Chapter Text
Wemmbu finds himself standing in the middle of nowhere, just in wilderness that was too ugly to be claimed. He didn’t know what to really do in this moment, as he placed down his ender chest for some regeneration.
He was tired, so sore, sore muscles that ached for hours that have been begging for some rest. Rest and peace, two things he doesn't have time to do at this moment, he just couldn't afford to stop. He would die to have some peace now that he thought about it a bit as he found the potion.
'I hate this.' He thought as he chugged the brackish liquid.
He was definitely running low on supplies, having more disputes then he liked.
Wemmbu was starting to abhor combat, it was starting to be a little too much for him now. He wanted some serenity in his life. Although, it seems he is ill-fated.
Ill-fated indeed, he had no purpose. Nothing he'd do would fill that void. It served as a nullification to himself. It was selfish of him, remembering how he would use people to fill that space, a few died due to it. While others are alive but of course, they choose a path of betrayal.
One stayed, one that he'd lay his own life for, Eggchan. Even if he did get bitter about his friend's habit of getting kidnapped.
'I should teach him how to fight but each their own..' Wemmbu wasn't going to force Eggchan to be a fighter. Even so, being a fighter or not didn’t really matter, they both have consequences that try and outweigh each other.
Taking his pickaxe, he broke the chest and placed it back into his inventory. He has checked the durability on his armor and tools, it wasn't too bad to change. He also had the XP for any needed mending.
He looked around, his surroundings were just oak trees that seems to convert into a small swamp.
'Well, that makes sense.' He did agree with the comments of this place, it is quite ugly.
But he did hear a rumor about a sinister witch that wonders around. That was the main reason he came here. He decided to walk on foot instead of using his wings.
Since there is nothing but trees, flying would be useless to do, "walking it is...yay.."
He wasn't too happy about that, at least his wings will get a break, that's the only plus. He walked for about another five minutes, he stumbled upon a huge oak tree... That had a house built into its trunk.
'Interesting choice.' He walked closer while also looking to see any traps, he did see placed sweet berry bushes. A weak defense if that even was one, could just be a convenient food source. A horrible choice in his opinion.
Just as he reached the door it opened to reveal a shocked witch holding a empty bucket. They both stared at each other for a minute maximum.
The woman had light purple hair, blue eyes. She wore a white blouse with a badly green tied bow and a long skirt that looked black or maybe brown. Wemmbu's eyes went to her head, seeing the nametag above her, 'FaelonEXE...'
It's seems she did the same, "Wemmbu, what do I owe you my late morning?" Her blue eyes became sharp, as her routine was disrupted.
Wemmbu never met this woman before, that being said he didn't know how to interpret her next move, "Faelon the witch I assume."
The woman nodded, "I am, Fae is fine, now my dear succubus, what is it you require?" She asked as she pushed passed him. She too had things to do, she started collecting the sweet berries into her bucket. It seems Wemmbu got his answer for the placed berries.
'Choose your battles Wemmbu.' He thought as his eyes slightly widened at her comment. Wemmbu felt a shiver down his back, even his wings twitched, succubus, that was something he kept to himself. Even using magic to cover the mark. He wasn’t going to ask her how she knew that, "It's not what I require really..."
She stilled in her labor. Looking at eyes of charcoal, she was now curious. She wiped her stained hands on her skirt, picking up the bucket that was halfway filled with sweet berries, "Oh? Do tell."
Wemmbu pulled out a potion, the colour was rouge. Her eyes seem to widened, no longer sharp with suspension.
"Found this recently, I thought it was a poorly made regeneration but the pigment was way to off." Wemmbu said as he held the potion to show her.
She moved closer, "Come inside, I'll test a sample." Wemmbu followed her in her home. He was skeptical of her but, he did want answers especially since Eggchan couldn't give him one, and Eggchan knew his potions.
Witchcraft was his next best option to figure out what this is and why did he find it in his base..
Looking around her home, it was pretty open, barely walls that divided her home, although she did have a loft, her bedroom he only assume. She was setting up a brew stand in her kitchen. Soon pulling out a glass bottle, "pour a bit in here."
He grabbed the bottle and did as he was told, making sure it was just enough for her to test. He honestly didn't want to give it to her in full. Taking the sample from him and she started to work her magic.
She left it to boil a bit, as she got a flower from her living room, and brought it as a test subject. It was only to see if the potion was safe for consumption.
