Chapter Text
Avery stared at the grave in front of him.
Derek Hutchins.
That had been his full name; Derek Hutchins.
Avery wanted to cry- but he ran out of tears a very long time ago- months ago in fact.
But just because he was out of tears, didn’t mean he was out of options.
“H-hey…” Avery spoke, managing a shaky smile. “Just… wanted to visit you. I found your letter and the video and well… finding your grave wasn’t too difficult after that.”
No reply.
There was never a reply.
“...I know… you wanted me to keep moving forwards, but… I don’t think I can without you?” Avery admitted, immediately flinching at what he had just implied.
“I’m not saying I’m going to kill myself, don’t worry!” He quickly muttered. “I just… what if instead of forward… I go back?”
Avery grinned. He probably looked insane to anyone who walked by.
He certainly didn’t FEEL sane anymore; Avery felt like his very soul had been put in a hydraulic press.
But it would be worth it- it would all be worth it.
“I… couldn’t save you.” Avery admitted, and it felt kind of good to just say it instead of having his mind internalize and repeat it over and over and over again. “I couldn’t keep you safe and out of harm’s way, but… what if I can protect you now that I know everything that’s going to happen?”
Avery didn’t know everything, but…
He knew what Derek was going to do, so surely… surely he could change things now?
“I…this is going to sound crazy.” Avery admitted. “Not that anything I said so far is sane, exactly, but… I know… a way back. I’m going to go back.”
“I’m going to save you, Derek. Just give me a bit to get everything set up.”
1st Loop
Avery was… actually shocked this worked- shocked that the ritual had actually send him back.
He was in his apartment again, on the day he found that strange mine with that strange book.
…he had done it.
Avery couldn’t celebrate yet though- he had to get to Derek NOW.
Booting up minecraft was easy, getting to the mine even easier.
Avery switched over to creative mode and rushed to where the doors were-
only to find them closed.
“...What?”
Avery tried mining through and around the doors, tried putting yellow candles in front of it, tried to appease the king somehow....
Nothing.
The doors were closed- the king clearly didn’t want to let Avery in yet.
The blonde groaned- how had Derek made his way back in if the doors were shut!?
Or… had the doors closed behind him, and would they only open on the day Avery had been planning to find Derek?
The king probably knew he’d been planning to find the other late December, so…
…So he had to wait until then? What was he supposed to do with MONTHS of time?!
…Prepare, probably.
Maybe… he should make a notebook or something? Something to write down what happened? Something to keep track of all the things that Avery hadn’t expected?
…That sounded like something Derek would do, and with how Derek was much smarter than Avery was…
Avery knew he had an old notebook somewhere in his apartment, and minutes later he had written down the first line in the book.
THINGS TO REMEMBER:
- Derek saved your life and the world, but you can save him too! Don’t give up!
…It felt important to note that down. This… would probably take a while… and if it was anything like the rollercoaster of emotions he went through when trying to find Derek the first time…
- If you’re going back to the original date you found the mines on, you’re going to have to wait until new year’s eve to save Derek. Great idea if you need more time to prepare.
- REMEMBER TO WRITE DOWN WEIRD THINGS THAT HAPPENED YOU WILL ABSOLUTELY FORGET DO NOT LET YOUR ADHD TELL YOU OTHERWISE.
…Yeah that last bit was a very important reminder.
For now, it would be enough, so Avery…
Avery decided to just… wait.
He’d meet Derek again soon, on new year’s eve.
….heh, he’d probably meet him sooner if he just ignored that damn book in the church.
…This time things would be different.
Avery knew exactly where to go.
He walked across the bridges, through that cavern city, through the desert and the red fields, he managed to get out of that city before the sky turned dark and leave the sewers after only getting lost there twice.
He burned the book at the church- he had SPECIFICALLY brought a flint and steel just so he could burn that book.
He punched through netherite again, and finally- found the library.
He didn’t even bother reading the book, just breaking the wood below him and coming face-to-face with Derek again.
<D3rlord3> You’re fast
<TheMostMayo> Hi Derek. I’m back.
Avery couldn’t help but smile.
He had made it back.
<D3rlord3> you’re that Avery.
