Work Text:
Looking at his reflection in the water, he didn't see himself. It started small with just subtle wrongness—now his reflection stares back at him with eyes that aren't his own.
-----
As a sweat rolled down Joll’s forehead, he glanced at his partner, Conk, after defeating Cory. Joll trusted Conk to end Cory off, and he did just that. Joll glanced at the destruction. The smile on his face wiped off as he saw a person left in the explosion—not just a person, his mom.
“Mom!” Joll uttered while being horrified. His mother was laying there, explosion marks all over her skin. Joll felt his stomach twist and turn, all warmth from his body disappearing. The chilling winds that surrounded him attacked. She was bleeding, everywhere. That’s all he could think about. The only reunion that he's ever had with his mother was going down the drain. He reached for his mother, yet he couldn’t reach far enough. Joll’s face tightened as tears started welling up, threatening to fall. Joll’s knees weaken and his hand trembles.
“Joll, you were an amazing son. I tried to get you away from all of this; hiding you in the dirt civilization, but you were destined for greatness. I love you.” His mom reached out, attempting to grab at Joll, but the strength in her arm was too weak. A light smile grazed her face, before she bursted out into a heavy cough.
“Mom, no please…” The tears that were threatening to fall started pouring out of his eyes. He wanted to look. He wanted to see his mother the last time she’ll be here along his side. But he couldn't. He didn't want to see the terrifying version of “himself” when spotting the reflection of his tears. He didn't want anyone to see that version of himself. He tried to open his eyes, however they never opened. Maybe if he tried harder none of this would have happened. Maybe his mother would still be alive.
“Keep adventuring for me.” His mother’s voice came out shaky and with cracks. Joll could barely hear her as she was speaking in a whisper. Joll inched his hand closer to hers, close but never close enough. His own heartbeat flooded his ears Joll could feel the movement in her chest stop. Another pang attacked his heart.
“Mom!”
There it was. His mom died right in front of him and he couldn't even have the courtesy to look at her. What a horrible son he was. The tears wouldn't stop now. He cried in his hands for what felt like ages. Joll doesn't cry a lot. He doesn't even get angry a lot. But now, the immense guilt he feels, the lack of effort he’s put in his life, it all came back to swallow him up. The gruesome sight of his mother’s injuries haunted him in the dark pit of his mind.
“Look Joll, the corruption is turning back. We should head back to the camp. We did it.”
“A-Alright.”
Joll pressed his hand against his chest; feeling his heart beat fiercely beneath his palm. It was almost as if it were trying to break free. Joll wiped his tears away leaving no excess. He wouldn't want to see it again. The camp was waiting; he couldn't stay here—not in this place.
Joll glanced around. “The camp, it’s all back to normal, and everyone is safe. I guess this is the only civilization now, and everyones a part of it!”
“I’m sorry about your mom.” Joll looked to his left to see his new friend Conk to his side. Conk’s eyes softened as he made eye contact with Joll.”
“No, it’s alright, Conk. I have this flint and steel from her. I’ll always keep it with me.” Joll pulled out his mom’s flint and steel and gripped onto it with all his might. It was cold in his hand, yet he held it as if it were still warm from her touch.
“I found something. You might wanna see it.” Conk mentioned Joll to follow him. “What is it?”
“This is where the corrupted tree was. It’s gone now and there's a hole.” Conk stated.
“Huh, we went below the civilizations to get to the grove. But what's below the grove?” Joll gazed at the hole in confusion.
“We could find out.” Conk found Joll’s eyes and gave him a slight grin.”
“You know what, I think everyones gonna do just fine on their own. It’s time I find out where we belong. Ready for some more adventuring, Conk?”
“I said goodbye to my girlfriends, so yeah.”
“Cool. You’re my favorite rock, you know?”
“HEY.”
“I was just joking!”
“Too soon. Let’s go!”
Joll and Conk both took the plummet down into the infinite void below. The cool breeze calmed Joll’s nerves down as he closed his eyes and took peace in the wind.