Wemmbu watched as she poured a drop of the warmed liquid onto her flower. It made a hissing sound, it burned the flower, "Blaze powder..."
"Strength is made with that stuff but doesn't explain the pigment." Wemmbu was right, strength was yellow.
"You are right my find demon fellow," She smiled at Wemmbu. "I may not know what this is," she said and Wemmbu seemed to deflate.
"But I do know this, this is ancient nether brewing." Wemmbu looked at her with eyebrows raised up in surprise.
"Really?" She nodded, "Taking this to a Netherborn would get you more answers then I." She added with a smile.
Wemmbu looked at the potion in his hand and soon placed it back into his inventory. His eyes found the woman again, "Here.."
Wemmbu had taken a totem from his hotbar and placed it on the counter. The witch let out a small gasp at the rare item. She wasn't expecting something so life saving. Wemmbu did leave quickly before she could refuse the overpayment of the little information she could give. Fae felt like she was burning holes into her door as it shut closed. Her eyes drifted more down.
"..." She looks at her flower that was once white, now it was the colour of the potion. But what caught her interest were the reminding leaves that hang off the stem of the flower, they were curling into itself forming a heart shape, it made the flower look droopy. It reminded her of a dog that is overly happy.
"Whatever, none of my business." She grabbed the flower and tossed it into her empty cauldron. She'll dispose of it later after she's done her daily chores. She turned and equipped the totem on her body.
She had a feeling this wasn't going to be her first interaction with that purple succubus.
"This'll be a eventful!"
.
.
.
Wemmbu on the other hand was trying to think of a list of people.
'Who do I know that are Netherborns...'
It was the only thought she had in mind as she left her wings take her home but she didn’t want to go back yet. He shock his head as he dipped lower into the sky, landing on grass. His curiosity takes a hold of him way to offend just like his greed.
Why was he so selfish? Whatever, the list he came up with was: MinuteTech, Clown Pierce, and FlameFrags. The only ones he had a connection with...
"Minute, he's out doing something..." Wemmbu sighed, he is now kicking himself for not really paying attention to what Minute said after he left him and Egg days ago. Finding him would take weeks and Wemmbu wanted his answer sooner.
"Clown... There's a chance to get a answer but is it really worthwhile for it." Wemmbu's tail twitched uncomfortably at the thought of getting possibly jumped with in the Nether by Clown and his group.
And lastly, "FlameFrags."
That was like setting his wings on fire and trying to fly. The last time he seen Flame was with ManePear and PrinceZam.
He looked around, he could go to Flame's base and nag him. He could do the same to Clown. What was stopping him? Well, it's the reaction he would get for having this potion. Netherborn are known to be barbaric by nature.
'Mane.' Wemmbu's eyes widened, he was near ManePear's tree house. The idea struck him like lightning to copper on a rainy day, Mane was half blaze. Pushing his feet off the ground his wings flapped and he flew southwest.
His feet his the wood harshly as his wings gave out. He certainly is pushing his limits on his exhausted body. This is what he gets for running out if ender pearls instead of stocking up on them like he should've yesterday.
That wasn't his current issue. It was seeing if Mane was home.
"Why is it so quiet, Mane? You here?" He walked around, even looking over the edges to see if he was down below.
"Mane? MANNNNEEEEEE!!" He called out the name more.
The lion-Blaze came outside of his bedroom looking disheveled. No blindfold, his tired cat-like eyes of black that faded into gold stared at the loudness that was Wemmbu. Wemmbu could see the big three claw like scar in the middle of his face, normally the blindfold and his hair cover it.
"Wemmbu, bro, I am trying to sleep." He rubbed his face to get rid of the tiredness that clung to him.
Wemmbu giggled, "It's about noon, Mane." He said as he walked to the taller male.
Mane rolls his eyes, "I'm aware, I have my off days."
"You're a Netherborn right?" Mane nodded.
"Yes, why?"
"Do you know anything about Nether brewing?" Mane eyes snap to Wemmbu's quickly. The air around them became dry.
"..." Mane's eyes seemed to glow for a a second but he calmed himself down once he seen Wemmbu take a few step back from him.
"Why are you asking this?" Mane's tail flicked, he was pretty annoyed now.
Wemmbu shrugged, "Egg was yapping about types of potions, and since he was from the Aether, said they are different from the ones in the Overworld..."
