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Law is over. It's all over now.
Spoke almost collapsed at the sheer amount of weight he felt on his back. The law was defeated, and he had nothing more to worry about.
He grimaced at the amount of dead bodies there were in one place, scattered around while their blood painted the floor red. This will surely be troublesome to clean, but he didn't care about that right now.
Upon retreating with the team, he noticed that mapicc and zam was missing. He tried asking the other where they were but none of them knew, and none of them bothered to help either.
Okay, maybe the last sentence was a bit of a lie. He didn't ask the others, he couldn't. This is his problem and he'll solve it himself. He will find his family no matter what.
He stepped away from the group, covering his nose from the pungent scent of iron and dust. Seriously, how the hell will they clean up this mess? Where will they even dump the bodies? Spoke didn't wanna think about it.
The battlefield is large, so surely the two are just lost or trapped beneath some stone. Right?
Spoke could only hope so, he doesn't know what he will do if mapicc and zam were to ever die. Maybe it'll be another "I'll explode capital city to prove that they're alive or not" situation, who knows.
...
Where are they.
Spoke couldn't find them anywhere. Whether it's inside the northern council or outside. Mapicc and zam weren't there, and that thought alone terrified him as his actions became jittery and reckless.
"Mapicc? Zam? Wher- where are you?"
He almost sniffled, feeling tears threatening to spill out of his eyes as he began calling out to them, hoping that they'll somehow hear him and come back.
But they didn't, and spoke hopes that his assumption was wrong.
"Spoke? Uhm.. Lettuce is back, and we're having a- spoke?"
Spoke jumped at the sound of parrot's soft call, cursing himself for being so jumpy today. Must be because of the recent war and his family's disappearance. He rubbed away the threatening sobs using his sleeves before replying,
"Uh- yeah? What is it, parrot?" He tried his best to keep his composure, but surely parrot noticed the way his ears drooped and how his tail refused motion. He has always been a creature of movement, constantly having perked his ears whenever he had the chance while his tail swung around repeatedly.
"Uhm, you okay bro? You look like you're about to cry." the avian hybrid took a few steps closer to the voidling, noting the signs of distress visible on spoke's figure. Spoke couldn't help but curse his expressive nature, always exposing his vulnerabilities.
"Yeah, uh- everything's fine. It's just that.. Uhm.. I can't find mapicc and zam anywhere." He avoided direct eye contact with his feathered friend. Parrot must've been exhausted after everything, he couldn't possibly ask for help.
But still, the thought of mapicc and zam not being by his side was enough to spill a soft sob out of his eyes. He doesn't want to be alone.
What if his family truly died, would it be his fault for dragging them into this mess? Would things be different if he'd just accepted the offer to live in the farlands? No, he shouldn't think that far. There's still a chance that mapicc and zam are still alive.
"You're literally crying, how is that okay?" Parrot's voice snapped spoke out of his thinking trance. His expression had concern and pity, the same expression he had back during their capital city confrontation. He didn't wanna think about that.
"Uhm.. Do you know where mapicc and zam is? I- I think I searched like everywhere but.. Well.. I couldn't find them." He tried his best to keep his voice steady, but God forbid he holds the slightest bit of composure as negative thoughts began to swirl back in his mind.
Mapicc and zam are alive, he affirms. Hoping that the more he thought about it, the likelier I'd be true.
Maybe they left the battle mid-way because they were on the verge of dying. Yeah, maybe.
"Mapicc and zam?" Parrot asked for confirmation, making sure that he heard spoke's stumbling words correctly.
"Yea- yeah. Mapicc and zam. You know.. Uhm, have you seen them?"
"Well.. No. But I can help you search for them after we vote on what to do with lettuceK." Something about spoke's choking words made parrot thought of a previous conversation they had in the past before the war. He didn't wanna think about it.
"Wait, lettuce is back? I thought he escaped?"
"Yeah uhm, he came back and surrendered himself." Spoke definitely didn't expect that. But if he wants to finish this once and for all, he needs lettuceK and leowook dead. And if mapicc and zam truly died, then he will make those who caused their death pay for what they did.
"Okay then.. So are we gonna kill him?"
"No," parrot paused, letting spoke perk his ears in confusion at the hesitance in his voice. "We will have a vote if lettuceK dies or not and.. We'll do it inside the council."
Is he stupid? Why consider sparing someone that has been an active threat to your life? Spoke thought the entire thing was pointless but decided to avoid trouble and followed parrot inside the council.
The inside of the council is fairly untouched. There was some dust and minor debris but nothing worth noting. Everyone seems to already be gathered here which makes him feel a little late.
