Chapter Text
I. Leave the past behind.
The sound of a milk bucket being drained echoed through the air, the wind howling in anticipation.
Parrot eyed the person in front of him in disbelief. Standing just a few blocks away from him was none other than..
“Parrot, I am Wifies.” His former friend’s voice echoed.
Wifies?
“What…”
His mind was starting to play tricks on him, right? There’s no way that person is Wifies, no, it can’t be. He watched Ashwag pull his stasis right in front of him.
Right in front of their home.
But to Parrot’s absolute shock, Wifies continued talking—something about how the avian’s near-death experience made him feel so helpless, unable to prevent the danger aimed at his friend. Parrot’s wings curled up defensively; taking a step back, his boots imprinted onto the snow.
“You keep sacrificing yourself for a cause that exists entirely in your head.”
Does he dare take a step forward? What if it was a fake? A clone, maybe? The avian-hybrid takes a step or two, staring into a face that looks just like Wifies. But he knows something is wrong. Terribly, wrong. His eyes were devoid of emotion, gone were the purple highlights in his eyes—the ones that would brighten up in delight whenever they sought out a new adventure.
“Parrot, you’re the only person I care about on this server, if you were to die, then there would be no point for me to stay here.” Seeing Wifies standing on two feet, talking, breathing, existing, felt so uncanny. He was supposed to be dead, but by all odds, he’s here.
He shouldn’t be, though. Especially when he’s gone to extreme lengths just for this moment.
Parrot couldn’t help but huff out a humourless chuckle, his breath fogging up. “You’re actually— you faked your own death.”
“Exactly. I convinced you to tame a dog, I then named the dog ‘Wifies’ and dropped it into the void at the exact moment that I supposedly ‘died.’” Wifies stepped further and Parrot instinctively pulled back. “The dog’s death message showed up on your communicator and it was enough to prove to you that I was dead.”
“But I am the Director, Parrot,” he outstretched his arms, placing them on his chest for emphasis, “you’ve been chasing someone who doesn’t exist.”
No words could describe how deeply betrayed he felt, I mean, who could’ve known that Wifies of all people was the Director? He used everyone as an expendable pawn for what?
For a reunion that doesn’t exist?
“Bro... what? This still makes no sense, you did all of this to protect me yet you sent assassins after me. These traps you plotted, all those mind games you played on me and the others, not to mention some of them almost killed me!”
“Listen Parrot, there were many times you could’ve died, but you didn’t.” Wifies clarified, his tone flat. This entire time, he’s been toyed like a puppet attached to strings.
“Because this, this is the story I wrote—I controlled everything, I told them not to kill you,”
“And now I know everything about you: how you think, how you act, how you work, and that’s all I need for the next part of my plan.” His ‘friend’ says, with such reverence too, as if it was an achievement to boast about.
And hold on what— “Next part of my plan”?
“What is wrong with you, bro?” Nausea welled up inside, clawing its acidic talons, desperate to overflow. Parrot swallowed it down, nails biting into the palm of his already scarred hands. “D-do you even understand what you’re doing?” He winced at his stutter.
Before Parrot could think, he blurted out a confession he wished he could take back.
“I miss the old Wifies.”
Wifies briefly exhaled, neither disheartened nor upset and for the first time, Parrot could see the hidden exhaustion in his friend’s expression, something other than perpetual indifference. “I guess I expected that reaction from you, but that’s okay.”
“I had to kill my past self to become who I am today—I don’t expect you to understand and I don’t expect you to—“
“No, I’d never… Why would I ever understand?” He interjected. He doesn’t even know what to say anymore, the Wifies he knew was long gone and there might not ever be a chance for him to snap back to his senses.
Wifies' voice becomes soft, reassuring in ways he wishes it wasn’t, “You don’t have to understand, but I’m here to protect you. That’s all I care about.”
He pretends a massive crack hadn’t formed in his heart.
Parrot just had to blink his eyes just so those tears wouldn’t fall. “Don’t even—You’ve sent these assassins after me and now you’re saying that their intention was never to kill me? And now you’re going to protect me?” Parrot scoffed at the irony. “Wow, you’ve done a great job at that.”
Yet it seemed like Wifies couldn’t care less.
“No one will ever hurt you again, Parrot. Together, together we’ll build a world where you don’t have to worry about dying ever again.” Wifies promises.
“You just need to follow me.” Wifies took one of Parrot’s hands, intertwining his and Parrot’s hands together like a pact and just as he expected, there was no warmth from a puppet being like him.
The avian promptly wrenched his hands off Wifies’ hand, staring at eyes dark enough to reflect himself.
“Are you stupid?”
“Are you stupid? You want me to follow you after what you’ve just told me. After everything you’ve done?!” He wants to fall onto his knees and cry; cry until his eyes are rubbed raw. Cry until he has no tears to give.