'So, Netherborn really are that overprotective of their history.' Wemmbu thought, he wasn’t dumb. He was testing the waters and its a lake of lava.
Mane nodded, it made sense, Eggchan was a angel after all. Plus Egg loved lore... In this case actual history.
"It got me curious is all, do potions in the Nether have different effects?" He tilted his head in a innocent way.
"They do, Nether brewing is stronger for a Netherborn then one born outside of the Nether," Mane continues on.
"They all burn to ingest as they are made with lave, so it would hurt, for example, you, Wemmbu. If you don't have fire resistance in your system." Mane's muscles flexed as he walked closer to Wemmbu and soon right passed him. Wemmbu followed behind him, leaving a decent amount of space.
'Well, that explains the small burn on the flower..' Wemmbu thought to himself.
"There are also potions strictly made in the Nether, ones that should never be found here in the Overworld." That made Wemmbu freeze so fast.
'That would mean..' Wemmbu felt like his lungs got punched, "Hey...uh Mane."
The lion had lamb in his mouth, "hmm?"
"What would happen if they were in the Overworld, is it dangerous?" Wemmbu was in his inventory staring at the potion... Bust soon took out some golden carrots to make it looks like he was going to eat.
Mane held the bitten lamb chop, "Depending on the potion, yes." Mane turned around, placing a end chest, digging deep through it and then pulled out some book.
"Here, since Eggchan is interested in comparing potions, this will help his research." The lion's tail flicked against the floor with a light tap.
Wemmbu finds his gloved hands grabbing the book, it was warm to the touch. Definitely from the Nether, it's very odd. Everything from there has a high temperature and a tendency of holding that heat within itself.
He'd definitely give this to Egg once he's done with it himself. He hopes this book is old enough for what's in his inventory.
"Thanks, I'll get this to him." Wemmbu gave a thin smile. His brain was scrambling and he was unsure what to do.
"..." Mane stared hard at Wemmbu as he finished the lamb. Mane felt some type of twist at the face Wemmbu made. It made him worry about the purplette.
"You look lost, what's on your mind?" He had sat on his ender chest, arms crossed, head tilted down to see Wemmbu better.
Wemmbu's balanced figure shifted, "I.. I honestly am tired."
"From?"
"Fighting... All of it." Wemmbu's wings deflate a bit as his tail was wrapped around his leg in shame.
Mane nodded thoughtfully, "Mmm."
Wemmbu puffed back up as if he realized he was being impuissant. Straightening his back, "I sho—"
"You need to work on your conflicts problems bro, with others I mean." Mane interrupted him. "Now shoo, I was to sleep."
Wemmbu groaned, "More lion then Blaze I swear!" Mane laughed, he was going to disagree but Wemmbu was right. He was more of a lazy lion when he isn't training or in need to be active.
Wemmbu seemed to take it as the perfect time to leave, jumping off the end with wings catching him as he flew. The lion's gaze was on the purple flyer until he disappeared.
"So, what do you feel about that lil bro?" Mane asked as his little brother who jumped down from hiding in the leaves above.
"Shut up." Flame said while Mane laughed shaking his head.
Flame rolled his eyes underneath his blindfold, while Mane put the ender chest back into his inventory "Although, Wemmbu got me curious."
Flame lifted an eyebrow, "For what bro, Nether brewing?"
ManePear looked at Flame, "I hear word of missing the five Flame potions from MinuteTech and Clown Pierce."
Flame seemed shocked, "The crazy bonding potions?!" Mane nodded, "Yep, the exact five that are for the soulmate ritual."
Flame goes silent, that was never good.
"Flame, Minute and Clown are already out looking for them, we should do the same." Mane says to a Flame that didn’t seem to play attention.
"Mane, you think Wemmbu has one." The way Flame asked unsettled Mane, Flame was always the more violent one of the two.
"Yeah, definitely does," Mane sighed, "The way he froze told me that..." Mane sighed, "But also he isn't the one behind stealing them."
Flame didn't know if that was worse or not. That Wemmbu was innocent of stealing for once or that he had one of those potions, "If Wemmbu does have one, then they are definitely planted."
Flame nodded, "The next question is, why plant it around Wemmbu?"
Mand shrugged, "It could be two options, " Flame looked at Mane, "One its someone from the Overworld trying to frame him,"
"Or two, it's a Netherborn that's taken a liking to Wemmbu." Flame shifted at that thought jaw clenched shut.
