's dislike of the Keepers but he had also said he didn't remember anything.

“Keeper,” Foolish greeted, getting a blank stare before a buzz sounded from Sneeg's comm.

[Keeper of the Realm whispers to Sneegsnag: How do you feel?]

Sneeg didn't try to reach for his comm, he still felt like he was spinning. He felt overwhelmed, too much was happening at once. His throat and voice still felt strained and dry, leaving him unable to properly ask his rapidly forming questions. Why did Phil, Foolish, and Tina have a glow around them that was only visible in one eye? What did Ros mean ‘not do again?’ Why did he feel like he had been drained of his lives and reset?

Chapter Text

“Guys let's give him some space, Sneeg just woke up,” Fit spoke up, staring at Sneeg.

Sneeg looked at his bald friend, slightly grateful at his words and silent notice of how overwhelmed Sneeg was getting. Ros and Clown took a step closer to Sneeg's bed, making it clear they weren't going to leave soon. The demigod looked between Phil and Foolish. He felt so tired, so in pain, but he needed answers. Scratch that, he wanted answers.

The smith looked towards the archmage. The kingdom's strong, terrifying archmage was now trying to breath slowly with his arm in a sling. Zam, Phil, and Fit were scraped up, their wounds small and easier to heal with a weak regeneration potion. Fit held the door, waiting for people to figure out whether they would stay or leave. Tina hesitantly left, lingering beside Fit for others.

“What happen-” Another coughing attack, “To your arm?”

Foolish and Ros looked at Clown before looking back at Sneeg.

“Let me get you some water,” Ros excused herself to the brewing stand at the opposite end of the room.

“What do you remember, Sneeg?” Foolish crosses his arms, the king looking down at his friend with concern.

“I remember sitting at the Blender and it being too bright. After that it's all fuzzy,” Sneeg answered as Ros handed him a water bottle.

“Sneeg,” Ros started before looking at Foolish and Clown to help.

“We tracked you down and you werent at the Blender. You were in an Ancient City, the same one you and Aimsey went to for cracked catalysts,” Clown explained, “You were more Warden than human at that point and you… You were about to attack Zam. I stepped in between and you struck me.”

Sneeg looked at Foolish before staring back at Clown's arm. He had hurt his friends again? Sneeg forced himself to look away from Clown's wounded arm to Ros. She offered a small smile, seeming to understand his unspoken fear and memory.

“I-” Sneeg stopped himself, not sure what to say.

“It's not your fault.”

The same words Ros had said after she respawned during the second ball. Not his fault. Sneeg felt his chest tighen, painfully with how his ribs felt.

“What else?” He asked.

“You lost a life. Phil and Fit made the decision that fighting you down there would be too hard and that if you respawned, you'd have a chance at being human again. Zam killed you,” Foolish answered. 

Sneeg hummed, staring at Foolish.

“Why do you have a glow around you? Same with Phil and Tina.”

“What?” Clown looked at their king. 

He didn't have a glow. Foolish furrowed his brows before realizing something. Sneeg frowned as silence filled the room.

“Did Bad also have a glow? Or the Keepers?” Foolish inquired, leaving Sneeg's question unanswered.

“The Keeper did, I-” Sneeg coughed and wheezed as he tried to breath, “I don't know about Bad.”

Foolish frowned and looked between Clown and Ros.

“Foolish?” Ros murmured, “What's going on?”

“I think I know why Sneegs seeing a glow on Tina, Phil, and I. Did you notice any inconsistencies? Like horns or anything on any of us?” Foolish studied Sneeg closely, waiting for an answer.

“Just horns for Tina,” The smith responded. Foolish dropped his shoulders and hung his head.

“Okay. Okay,” Foolish nodded, beginning to pace the room.

“My liege, what's going on?” Clown echoed Ros’ earlier inquiry.

“Some of us are immortal here. Tina, Bad, Phil, and I,” Foolish finally explained, “We all hid it, we hid our normal looks so we wouldn't draw suspicion.”