Until he wakes up from this bad dream.
Parrot averts his gaze. “No, I'm not following you,” he spat out disdainfully, “and what are you going to do, kill me? You already said you’re not gonna do that.”
Wifies huffs out a laugh and he knew it wasn’t out of amusement. “I know, but I’ll kill all your friends.”
Suddenly, he was vividly aware of how freezing it was and his heart sank.
“What? What do you mean…?“
He searched for a sign of bluffing, something that showed him it was only a deceptive measure, only to find Wifies blankly staring at him as if he’d actually do it if he didn’t comply. He recalled back to the conversation he had with Ashwag, the one at the Farlands. The former leader’s words rang in his mind.
“This player… this player is the most powerful person I’ve seen by far, undisputedly the most powerful player on this server. And they call themselves, The Director.”
He didn’t believe him back then but if Ashwag—the leader of the Invisible Mafia claimed that The Director was stronger than him, then it’s most likely he has everyone on a leash.
There was no choice for him, was there?
Already sensing his submission, Wifies began walking, expecting Parrot to follow behind.
One way or another, he’ll find a way out of this mess.
O my dear bird,
Soar up into the sky for me
For I shall clip your wings
So you’ll never weep.
II. A new beginning
Wifies and Parrot treaded the snowy path, snow crunching beneath them, leaving footsteps along the way. (Except Wifies’ boots didn’t leave an imprint. Was it the armour’s effect?) Vast lands of snow stretched out in front of them, it almost appalled Parrot by how long they had to traverse to get out of the unforgiving snow.
Every now and then, Wifies would stop for a break, drop some food for Parrot when his hunger bar was low and try to converse with him as if nothing ever changed. He would’ve appreciated the sentiment if he wasn’t being held hostage. When they finally made it out the snowy biome—and thank God they did—the two walked through tall grass until Wifies halted in his steps.
Parrot, who had been following closely behind Wifies, bumped into the latter’s back, eliciting a small yelp before frowning.
“Why’d you stop?”
Nothing could have prepared the avian-hybrid for a splash potion being thrown at him. Feeling the effects rather quickly, he could barely keep his eyes open and his body steady as he swayed, dropping onto the grassy field with a dull thud.
-... .. .-. -.. -.-. .- --. .
It had been two weeks.
Two weeks trapped, imprisoned, confined in this so-called: “Paragon, The Perfect Prison.”
Two weeks of isolation, unable to contact people other than Wifies who came by seldom to drop off sustenance.
Two weeks; And he just woke up fairly recently.
Well, at least that’s what he's been told.
This wasn’t some ordinary prison either. It didn't have cells or anything—no. Parrot was surrounded by large, obsidian circular walls which had stairs that spiralled upwards to the surface. In the middle stood an obsidian pillar with rings of crying obsidian—he couldn’t even walk around or he’d drain all his hunger bars.
It’s clear that this prison was made for him.
What’s even worse is that his beautiful teal-green wings had been bound by the same person he considered to be his best friend. Parrot nearly wept at the discomfort and the loss of his wings being mobile, even if his wings were only partially functional, it held immense value to him, his pride and joy.
It was a wonder how he hadn't gone insane yet; any normal player would’ve jumped into the lava below, but even then, Wifies would have implemented a fail safe to prevent him from dying. Probably a totem dispenser or something similar.
Urgh.
Every Thursday, at 13:00, Wifies would descend from the stairs and use a flying machine to deliver him food so he wouldn't die of hunger. Through the dispenser, four loaves of bread popped up in the middle of the pillar.
…Maybe “food” was an overstatement. These are rations.
No, even rations were more generous than whatever this was!
“That’s it?”
“To make the day a little nicer.” A small strawberry cake was also dispensed as a little token.
Shortly after, Wifies left the same way he entered.
He wants to throw that cake at his face.
Surely Wifies can’t expect him to survive off of four paltry sums of bread and cake. Surely he’ll give him something more.. filling? Like he’s the Director for heaven’s sake, why is he giving him such little food?!
Other than the fact he’s being practically starved, Parrot needed to devise a plan ASAP, otherwise he’d be trapped here forever with his pitiful loaves of bread and boy did he shudder at his so-called ‘future.’ He analysed what scarce materials he had left on him and with his spyglass, he scanned every inch of the prison, looking for a crack in the wall or some sort.
Then, an idea came to mind—the flying machine.
That was his ticket to the outside world! Of course he’d have to deal with Wifies since he was the one who built the machine… However, if he played his pieces right, he’d be out of here in no time. Although it was a valid option, it came with a ton of risks, risks that he was willing to take.
Once Thursday came around, a window of opportunity opened, and Parrot wasn’t going to waste his chances.
“You know you can’t keep me here forever, right?”
The exact four loaves of bread were dispensed, followed by a short response.
