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Lettuce woke up in a prison cell.
Which is really weird, because he swore he went to sleep in his base.
He looked around, checking his surroundings, and quickly came to a realization.
This was not the Strength SMP.
No shade to his server mates, but this castle is not something they’d be able to build. He was in an obsidian box with barred windows in a giant throne room. There were white and yellow sun banners hanging from the ceiling and he could see a player standing at the entrance of the room.
He checked his inventory to find it empty. No armor, no tools. All he had was a goat horn and a book.
He opted to call out to the player. “Hello?”
They turned around, pulling out a sword. “What do you want, Lettuce.”
Okay, so, hostile. Was he kidnapped? What, for ransom? He’d heard of traffickers on the main hub, snatching people in the marketplace, but Tai didn't let people leave the server alone. So how?
“Where am I?” He asked instead. Maybe the kidnappers would be nice enough to share some information.
“What, did you hit your head? Prison, Lettuce. You lost. No more armies, no more chances. Nothing.”
Armies? Was there a war that he missed? And what does this guy mean, he lost?
“What war?” He voiced his questions. His head didn’t hurt, but maybe he had amnesia or something?
The guy stared at him like he’d grown a second head. “We fought you. The Law? Killed your army, defeated your commanders, ring any bells? You literally surrendered.”
He definitely does not remember that. He stared blankly at the player for a few minutes, trying to piece together what he could possibly be talking about.
The guy huffed and walked away. So… extra weird.
He decided to read the book he had seen in his inventory, although was startled to see his signature on the cover. That was definitely his handwriting, but he hasn’t signed any books. Odd.
‘Another day in Skyblock Civilization. This is my 3rd civilization. It’s almost as if my fate is rewritten, like a script of sorts. I feel like a side character in a universe I have no control over. I just wish for the day I have control over my own life. In other news.. I like snow!’
He had to read it three times to make sense of it. Skyblock Civilization… Maybe a team? And then the white fate thing, which he wasn’t sure what to feel about.
“Control over my own life,” he read again. “Side character in a universe I have no control over.”
Well, this book was royally unhelpful. He inspected the other item, the goat horn. It had some sort of marking by the base. He looked closer and realized they were words. ‘Whatever it Takes.’ Again, unhelpful, although the items definitely seemed important.
There was one last thing to do, he supposed. He held the goat horn to his mouth, and blew. It was actually a pretty nice melody, as far as these horns go.
He was not expecting the amount of commotion that action caused. All at once, people rushed into the room. The guy from earlier, followed by another Avian wearing a crown. A guy came soon after, wearing some sort of facemask. The last person seemed familiar, although he couldn’t place it. Pink hair and a blue and orange sweater. Weren’t they on Strength?
Well, she didn’t recognize him, so he’s probably mistaken. He was interrupted anyway from a sword being pointed at his throat. Uh oh.
“What did you do?” The guard hissed. All four sides of his prison had been surrounded by the players, with the crowned one pulling… fishing rods? In the background?
“I… blew the horn?” He said, uncertain. Why did that provoke such a big reaction? It was a goat horn, what are they so afraid of?
“I thought he ran out of armies,” the mask guy said.
Sword still held at his throat, the guard was the one to reply. “I told you he was plotting something! Get our guards down and kill Parrot while our defenses are weak. Have you pulled them?” He directed the question at the crowned one. He had rejoined the other players.
“They’ll be here any moment. We can’t take any chances.”
The pink haired one (Gods, he feels really bad for not knowing anybody’s name), who had been silent up until this point, finally spoke up. “He looks scared. Something’s not right.”
All at once, all eyes turned to him. He shrunk in on himself, ears dropping in fear. He really doesn’t want to die here.
Before anyone else could comment, more people arrived. They were obviously prepared for a fight, completely stacked in Netherite armor with the scent of potion effects lingering in the air. The first one was some sort of purple demon, then a black demon, and behind them was a familiar-looking blaze and— oh. Oh, he knew that person.
He didn’t even notice the other people coming in and surrounding him, eyes fixed on the pirate. Jaden. He was a member of one of the strongest teams on the server, The Pirates. Known for ruthless PVP and no mercy. HD had been on their team, before leaving for Team Drowned. Jaden had also been on Levels, all those years ago.
But why was Jaden here? And without Falcon and Jepexx?
The people around him were yelling, likely arguing. But he didn’t pay attention to it. “Jaden..?” He whispered, disbelief written all across his face. The man either didn’t hear him or didn’t acknowledge him, too busy arguing with the blaze.
He spoke louder this time. “Jaden? What’s going on?” Again, no one heard. He was getting a headache from the noise.
They weren’t even hearing him. “JADEN!” He yelled, and everyone went silent. He suddenly grew a bit self-conscious, but continued on anyway. “What are you doing? Where’s Falcon and Jepexx?”