"two is definitely more dangerous..." Mane seemed to agree, "Keep an eye on Wemmbu and even around him."
Flame stared at Mane, "If it's option two, then we have bigger issues and Wemmbu will be the target." Flame nodded and left down the stairs of the tree house.
'What a reaction from you Flame.' But Mane did nothing, but he knew that Flame was doing something. He just didn't know what it really was. But whatever obvious obsession he has for Wemmbu was starting to show in his actions.
"What a Hellhound you are Flame... Dangerous Hellhound at that." Mane said as he walked back to him room, seemingnto not really care.
.
.
.
Wemmbu on the other hand made back to his base. He's been neglecting it truly, it's a bit dusty when he opened the door.
"I definitely spend too much time with E—" his eyes landed on a potion that sits on his crafting table. He just stared at it, his door was locked. He was so confused, especially on who broke in.
There was no sign of forced entry, nothing takening from what he could see. Just the potion placed on the crafting table... Waiting for him to get home as see it.
"..." He went up to it and grabbed it, inspecting it like it was the void's work. It was a bit different then the one in his inventory, a slight colour change. It was misty more pink then the rouge red one. Putting it into his inventory was the most swiftest thing he's done.
He didn't feel safe here anymore. Whatever or whoever placed that here could get in with not clues left behind was creeping him out.
'That’s two now...' He thought as he closed his inventory, looking around more with caution. He decided to get what he needed from here and dip as fast as possible. He doesn't need anymore surprises. Restocking on some ender pearls and spashing some XP bottles was easy.
Wemmbu didn't seem to notice his hands trembling. As he was splashing himself in a hurry. Painfully, the paranoia that he was feeling was starting to fill the base. It was just too quiet, it felt haunted. Everything was normal but it didn't feel that way to Wemmbu. It was like he knew something was wrong but could lay his finger on it.
'Like I'm being watched..' He ate a golden carrot,, letting the saturation sink in, it wasn't much but he had to prepare to bolt. This base definitely isn't safe anymore. He swears he can hear taping above him... Like feet on the rooftop. He knows he shouldn't ignore it but he did.
He opened his inventory, looking and eyes landing on the book Mane had given him. He took it out and started flipping through it. There were small scribbles of drawn-out potions and what they look like, but nothing looked like the potion in his inventory. Then he noticed a few pages near the end of the book were covered in ink, full on ink spill.
"Just how dangerous is this brewing..?!" He shut the book that was no help, he put it back into his inventory. He paced around, his next opinion is to go to the Nether and talk to Clown. Maybe Clown had a library Wemmbu could use for more information.
"Clown Pierce it is then." He huffed not wanting to go in the Nether, it was hot and filled with ashes that stick to his beautiful wings. It was a mission to clean off the ash.
Seems like he had no choice, Wemmbu walked back to the front door, this was going to be the last time he steps foot in this base, it was compromised. He slammed the door shut. He looked up slightly and seen nothing. But he still felt like he was being watched.
'There's no way I imagined that.' He turned away and headed his way to the closes Nether portal he can think of.
Flame on the other hand was hiding, luckily he'd gotten off the roof just in time. His invisibility had worn off and he didn't want to make more noise then he already did. Flame got out of his spot when he seen Wemmbu fly off in the sky.
"Bro and his wings." He groaned out, watching him fly off quickly...
Well at least Flame wouldn't be caught by Wemmbu, as his curiosity was in other places. Wemmbu didn't even look back to see if anyone was there. Which was quite odd for him. Flame's hand twitched, his claws threatened to extend and claw at the nest thing, a wall. He looked down at his hands, adjusting his fingersless gloves.
Flame didn't like that part of him. Unlike his older brother, ManePear, who was more open to the animal part of himself, Flame wasn't. His was far more dangerous then just a lion hybrid. Flame hated what he was, what he truly was. As it made him track down his own rival. Become so obsessive over things like fight and needing a rematch so bad he felt like he might die. Just to prove he was capable of doing his job, the job of his instincts within biology, to protect and provide.
He looked up, "Let’s get walking..."
And he did just that, he started walking in the direction Wemmbu went, ironically like the dog that he is. He couldn’t help it, it felt so natural. So normal to follow Wemmbu everywhere she went. He never felt like this towards anyone, friend, foe, or even family like Mane.