-----
A striking pulse was aching in Joll’s head. A wave of nausea, yet exhaustion arose from him as he blinked his eyes awake. As he glanced around, he noticed his friend Conk lying in the grass snoring. Joll stretched all of his joints with a satisfying pop—he was always the flexible type.
“Conk, wake up.” Joll gently shook Conk awake to no avail. “Conk, there's steak nearby.” Conk instantly arose, just to accidentally headbutt Joll.
“Ouch, Conk! Relax!” Joll rubbed his forehead with a groan. He glared at Conk with slight annoyance.
“Sorry, Joll. I heard the word steak.” Conk didn't look tired, but it did look like he had just woken up. His hair was sticking up in different positions with knots and tangles everywhere. There was a bit of drool on his chin, so Joll pulled out a gray and green bandana and wiped it.
“Here, you can keep it. It’s a bandana. I had an extra one from my old scout troop.” Joll passed Conk the bandana before dusting down his clothes and adjusting his own Bandana tied as a headband. It was almost the same one that he handed to Conk, however the colors were green and gray.
“Uhm, Joll. I don't know how to wear it.”
“Conk.”
-----
After spending time on teaching Conk how to wear a bandana, they were both finally on their way.
“Joll. Why do you know all of these things?” Conk inquired as he was adjusting his new bandana. The fabric wrapped around his neck felt itchy, but he kind of liked it.
“I used to be an Eagle Scout. I always come prepared, you know? I didn't just dig dirt.” Joll walked with confidence in his stride and his chin up.
“Oh. That’s cool. I was a miner.” Conk stated nonchalantly.
“You were a pretty good one, weren't you? That’s how you got all those ores.” Joll managed a small grin. “Hey—look, a village!”
As Joll and Conk travelled throughout the village, Joll couldn't help but stare. It was nothing like the ones back at home—the rooftops were slanted oddly, the wood being used to build the houses are different, and the noise that the ground makes when he walks across the cracked cobblestone all just blew his mind. Even the smell was strange, scents of ash and hay mixed together. Joll snapped back to reality when he heard someone screaming for help.
“Help us please!” The villager pleaded. “Please help us. Our town's chest was stolen! It’s very important.” The villager moved around his hands frantically. Joll showed genuine concern for the villager, yet Conk couldn't care less. He started wandering into the villager’s house, before coming back welding a carrot.
“What's in it can cause the end of minecraft as we know it. Please get it back for us.” Conk had a dull expression on his face. He kicked around a rock paying no mind to the guy.
“Uhm, we're kind of busy.” Conk glanced up at Joll, before going back to his daze.
“If you help us we’ll give you more food.”
“How can we not help this poor, young lady.” Conk finally stopped kicking his rock and he made full eye contact with the villager. “At your service, ma’am.” Conk bowed politely.
“I’m a guy.”
“Who knows these days.”
Joll jabbered his elbow into Conk’s side. “Sorry, sir. Of course we'll help you. How do we find it?”
“We can't tell you out in the open. She might be around.”
“Who’s she?”
“The witch. The witch has been trying to get our chest for years. She doesn't even know its missing yet.” The villager looked into Joll and Conk’s eyes. “Everyday, she’ll come in and ask for the location of it in town.” The villager’s voice started dropping, both Joll and Conk having to lean in. The villager’s eyes darted around. Conk loudly chomped into his carrot, earning a glare from Joll.
“Hello!” A voice peered from the distance.
“She’s here! Watch.” The villagers voice interjected.
“I am the chest inspector. Here to inspect chests if they are to code.”
“Well Mr. Chest Inspector; the chest is actually–”
“Conk!”
“If you don't show me, your town will get a bad rating.”
“I think we can trust him.” Conk said.
“Okay.” The villager began. “Here are the coordinates to the chest.”
“Ahaha! I was the witch all along.” The witch’s voice started fading off into the distance. “Losersss~!” The witch cackles
Joll turned his head to look at the villager. “Why’d you give her the coordinates?”
“We did it.”
Joll’s eyebrows furrowed, looking back from the villager and to wherever the witch headed off from.