Jaden finally looked at him, but there was a sour look on his face. “These are the consequences of your actions, Lettuce. And I have no idea who you are talking about.”
“Your teammates?”
“Wait, how do you know Jepexx?” That was another voice, someone he hadn’t seen coming in. A demon (what is with all these demons? Was he in Hell?) wearing a rainbow bandana.
“We’re on Strength together?” He said, but it came out as more of a question with his nerves. Everyone was staring at him and this was a really weird kidnapping and he just wanted to go home, back to Rejoice—
“Rejoice?” Oh. He was speaking aloud. He turned to the speaker, that purple demon who’d come in with Jaden.
“We-We’re on the same team. The Marines.”
Both Jaden and the Purple Guy were staring at him. The latter spoke next. “If you really do know Rejoice, what does he look like?”
“Uh, he’s a Sunflower Floran, with blonde hair. He always wears this red and blue suit, too…” He trailed off, but judging by their reactions, that was enough.
The Purple Guy turned to his companions. “That is not LettuceK. I don’t know what, or who, but that is not him.”
So everything just got ten times more confusing? Hello?
“I am, though?”
“Not our Lettuce, at least. I know for a fact our Lettuce does not know who Rejoice is.”
Jaden raised an eyebrow. “Lopezz was a part of the law, wasn’t she?”
“If Lettuce knew about Rejoice, he would’ve said something ages ago. Hold it over my head, after what happened.”
What happened to Rejoice? And why does his teammate (supposedly) know this guy?
“It’s probably a trick, bro. I told you we should’ve killed him when we had the chance!” That was the blaze.
“I told you, that’s not Lettuce.”
“Oh, shut up, Wemmbu! I don’t know who you’re talking about, but knowing one guy is not enough to go out and say ‘oh, that’s not LettuceK, he wouldn’t know that!’ Like bro, c’mon.”
This guy needs grammar lessons. Oh, also, new name acquired. Yay! (He probably should be a lot more terrified about people arguing over his life. Alas).
“Wow, the holy FlameFrags thinks he knows better than me despite that I know for a fact Lettuce could not know who Rejoice is!” Wemmbu retorted.
Oh, hell. He knows why the blaze looked so familiar now. FlameFrags, former member of the Strength SMP, was infamous. He was also a member of Levels SMP before it disbanded. If he remembers correctly, Flame, along with his brother, ManePear, joined Lifesteal SMP after Strength. So why was he here? (He was asking that question a lot, huh).
“Where’s Mane?” He decided to say, finally. If this was Lifesteal (which is weird, since Jaden is here and Jaden definitely isn’t on that server), then the other Blindfold Brother should be here too. And yet, in the crowd of players, he’s nowhere to be seen.
“What do you know about ManePear?” Flame asked, suspicious.
“You’re the Blindfold Brothers, aren’t you? Never too far.”
That made Flame laugh. Was that a good sign? Maybe no more plotting his murder? “Mane… is not here. He’s off doing his own thing, bro, I have no control over him.”
“But you’re brothers!” He will not admit to pouting, but he might’ve done… just a little.
Flame was looking at him weird. Scanning him. He straightened up, trying to look tough in front of the Immortal Demon.
“I hate to say it… Wemmbu’s right. Don’t know who that is, but it is not LettuceK.”
It? Rude.
“I tolddd you bro.” Wemmbu shot, grinning.
Flame, in response, gave a dignified answer. “Nanananana!”
“Bro is seriously–”
What is going on.
“That’s enough! Flame, Wemmbu, please save whatever that is for later. And don’t even think of pulling that rod!” Parrot interrupted, where Wemmbu was holding a fishing rod towards Flame.
“Just one! C’mon, King, just one tiny little explosion…”
King? This guy was a king? Or was his name King…
“We are not having another District 13 bro.”
Masked guy jumped in. “If you break the castle, I’m not fixing it. Both of you can figure it out.” So he built this place.
Did they forget about Lettuce? Probably. He’s not complaining, this was actually very entertaining.
The King turned towards him. So not forgotten, sweet. “Lettuce. If you’re truly not our Lettuce, like you say you are, where are you from?”
He perked up. Finally, a question he could answer! “I’m in Strength SMP! Well, originally Levels, but it was disbanded… two? Years ago? Yeah.”
The King continued on, “And how do you know Flame and Jaden?”
“Jaden was a member of Levels and is a member of Strength SMP. Flame was in Levels too, and he used to be in Strength before I joined, but he left for Lifesteal.”
Flame talked next. “What’s Lifesteal?”
“Oh, it’s kind of like Levels. You can steal hearts when you kill somebody.”
That drew the player’s attention. “What do you mean kill somebody? Wouldn’t they just be banned?” Wemmbu asked.
He tilted his head. “No… you respawn?”
“What’s a ‘respawn?’” Oh, this was a hardcore server too? No wonder they had been debating his murder so much.