Noticing how the group is split into two, parrot then explained how those who wanted to spare lettuceK will go to his side, and those who don't, will go on the opposite side. Spoke found it ridiculous that there were even people on parrot's side, but decided to stay silent before going to the other group.
...
The fact that it was a tie is beyond him. He couldn't even believe that this was genuinely happening, and why was wemmbu on parrot's side? Didn't lettuceK made his life practically a living hell? It's all so ridiculous.
He was on the verge of seething his sword before jumper tapped his shoulder.
"What?" Spoke finally broke his silence. Noting his irritated tone, jumper took a few steps back and rested one of her hands on her hip.
"A spy told me where leowook is. Do you wanna kill him? To- you know, finish the job? I'll let you do the honours."
Spoke's ears perked again. This time, it was filled with determination. If he kills leowook, then everything will be over.
He looked back at the group's argument, seeing how vulnerable and awkward lettuceK looks just standing there foolishly in the middle. He almost wants to laugh, but he wouldn't dare do so without mapicc.
"Okay, lead the way."
_____
"There will be someone else that will kill you, spoke." And with a swing of his fishing rod, he stasis away. But little does leowook know, spoke knew that this is gonna happen. So the moment that fishing rod was used, spoke was also teleported alongside him.
He couldn't see the shock in leowook's face as he dropped down to the void. Spoke took a few steps to his right, kneeling near the hole in where leowook fell in. Stupid leowook. His movements have always been predictable, if he can't win the fight, he'll stasis away.
Spoke already knew that. He fought and stalked leowook many times. All he needed to do was find where his little pearl is, and sabotage his stasis chamber.
It didn't take that much brain power to do so. Leowook's predictability made it easy for spoke to kill him. He didn't need to fight until his sword breaks, he didn't need to defend until his Armour shatters. All he needed to do was use a bit of his brain cells and boom, leowook is dead.
Spoke couldn't help but grin and laugh the moment the death messenge popped up. Now that lettuceK and leowook had been dealt with, he didn't need to worry about them anymore. He can go back to his family, find mapicc and zam, and they'll all live happily ever after.
...
Mapicc and zam.
Dammit, spoke almost forgot. Upon the realization that mapicc and zam were still nowhere to be found, spoke got up immediately and entered the portal, albeit, there was a bit of hesitation before entering, flicking back towards the hole as if it make sure that leowook is truly dead.
_____
Nether travels had never been his preference. Not just because of clownpierce and his stupid guards but also because something about the nether feels off in a way that he can't quite understand.
Not the heat of course. He admits that the nether is indeed scorching hot which made him question how some people who aren't netherborns could even live in such a place. However, his biology prevents him from experiencing negative effects within extreme temperatures, which is quite neat.
Nonetheless, he puts this thought aside and carefully makes his way around the nether, making sure to splash invisibility before traversing to avoid detection. Last thing he needs is one or more of clownpierce's guard finding him and causing even more trouble.
_____
Once he reached the overworld, he immediately returned to the council. There were already some people cleaning up the blood and bodies which isn't too surprising since this place looked like a gorey mess. He wasn't sure why he returned here specifically, maybe because of his silent hope that mapicc and zam came here to search for spoke and then they'll reunite.
But no, there weren't any signs of mapicc or zam which is worrying. Of course, spoke couldn't do something rash again like what he did in capital city. But.. This was a war. What are the chances that mapicc and zam had actually died. If they did, who would spoke have now?
He can't lose them both. No, he can't.
He took a couple of deep breaths before entering the previous battlefield, careful not to accidentally trip on a dead body. The stench was still incredibly strong which made him immediately plug his nose.
He darts his eyes everywhere, as a second confirmation whether mapicc and zam was here or not. But again, there were no signs of them. And spoke couldn't help but panic even more.
Before spoke could make a move, he heard a familiar voice again. The same, concerned voice that reached out to him before.
"Spoke? You're back." Spoke turned his head towards parrot who was just a few steps away from spoke. His expression was the same as before, concerned and pitying. He wasn't sure if he should be offended or not.
"Uhm, yeah. Have you uh- found mapicc and zam yet?" Spoke then finally turned his back away from parrot, standing face to face with the upset avian who seemed too nervous to answer his question.
...
Silence. He didn't like the silence. The way parrot seems hesitant to speak, the way the air suddenly feels cold is weird. He's not affected by temperature, so why does he feel cold.
"Uhm.. Yeah. We uh- found zam and mapicc but.." Spoke almost freezes. His body turning cold once again. He had a similar feeling before, but the last time he experienced this was when he thought mapicc was dead. He hoped that what he thinks parrot is gonna say is just paranoia.