“Here. Take this compass. It’ll always point to the chest.” The villager passed him the compass.
“Who stole it?” Joll inquired.
“It was stolen in the night, and whoever took it must've known where it was. Hurry, there isn't much time.”
Joll began to walk forward. “Okay Conk, let's go. The compass points this way.” He held the compass in his hand.
Conk stared at the compass, his eyes shining with disgust as if Joll was handing him a piece of moldy bread. “What’s a compass.” Conk’s eyes squinted at the foreign object.
“It tells you where to go, Conk. Like a carrot, but useful.” Joll sighed
“Doesn't look like food to me.”
-----
“Okay, Conk. The compass is pointing through this forest. Let’s go in.” Joll glanced at the compass; the metal of the compass made Joll’s hands cold.”
“Okay. But I’m gonna stay close.” Conk was breathing right onto Joll’s neck as he trailed behind him. Joll deadpanned as he shuffled his way out.
“Not that close, Conk.”
Joll and Conk traveled through the trees which lead to a yellowy-orange pathway. The trees loomed over the path as Joll and Conk walked through. Overgrown grass was covering the edges of the path, and the dirt was uneven.
“See Conk, just a nice path.” Joll smiled at the nature.
“I’m on alert.” Conk spoke loudly to the trees as if someone could hear him. All that sounded back was the dancing of the long grass. Conk started humming a tune which caught Joll’s attention.
“What are you humming?” Joll questioned, leaning forward to take a closer listen.
“A song.” Conk stopped in his steps for a second which led to Joll bumping into him.
“ Oww.. Why did you stop?” Joll groaned, Conk’s body felt like rocks smashing into him.
“Bonk. He sung it.” Conk gave a teethy grin at Joll, before pulling out a carrot from his pocket and crunching on it.
“Bonk? Who’s that.” Joll looked at Conk, his eyebrow raised.
“My—brod— munch— munch–er.” Conk’s words slurred together.
“Your brother? Well that's pretty cool!” Joll scratched his head. “I never had any siblings, at least ones I know about. Conk glanced at Joll and nodded.
Conk walked while dazing out into the clouds, humming with his mouth filled with carrot. He bopped his head up and down.
“W-wait be careful!” Joll spouted, pulling on Conk’s bandana to prevent him walking into an obviously placed oak tree. Conk made a choking noise at the sudden force on his neck; the carrot bits from his mouth spitting out.
“Sorry, Conk. Are you okay?” A chunk of carrot stuck to Joll’s cloak which he quickly pulled off. He looked at the trees, sweat rolling down his forehead. He carefully shuffled his way around it. “Come on. Let’s go get that chest back.”
“Ok.”
Joll’s eyes flashed around everywhere as he and Conk walked. He pulled his cloak closer to his body. He could hear the sound of water dropping heavily. Conk started running and he jumped.
“Water!”
Water splashed all over Joll as Conk leaped in. Joll froze in his position—his eyes only could stare at Conk as he drifted further and further away. Joll couldn't move as the water reflected his image. The water didn't have his eyes. It was subtle, yet the hand in his reflection started raising closer towards Joll. As Joll stood paralyzed in fear, he heard the screams of Conk clearing closer towards the waterfall’s drop. He couldn't let another person he loves die.
Following after Conk, Joll leapt in. Even though he was scared of water it doesn't rule out the fact he was still a frog. Joll shivered as he felt his reflection’s hands grab onto him, yet he pushed through, keeping his eyes on his friend.
“Conk! I’m coming!”
Joll felt suffocated as the hands reached around his throat restricting his airflow. Black dots surfaced in his vision.
“Joll, please!”
Joll as his vision was blacking, he held onto land with his left hand and with his right hand, held Conk by his bandana right before he fell. Conk’s body was dangling off the waterfall.
Using his last bit of strength, he pulled him and Conk onto land, Conk falling harshly into his arms. As the asphyxia set in, his eyes finally darkened. His body, cold from Conk’s touch, fell limp.
“Joll?”