“Death isn’t permanent on most servers,” He explained. “Like, Levels and Strength don’t have hardcore, but Lifesteal kind of is, since if you lose all your hearts, you get banned.”
“So, are we going with the ‘alternate reality’ thing? This could be manipulation or something,”” said the guard (the sword was no longer pointed at him, thank the Gods).
“Theo, bro. Just look at him.” Flame said, much to Lettuce’s confusion. He looked the same as always. Didn’t he?
Oh, also, new name! Yay! Actually, since the players were seeming less murderous, maybe he could ask.
“So, who is everybody? Can I ask that?”
The King facepalmed. “Right, you don’t know any of us. So, I’m Parrot. That’s Theo–” he pointed to the guard– “And you already know Flame and Jaden. Then there’s Wemmbu–” purple guy– “Minute–” black demon number 1– “Spoke, and Mapicc.” So, black rainbow demon is Spoke, and red bandana guy (who he hadn’t noticed until now, whoops) was Mapicc
Parrot continued introductions. There was Zam, some yellow guy, Horace, the masked guy, and Fymada, the pink haired girl.
“Wait, I was right! I do know you!” He pointed triumphantly at Fymada. “You were on Strength! Left not long after I joined, but still.”
“You know Fymada but not me? I should totally be on a server called Strength SMP! This is rigged bro.” Wemmbu whined. Did Flame just… stick his tongue out at him? What the hell?
Fymada did not say anything to his realization, just looking at him weird. Granted, everybody was doing that. Doesn’t help that he was still in a cage.
“Could I also get an explanation of where I am? And how I leave?” He questioned to nobody in particular. This time Minute spoke up (Haha, get it? ‘Cause one of them are named Spoke–).
“You are on the Unstable SMP, an anarchy minecraft server. On this server, you were the leader of The Law, a coalition of players that wish to bring justice to the server and punish wrongdoers.”
That didn’t sound so bad. Law and justice, maybe Unstable-him wasn’t so bad after all.
“Buuut you kinda went evil. And sent, like, thousands of players to their deaths. And blackmailed people. ‘Whatever it takes’ or something.” Wemmbu just shattered all his hopes and dreams.
He didn’t want to be the bad guy! Why was he the bad guy? The other players seemed to look at each other, so he assumed his face was probably giving away his thoughts, but sue him! That’s awful.
“I killed people? In hardcore?”
“Not you. Lettuce. See, there’s a difference, and that reminds me that I should not call you Lettuce ‘cause he tried to kill me and that would be weird. So, Lettuce, you are now K. ‘Kay? Kay.” Spoke has only spoken once and he is now by far the weirdest guy here. And Lettuce could tell these players were weird, so that’s really telling about this guy’s sanity.
“Should we be figuring out what happened to cause this in the first place? Or trying to return Lettuce back to his home server?” Parrot questioned, ever the king.
“Nah, man, I like this K guy! Much better than ours,” Theo said. Lettuce hadn’t noticed, but he’d put his sword away at some point. That’s a relief. Bit of a switchup though?
Ah, well. He wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth, or however the saying goes.
“I don’t know what the cause of this could be, but based on Egg’s ramblings, most stuff like this is on a time limit. Usually a day.”
“Wait, wait, wait, ‘stuff like this?’ This happens often?” Mapicc questioned.
“Bro, I dunno, don’t shoot the messenger.”
He was promptly shot. Wemmbu turned around to see Flame, innocently holding a bow. “What the hell, bro! That’s it, palace or not, you’re gonna get it for that–”
The players (including Lettuce) watched, amused, as the two wrestled on the ground. Y’know, Lettuce may not be an expert, but he was pretty sure most play fights don’t include swords, maces, and spears, but maybe anarchy made players a little more violent then usual.
The explosion (!!!) ringing out is what finally broke up the fight. So that’s what the fishing rod did. Sweet.
For a while after that, the players just talked. Lettuce was let out of the cage and the players told him about the server, in exchange for stories of his own.
They seemed really intrigued when he told them that, back in Levels, Flame hadn’t worn his signature blindfold. He had adopted it not long after Lettuce joined the SMP, but there was still a long time where his face was on full display. Wemmbu had teased Flame about that, of course.
Everything was interrupted when Lettuce felt a pull, deep in his gut. He stood up, knowing what that meant. Ignoring the questions of the Unstable members, he walked back over to the prison cell in the center of the room and climbed back in.
His alternate self was cunning and ruthless. He would not allow him to hurt anybody else through his freedom. He would not betray their trust.
He turned around to the confused faces of the Unstable members and smiled. “My time here is done. Thanks for having me.” He placed back the obsidian just before fate claimed him.
He didn’t hear any responses before everything went black.
But that’s okay. He has quite the story to tell Rejoice when he comes home.