“I don’t want to, but I’m doing what I have to.” Wifies was already on the flying machine, travelling back to the opposite platform.
Parrot stood near the edge of the pillar, fishing rod in hand. The boundless pools of lava surrounded the pillar he stood on. Should he fail, he’ll die or face serious consequences. As soon as he got a clear view of Wifies, he hooked the latter onto the rod, propelled himself with a wind charge and unreeled the fishing rod midair, sending Wifies flying whilst Parrot landed onto the machine.
“Oh, oh my gosh..” The heart within his chest pounded, he exhaled slowly, taking some time to recollect himself. All that stood between Parrot was a heinous amount of stairs. Once the machine stopped in front of the surface, he wasted no time running up the stairs—tedious, but definitely worth it.
Sunlight flashed into his eyes and Gods did it feel good.
Parrot shielded his eyes from the radiant sun and walked to one of the edges of the surface.
He was so ready to conduct another plan, try to safely get down the tower and run away except… this wasn’t the outside world. Staring down below, there were multiple biomes split into sections with a large obsidian border surrounding it.
It wasn’t that easy.
So why did he think it was the end?
Of course it wouldn’t be this easy, this is Wifies he’s dealing with—the Director, for heaven's sake. Parrot gazed out at the biomes, The Badlands, Tundra, Plains… practically every overworld biome.
But the avian-hybrid never gave up, because no matter what, his heart remained persistent, always seeing plans out till the end; and this wasn't any different. He’ll do whatever it takes to escape Paragon.
“Whatever plan you’re thinking of, Parrot, it’s not gonna work.”
No way.
As Parrot turns around he sees Wifies completely unscathed, not a scratch on his armour.
“You lived that..?”
“I know how you are, Parrot. You fight with everything you’ve got so long as hope burns in your heart, but even the strongest of flames will eventually die out. So try, try all you want, you’ll always be back in my hands—then we can finally begin.” Wifies walked over to stand next to Parrot, staring out at his vast creation.
The avian-hybrid shifted uncomfortably as he asked. “begin with what?”
“Begin building a world, Parrot, a world with only us,” The latter’s lips quirked up, albeit barely. “A world where you and I don't have to worry about being in danger ever again; and I promise it won’t take any luck or any divine being’s will. It won’t take anything,”
A hot fury swirled in the pit of his stomach, ticking like a time bomb.
“You just have to stay here with me and you’ll survive.”
“C’mon, smile for me Parrot, you’re safe.” A pair of hands cupped Parrot’s cheek, thumbs gently pressed on the corners of Parrot’s lips, spreading them upwards in a smile. Parrot shoved Wifies away, who had now fallen to the floor with a thud, he stared down at him with a hollow look. Who was he kidding? There’s no way Wifies actually thought he’d stay with him.
It took a moment for Parrot to recollect his senses, and when he did, he was absolutely convinced Wifies was going to blow up on him.
“Wifies!”
The avian hybrid was about to reach out to his friend Wifies when his hand was swatted away. Wifies’ pitch-black eyes looked up at him in disbelief.
Silence enveloped the air between them.
“I’m sorry, I–”
“It’s fine.” The latter dismissed, standing up and dusting himself off. If this were any other person, Parrot ought to get a beating or two, by a sword or a mace, maybe.
“Put your items in the shulkers and fill up every slot with boats.”
Parrot wordlessly replaced all his item slots with boats, partly because he felt terrible and partly because he didn’t have a choice.
Only one boat was left over, the one slot he had saved for last contained the spyglass.
His spyglass.
The spyglass was a precious, invaluable object that Wifies had given him as a symbol of friendship—he wondered why he even kept it when that friend wasn't the same person he used to know. Letting go should have been easy, after all it’s just a crafted piece of copper. However, Parrot still held on. Maybe it was a bit selfish of him, clinging onto something that long lost its meaning, but if it gave him a sense of hope, he’d gladly hold on to it until his days on the SMP ended.
So, Parrot lied. “That’s all my items.”
Wifies checked the shulker boxes, one after another, finding them all empty until he found one singular boat left over. “There’s a boat left in here.”
Flashing the avian hybrid a glance, it was clear he knew what Parrot was holding on to. “The spyglass, Parrot, drop it.”
“Wifies,” It almost hurt him to see Wifies ask him to simply toss it away, something that symbolised their friendship.
Though, that’s not the case anymore, is it?
“Why would I ever want your stupid spyglass?” Clutching onto the said object a tad bit longer, Parrot pretended not to care as he walked up to the edge of the pillar, discarding it. He tried not to flinch when he heard the glass crack onto a hard surface.
Satisfied by Parrot’s acceptance, Wifies also decided to start from scratch just like him. It confused him at first, knowing there was more to his actions than his words could tell but Parrot brushed it off, he had bigger problems to deal with, like escaping this prison.
Thus began their adventure as a duo within the birdcage.