<TheMostMayo> that Avery???
<D3rlord3> you’re from the future, right?
Avery gasped.
<TheMostMayo> How’d you
<TheMostMayo> ohwait
<TheMostMayo> infinite knowledge
<TheMostMayo> right.
<D3rlord3> I knew it was an option you had but
<D3rlord3> Didn’t expect you to do it.
<TheMostMayo> Why not?
<D3rlord3> Avery, I’ve probably told you this already, but this isn’t worth getting into.
<TheMostMayo> Yes it is
<D3rlord3> I’m not going to argue about whether this is worth it or not
<D3rlord3> But you’re putting yourself in danger again.
<D3rlord3> You shouldn’t be doing this.
<D3rlord3> That’s not what my future self would’ve wanted.
Avery frowned.
<TheMostMayo> You didn’t want to be forgotten
<TheMostMayo> And I know a part of you really wanted to live
<TheMostMayo> So I am going to find a way to save you
<TheMostMayo> I know I can save you.
<D3rlord3> I know you’re willing to try
<D3rlord3> and I appreciate it.
<D3rlord3> But I’d rather you stay out of this completely.
Ow… that actually... hurt.
<TheMostMayo> I know that’s what you want
<TheMostMayo> But I’m not giving up on you
No matter wha|
Avery blacked out.
And he wouldn't wake up until hours later, frustrated and upset-
LAST TIME HE’D ONLY BEEN OUT FOR 10 MINUTES WHAT THE FUCK?!
Okay- Okay he could still make it back he had like 50 minutes until midnight. He could still save Derek- especially if he just didn’t… go up that tree.
He could do this, but first…
- YOU WILL BLACK OUT WHILE TALKING TO DEREK, BE READY FOR THAT.
That’d do for now.
Avery knew he had to get to that platform, so he spend as little time as he could in the rooms leading up to it, no gazing at the amazing builds, no being scared of things, as tempting as it is you don’t have time to set the church on fire, through the library-
He had to get to Derek before it was too late.
The cathedral loomed in the distance, and while Avery had wasted some time there in the past just gawking at it, he had no time now-
Derek was on that platform and if Avery didn’t do anything he’d die again.
Finally, FINALLY he reached the platform with Derek.
And the eyes.
The eyes were there too.
<TheMostMayo> Why are you here?
<TheMostMayo> You shouldn’t be here it’s dangerous
<D3rlord3> I think those are my lines.
No.
Not again.
<TheMostMayo> Why are you doing this
<TheMostMayo> I’m not worth it
<TheMostMayo> Please just…stop. There has to be another way
<D3rlord3> Avery. I’m not just doing this for you
<D3rlord3> I’m doing this for millions of others too
<D3rlord3> Besides… you don’t even know me
<D3rlord3> You don’t have to come back here and do this again
<D3rlord3> I wouldn’t want that
<D3rlord3> And the Derek that died for you also wouldn’t want that.
Avery could feel himself tearing up.
He knew they didn’t want that, but just because they didn’t want that didn’t mean he could just let go.
He couldn’t
Not after everything.
He had promised himself that he’d only stop after Derek was safe, so-
…So for now, he had to keep on trying.
No matter what it would take.
<TheMostMayo> I’m staying. There has to be a way out.
<D3rlord3> …Why?
<D3rlord3> Why are you willing to go so far for me.
<D3rlord3> I have seen everything about you, I know just how great you can be, so why are you throwing all of that away for a guy you don’t even know?
<D3rlord3> You could live a great life
<D3rlord3> You have so many people who love you
<D3rlord3> I don’t
<D3rlord3> So… why are you throwing away your own life like that?
Avery was quiet
<D3rlord3> …I don’t get it.
Avery sighed, running a hand through his hair.
He didn’t get it either, but he knew he had to keep trying.
He had to save Derek, no matter what.
Avery began to type out a message, trying his hardest to really drive the point home that no matter what Derek would say, he’d stay here and-And Derek punched him off of the platform.
Again.
It happened again.
While Avery had been typing, he hadn’t been able to move out of the way- hadn’t been able to avoid the two hits it took to push him off.
It happened again.
Avery failed again.