But...
"They're dead, spoke. I'm.. Sorry." He felt tears threatening to spill as the news reached his ears. His mind became blurry alongside his eyesight as he began to break.
Parrot could see how upset- no, devastated he was upon hearing the news. His ears drooped like before, and his tail failed to move. Parrot could've sworn that some of his limbs were glitching too but didn't really pay attention to it.
The voidling then soon dropped to his knees in a motion similar to how his ears dropped too. He was sobbing like a pathetic mess, without caring if someone saw or not. He never liked showing vulnerabilities, even to his closest family.
But now that his family is gone, what's the point? There's nothing for him to live for anymore. Maybe he shouldn't have let mapicc and zam battle, maybe he should've just locked them away in a safe room where he'll open once the war is over. Maybe.. He should've..
His mind rang with millions of possibilities, possibilities of how this could all be prevented if spoke wasn't so damn selfish. Maybe it is his fault, and he doesn't know how to repent for his sins.
"You- you're joking. This isn't funny, parrot."
"I'm not joking, spoke. I'm.. I'm really sorry that you lost them. I really am."
His world shattered completely, as if it wasn't already in ruins. He had so many plans for them, so many things to do. Explore, build a base, and maybe even adopt a pet if they could even find an animal somewhere in the world.
But no, he couldn't do that anymore. His family was gone, and he doesn't know how to live without depending on someone.
"I.. I-I don't.. Parrot." Spoke called out to him, his voice weak as if struggling to speak. Parrot who only stared at him break, stretched one arm towards spoke, gesturing him to get up.
"Yes, spoke?" He replied, matching spoke's weak tone as if afraid that if he spoke any louder, it'll break him even more.
He could feel the shakiness in spoke's hand as he accepted parrot's helping hand. Spoke was gripping onto him like he was afraid to fall the moment parrot pulled away.
"I.. I can't take this anymore, parrot. I-" spoke stumbles on his words, his breath shakier the more he proceeds. Parrot couldn't help but raise both of his brows, almost cutting his words.
"Spoke.. What? What are you saying?" He placed a hand on spoke's shoulder, in an attempt to calm him down or at least help. He didn't mean what parrot thought he meant, right? No, he couldn't.
But he could. Parrot knew despite how much he wanted to deny it. His tone sounded hopeless, and his body seemed to be on the verge of collapsing as if obeying the nagging thoughts swirling in his mind.
"Spoke, you- you're not killing yourself, right? You.. You can't, spoke."
"And why can't I?! I.. I lost everything! I.. I-I don't have anything to protect anymore, I don't have anyone anymore! Leowook is dead... but so are my friends!" Spoke almost yelled, begging for parrot to understand where his emotions are coming from. His grip on parrot's arms tightens in a way that is almost painful, but parrot doesn't pull away despite his claws almost digging into his skin.
"I'm sorry spoke, I really am. But.. You can't just.. You can't just kill yourself because your friends died. It's not healthy, spoke."
Spoke wanted to laugh at parrot's face. This idiot really dared speak about what's healthy or not, and that humoured him. The joke only lasted for a second before he frowned again. Oh, parrot was serious about his words.
"I don't care, parrot. I don't.. Care. I'm- I'm going now." Spoke pulled out his elytra and equipped it, and before parrot could even protest, spoke used his rockets to fly away.
_____
Mapicc and zam are dead, and he has nothing to live for.
If mapicc and zam were to ever leave this world, then he would follow suit. But, before he could leave, he wanted to do something first. A last minute closure to a certain family.
He had been flying for hours already, from biomes to biomes and from buildings to buildings until he finally reached a snowy terrain. He knows this place, and it has been a while since he last visited it.
Soon enough, he removed his elytra from his back and began walking. It shouldn't be far now, maybe around a hundred blocks from here. He felt the soft snow crumble under his feet, shaping the land with his footsteps the more he walked.
And finally, he reached their home. Everything looked the same, no new changes. Something about this place feels nostalgic, but he couldn't stay for long.
"Hello? Anyone home?" He called out. Making sure that his voice was loud enough to be heard for both homes. While waiting for someone to answer, he sat on the log near the campfire that was still alive and warm, crackling a bit every now and then.
Within a few seconds, he heard one of the doors open slowly. "Spoke?" He called.
Spoke turned his head towards the door as the man left the house. By now, the kids should be asleep. He could tell due to the dark skies.