Ros picked up Crinkle, the snail softly bumping his head against the architect's chin. She petted the side of his shell, not wanting to disturb his little blue crown.

“Oh, Crinkle,” Ros sighed as she walked back into Sneeg's room, “He'll be okay soon. I just wish I could comfort you like you have for me.”

Sneeg laid in his bed, sleeping once again. Ros let Crinkle crawl onto Sneeg’s bed, the snail magically setting a saddle on itself as he scooted towards Sneeg;s unbandaged arm.

“I need to get a health and regeneration potion, Crinkle. So I can soak his new bandages before we switch them,” Ros explained, moving towards the door. The snail hopped twice before resting beside Sneeg’s hand.

Ros stepped out of the room, leaving Sneeg and Crinkle alone. Shutting the door behind her, she released a shaky breath and continued on. Surely Zam or Clown had the potions already, especially Clown with his injured shoulder. Her steps echoed against the floor, lone and sharp as she weaved her way to Zam's room.

“Zam?” Ros called, knocking on the princess’ door.

“Ros, you alright?” Zam questioned, looking down at her friend. A beat of silence passed between them.

“I'm as alright as I can be with everything. Do you have any spare health or regeneration potions? I wanted to soak Sneeg's new bandages before I applied them,” Ros answered, swaying the conversation to the original reason she came to him.

“Yeah I think I do, come in,” Zam held the door for Ros, letting her into her room before searching some chests.

Ros and Zam stopped as they saw Aimsey sitting near Sneeg, regret and remorse on their face. Crinkle looked back at them, having moved onto Aimsey’s lap. Zam offered a solemn, pitied stare at Ros, knowing vaguely of her frustrations with the Teal Titan. Ros shook her head, purple hair bouncing against the dark armor.

“I know you two are there,” Aimsey called out. The pair walked further into the room, Crinkle crawling towards them.

“It’s not your fault, Aimsey,” Zam comforted.

“But it is, if I never asked him about the sculk, it might not have ever happened to him,” Aimsey looked back at both kingdom members.

“He was constantly finding it, Aimsey. Before you asked him, something about it was already fixed on you and him,” Ros consoled.

Zam held a hand out for the bowl of soaking bandages.

“I can do it, you sit Ros. You deserve a break,” The princess offered a small smile. Ros was hesitant to hand over the bowl, wanting to keep helping her friend get better.

“Ros, she's right. You need a break you've been going nonstop for days.”

Pieces of humanity would forever be taken from demigods, but that will never make man stop trying to reach godhood, for it gives man purpose. And for the first demigod, his purpose to forever protect his home, will forever be trailed by the sculk that ate away at his soul, and therefore his humanity. Even when the sickness is long gone, the phantom feelings of it and the phantom sounds will awake him with a cold sweat and feeling of it catching under his nails.

Weeks passed, kingdom members taking turns soaking bandages for Sneeg before Zam, Ros, or Clown would apply them. They took turns slowly helping Sneeg start moving around again. Sneeg found small tasks to do, things that he insisted to do so he wasn't just there. Fit and Phil helped sneak him back to the mushroom island a few times, sitting in the shade of Edwarto and catching up. Today was one of those days, complete with a soft breeze blowing past the tree farm and to the men.

“How's your eye doing, Sneeg? Are the bandages working for it?” Fit questioned curiously.

“I mean it's been functioning since I woke up a few weeks ago,” Sneeg shrugged, ignoring the pull between bandage and skin. Phil frowned, staring at Sneeg.

“Are you sure? Foolish mentioned otherwise last I saw him,” Fit pried.

“It's fine, it just gets blurry occasionally but that's becoming rare. Plus blinking helps,” Sneeg answered, trying to drop the subject, especially when one of the so-called immortals was with them.

Sneeg watched the clouds loom above, enjoying the moment of silence that fell between the three. It felt nice, just sitting and enjoying his friends’ company. Because that's how it started all those months ago, just the three of them chatting and trying to survive the monsters of the caves. And maybe, just maybe, when the calamities take over and the world is beyond rescue, that'll be enough for the three men. The world for the three of them ending just like it started. Together.