"Uhm, hello quackenstein. Yeah, it's uh.. It's me. Don't worry, everything is handled now and you're all safe." Spoke smiled a bit, though it was a little forced due to the grief he had just experienced.
"What happened, son?" Quackenstein asked. Spoke wanted to flinch a bit at the word "son", feeling as if he was unworthy to be called such a title. He was too cruel, too selfish. He didn't deserve to be called his son, not after everything he has done.
"Well, we fought LAW and BAT and.. They're no longer a threat. Uhm, I'm glad you and the kids are safe."
"No- I mean.. Are you okay?" That question alone threw spoke off guard. He wasn't sure how he was supposed to answer that. Should he tell the truth, or lie like he always does? He doesn't know anymore.
But even if he lied, he knew that quackenstein would catch on and call him out. He experienced that all too many times to count. But still, he was unsure on how to answer.
"Uhm.. Uh.. Well, I just wanted to tell you guys that you're safe and- and uhm.. Yeah. Do you uhm.. Do you need something? Like.. Food or armour or- anything?" Spoke tried to divert the question to another, avoiding another conversation regarding his feelings. It's not like it'll matter anyways. Once he does what the man requests, he'll be gone for good.
"I need you to tell me what's wrong."
"..."
Of course he would say that, spoke should've known. He knew that his honesty is much heavier than whatever netherite armour he could give away, and he promised himself that he'll do whatever quackenstein's request is.
He stayed silent for a while. Maybe a good five minutes simply staring at the floor and playing with the fabrics of his clothes. He wasn't sure if he could fulfill his requests. Why is it so difficult to be honest?
Quackenstein was patient. He could wait for as long as spoke wants as long as spoke tells him what was wrong. Spoke doesn't deserve him, he thinks.
Quackenstein soon left his door, closing it from the outside before taking a few steps closer to the wooden log spoke was sitting on. He could see the way spoke fidgets with his clothes and the way his tail seems to move at such an unsteady pace. Quick yet slow at the same time.
He then sat beside spoke, placing a hand on spoke's back before carefully moving it back and forth slowly in an attempt at comfort.
Spoke lifted his head a bit, letting his eyes meet with the man before letting out a small sniffle. He hates being so goddamn vulnerable, especially to someone he previously wronged. He wishes that he could just hide away or cover his face when needed so that no one could see how pathetic he has become.
"..Can you tell me what happened?" Quackenstein's voice was soft, reminding him of a certain bird he knew. He hates that, he hates it when people talk to him softly like he's some fragile glass that'll shatter and cut everyone the moment a voice was just a little louder.
But he also yearns for it. Despite everything, there was a small part of him that wishes he could go back in time to where he was just a little kid, under the care of jamatoP. A time where he could play around and joke with his friends happily without worrying about dying or losing a friend.
He hates that he misses those times. He wants it back and he hates it. Missing it feels like the future and present is pointless. Missing it feels like all that he went through was for nothing. Missing it feels like he misses the time where he was weak.
"I.. I-I lost everyone." Spoke practically broke down in tears the moment those words left his tongue. Today was too much. Everything that has ever happened was too much.
"I.. I lost zam, I-I lost mapicc.. My base was.. was practically ruined and.. And.. I lost everything.. I.. I'm sorry." Spoke swallowed the lump on his throat. Just speaking about it was enough to completely shatter him. He wasn't sure if he could continue.
"I'm sorry. I.. I came to deliver the message that you're all safe and sound and.. I rained down your parade by just.. Being this.. Sobbing mess, and-"
"You don't have to be sorry, son. It's okay to grief." He reassured. He never saw spoke like this, at least, not after the first time spoke started giving them his shulker boxes filled with loot.
He remembered that day. The day spoke returned to the same, snowy base and practically begged for forgiveness after the kids left the two alone. He still remembered what spoke gave to the family first. A few pieces of iron, gold, and even diamonds. He remembered the joy on his kids face the moment spoke pulled out a buddle full of diamonds.
He remembered it all. And seeing spoke like this reminded him of that time where spoke cried near rose's grave, as if seeking her forgiveness as well.
".. I know. But.. Never mind. I.. I just- I don't know anymore." Spoke was struggling to speak, and that was okay. He let voidling's tears speak for him as he began to sob even more, inching closer towards the other before he returned the closeness with a hug.
Spoke didn't know what he did to deserve this. He had killed the man's daughter yet he treated him like he was his own son. How can someone be so kind? Especially to him?
The more time he spent sobbing in quackenstein's arms, the more determined he is to leave this world.
He felt like his existence itself was a danger to the family. He remembered leowook's words before his death, that no matter what, there will be someone else out to get him.
And if that someone sees his relation to this family, he knows that the family would be in danger. It's too risky, he can't afford to live much longer.
He also doesn't know what's the point anymore. Mapicc and zam are already gone, so what reasons does he have to continue living?
...
Hours have passed ever since spoke broke down in tears. He didn't even remember what happened after since he was too busy feeding his thoughts more negativity. All he knew was that the moment he opened his eyes again, he was in a soft, green bed.
It's nice, comfortable. He couldn't remember when was the last time he had actually slept without nightmares or insomnia haunting him till dawn. And even during daytime, he was worried that leowook's spies might've found their base and placed a trap inside without them knowing.
Those days were the worst, but- it wasn't always bad with mapicc on his side.
...
Right, mapicc. Mapicc and zam are dead, he can't possibly forget about that. His family is dead, and he's laying comfortably in someone else's bed.
He can't allow that. He stood up immediately, noting the gloomy, dark skies outside the window. It's likely midnight by now and he could tell that everyone is asleep by how all the lanterns were turned off. He couldn't waste this chance.
He took out a book and quill and immediately started writing down his final message. He didn't need it to be too long, just enough to say goodbye to the family.
...
When he finally finished writing down his last message, he quickly wrote down his name at the end of the page and placed it on the bed. He knew that quackenstein would be the first to check the bed, so he didn't really need to worry much about the kids reading it accidentally.
Once he confirmed that everything was done, he quietly stepped towards the entrance door and carefully opened it to make sure it didn't make much noise. The door was a bit creaky but thankfully, no one woke up.
Once he stepped outside, he made sure to look at the base one last time. It's nice to appreciate the simple things for once. I mean- the base was cozy, warm, and.. Well- homey. He wonders if mapicc and zam were to still be alive, would they make a base just as cozy as this?
He stared at the roof for longer than he had planned, but eventually snapped out of his trance and closed the door carefully. Once the door clicks, he stepped away from the room and began walking towards the campfire.
...
He didn't need his items anymore.
Not wanting to waste it and let it despawn, he pulled out a couple of shulker boxes and filled it with all of his items.
He felt a strange mix of sadness and excitement doing this. On one hand, he knows that this is the last of what remains of him, he knows that this was the last time he'll ever see the family, and the last time quackenstein would ever see him again.
And that last time was when spoke was sobbing like a mess. It wasn't his intention to break down like that, he just wanted to share the news and give his items away before death. He hates that the last thing quackenstein will ever remember him is when he cried in his arms.
But on the other hand, he can't help but feel excited that he could still give to the family, to quackenstein, and to the kids. Even if it's the last time he'll ever give to them.
He still remembers the giddy smiles of the kid's faces when they fished together, competing on who could get the most fish. He remembers that time where he let them get the most fish just to see them all confident and cheery.
He cherishes them so much, it hurts to leave. But it hurts more to stay.
Finally, after minutes of organizing, he placed a sign above the middle shulker box and walked away.
...
It took some time for spoke to get away, and even more time for him to climb the tallest mountain he could see. Without his elytra, he wasted an extra hour just climbing up the snowy mountain. Finally reaching the peak, he could see almost everything from above, even the family's base.
It looked so tiny from here, which gave spoke a final, nervous chuckle. He was gonna die, and that's okay.
Looking down even more, he notices how high he truly is, and that kinda scared him. But that fear wasn't enough to stop him. So with a single step forward, spoke plunges below.
He felt the air run through his hair like nothing before. He never felt so sad yet so happy at the same time. The breeze felt like it was hugging him for the last time before his head finally hit the ground.
...
_____
"Dear quackenstein. I know this message is sudden and all and I'm sorry that I couldn't say this face to face, but this will be the last time we'll be seeing each other. Please accept the gifts I left outside of the base. I hope you and the kids live a good life after I'm gone, and I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused for you. Farewell."
-Spokeishere"
...
He didn't know what to say. The sound of his kids excitement blurred into the background as he read the final sentence. Why? He couldn't- he didn't, right?
He felt like a boulder just crushed him from above as the weight of his goodbye rested heavily in quackenstein's mind.
"Kid.." He couldn't cry, not when the kids were around. They already lost their sister, they can't know that their brother left them too. And worst- their brother left willingly.
The kids were already jumping around, excited to use their new wealth to buy building blocks or maybe to even move away from the harsh biome. Either way, quackenstein couldn't rain on their parade. However, he wasn't sure if he had an answer if the kids ever asked where spoke was and why he wasn't visiting them anymore.
But for now, he didn't need to worry about that.